⚖️ Our Verdict
Lightspeed suits large retailers or restaurants that need its advanced inventory features and can absorb £800+/year in software costs. For most UK businesses, EPOS Direct delivers 90% of the features at a fraction of the long-term cost.
Lightspeed vs EPOS Direct: At a Glance
| Feature | Lightspeed | EPOS Direct ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | £69–£229/month (Basic to Enterprise) | From £549 one-time flat |
| Contract | Annual contract required for best pricing | No contract — flexible |
| Ownership | Never — subscription only, fees never stop | Own outright from £399 |
| Works Offline | Limited offline mode on Basic plan | ✓ Full offline mode |
| UK Phone Support | Limited or chat only | ✓ 08000 336 888 |
✗ Lightspeed Weaknesses
- ✗£69–£229/month forever — you never own the software
- ✗Annual contract required for discounted pricing
- ✗Hardware is additional cost on top of monthly fees
- ✗Overkill and overpriced for most UK SMEs
- ✗UK phone support limited on lower plans
✓ EPOS Direct Advantages
- ✓From £549 one-time complete or own the software outright from £399
- ✓No annual contract required
- ✓Hardware + software bundled at no extra cost
- ✓All core features included — stock, staff, reporting, multi-site
- ✓Unlimited UK phone support on all plans
Complete EPOS + Teya Card Terminal
£549 + VAT
One-time — or own outright from £399 — no monthly software fees ever
- ✓ Hardware + software included
- ✓ Teya card terminal (1% rate)
- ✓ No monthly software fees
- ✓ No long-term contracts
- ✓ Works offline
- ✓ UK-based support team
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Lightspeed cost in the UK?
Lightspeed starts from £69/month for the Basic retail plan, rising to £229/month for Enterprise. Annual billing is required for these prices. Over 3 years that's £2,484–£8,244 just in software fees — and you still don't own anything.
Is Lightspeed better than EPOS Direct for retail?
Lightspeed has more advanced inventory features for very large catalogues. But for most UK retailers with up to 5,000 SKUs, EPOS Direct covers all the same bases at dramatically lower long-term cost.
Can I migrate from Lightspeed to EPOS Direct?
Yes. EPOS Direct can migrate your product catalogue, customer data, and historical sales. The support team handles this as part of your setup. Call 08000 336 888 to arrange.