Lightspeed Retail vs Rain POS

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Our analysts compared Lightspeed Retail vs Rain POS based on data from our 400+ point analysis of POS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Lightspeed Retail, formerly Vend, is a cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system suited for small and medium-sized businesses in retail, hospitality, and service industries. It offers core features like sales management, inventory tracking, customer profiles, and reporting, with additional options for ecommerce integration, marketing tools, and employee management. While praised for its user-friendly interface and omnichannel capabilities, some find its pricing complex and miss advanced features like offline functionality compared to competitors. Starting prices range from $69/month (billed annually) for a basic plan, with per-transaction fees and additional costs for advanced features and multiple registers.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Omnichannel capabilities
  • Robust features
  • Integrations with popular software
  • Scalable for growing businesses
Cons
  • Complex pricing structure
  • Limited offline functionality
  • Lacks some advanced features
  • Steeper learning curve for less tech-savvy users
  • Customer support wait times can be long
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Rain POS is a cloud-based point-of-sale system designed for businesses of all sizes, from independent retailers to multi-outlet chains. It offers features like inventory management, customer relationship management, employee management, and reporting tools. Rain POS is praised for its ease of use, affordability, and scalability. Users appreciate its intuitive interface, mobile accessibility, and integrations with popular accounting and marketing software. Compared to similar POS systems, Rain POS stands out for its competitive pricing, which typically falls within the $50-$200 per month range, depending on the number of users and features needed. However, some users mention limitations in advanced reporting and customization options compared to more expensive competitors.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Mobile accessible
  • Integrations
  • Scalable
Cons
  • Limited reporting
  • Limited customization
  • Basic marketing tools
  • Support wait times
  • Few industry-specific features
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$69 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$49 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Improved Efficiency: Streamline operations with centralized inventory management, quick checkout processes, and automated tasks, freeing up time for other priorities.
  • Enhanced Customer Experience: Offer personalized interactions, loyalty programs, and omnichannel support (online and in-store) to build customer loyalty and satisfaction.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Gain valuable insights from comprehensive sales reports, inventory analytics, and customer data to make informed business decisions.
  • Scalability for Growth: Adapt the system to your evolving needs with flexible plans and seamless integration of additional features as your business expands.
  • Simplified Inventory Management: Track stock levels across locations, automate purchase orders, and minimize stockouts with real-time inventory visibility and control.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Manage your business on the go with mobile apps for sales, inventory, and employee management, offering flexibility and convenience.
  • Integrated Marketing Tools: Launch targeted email campaigns, manage social media presence, and track marketing performance directly within the POS system.
  • Employee Empowerment: Equip staff with user-friendly tools for efficient tasks, improved communication, and enhanced productivity.
  • Payment Processing Flexibility: Accept various payment methods, including credit cards, contactless payments, and gift cards, with integrated payment processing options.
  • Reduced Costs: Potentially minimize operational expenses through improved efficiency, reduced manual tasks, and data-driven decision-making.
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  • Save Time: Automate in-store and online inventory syncs, customer-specific marketing tools, and data entry to save time on annual tasks. 
  • Streamline E-commerce: Sync your web inventory with the POS, use interactive tools and elements to customize pages, and process secure checkouts to create an exceptional experience for customers and simplify business processes. 
  • Boost Engagement: Keep customers coming back for more with the right messaging and marketing tactics to improve retention and revenue. Use automated email and text marketing, Facebook and Google review invites, and targeted strategies to attract new users. 
  • Enhance Services: Add fuel to business performance and deliver excellent service with an advanced point-of-sale solution that offers comprehensive inventory management, powerful reporting tools, and online and in-store rewards tracking. 
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  • Omnichannel Sales: Sell seamlessly across physical stores, online platforms, and marketplaces.
  • Inventory Management: Track stock levels, automate reordering, manage multiple locations, and receive low-stock alerts.
  • Point of Sale: Process transactions quickly, accept various payment methods, and apply discounts and loyalty programs.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Track customer data, purchase history, preferences, and create personalized marketing campaigns.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Gain insights into sales trends, inventory levels, customer behavior, and employee performance.
  • Employee Management: Track time and attendance, assign tasks, manage schedules, and control permissions.
  • Integrations: Connect with accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), ecommerce platforms (Shopify), marketing tools (Mailchimp), and payment processors.
  • Mobile Apps: Access POS, inventory, and reporting features on mobile devices.
  • Hardware Options: Choose from compatible terminals, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and cash drawers.
  • Cloud-Based: Access from anywhere with internet connectivity, automatic updates, and secure data storage.
  • Security: Protects customer data with PCI compliance and industry-standard security measures.
  • Customer Support: Offers phone, email, and online resources for assistance.
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  • Cloud-based POS: Centralize inventory, automate backups, manage customer data and track service updates through a centralized point of sale. Send text messages to customers, access purchase history, sync inventory data to the system and deliver exceptional customer service with an all-in-one retail system. 
  • Online Booking: Register and pay for classes virtually. Save a seat without walk-in hassles. Eliminate lost revenue from no-shows for unpaid bookings and ensure that the slots fill as per availability. 
  • E-commerce: With the help of an integrated POS and website, in-store and online inventory status remains the same. View and shop online, make payments, and check order status from a single touchpoint on the web or mobile phones. Manage calendars, receive payments, upload files, send forms and fulfill other critical content management functionalities with an integrated eCommerce platform. 
  • Customer Marketing: Keep customers coming back and grow the user base with practical branding tools like targeted emails, business updates, advertising campaigns and daily reminders. Send notifications to clients about important events and access reviews to understand customer behavior. 
  • Integrations: Regulate the workflow and manage multiple service channels across the workforce with smart integrations powered by intuitive APIs. 
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Product Ranking

#23

among all
POS Software

#158

among all
POS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

72
76
92
17
35
93
60
74
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Sales and Marketing Management
Inventory Management
Compliance and Security
Payment Transactions and Cash Management
Reporting and Insights
Inventory Management
Customer and Loyalty Management
Reporting and Insights
Types of POS

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Lightspeed Retail
Rain POS
+ Add Product + Add Product
Compliance And Security Customer And Loyalty Management Employee Management Inventory Management Items And Service Management Payment Transactions And Cash Management POS Hardware Reporting And Insights Sales And Marketing Management Store Management Types Of POS 92 35 60 98 71 89 59 88 100 73 33 17 93 74 95 75 78 50 88 78 83 87 0 25 50 75 100
83%
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17%
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90%
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100%
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71%
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29%
89%
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11%
78%
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57%
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43%
20%
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80%
88%
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12%
88%
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70%
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30%
67%
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33%
78%
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22%
33%
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67%
88%
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12%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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80%
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20%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 518 reviews
Great User Sentiment 159 reviews
85%
of users recommend this product

Lightspeed Retail has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 518 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

89%
of users recommend this product

Rain POS has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 159 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

4.7 (31)
n/a
4.1 (57)
4.0 (17)
4.22 (217)
4.83 (71)
4.3 (213)
4.2 (71)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Lightspeed Retail and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Sales and Marketing Management.

Sales and Marketing Management Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Rain POS and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Store Management.

Store Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive Interface: Users consistently praise Lightspeed Retail's user-friendly design, making it easy to navigate and perform tasks efficiently, even for those with limited technical experience.
Omnichannel Capabilities: Seamlessly manage online and physical stores, providing a unified customer experience and streamlining inventory and order management.
Robust Feature Set: Offers a wide range of features addressing diverse business needs, including inventory management, sales reporting, customer relationship management, and employee tools.
Integrations with popular software: Streamlines operations and data exchange by connecting with accounting, marketing, and e-commerce platforms like QuickBooks, Shopify, and Mailchimp.
Mobile Accessibility: Manage your business on the go with mobile apps for sales, inventory, and employee management, offering flexibility and convenience.
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User-Friendly: The software is easy to understand and robust, according to 95% of users.
Customer Support: According to 100% of users who reviewed this pro, support executives are knowledgeable and responsive.
Inventory Management: About 80% of users who mentioned this pro said it is easy to sync offline and online inventory, update items, and serialize products.
Integration: Regarding this feature, approximately 70% of users said that it provides seamless integrations across business activities.
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Complex Pricing Structure: Tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality can be confusing and lead to higher-than-expected costs.
Limited Offline Functionality: Reliance on internet connectivity can be problematic for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas.
Missing Advanced Features: Some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, requiring workarounds or third-party integrations.
Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Needs: While user-friendly overall, the extensive feature set can be overwhelming for those needing in-depth customization or specific functionalities.
Customer Support Wait Times: While generally helpful, customer support can experience longer wait times during peak periods, potentially delaying issue resolution.
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Reporting limitations: Some users find the built-in reporting features too basic for in-depth analysis, lacking customizable options and advanced visualizations.
Customization restrictions: The ability to tailor the system's appearance and functionality to match specific business workflows is somewhat limited compared to competitors.
Basic marketing tools: While offering email marketing integrations, Rain POS lacks built-in features for advanced campaigns, loyalty programs, or customer segmentation.
Inconsistent customer support: User experiences with support vary, with some reporting delays, limited technical expertise, or difficulty reaching knowledgeable representatives.
Few industry-specific features: While highlighting expertise in specialty sectors, Rain POS lacks a wide range of features tailored to unique needs of industries like restaurants, salons, or healthcare.
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Lightspeed Retail garners mixed reviews from users, highlighting both its strengths and potential drawbacks. On the positive side, users consistently praise its intuitive interface, making it easy for both tech-savvy and less-experienced individuals to navigate. The extensive feature set, encompassing inventory management, reporting, customer management, and omnichannel capabilities, caters to diverse business needs. Integrations with popular software like QuickBooks and Shopify streamline operations and data exchange. Notably, Lightspeed excels in omnichannel management, allowing businesses to seamlessly manage online and physical stores, a crucial strength in today's retail landscape. However, some find the pricing structure complex, with tiered plans and additional fees for features like offline functionality. The lack of true offline functionality can be a dealbreaker for businesses with unreliable internet or operating in remote areas. While the feature set is comprehensive, some users report limitations in specific areas like advanced inventory management, which might necessitate workarounds or third-party integrations. Compared to competitors like Square POS and Shopify POS, Lightspeed offers a wider range of features and caters to more complex business needs. However, these strengths come at a higher price point. Ultimately, the choice between Lightspeed and its competitors boils down to individual business requirements and budget constraints. If you prioritize omnichannel capabilities, extensive integrations, and a robust feature set, Lightspeed is worth considering. However, carefully evaluate your needs and budget against potential limitations before making a decision.

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Rain POS garners praise for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and scalability, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes. Users appreciate its mobile accessibility, integrations with popular software, and cloud-based setup. However, some find its reporting and customization options limited compared to competitors like Square or Shopify POS. While Rain POS boasts strengths in specific industries like music stores and boutiques, users in other sectors might miss industry-tailored features. A key differentiator is Rain POS's focus on customer relationships. Users value its customer profile management, targeted marketing tools, and loyalty program integrations. However, some find these features basic compared to dedicated marketing platforms. Additionally, inconsistent customer support experiences raise concerns for some users. Ultimately, Rain POS seems like a solid choice for businesses seeking a user-friendly, affordable POS with good customer relationship management tools. However, if in-depth reporting, advanced customization, or industry-specific features are crucial, exploring competitors might be necessary. Weighing your specific needs against Rain POS's strengths and weaknesses will help you make an informed decision.

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Screenshots

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