# Toast vs Lightspeed: Which Restaurant POS in 2026 > Toast vs Lightspeed in 2026: plans from $0 and $69 a month, payments, hardware, add-ons and who each suits, plus a third option with your own processor. Source: https://benvo.io/compare/toast-vs-lightspeed Toast vs Lightspeed # Toast vs Lightspeed: restaurant POS compared Toast suits US restaurants that want one company for hardware, payments, payroll and delivery ordering. Lightspeed suits venues outside the US or with a retail side that want published plans and a wide integration marketplace. Both require their own payments in most cases, which is the main thing to price carefully. [Book a demo today](https://benvo.io/book-a-demo) Free, no commitment. Thirty minutes with someone who has run a venue. Updated November 2026. Choose Toast if US restaurants that want hardware, payments, payroll and online ordering from one vendor. Choose Lightspeed if Restaurants and bars in North America, Europe or Australia that want published plans and many integrations. Consider Benvo if If neither processing lock in suits you, Benvo POS works with the card processor you choose and adds no markup, and runs on iPads you already own. It also opens the check from the booking or member card, which matters for clubs and hotels, though it has no payroll or delivery app ordering yet. Price Per venue per month in US dollars, before tax. $448 a monthPOS, Menus and beverage list - $0 setup, data moved for you - $5,376 in the first year - AI team included, no cover fees Toast$325 a monthTypical mid tier - Setup not published - $3,900 in the first year Lightspeed$295 a monthTypical mid tier - Setup not published - $3,540 in the first year Differences ### Plans and price As of November 2026, Toast offers a $0 Starter Kit and a $69 Point of Sale plan, typically around $325 a month with add ons. Lightspeed lists $69, $189 and $399 plans, typically around $295 a month. ### Payroll Toast sells payroll as an add on inside the platform. Lightspeed has no payroll of its own. ### Inventory and gift cards Lightspeed includes inventory deducted from sales and gift cards. Toast sells both as add ons. ### Kitchen screens Both offer kitchen displays. Lightspeed lists them at $30 a screen per month, while Toast prices them within its hardware and plan quotes. Features ### POS and loyalty 16 featuresToastLightspeed Table service and split billsIncludedIncludedIncluded Kitchen display screensIncludedIncludedIncluded Keeps selling when offlineIncludedOrders queue, card, cash and member charges within limitsIncludedIncluded Own hardware soldNot includedRuns on iPads and phones you already ownIncludedIncluded Integrated card paymentsIncludedIncludedIncluded Choose your own card processorIncludedNo Benvo markup on card feesNot includedOwn payments requiredPartlyOwn payments required in most markets Online ordering and delivery appsNot includedTakeaway and QR table ordering onlyPaid extraPaid extra Stock deducted from salesIncludedPaid extraIncluded PayrollNot includedPaid extraNot included Gift cards and stored valueIncludedPaid extraIncluded Guest recognised at the tableIncludedBooking or member card opens the checkPartlyLoyalty lookup, no booking linkPartlyLoyalty lookup at the till Points and tiersIncludedPaid extraPaid extra Rewards without an appIncludedWallet passes and a web cardIncludedPartlyNot confirmed Room charge to hotel billIncludedWith the Benvo hotel modulePartlyThrough hotel system partnersPartlyThrough hotel system integrations Member account chargingIncludedIncludedHouse accountsPartlyNot confirmed Loyalty measured against a holdoutIncludedNot includedNot included Included IncludedPaid extraPartly Limited, on a higher plan or not confirmedNot included Not included Sources and how we checked From each vendor's own pricing, product and help pages, and buyer reviews where a vendor publishes little, checked in November 2026. Prices are typical per venue per month in US dollars before tax; vendors quote per deal. Product names are trademarks of their owners, and Benvo is not affiliated with any of them. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it. - Toast[1](https://pos.toasttab.com/pricing)[2](https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/small-business/toast-pos-review)[3](https://www.upmenu.com/blog/toast-pricing) - Lightspeed[1](https://www.lightspeedhq.com/products/restaurant/features/)[2](https://www.lightspeedhq.com/pos/restaurant/loyalty/pricing/)[3](https://www.mobiletransaction.org/lightspeed-restaurant-pos-review/) [Benvo vs Toast](https://benvo.io/compare/toast)[Benvo vs Lightspeed](https://benvo.io/compare/lightspeed) Questions Still curious? [Talk to someone who has run a venue.](https://benvo.io/book-a-demo) At entry level they are close: Toast starts at $0 with the Starter Kit or $69 a month, and Lightspeed Starter is $69 a month as of November 2026. Typical mid tier venues pay around $325 a month on Toast and $295 on Lightspeed, before processing and hardware. 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