In the battle of Lightspeed versus Heartland Retail, both systems bring unique strengths to the table. Lightspeed is particularly strong for Growing retailers with complex inventory, multi-location businesses, omnichannel sellers, while Heartland Retail excels at Retail stores wanting integrated payments. Whether you prioritize Best-in-class inventory or Heartland integration, this comparison covers everything you need to know.
Quick Comparison: Lightspeed vs Heartland Retail
| Feature | Lightspeed | Heartland Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Multi-Industry | Retail |
| Starting Price | $89/month (Lean plan) | Contact for pricing |
| Rating | 4.4/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Target Business | Mid-Market | Small Business to Mid-Market |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Best For | Growing retailers with complex inventory, multi-location businesses, omnichannel sellers | Retail stores wanting integrated payments |
Lightspeed Overview
Lightspeed is a cloud-based commerce platform providing POS, eCommerce, and payment solutions for retail and hospitality businesses. Known for advanced inventory management and omnichannel capabilities.
Lightspeed is offered by Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (founded 2005) based in Montreal, Canada. The system focuses on Retail, Restaurants, Golf courses, Hotels.
Key Features:
- Advanced inventory
- Multi-location support
- Omnichannel selling
- B2B capabilities
- Purchase orders
- Vendor management
Heartland Retail Overview
Heartland Retail is a point-of-sale and payment processing solution for retail businesses. Part of the Heartland family, it offers inventory management, customer loyalty, and integrated payments.
Heartland Retail is offered by Heartland Payment Systems (Global Payments) (founded 2001) based in Jeffersonville, IN. The system focuses on Retail, Specialty Stores.
Key Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
- E-commerce Integration
Feature Comparison
Lightspeed Features:
- Advanced inventory
- Multi-location support
- Omnichannel selling
- B2B capabilities
- Purchase orders
Heartland Retail Features:
- POS System
- Inventory Management
- Customer Loyalty
- Payment Processing
- Reporting
When comparing features, Lightspeed stands out with Best-in-class inventory, while Heartland Retail differentiates itself with Heartland integration. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Lightspeed | Heartland Retail |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $89/month (Lean plan) | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Price Range | Premium | Mid-range |
| Free Trial | Available | Not available |
| Free Version | No | No |
Both systems offer competitive pricing for their respective feature sets. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Lightspeed
Pros:
- Powerful inventory management
- Excellent for multi-location
- Strong eCommerce integration
- Good for complex catalogs
- Built-in B2B features
Cons:
- Higher price point
- Learning curve
- Some features require higher tiers
- Contract requirements
Heartland Retail
Pros:
- Heartland ecosystem
- Integrated payments
- Retail focus
- Customer loyalty tools
Cons:
- Custom pricing
- May require Heartland processing
Who Should Choose Lightspeed?
Lightspeed is ideal for Growing retailers with complex inventory, multi-location businesses, omnichannel sellers. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Restaurants, Golf courses, Hotels.
However, Lightspeed may not be the best fit for Very small businesses or those on tight budgets.
Who Should Choose Heartland Retail?
Heartland Retail is ideal for Retail stores wanting integrated payments. The system is particularly well-suited for Retail, Specialty Stores.
However, Heartland Retail may not be the best fit for Restaurants.
Our Recommendation
Both Lightspeed and Heartland Retail are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Lightspeed if you’re Growing retailers with complex inventory, multi-location businesses, omnichannel sellers. Choose Heartland Retail if you’re Retail stores wanting integrated payments. Lightspeed has a higher user rating (4.4 vs 4.1). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.