Toast vs Lightspeed
Toast is built exclusively for restaurants. Lightspeed Restaurant is a restaurant-focused product from a company that also does retail. Toast's singular focus shows in deeper features and better integrations. Lightspeed offers more flexibility if you need it.
Our Verdict
Toast wins for most restaurants. Better online ordering, stronger ecosystem, and purpose-built hardware. Lightspeed Restaurant is solid and might win if you want iPad flexibility, processor choice, or have retail components.
Best for:
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Toast | Lightspeed | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant focus | 100% | Restaurant product in portfolio | Toast |
| Online ordering | Excellent, commission-free | Good | Toast |
| Hardware | Proprietary, restaurant-grade | iPad-based | Toast |
| Processor flexibility | Toast only | Multiple options | Lightspeed |
| Kitchen display | Excellent | Good | Toast |
| Inventory/COGS | Good | Good | Tie |
| Starting price | $0 (Starter) | $69/mo | Toast |
| Retail capabilities | None | Via Lightspeed Retail | Lightspeed |
Toast
Pros
- ✓100% restaurant focused
- ✓Better online ordering
- ✓Restaurant-grade hardware
- ✓Larger ecosystem
Cons
- ✗Locked to Toast processing
- ✗Proprietary hardware
- ✗Restaurant only
Lightspeed
Pros
- ✓Processor choice
- ✓iPad flexibility
- ✓Retail option available
- ✓No proprietary hardware
Cons
- ✗Less restaurant-focused
- ✗Online ordering less robust
- ✗Smaller restaurant ecosystem
In-Depth Analysis
Online Ordering Depth
Toast's online ordering is first-party, commission-free, and deeply integrated. Lightspeed offers online ordering but it's not as central to the product. If direct online orders matter to your business, Toast's implementation is stronger.
The Hardware Question
Toast's hardware is built for restaurant abuse—grease, spills, heat. Lightspeed runs on iPads, which are more fragile but cheaper to replace. For high-volume, harsh kitchen environments, Toast's purpose-built hardware has advantages.
Ecosystem Comparison
Toast has more restaurant-specific integrations, more content for restaurant operators, and a larger community. Lightspeed's restaurant ecosystem is smaller. If you value community resources and third-party apps, Toast's momentum matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lightspeed Restaurant good?
Yes, it's a solid restaurant POS. It just isn't as focused as Toast. For many restaurants, Lightspeed works great. The difference shows up at the margins—deep integrations, online ordering sophistication, community resources.
Can I use Lightspeed Retail and Restaurant together?
They're separate products but can share customer data and some reporting. For true hybrid operations (gift shop in restaurant, etc.), this flexibility helps. Toast can't do retail at all.