Epos Now vs Lightspeed for Restaurants
Compare Epos Now and Lightspeed Restaurant through a complete cost specification and demonstrations based on your service routine.
The short answer
Compare the restaurant setup each supplier will actually deliver, not an Epos Now bundle headline against a Lightspeed software subscription. Align the number of devices, payment services, kitchen functions and integrations, then calculate the full cost over the same period.
In this guide
Make the starting prices comparable
Epos Now advertises a hardware bundle with a subscription condition. Lightspeed Restaurant describes software plans, licence allowances and optional services. Those are different starting points for a quotation, so their headlines cannot establish which complete system is cheaper.
Obtain dated UK offers with VAT treatment and the same device quantities. We have not verified a consistent sterling Lightspeed tariff for this guide and do not assign either provider an invented comparison price.
Read the Epos Now cost guide and Lightspeed Restaurant cost guide before preparing your specification.
Give both suppliers the same restaurant brief
| Your requirement | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Service points | Priced tills, handhelds, payment terminals and kitchen screens. |
| Menu and kitchen | Modifiers, courses, allergy notes and routing demonstrated using your menu. |
| Tables and payments | Split bills, tips, refunds and table transfers shown in the quoted setup. |
| Management | Stock, reporting, staff controls and accounting connections you require. |
| Digital orders | Delivery, collection, booking and online-order integrations itemised. |
| Continuity | Internet-failure procedure, support scope and device replacement arrangements. |
Separate essential functions from optional ones. This prevents a higher-tier package being chosen for features the restaurant will not use.
A neutral total-cost example
Fictional systems A and B, not provider quotations. A costs £800 upfront, £120 monthly for software and support, and £500 monthly for processing. B costs £1,400 upfront, £170 monthly for software and support, and £430 monthly for processing.
| Cost | System A | System B |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly running cost | £620 | £600 |
| First year | £8,240 | £8,600 |
| 36 months | £23,120 | £23,000 |
B is £360 dearer in year one but £120 cheaper over 36 months. Its £600 additional upfront cost takes 30 months of £20 running-cost savings to recover. The preferred financial option therefore depends on how long you will use it.
Test value without inventing savings
Time a real task such as cashing up or updating a menu, then ask each supplier to demonstrate it. Record whether the proposed system removes work, reduces mistakes or simply moves the task elsewhere.
Keep estimated staff-time benefits separate from confirmed reductions in bills. An easier shift can be valuable without becoming a cash saving. Similarly, a feature described as increasing sales needs evidence before you put extra revenue into the main cost comparison.
Ask who imports menus and historical data, what training is included, and how the changeover will be supported during service. Include any paid implementation or temporary overlap in the first-year cost.
How to make the final choice
First eliminate options that cannot demonstrate an essential workflow. Next compare the complete costs and commitments of the suitable options. Finally consider the support arrangements, data access and ability to add a new device or venue.
Use the calculator to compare the itemised proposals, then keep your demonstration notes with the report. This is a decision framework for Epos Now and Lightspeed Restaurant, not a hands-on product rating or an assertion that either system is best for all restaurants.
Common questions
Which system is cheaper?
The complete quotes determine that. Hardware, licences, processing and required integrations can outweigh the difference between headline subscription prices.
Can I count reduced staff administration as a cash saving?
Keep it separate unless it actually reduces spending. Time released for service or management is an operational benefit, but it is not automatically a lower wage bill.
Put your own figures to work.
Use the free calculator to organise your costs and keep a report. If something is unclear, you can ask for a free initial review.
No registration required. Calculator entries stay in your open browser page unless you choose to share a report in a review request.
Sources and how to use this guide
Primary references checked on 15 October 2026:
Business profiles are fictional. Examples either use the explicitly identified published tariff or clearly labelled hypothetical prices. They are not customer results, market averages or personalised provider quotations. Unless stated otherwise, they use a consistent VAT basis and include only the costs listed. Provider prices, eligibility and terms can change. Check your written agreement before deciding.
Our guides explain costs and comparison methods. They do not rank the whole market or claim hands-on product testing. Source links are references, not a claim of partnership. Read the calculation method and limitations, or about the service.