Square vs Lightspeed — Australia 2026
Square vs Lightspeed POS compared for AU businesses. Card rates, EFTPOS, hardware costs, inventory management & Xero/MYOB integration.
Square for simplicity; Lightspeed for scale
Square's free POS software and flat 1.6% card rate make it the easiest entry point for cafes, market stalls, and small retail. Lightspeed starts at $89/mo but offers superior inventory management, multi-location support, and omnichannel selling with e-commerce built in. Choose Square if you want zero monthly fees and fast setup; choose Lightspeed if you have complex inventory or multiple locations.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Square | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA, USA (Block Inc) | Montreal, Canada |
| Entry Price | Free | $129/mo |
| BAS Lodgement | POS system — BAS via accounting integration (Xero, MYOB) | POS system — BAS via accounting integration |
| STP Phase 2 | n/a | n/a |
| Payday Super | n/a | n/a |
| Modern Awards | N/A | N/A |
| Data Hosting | AU | AU |
| AU Support Hours | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST | 24/7 |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | 300+ apps | 200+ apps |
Pricing Comparison (AUD, Mar 2026)
Square Plans
- ✓Locations: 1
- ✓Registers: unlimited
- ✓Locations: unlimited
- ✓Registers: unlimited
- ✓Advanced Reporting: Yes
Lightspeed Plans
- ✓Registers: 1
- ✓Locations: 1
- ✓Ecommerce: Yes
- ✓Registers: 1
- ✓Locations: 1
- ✓Ecommerce: Yes
- ✓Loyalty: Yes
- ✓Registers: 1
- ✓Locations: 1
- ✓Ecommerce: Yes
- ✓Advanced Reporting: Yes
- ✓Loyalty: Yes
- ✓Registers: 1
- ✓Registers: 1
- ✓Registers: 2
- ✓Registers: 5
AU Compliance Scores
Square
Lightspeed
Pros & Cons
Square
Pros
- Free POS software — zero monthly fees to start
- Simple 1.6% flat card rate — no hidden fees
- Affordable hardware from $59 (Square Reader)
- 300+ integrations including Xero and MYOB
- AEST support hours with AU-based team
- Easy to set up — no technical skills needed
Cons
- 1.6% card rate higher than Zeller's 1.4%
- US company — some data may be US-hosted
- No built-in payroll or accounting
- Advanced features require paid Plus plan
- Hardware purchases required for in-person payments
Lightspeed
Pros
- Full-featured POS for both retail and hospitality
- Excellent inventory management with multi-location support and 8M+ item catalogue
- Native e-commerce integration for omnichannel selling
- Competitive 1.5% card-present rate with no terminal rental fees
- 24/7 AU support from Brisbane-based team
- Strong reporting and analytics with 40+ customisable reports
- Integrates natively with Xero, MYOB, Deputy, and Shopify
Cons
- Most expensive POS option (retail from $129/mo, hospitality from $40/mo)
- Canadian company — not AU-made
- Additional cost per extra register ($40/mo) or location
- Steeper learning curve than Square or Zeller
- Advanced features like custom reporting locked behind Plus plan ($329/mo)
- Pressure to use proprietary Lightspeed Payments — third-party processors incur extra fees
Who Should Choose Square
Square is best suited for businesses that need cafe, retail shop, market stall.
Choose Square if you are:
- Cafe
- Retail Shop
- Market Stall
- Pop Up Store
- Food Truck
- Small Retail
Who Should Choose Lightspeed
Lightspeed is best suited for businesses that need multi location retail, hospitality venue, restaurant.
Choose Lightspeed if you are:
- Multi Location Retail
- Hospitality Venue
- Restaurant
- Omnichannel Retail
- Large Inventory