In the battle of Upserve versus Harbortouch, both systems bring unique strengths to the table. Upserve is particularly strong for Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics, while Harbortouch excels at Small businesses wanting low startup costs. Whether you prioritize Offline mode for outages or Free hardware, this comparison covers everything you need to know.
Quick Comparison: Upserve vs Harbortouch
| Feature | Upserve | Harbortouch |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Multi-Industry |
| Starting Price | $89/month | $29.99/month |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Best For | Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics | Small businesses wanting low startup costs |
Upserve Overview
Upserve, now Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series, is a restaurant POS offering offline mode, employee management, and real-time insights. Consolidates menu performance, staff productivity, and customer behavior data into one platform.
Upserve is offered by Lightspeed Commerce (founded 2009) based in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The system focuses on Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Bakeries.
Key Features:
- Order management
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Staff management
- Customer loyalty
- Analytics/reporting
Harbortouch Overview
Harbortouch (now SkyTab) offers free POS hardware with low monthly fees. Features include tableside ordering, table tracking, free reservations, and online ordering. No upfront costs with lifetime hardware warranty.
Harbortouch is offered by Shift4 Payments (founded 1999) based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. The system focuses on Restaurants, Bars, Retail, Salons.
Key Features:
- Tableside ordering (iPad)
- Table tracking
- Reservations (free)
- Online ordering (free)
- KDS
- Waitlist management
Feature Comparison
Upserve Features:
- Order management
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Staff management
- Customer loyalty
Harbortouch Features:
- Tableside ordering (iPad)
- Table tracking
- Reservations (free)
- Online ordering (free)
- KDS
When comparing features, Upserve stands out with Offline mode for outages, while Harbortouch differentiates itself with Free hardware. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Upserve | Harbortouch |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $89/month | $29.99/month |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Budget |
| Free Trial | Available | Not available |
| Free Version | No | No |
Harbortouch is more budget-friendly, making it a better choice for cost-conscious businesses. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Upserve
Pros:
- Easy setup
- 24-hour phone support
- Offline mode
- Real-time insights
- Employee success tracking
Cons:
- System crashes reported
- Learning curve for customization
- Customer service issues
Harbortouch
Pros:
- No upfront hardware costs
- Low monthly fees
- Lifetime hardware warranty
- Free online ordering
- 24/7/365 support
Cons:
- 1-year contract required
- Must use their payment processing
- Rebranded to SkyTab
Who Should Choose Upserve?
Upserve is ideal for Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics. The system is particularly well-suited for Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Bakeries.
However, Upserve may not be the best fit for Retail businesses, those needing simple basic POS.
Who Should Choose Harbortouch?
Harbortouch is ideal for Small businesses wanting low startup costs. The system is particularly well-suited for Restaurants, Bars, Retail, Salons.
However, Harbortouch may not be the best fit for Businesses wanting processor flexibility, those avoiding contracts.
Our Recommendation
Both Upserve and Harbortouch are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Upserve if you’re Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics. Choose Harbortouch if you’re Small businesses wanting low startup costs. Upserve has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.0). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.