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Lightspeed Retail vs Flowhub vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale Comparison

Last updated:

Lightspeed Retail

4.5(923 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

With the tagline "Rediscover your business and unlock potential growth opportunities," Lightspeed Retail is a comprehensive POS software that offers advanced e-commerce solutions, omnichannel loyalty programs, and contac…

Flowhub

5.0(2 reviews)

Starting at $399 /Month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Introducing Flowhub, the ultimate solution for all your distributional requirements. As a dispensary point of sale (POS) software, Flowhub is the top choice for cannabis distributors and retailers, trusted by leading bra…

SumUp

4.0(4 reviews)

Starting at $0 /month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

SumUp is a trusted financial technology company operating in 32 countries across three continents. We aid small business owners by making it quick, secure, and cost-effective to accept card payments online, in-app, and i…

Square Point of Sale

4.5(518 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Square Point of Sale, the ultimate choice for businesses searching for an easy-to-use POS system. With its user-friendly design, you can effortlessly process transactions, track customer purchases, and collect feedback f…

Flowhub leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 2 reviews.

Lightspeed Retail vs Flowhub vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — at a glance

FeatureLightspeed RetailFlowhubSumUpSquare Point of Sale
Rating4.5 / 55.0 / 54.0 / 54.5 / 5
Reviews92324518
Starting priceContact for pricing$399 /Month$0 /monthContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No No No
Free version No No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryPOS SoftwarePOS SoftwarePOS SoftwarePOS Software
Integrations10+ apps8+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS
APIAvailableAvailableAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPRSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUSGlobalUS

Key differences between Lightspeed Retail and Flowhub

  • Pricing: Flowhub starts at $399 /Month. Lightspeed Retail pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Free trial: Lightspeed Retail offers a free trial; Flowhub does not.
  • User satisfaction: Flowhub scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
  • Deployment: Lightspeed Retail supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; Flowhub supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.

Compare Lightspeed Retail vs Flowhub vs SumUp vs Square Point of Sale — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most POS Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Lightspeed Retail

Best for small to medium retail businesses needing integrated POS and e-commerce.

Choose if
  • You operate multiple retail locations requiring synchronized inventory management.
  • You want seamless integration between physical stores and online e-commerce platforms.
  • You need a cloud-based POS system accessible remotely with strong reporting tools.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business demands extensive customization or niche third-party app integrations.
  • You require highly personalized, consistent customer support and service continuity.

Flowhub

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

SumUp

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Square Point of Sale

Best for small to mid-sized retail and food businesses needing simple POS.

Choose if
  • You want an easy-to-use POS with quick transaction processing.
  • You need integrated inventory management and sales reporting.
  • You require mobile device compatibility and hardware like Square Terminal.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business is a large enterprise needing extensive customization.
  • You require complex, multi-location inventory management capabilities.

Lightspeed Retail typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Flowhub tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

With the tagline "Rediscover your business and unlock potential growth opportunities," Lightspeed Retail is a comprehensive POS software that offers advanced e-commerce solutions, ... Read More about Lightspeed Retail

Introducing Flowhub, the ultimate solution for all your distributional requirements. As a dispensary point of sale (POS) software, Flowhub is the top choice for cannabis distributors and ... Read More about Flowhub

SumUp is a trusted financial technology company operating in 32 countries across three continents. We aid small business owners by making it quick, secure, and cost-effective to accept card ... Read More about SumUp

Square Point of Sale, the ultimate choice for businesses searching for an easy-to-use POS system. With its user-friendly design, you can effortlessly process transactions, track customer ... Read More about Square Point of Sale

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $399 , Billed Yearly
  • Starts from $0 , monthly
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.1/10

8.5/10

Not Available

9.2/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

Small businessMedium business
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Lightspeed Retail

  • Flexible integrations for growth: Lightspeed connects with a broad ecosystem that includes ecommerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce), accounting systems (QuickBooks, Xero), CRM and marketing tools (Mailchimp, Klaviyo), and shipping/fulfillment services (ShipStation, Shippo). These integrations allow retailers to build a complete technology stack that supports everything from online sales and loyalty programs to accounting and fulfillment without constant manual data entry.
  • Rich reporting and analytics: Lightspeed’s dashboards include insights into sales trends, best-selling products, customer behavior, and staff performance. Retailers can generate reports on daily sales, tax summaries, product margins, and customer segments without exporting data into spreadsheets. These analytics empower data-driven decisions and make it easier to optimize promotions, staff scheduling, and inventory buys.
  • Advanced inventory and order management: Lightspeed’s inventory tools go beyond basic item tracking. Retailers can manage multi-location stock levels, create and edit variants, forecast demand, and automate purchase orders to vendors. These capabilities reduce overstocking or stockouts, improve ordering accuracy, and support complicated assortments without heavy manual tracking.

Flowhub

No key benefits available yet.

SumUp

No key benefits available yet.

Best fit

Best fit

Lightspeed Retail

  • 500+
  • Retail, E-commerce, Fashion & Apparel, Specialty Stores, Home & Lifestyle, Sporting Goods, Beauty & Cosmetics, Jewelry & Accessories
  • Store Owner, Retail Manager, Operations Manager, Ecommerce Manager, Inventory Manager, Head of Retail, Founder

Flowhub

No best-fit guidance available yet.

SumUp

No best-fit guidance available yet.

Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Lightspeed Retail

  • Some retailers are already heavily invested in particular ecosystems — for example, Square merchants who use Square Payroll, Square Marketing, or Square App Marketplace apps. In these cases, choosing a POS that fully aligns with their existing stack prevents fragmentation and simplifies vendor management, even if Lightspeed’s core platform is strong.
  • Certain specialties such as full cafes, restaurants, or service-based businesses require deeply tailored workflows (e.g., table management, reservation systems, service tickets). While Lightspeed Retail can be adapted with integrations, solutions like Toast or Square for Restaurants provide industry-native features out of the box, reducing complexity for those use cases.
  • Lightspeed Retail functions best with reliable internet connectivity. Retailers operating pop-up shops, temporary locations, or environments with intermittent internet may prefer POS platforms with stronger offline transaction handling that continue to process payments and sync automatically once a connection is restored.

Flowhub

No alternatives guidance available yet.

SumUp

No alternatives guidance available yet.

Software Demo

Demo

Need a second opinion?

Get shortlist help from a software advisor

Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.

How do Lightspeed Retail, Flowhub, SumUp and Square Point of Sale Compare on Features?

Total Features

14 Features

11 Features

14 Features

11 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote

Compare Lightspeed Retail, Flowhub, SumUp and Square Point of Sale on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

          Starting From

          • Not Available
          • $399 , Billed Yearly
          • $0 , monthly
          • Not Available

          Pricing Plans

          • Not Available
          • Flow

            • Locations: Multiple

            • Implementation: $500 / location one-time

            • Monthly Sales: Unlimited

            Show more +

          • Performance

            • Locations: Multiple

            • Implementation: $1k for 1st location one-time +$500 for each additional location

            • Monthly Sales: Up to $300k

            Show more +

          • Essentials

            • Locations: Single

            • Implementation: $1k one-time

            • Monthly Sales: Up to $50k

          • Not Available

          Pricing Page

          Lightspeed Retail pricing
          Flowhub pricing
          SumUp pricingSquare Point of Sale pricing

          Other Details

          Organization Types supported

          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers
          • Large Enterprises
          • Medium Business
          • Small Business
          • Individuals
          • Freelancers

          Platforms Supported

          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Browser Based (Cloud)
          • Mobile - Android
          • Mobile - iOS
          • Installed - Windows
          • Installed - Mac
          • Browser Based (Cloud)

          Modes of support

          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online
          • 24/7 (Live rep)
          • Business Hours
          • Online

          API Support

          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          • Available
          Get help choosing

          Security & Compliance

          Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

          SOC 2

          HIPAA

          ✗ No
          ✗ No

          GDPR

          ✓ Yes

          Single Sign-On (SSO)

          ✓ Yes

          Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

          ✓ Yes

          Data Encryption

          ✓ Yes
          ✓ Yes

          Audit Logs

          ✓ Yes

          Data Residency

          🌐 Global
          🇺🇸 US

          Lightspeed Retail vs Flowhub vs SumUp User Reviews & Rating Comparison

          User Ratings

          4.5

          (based on 518 reviews)

          Rating Distribution

          230

          76

          14

          8

          30

          2

          1

          1

          0

          0

          7627

          626

          216

          191

          1389

          0

          0

          0

          0

          0

          Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

          Buyer sentiment

          Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use, robust inventory management, and cloud accessibility, tempered by concerns over customer support and customization limits.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Inventory management capabilities
          • Cloud-based accessibility

          Common complaints

          • Customer service inconsistency
          • Limited customization options

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is very strong across 4 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

          What buyers like

          • Secure transactions
          • User-friendly interface
          • Real-time sales tracking

          Common complaints

          • Limited to cannabis industry
          • Pricing not disclosed
          • May require training

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyer sentiment is positive across 10049 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

          What buyers like

          • Easy integration with accounting and eCommerce platforms
          • Supports both in-person and online payments
          • No monthly subscription required

          Common complaints

          • May not suit complex restaurant or enterprise setups
          • Limited advanced POS features (e.g., detailed inventory, loyalty)

          Buyer sentiment

          Buyers generally appreciate Square POS for its ease of use and hardware integration but note limitations in advanced features and pricing clarity.

          What buyers like

          • Ease of use
          • Hardware integration
          • Inventory management

          Common complaints

          • Limited advanced features
          • Pricing transparency

          Pros and Cons

          • Cloud-based access enabling remote management

          • Advanced inventory and order management with multi-location support

          • Rich reporting and analytics dashboards for data-driven decisions

          • Inconsistent customer service and support responsiveness

          • Limited customization options and marketplace app connectors

          • Focus on secure transactions tailored for cannabis industry.

          • Real-time tracking enhances cash flow management.

          • User-friendly design improves operational efficiency.

          • Limited to cannabis industry may restrict market.

          • Compliance issues may complicate operations.

          • Supports multiple payment methods seamlessly.

          • Offers 24/7 access to financial data.

          • Cost-effective for small businesses.

          • May not scale well for larger businesses.

          • Transaction fees can add up.

          • User-friendly interface enabling quick transaction processing

          • Integrated inventory management and sales reporting

          • Mobile device compatibility and hardware options like Square Terminal

          • Limited advanced customization for complex business needs

          • Pricing details are not fully transparent and may require sales consultation

          Positive Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Negative Reviews

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          No reviews available for the product

          Integrations

          Integration with other apps

          No Integration information available.

          No Integration information available.

          List of Customers

          Customers

          The Herschel

          The Herschel

          Kanel

          Kanel

          oth

          oth

          Cookies

          Cookies

          Nectar

          Nectar

          Green Dragon

          Green Dragon

          DHL

          DHL

          FLiXBUS

          FLiXBUS

          No Customers information available.

          Media and Screenshots

          Screenshots

          Retail

          3 Screenshots

          No screenshots available.

          Videos

          video-0

          3 Videos

          video-0

          1 Videos

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          Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

          Frequently asked questions

          Which is better, Lightspeed Retail or Flowhub?
          Flowhub edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.5). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
          Do Lightspeed Retail and Flowhub offer a free trial?
          Lightspeed Retail offers a free trial. Flowhub does not.
          What is the starting price of Lightspeed Retail vs Flowhub?
          Lightspeed Retail starts at Contact for pricing. Flowhub starts at $399 /Month.
          What are the top alternatives to Lightspeed Retail?
          Top alternatives to Lightspeed Retail include SumUp, Square Point of Sale, ShopKeep, Clover, LivePOS.
          What are the top alternatives to Flowhub?
          Top alternatives to Flowhub include SumUp, Square Point of Sale, ShopKeep, Lightspeed Retail, Flourish.

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