Simple vs Lightspeed: The 2026 Comparison
No contracts. No penalties. No sales call required.
Simple includes every feature, month to month, at 2.39% flat. Lightspeed gates loyalty behind its $179/month tier, charges up to $400/month to use your own processor, and locks it all into 1–3 year contracts.
Comparison data verified July 2026 from lightspeedhq.com and verified 2026 reviews. Lightspeed is a trademark of Lightspeed Commerce Inc.
Key facts — Simple vs Lightspeed
- Simple charges a flat 2.39% on all card transactions on every plan with no contract; Lightspeed Retail requires a 1–3 year contract with early-termination fees.
- Full e-commerce with Lightspeed requires the Core tier at $179/month per location; Simple includes e-commerce on every plan starting at $39/month.
- Simple bills month-to-month with no early-termination fee; Lightspeed contracts auto-renew and require written cancellation notice before renewal to avoid another full term.
- Simple includes delivery dispatch, task management, forms & checklists, expense management with live P&L, and swim-lane service queues on every plan; Lightspeed does not sell these features at any tier.
- Payment processing on Lightspeed varies by plan and Lightspeed Payments enrollment; Simple's 2.39% rate is the same on every plan and every transaction type, in person and online.
Pricing at a glance
Every line, side by side — including Lightspeed's 2026 tier structure and contract terms.
| Simple | Lightspeed Retail | |
|---|---|---|
| Card processing (in person) | 2.39% — every plan | 2.6% + 10¢ (Lightspeed Payments) |
| Card processing (online) | 2.39% — every plan | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Use your own payment processor | No penalty | Fee of up to $400/month |
| Software subscription | All features included | Basic $109/mo, Core $179/mo, Plus $339/mo (billed monthly; ~15–18% less on annual contract) |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime | 1–3 year terms, auto-renewal, early termination fees |
| Loyalty program | Included | Core plan ($179/mo) and up |
| Advanced reporting | Included | Core/Plus tiers; users report paid upgrades for custom reports |
| E-commerce | Included | Full eCom included from Core ($179/mo); limited version on Basic |
| Additional registers | Included | Extra monthly fee per added register (reported ~$59/mo) |
| Multi-location pricing | Self-serve, add stores in settings | Custom quote — requires a sales call |
| Users | Unlimited | Capped by tier; custom roles on Plus |
| Onboarding | Migration support on every plan; white-glove on Large | Onboarding packages sold separately on lower tiers |
Lightspeed's own pricing page won't tell you what multiple locations cost — you have to book a sales call. Simple's price is on the pricing page, and adding a store is a button in Settings.
Feature by feature
Grouped the same way as our pricing page — Core, Back Office, and Operations Hub.
Core
| Feature | Simple | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Point of Sale (sales, returns, exchanges) | Included | Included |
| Invoicing (invoices, estimates, recurring) | Included | Basic invoicing; depth varies by tier |
| E-commerce with drag-and-drop page builder | Included — per-location themes, scheduled homepages, built-in SEO tools | Full eCom included from Core ($179/mo); limited version on Basic |
| Appointments & online booking | Included | Third-party integrations |
| Loyalty program (with POS redemption) | Included | Core plan ($179/mo) and up |
| Advanced discount engine (BOGO, bundles, smart clearance) | Included | Standard discounts |
| Customer segmentation with live rule preview + AI recommendations | Included | Customer profiles & groups |
| Text & email marketing | Included | Via integrations (e.g. Mailchimp) |
Back Office
| Feature | Simple | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory: POs, transfers, audits, variants, vendors | Included | Strong retail inventory (a genuine Lightspeed strength) |
| Purchase-order returns & inventory rooms | Included | Partial |
| Expense management wired into live P&L | Included | Not available |
| Reports & analytics | Included | Tier-gated; custom reports on Plus or paid upgrades |
| Register with blind close & float accountability | Included | Cash management included |
| Multi-location management | Included, unlimited users | Custom-quoted pricing |
| Transparent payment onboarding (live status + corrections) | Included | Lightspeed Payments onboarding |
| Integrations hub | Included | Solid integration catalog |
Operations Hub
| Feature | Simple | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Employee scheduler & shifts | Included | Third-party apps |
| Time clock | Included, with GPS + geofence + PTO | Built-in time clock (no GPS/geofence/PTO) |
| Task management (recurring, read-&-sign) | Included | Not available |
| Forms & checklists with approvals | Included | Not available |
| Delivery & dispatch: your drivers, vehicles, map-drawn zones | Included | Third-party delivery integrations; no fleet management |
| Service queues (swim lanes) | Included | Not available |
| Branded customer support portal + ticket inbox | Included | Not available |
| Help center builder | Included | Not available |
The details that matter
The contract trap
Lightspeed contracts run 1–3 years, auto-renew, and carry early-termination fees that can equal the remainder of the contract. 2026 reviews consistently cite difficult cancellations as the #1 complaint.
Simple is month to month — the product has to earn your business every month.
The processor penalty
Want to keep your existing payment processor with Lightspeed? That can cost up to $400/month. Simple has one rate — 2.39% on every transaction — and no penalties, no tiers, no negotiation.
Savings Calculator
Live math using verified July 2026 published rates.
Which of these do you use?
Simple
Processing only
$11,472
per year
Lightspeed
Processing + feature add-ons
$15,456
per year
Annual total: processing + on-toggle feature costs. Base software shown below.
Simple software
Lightspeed software
Basic $109/mo per location; Core $179 (unlocks Loyalty + full eCom). Tier upgrade counted above.
You save
$3,984
per year vs Lightspeed
Not for sale at any price on Lightspeed
Estimates based on published July 2026 rates and typical published app pricing. Courier fees (DoorDash/Uber) excluded for Square delivery. Your actuals may vary.
Operations Lightspeed doesn't cover
- Task management — Recurring tasks with read-&-sign accountability.
- Forms & checklists — Approvals, audits, and shift routines.
- Expense tracking — Bills and receipts wired into a live P&L.
- Delivery dispatch — Drivers, vehicles, and map-drawn zones.
- Swim-lane service queues — For salons, repair, and quick-serve.
- Branded support portal — A ticket inbox your customers log in to.
- Help center builder — Publish knowledge base articles in-app.
The bottom line
Lightspeed suits specialty retailers whose single biggest need is complex catalog management and who accept multi-year contracts. Simple gives you serious inventory discipline plus marketing, staff, delivery, and support — with no lock-in.
Frequently asked questions
Keep your freedom.
Get everything, for 2.39%.
All Lightspeed pricing and feature information verified July 2026 from lightspeedhq.com and verified customer reviews (G2, Capterra, BBB). Details may change; we update this page regularly. Lightspeed is a trademark of Lightspeed Commerce Inc., which does not endorse Simple.