Lightspeed vs Toast 2026

On a 3-5 location FSR chain, Lightspeed Premium (with Upserve analytics) is close to Toast Enterprise on TCO. Lightspeed wins on bar / fine-dining analytics. Toast wins on hardware and roadmap.

SaaS pricing

Toast Core $69/terminal/mo, Enterprise quoted Toast pricing · 2026-06-20.

Lightspeed Starter $69/mo, Essential $189/mo, Premium $399/mo, annual billing and without Lightspeed Payments, plus a quote-only Enterprise tier Lightspeed pricing · 2026-09-22. Note the rename: the $69 tier used to be called Essential and Essential now costs $189, so a like-for-like comparison against Toast Core has to be on the number, not the tier name. Lightspeed no longer states a per-location basis on its rate card.

Processing rate

Toast: negotiated 2.49% + 15c card-present typical at FSR scale, plus 10bps Volume Subscription Fee. Lightspeed publishes no card-present rate for the restaurant product; its rate card lists integrated payments as Default on Starter and Custom on the paid tiers, and leaves the processing-rate cell empty Lightspeed pricing · 2026-09-22. That makes this line uncomparable on published figures alone: get Lightspeed's rate in writing on the quote call and compare it against Toast's negotiated band yourself.

iPad vs purpose-built Android

Lightspeed runs on iPad. Customer supplies iPads ($329-$849 each) or buys bundles. Toast runs on purpose-built Android terminals optimised for kitchen environments. Toast hardware lasts longer in high-heat, high-grease environments.

Bar / fine-dining hybrid

Lightspeed wins. Upserve analytics depth + iPad form factor for sommelier tableside service + bar inventory tracking by pour. Toast covers the basics but Lightspeed Premium is the honest pick.

5-year TCO on 3-5 location chain

Comparable within 5%. Pick on functional fit and hardware preference, not on TCO.