Compare
Lightspeed Restaurant and Live Hospitality POS side by side: published prices, registers, support, setup, payments and staff tools, with the source for every figure.
The short answer
Lightspeed Restaurant is priced per plan with one register included and extra registers and modules as add-ons, while Live includes up to 4 registers in Standard and keeps your own EFTPOS.
Lightspeed lists Starter at $79, Essential at $179 and Premium at $359 a month (GST not stated). Live is $41, $80 or $125 per venue a month billed yearly, or $49, $95 or $149 billed monthly, including GST, with free setup and 24/7 support on every plan.
Price at a glance
Live’s prices include GST. Where a competitor’s page doesn’t say whether GST is included, we show the price as published and mark it “GST not stated”.
| Topic | Live Hospitality POS | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Floor: $41 a month per venue, billed yearly ($490 a year), or $49 billed monthly. GST included | Starter: $79 a month, 1 register (GST not stated) |
| Middle plan | Standard: $80 a month, billed yearly ($950 a year), or $95 billed monthly. GST included | Essential: $179 a month, 1 register (GST not stated) |
| Top plan | Multi-venue: $125 per venue a month, billed yearly ($1,490 a year), or $149 billed monthly. GST included | Premium: $359 a month, 1 register (GST not stated) |
| Yearly billing | 2 months free: $490, $950 or $1,490 per venue a year | Not stated |
| Extra registers | Floor 1, Standard up to 4 at one venue, Multi-venue per venue | +$39 a month per additional register |
| Card processing | Keep your own EFTPOS: Tyro, Zeller, Square or your bank’s, at your provider’s rates | Integrated payments on all plans; rates not stated on the pricing page |
| Minimum term | No minimum term: monthly plans run month to month | Not stated |
| Hardware | Use your own tablets, computers and receipt printer | Hardware is an extra cost; works on a range of devices |
| Setup | Free full setup by our team | The Service Team checks in, and an in-person Lightspeed specialist is available; setup cost not stated |
If Lightspeed’s prices exclude GST, as a 2024 review reported, they would be $86.90, $196.90 and $394.90 a month including GST. See sources.
Features
Live’s column covers confirmed Live features. Lightspeed’s column uses only what its pricing page says; anything it doesn’t mention is marked “Not stated”.
| Topic | Live Hospitality POS | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Support | 24/7 by phone and chat inside the app, on every plan | 24/7 support by live chat, phone and email, on all plans |
| Rostering and timesheets | Roster, clock on at the till, timesheets and payroll CSV (Standard and Multi-venue) | Not stated |
| Membership and loyalty | Your own tiers, automatic tier rules and tier discounts (Standard) | Loyalty on all plans |
| Happy hour | Automatic, with four offer types including buy one get one free (Standard) | Not stated |
| Inventory | Stock in ml, grams or pieces, recipes and stocktakes (Standard) | Inventory reporting on all plans. Lightspeed Inventory +$99 a month on Starter, included on Essential and Premium |
| Tabs | Named tabs (Standard) | Bar mode, with tabs and card pre-authorisation, on all plans |
| Split bills | Split by people or items, and combine tables, on every plan | Bill splitting and pay at the table on all plans |
Which suits you
Each is built for a different kind of venue. Here’s how to decide.
Switching
Four steps, and we do most of the work.
Upload your current menu with the demo form, or send it after your demo.
Menu, categories, options and modifiers, plus your floor plan and tables, all free.
Live doesn’t need its own payments. Use Tyro, Zeller, Square or your bank’s EFTPOS, and card takings reconcile at till close.
We roll Live out on your tablets and computers, connect your printer, and your team takes its first order.
FAQ
Lightspeed’s pricing page doesn’t say. A 2024 review described its Australian prices as excluding GST; if that still applies, the plans would be $86.90, $196.90 and $394.90 a month including GST. Live’s prices always include GST.
Each Lightspeed plan lists 1 register, with additional registers at $39 a month. Live’s Floor plan includes 1 register, Standard up to 4 at one venue, and Multi-venue is priced per venue.
Rostering isn’t listed on Lightspeed’s restaurant pricing page. Live includes roster, timesheets and payroll CSV from Standard, at $80 a month billed yearly ($95 billed monthly).
On 27 Sep 2026, from Lightspeed’s Australian restaurant pricing page. Lightspeed notes that prices may vary depending on the nature of the business and the industry.
From each company’s own Australian pricing page, checked on 27 Sep 2026. Prices and features change, so check the source before you decide.
Square, Lightspeed and Toast are trademarks of their respective owners. Live Hospitality POS and Plain Sense Consulting are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of them. Live Hospitality POS prices are from our pricing page.
Book a demo and upload your menu. We’ll show you your venue on Live and answer every comparison question.