# Lightspeed Retail POS (R) vs Rumba by Socket Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: Rumba by Socket Mobile at 5.0 against Lightspeed Retail POS (R)'s 2.1. Rumba by Socket Mobile also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and device support (3 vs 1). Lightspeed Retail POS (R)'s advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 16 months) and ratings volume (177 vs 1). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Rumba by Socket Mobile holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightspeed Retail POS (R) has 177 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Lightspeed Retail POS (R) ships an update every 2 weeks, Rumba by Socket Mobile every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightspeed Retail POS (R) | Rumba by Socket Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (177 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightspeed-retail-pos-r/id848366907/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rumba-by-socket-mobile/id971935166/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **177** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 31.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 16 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 207 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.1** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lightspeed Commerce Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/390465117) | [Socket Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/456055935) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightspeed Retail POS (R)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightspeed-retail-pos-r/id848366907)

This cloud-based point of sale system streamlines retail operations with integrated inventory, customer, and employee management. It simplifies transactions, provides detailed sales analytics, and offers customizable user roles for enhanced efficiency.

**Highlights:** Inventory management, Detailed reporting, Customer management, Multi-location support, Employee management, Cloud-based access, Customer Facing Display

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing issues
- ⚠️ Hardware connectivity problems (scanner, printer, terminal)
- 🔌 Unreliable Bluetooth connections
- 💰 Expensive pricing structure
- ⏱️ Slow app performance on older devices

**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

**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


### Rumba by Socket Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rumba-by-socket-mobile/id971935166)

This web browser is optimized for high-speed barcode scanning and NFC tag reading using compatible hardware. It allows for quick data editing during scans and offers a customizable user interface via a Javascript API for full scanner control.

**Highlights:** High-speed barcode scanning, NFC tag reading, Quick data editing, Customizable UI via Javascript API, Full scanner control via Javascript SDK

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightspeed Retail POS (R) free?

Lightspeed Retail POS (R) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Rumba by Socket Mobile free?

Rumba by Socket Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightspeed Retail POS (R) or Rumba by Socket Mobile?

Rumba by Socket Mobile is rated higher. Lightspeed Retail POS (R) averages 2.1 out of 5 from 177 ratings, while Rumba by Socket Mobile averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Lightspeed Retail POS (R) or Rumba by Socket Mobile have ads?

Neither Lightspeed Retail POS (R) nor Rumba by Socket Mobile shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightspeed Retail POS (R) or Rumba by Socket Mobile?

Lightspeed Retail POS (R) ships an update every 2 weeks, and Rumba by Socket Mobile every 16 months. Most recently, Lightspeed Retail POS (R) was updated on November 1, 2026 and Rumba by Socket Mobile on November 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*