Head-to-head · Point-of-Sale Software
Lightspeed Retail vs PayPal Zettle
Lightspeed Retail leads on 1 check, PayPal Zettle on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreLightspeed Retail · 7.7/10
- Free planonly PayPal Zettle
- Free trialonly Lightspeed Retail
- Most featuresLightspeed Retail · 5 of 5
Lightspeed Retail scores higher on our rubric for point-of-sale software: 7.7 against 6.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #14 and #26.
PayPal Zettle offers free plan; Lightspeed Retail doesn't. Lightspeed Retail offers offline mode; PayPal Zettle doesn't. On hardware support, Lightspeed Retail gives you Both where PayPal Zettle offers Proprietary.
Lightspeed Retail is the better fit for established retailers needing mature omnichannel POS. PayPal Zettle is the better fit for payPal merchants wanting free basic POS.
- Lightspeed Retail fits best
Established retailers needing mature omnichannel POS
- PayPal Zettle fits best
PayPal merchants wanting free basic POS
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Side by side
| Feature | Lightspeed Retail 7.7/10 Visit ↗ | PayPal Zettle 6.9/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.7 | 6.9 |
| Ranking | #14 in Point-of-Sale Software | #26 in Point-of-Sale Software |
| Best for | Established retailers needing mature omnichannel POS | PayPal merchants wanting free basic POS |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free |
| Starting price | $89/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Integrations | 10 integrations | 10 integrations |
| Features Lightspeed Retail 5/5 · PayPal Zettle 4/5 | ||
| Inventory management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline mode | ✓ (best) | — |
| Employee permissions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-location support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sales reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Hardware support | Both | Proprietary |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Lightspeed Retail is a cloud-based point-of-sale platform for retailers selling through stores and online channels. It brings checkout, payment processing, inventory, purchasing, ecommerce, customer data, employee controls, reporting,… Read the review → |
PayPal Zettle, now branded PayPal Point of Sale, is a point-of-sale system for businesses accepting in-person payments. It suits PayPal merchants that need a mobile app for product catalogs, inventory, receipts, staff accounts, sales… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Lightspeed Retail — where it wins
- Multi-location inventory, pricing, sales, and customer management
- Offline selling, employee permissions, reporting, and hardware support
- Open API plus ecommerce, accounting, marketing, and shipping integrations
Where it doesn't
- Paid plans start at $89 per month with no free plan
- Advanced reporting, API access, and custom roles require Core or Plus
- Some offline transactions depend on the specific transaction type
PayPal Zettle — where it wins
- No monthly or recurring software fee
- Inventory, staff access, reports, and multiple payment types
- Shopify sync plus ecommerce and accounting integrations
Where it doesn't
- Transaction fees apply
- Hardware is purchased separately and proprietary
- No offline mode; multisite is unavailable to new merchants
- Lightspeed Retail7.7/10 · 14-day trial
A mature omnichannel POS for established retailers with complex inventory and store operations.
Visit siteFull verdict → - PayPal Zettle6.9/10 · Free plan
A free POS app for PayPal merchants that need core sales and inventory tools.
Visit PayPal ZettleFull verdict →
All Point-of-Sale software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update