Choosing between Upserve and Olo for your business? Both are popular restaurant solutions, but they serve different needs. Upserve starts at $89/month and is Restaurant POS with offline mode and comprehensive analytics., while Olo starts at Enterprise pricing (contact) and is Enterprise digital ordering platform for restaurant brands. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.
Quick Comparison: Upserve vs Olo
| Feature | Upserve | Olo |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Software |
| Starting Price | $89/month | Enterprise pricing (contact) |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Mid-Market to Enterprise |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Best For | Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics | Multi-location chains wanting unified digital ordering |
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
Olo Overview
Olo is a leading restaurant ordering and delivery platform powering digital transformation for 700+ brands including Shake Shack, Wingstop, and Denny’s. Provides ordering, dispatch, rails integrations, and guest engagement tools.
Olo is offered by Olo Inc. (founded 2005) based in New York, NY. The system focuses on Quick Service, Fast Casual, Enterprise Chains.
Key Features:
- Digital Ordering
- Delivery Dispatch
- Rails Integration
- Guest Data Platform
- Payment Processing
- Catering
Feature Comparison
Upserve Features:
- Order management
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Staff management
- Customer loyalty
Olo Features:
- Digital Ordering
- Delivery Dispatch
- Rails Integration
- Guest Data Platform
- Payment Processing
When comparing features, Upserve stands out with Offline mode for outages, while Olo differentiates itself with Powers 700+ restaurant brands. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Upserve | Olo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $89/month | Enterprise pricing (contact) |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Premium |
| 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
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
Olo
Pros:
- Powers major restaurant brands
- Comprehensive digital platform
- Strong delivery integrations
- Public company stability
Cons:
- Enterprise-focused pricing
- Complex implementation
- Not for small operations
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 Olo?
Olo is ideal for Multi-location chains wanting unified digital ordering. The system is particularly well-suited for Quick Service, Fast Casual, Enterprise Chains.
However, Olo may not be the best fit for Single-location independent restaurants.
Our Recommendation
Both Upserve and Olo are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Upserve if you’re Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics. Choose Olo if you’re Multi-location chains wanting unified digital ordering. We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.