# Lightspeed Retail POS (R) — user reviews > 90 indexed App Store user reviews of Lightspeed Retail POS (R) by Lightspeed Commerce Inc., rated 2.10/5 from 176 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightspeed-retail-pos-r/id848366907/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightspeed-retail-pos-r/id848366907.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 33 · 4★ 9 · 3★ 11 · 2★ 13 · 1★ 110 ## What do users think of Lightspeed Retail POS (R)? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface - 📊 Comprehensive inventory management system - 🌐 Seamless cross-platform integration (desktop & iPad) - 📱 Mobile flexibility for retail operations - 💼 Powerful reporting and analytics capabilities - 🔄 Continuous improvements and feature updates - 📞 Responsive phone support team - 🛍️ Integrated loyalty and eCommerce options - 📸 Ability to add product photos and details - 🔐 Customizable staff permissions and access control **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing issues - ⚠️ Hardware connectivity problems (scanner, printer, terminal) - 🔌 Unreliable Bluetooth connections - 💰 Expensive pricing structure - ⏱️ Slow app performance on older devices - 📧 Unresponsive account managers - 🚫 Difficult cancellation process - 🔄 Problems after software updates - 💳 Forced payment processor integration - 🛠️ Poor technical support responsiveness - 🔒 Forced iPad-only payment processing - 📉 Declining performance over time - 🎯 Confusing navigation in newer versions - ⚡ Slow credit card processing **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes during peak business hours - Scanner and printer disconnect frequently - Payment terminal connectivity issues - App freezes when entering or changing prices - Inventory freezing when adding stock - Work order notes and billed parts erasing randomly - App logging out unexpectedly - Keyboard not appearing with Bluetooth scanner connected - Inventory counts changing on their own - Photo upload functionality not working - Payment screen freezing after card approval - App won't launch after updates - Slow typing response (4+ seconds per character) - Register confusion between multiple registers - PIN login required multiple times per transaction - Label printer connection failures - Latency issues even on new devices - Work order data loss during app freeze - Matrix merged items still appearing after deletion **Most requested features** - Native phone app version - Camera-based barcode scanning using iPad camera - Ability to change unit costs on purchase order page - PDF/email receipt functionality - Access to work orders and sales tabs when register is closed - Gift card refunds on main sales screen - Built-in gift certificate system - Stripe card reader support outside US - Keyboard availability with Bluetooth scanner - Simplified work order process with fewer steps - Better iPad app performance optimization - Support for multiple currencies and coin types - Streamlined inventory addition process - Automatic barcode scanning to add items to sale ## Newest reviews (19 of 90) ### 1/5 — I can’t change unit cost while on P.O. page. *2024-02-04, version 3.15.10* This is really annoying!! I can’t change unit cost when I making purchases order!!! Don’t you know unit costs change time to time? It used to be changeable from the P.O. page. Please get it back!!! Thanks ### 1/5 — Buggy and clunky *2023-10-25, version 3.15.9* The app is only part of the problem. Lightspeed is buggy, clunky and unreliable. Plus their support teams are terrible. Unhelpful and unresponsive. ### 1/5 — Customer Service is TERRIBLE *2023-10-03, version 3.15.7* I’ve been a Lightspeed user for years and now I can’t log into my app since the last update and I’ve been on phone hold AND chat wait queue for over 30 minutes. Customers have come and gone and I CAN’T MAKE SALES. Where is your support staff??? ### 1/5 — Horrible Pricing, Reliability, Connectivity & Customer Service. *2023-09-07, version 3.15.5* DO NOT SPEND A SINGLE DOLLAR ON LIGHTSPEED SOFTWARE, HARDWARE & SERVICES. Was a Lightspeed customer for the last 3 years, we had their software for two different stores, but now we’ve had enough. NO MORE!!! As a small business in the retail industry, you need software and hardware that is easy to use and reliable, I can fully declare that Lightspeed is neither but especially IT IS NOT RELIABLE! Here’s why: Hardware & Software: The receipt printer & barcode scanner consistently disconnects from the Lightspeed iPad app. They are not reliable, from the beginning we had problems with hardware, as they often had to be reset, restarted or reconnected somehow through Bluetooth or wifi. The first year we called tech support at least 8-9 times for similar problems with both scanner or receipt printer. Enough times, that we learned how to troubleshoot these consistent problems ourselves. RED FLAG NUMBER ONE. Troubleshooting became the norm in the mornings when we came into our stores to open. However, we recently were forced to sign up for Lightspeed Terminal (credit card machine, processed by Stripe), we used Square before this. (More on this later) Unfortunately, after installing the Lightspeed Terminal hardware connectivity became an even bigger issue. It kicked out other bluetooth connected hardware devices quite more frequently, especially the scanner. HUGE HEADACHE! Called tech support for this too, offered surface level solutions, but ultimately, added another morning ritual tech support self diagnoses to a list we already had. RED FLAG NUMBER TWO. Connectivity: The image they sell to you on their website is a sleek, easy to use, modern, experience that helps you organize your inventory on your iPad. Supposedly, everything can be done through your iPad. FALSE. The hardware they recommend is outdated. To print price tags for your inventory, they sell you a ZEBRA ZD410 or now similar devices. This also had to be reseted quite often to print price tags through the iPad app. Our experience improved only when we brought in a separate MacBook Pro to handle back of house price tag printing, their web version of Lightspeed is more reliable, more on this later, but that is another added hidden investment. RED FLAG NUMBER THREE. Customer Service: After being forced into subscribing into Lightspeed Payments, we called customer support 7 times for help in switching bank account information for deposits of our store sales. They hey made the process so difficult and time consuming we just gave up. With Square you can do this yourself online, without any hassle or middlemen, such a disappointment. But the worst is the experience we had with our 4th account manager in 3 years, Anthony A. He only showed up when he wanted to switch us to Lightspeed Terminal, they seem work by commission, so his sell was hard on Lightspeed Payments by Stripe. Ultimately, we decided to cancel LIGHTSPEED FOREVER. This is where you have to be CAREFUL with Lightspeed. They’re doing something illegal by giving you the run around, and telling you the only person who can cancel your service is your account manager. However, he didn’t respond to our phone calls or e-mails. They make it extremely difficult to cancel their services, im sure this is a FTC violation. Anthony A is horrible, they need to train and hire ethical employees. If you are also experiencing this report them immediately to the FTC online. RED FLAG NUMBER FOUR, FIVE & SIX. Pricing: Lightspeed charges a small family business like ours $200 a month per store for the use of their unreliable software for each store. When Anthony A. reached out to us it was to inform us that Lightspeed Terminal (credit card processing service) is now available, here’s how: We could continue to use Square to process credit cards, but you would have to pay an extra $195 monthly to use third party credit card transaction companies like square, that is $395 a month to use Lightspeed!!!!!!! Horrible price gouging strategy. But they make the second “option” flavorful because they’ll give you a monthly discount to use Lightspeed. Bringing your monthly bill from $200 to $75 a month + 2.3% + 10 cents per transaction if you switch to them as your credit card processing company. So you see, you have to switch. But again… remember their hardware is unreliable, and you frequently have customers waiting in line to make a credit card payment, because why? Oh yeah the scanner, printer or Lightspeed Terminal disconnect again!!!! RED FLAG NUMBER 7,8,9, 10…until infinity Choose Square or Clover for your retail business. Run away and stay away. We hate you Lightspeed. Seriously. ### 1/5 — Don’t Use Lightspeed *2023-09-06* Since day 1, 5 years ago, we’ve had nothing but issues with not only their platform, but the entire backend of the company. You’ll have to become your own *help once you choose Lightspeed. We left clover thinking they had issues and now we are contemplating another transition. Hope this helps other business owners looking for a properly working point of sale system! ### 2/5 — Major app issues *2023-08-30* Lightspeed is great for our store needs, but the app is wildly awful. We have to delete the app and redownload it almost daily just for the app to work at a normal speed. It constantly disconnects from our lightspeed provided hardware and this is another reason we have to delete the app, restart our iPad, and redownload the app on a regular basis. ### 1/5 — Stopped working on a busy Saturday morning, support was no help *2023-07-22, version 3.15.5* The app suddenly logged me out with no warning. I typed in my account details and hit log in, the app flashed and then immediately logged me back out. I pulled out my laptop to try and contact support. They sent me to the idiotic chat bot that was zero help. Still waiting on hold as we speak. ### 1/5 — Needs some very simple improvements. *2023-03-31* Luckly this app allows you to interface and use lightspeed just like you do on a PC or it would be totally useless. Just make that the default way to use the app…. To simply add and item to a sale you first have to select the search box then scan your barcode then select the item that it brought up to add it to a sale. Then you have to start that whole process over to add a second item. Why when i scan a barcode does it not just add to the sale automatically? I shouldn't have to touch the screen so much. It’s ridiculously slow do make sales using the app interface. ### 3/5 — Camera Barcode Scanner Needed *2023-02-26, version 3.15.1* Please fully integrate the iPad camera to be able to perform barcode scanning? I’ve used three barcode scanners (including two Sockets), and none are perfect, and the entire retail industry knows this. If the camera can scan on every function, why would I want to carry around a tablet plus a separate scanner? Is this is about efficiency and convenience, or selling peripherals? ### 1/5 — Connection issues, bad customer service *2023-02-22* We switched to desktop because of the connection issues with all the products that Lightspeed said we had to have. The printer,scanner and payment terminal have a hard time staying connected. Constant app resets or forced closes. Customer service is good for saying sorry I don’t know let me pass it onto someone else, which in my opinion is the abyss, because no problems were ever solved. I don’t know if I would recommend Lightspeed to anyone ### 1/5 — Not as good as they boast *2023-01-27, version 3.15* Customer service was great when we first got Lightspeed. Now it’s awful, I never get a response from my account manager and they could never fix connection issues. Our printer and scanner always disconnect. I wouldn’t recommend Lightspeed ### 2/5 — Not as good as expected *2023-01-20* I used Shopkeep in the past. I lost my shop when it burned down. When I reopened I was not permitted to reopen my account with Shopkeep. They said it was because it was too long and it had been taken over by Lightspeed. The systems are completely different and Lightspeed has issues with reliance. It was harder to set up. After dishing out all of this money for equipment and the service, I could not cancel. I was too invested. And it is much more expensive than Shopkeep was. I am disappointed that I couldn’t go back to what I has previously and probably won’t recommend it to anyone. It crashes at the most inappropriate times, when it’s busy, the system will go down, or the card reader won’t work, or the printer won’t work. It’s not been a good experience it they have me by the “balls” so to speak ### 4/5 — phone App *2023-01-13, version 3.14.4* light speed is a great concept it will be really useful if there was a phone app that can be used with lightspeed(R) ### 1/5 — Bad. *2022-12-08* Expensive, slow credit processing, customer support that can’t access tax documents, accounting department that will not work with their own customer support, and an overly complex system for porting retail to online. Lack of training - asked for additional outside of first time, they refused. Retail to online marketplace limits available items to a few hundred (including variants of same style) have to pay exorbitant fees to increase online inventory, coupled with contract and per transaction fees. ### 1/5 — Full of crash *2022-10-18, version 3.13* Sorry to say that but Don’t ever use light speed for retails. It’s not worth it. I’m using it and it crashes while checking out customers. And I’m using latest iPad. ### 4/5 — Still the best Value for my money *2022-08-06* As Our needs and the worlds needs change , lightspeed will also need to change and improve. My experience is, you ask for it now , and they do their best to accommodate now and also provide full functionality later. I would give five stars but improvements are still coming. ### 4/5 — Almost perfect *2022-08-06, version 3.12.4* I enjoy this app. My main issue is that when the register is closed the work orders and sales tabs become greyed out. Id prefer them to be accessible to at least do so after hours auditing ect. Also the print invoice function looks for a printer which is fine. But if one isn’t available it would be nice to be able to save as a PDF / email receipts ect. Maybe it should bring up the iOS share sheet? Otherwise no issues. ### 1/5 — Crash Again *2022-06-03, version 3.12.2* Totally Trash app and Company ### 1/5 — If you are in the UK, you MUST use Zettle *2022-03-02, version 3.12.1* In the UK, This app gives you no other choice but to use iZettle (PayPal’s) Card readers on an IPAD only with it’s API. Believe me I have tried with other companies that mistakenly believed this was not the case, but Uk users are indeed tied to this very expensive card processor at 2.75%. Anyone would think this is an under the table deal between Lightspeed and Paypal! I am very disappointed that even though the latest update tells us that the app now work with a Stripe Card Reader, it is ONLY available in the US. What a JOKE, APIs are supposed to enable software and cloud app users the change broaden the usefulness of what they use, and allow them to have a choice in what they connect to the system to makes things EASIER! Instead LS silently Dictates to us what me must use with it. Also the card payment screen often freezes which disables you from completing a payment once a card has been approved on the machine. This means you have to go the the back-office cloud site and manually mark this is paid by card, to complete the transaction and print a receipt, which of course will ruin the accuracy of what actually happened on the system. It is also a crying shame that users are forced to use an iPad to take a card Payment, and that there is no other Lightspeed POS software for any other device or operating system to do this, which again seems like another under the table exclusivity deal with Apple, not just PayPal. Sort it out Lightspeed. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — 8 yrs of issues *2026-02-02, version 5.1.0* Awful program. Price tag issues with all peripherals. Scanner issues and a real lack of support. Look elsewhere if you can. Wei are too deep to change now unfortunately ### 1/5 — Bad opinion *2025-12-15, version 4.2.9* It’s bad opinion for your business ### 1/5 — Worst customer service *2025-11-26, version 4.2.9* Just make sure your account rep isn’t caleigh cherrie! Never answers calls or emails even when you set up a call time! Almost makes we want to quit using light speed just because of her! ### 1/5 — Customer Service below horrible *2025-10-27, version 4.2.7* If I spent as much time with clients as I do with customer service getting even the most minor issues addressed I could raise my income by 10%. Spend some of the millions you’re making on English speaking staff that is actually trained! ### 1/5 — Terrible support *2025-10-18, version 4.2.6* They are a software sales organization that only is concerned about selling. You’ll find out when you need support ### 1/5 — Not what expected *2024-10-12* 1st of all app is not fully capable of running smoothly on iPad. All equipment was purchased from Lightspeed except the iPad. Inspite of having recommended equipment the barcode scanner disconnects and reconnects at intervals with an annoying sound that is constantly going all day. For a while we could prevent this by scanning barcodes on Lightspeed support resetting scanner and pairing to Bluetooth EVERY MORNING. Now even that’d doesn’t help. Additionally, if you don’t integrate a credit card processor through Lightspeed you will be charged $200a month!!! However, a processor is not available through iPad so now we have to invest in other equipment to prevent charge. If your offered an option without make sure you get a contract otherwise any changes or new charges they want to make they will make them. I will say the star of this company is their customer service over the phone who go above and beyond; I’ve experienced a couple bad apples which is the exception and they will call back as soon as you enter a rating via email. But you will never be able to get your account manager on the phone to have a smooth conversation, everything is via email. ### 1/5 — Awful *2024-08-02, version 4.0.2* I’d rather use a stone tablet and a chisel ### 1/5 — Garbage *2024-06-14, version 4.0.0* This system is trash the “support” is trash. Do not go with lightspeed. 0/10 ### 1/5 — Lightspeed isn’t the problem, the app is *2024-04-16* I think 2.2 stars from 156 reviews, (157, I believe, with this one) speaks loudly for itself. If you don’t have a brand new iPad, this app will not save more time than walking to the computer and doing it there, payment terminal or no. It takes 4 seconds to type two consecutive letters on an iPad with nothing else downloaded on it that was purchased 3 years ago. The brand new Ipad we got works slightly faster on the app but is still noticeably latent. This app needs to be streamlined and made to work better on older devices to get a better review, as it does nothing I can’t on the computer and mobility is not worth the time in my case. ### 1/5 — Lenta *2024-03-06, version 3.15.11* La aplicación es extremadamente lenta en iPads incluso nuevas. Y no se diga en el POS terminal puede tomar hasta 15 segundos en aparecer la pantalla de pago. Faltan muchas opciones en la aplicación. Tal vez funcione para negocios pequeños solamente. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great for midsized retailers *2022-10-21* We have been using Lightspeed Retail for seven years. It’s not perfect, of course, but it’s an affordable option for companies like ours, with thousands of SKUs. We tried a separate loyalty program and eventually decided that the integrated Lightspeed product was better. We also tried a separate eCom platform and eventually decided that the integrated Lightspeed product was superior. It’s been a stable platform, improving over time, and very good when we have needed to chat or talk to tech support. We just renewed for another two years. ### 5/5 — Lightspeed is Awesome *2021-10-31* Can’t imagine our retial world in this day and age with-out Lightspeed. We have used it for years and it truly has not done nothing but get better over time. Always improving and adapting to the fast changing pace of todays world with integration options that allow us to seamlessly operate and sell from brick and mortar locations as well as across multiple ecom and online platforms across the web. Best thing we ever did to keep our sales and inventory update across them all. ### 5/5 — Lightspeed is GREAT for Griffin Jewelry *2020-07-21* We love using Lightspeed’s point of sale system. It is easy to handle any sales transaction, perform our daily business operations, and maintain inventory. The reports allow us to track sales by date, brand, and vendor. The inventory platform has a variety of data that allows us to maintain our inventory needs. We use the iPad for the cloud based system. I love that I can check on my business anywhere I have internet. We text our customers when jewelry repair is ready or to promote a sale. Our customers appreciate how effectively we communicate with them. ### 5/5 — Easy to use *2019-11-27, version 3.1* The staff finds this POS really easy to use. Great for inventory Too. ### 5/5 — Excellent retail Point of Sale *2019-11-26* Definitely recommend using Lightspeed. Excellent customer service, very user friendly, great to be able to access from anywhere, the inventory management is great. Can take pictures and add to any items. This has made our reporting easy. So glad we invested in the point of sale ### 5/5 — Love the new design *2019-09-25, version 3.0* Though it takes some getting used to, I love the new design, it is more modern and simplified. ### 5/5 — Winner! *2019-09-10, version 2.22.1* This software is the boss. It is capable of all things retail in store and out at events. Being able to access, sell, order and do service work when out at events or at a meeting is a must have. I found the stocktake system to be simple, yet very in depth. The time it saved us went from 4 weeks to a full stocktake to within a couple of days. Being able to do counts within categories, tags, brand, etc is amazing and very good to do regular counts throughout the year. Inventory management is 👍😍. I can’t tell you enough of how good it really is, from importing straight from vendors to creating product matrix’s and doing re orders off inventory reports. The ease of allowing different staff certain permissions is very good. I could go on and on but in short, we are super stoked to have made the change over to lightspeed. ### 5/5 — Ce logiciel est merveilleux ! *2019-09-05, version 2.22.1* Cela fait maintenant un an que nous l’utilisons et il rend notre quotidien beaucoup plus facile. Avant, nous avions un inventaire en papier et c’était devenu ingérable. Maintenant, il est beaucoup plus facile de voir ce que nous avons et ce qui nous manque. De plus, nous pouvons voir quel article est le plus populaire, la marge que nous faisons dessus... Bref, l’essayer, c’est l’adopter ! ### 5/5 — Intuitive and smart *2019-08-20, version 2.22.1* Changing to the Lightspeed POS has been a game changer. It was simple to learn to use and customer service is always available and useful when we need. The inventory management is organized and clear, and makes it simple to find and transfer items between stores. -LeTrunkshop ### 5/5 — L’app. vient avec une vie ,,,en achat parallèle 😁😁😁 *2019-06-16, version 2.22.1* Cette application à changée ma vie. Surtout avec tout les « plug-in » disponibles. En plus de gérer l’inventaire en temps réel, être une caisse conviviale adaptable à mes besoins et mes journées sont transférées dans mon système comptable automatiquement. Peut paraître dispendieux, mais le fait d’avoir accès partout en tout temps me permet de faire ce que je veux et être présent au travail en même temps , c’est la double-vie que l’on veut tous. Le service téléphonique est impecable et en français (hrs de bureau) sinon 24/7 en anglais. L’intégration des produits peut être importé par leur équipe de soutient. Nous l’avons fait nous mêmes avec 1500 items différents, des photos pour chaque items. Merci Lightspeed 🙏 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-25.*