Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Lightspeed VS Hackster

Compare Lightspeed VS Hackster and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Lightspeed logo Lightspeed

retail and restaurant point-of-sale, ecommerce, and omnichannel solution

Hackster logo Hackster

Hackster is a community dedicated to learning hardware.
  • Lightspeed Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-22
  • Hackster Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-04

Lightspeed features and specs

  • Omni-channel capabilities
    Lightspeed provides a comprehensive solution for both eCommerce and brick-and-mortar stores, allowing for seamless integration and management of multiple sales channels.
  • User-friendly interface
    The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, which helps simplify the management of inventory, sales, and customer relations for users of all technical skill levels.
  • Advanced inventory management
    Lightspeed offers robust inventory management features including real-time updates, multi-location support, and customizable reporting.
  • Customizable reports and analytics
    The platform provides detailed reporting and analytics options that can be tailored to meet specific business needs, aiding in better decision-making.
  • Customer support
    Lightspeed offers 24/7 customer support via phone, email, and chat, ensuring that any issues can be resolved quickly.
  • Integrated payment processing
    The platform supports integrated payment processing, which can streamline checkout experiences and simplify financial tracking.

Possible disadvantages of Lightspeed

  • Cost
    Lightspeed can be relatively expensive, especially for small businesses or startups, due to its monthly subscription fees and additional costs for advanced features.
  • Learning curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, the complexity and range of features may present a learning curve for new users, requiring time and effort to master fully.
  • Hardware dependency
    Some functionalities require compatible hardware, such as specific barcode scanners or receipt printers, which can add to the overall investment.
  • Occasional bugs
    Users have reported occasional bugs and glitches, particularly when system updates are rolled out, affecting the stability and reliability of the platform.
  • Limited integrations
    While Lightspeed offers several integrations, the range is still somewhat limited compared to some competitors, which could impact businesses that rely on specific third-party applications.
  • Customization limitations
    There are some limitations in terms of the level of customization available, particularly in the eCommerce platform, which might restrict specific business needs.

Hackster features and specs

  • Community Engagement
    Hackster provides a platform for community interaction, facilitating shared learning and collaboration between project creators and users.
  • Diverse Project Range
    The platform hosts a wide variety of projects across different domains, catering to users with varying interests and skill levels.
  • Learning Resources
    Hackster offers numerous tutorials and guides that can help beginners learn new skills and improve their technical knowledge.
  • Access to Open Source Projects
    Users can access and contribute to open-source projects, enhancing collaboration and innovation within the tech community.
  • Networking Opportunities
    The platform allows users to connect with industry professionals and hobbyists, potentially leading to collaboration and career opportunities.

Possible disadvantages of Hackster

  • Quality Variability
    The quality of projects and tutorials can vary widely, with some offerings lacking depth or clear instruction.
  • Overwhelming for Beginners
    The sheer volume of content and advanced projects can be overwhelming for newcomers who may not know where to start.
  • Reliance on User Contributions
    The platform largely relies on user contributions, which might lead to inconsistency and gaps in the topics covered.
  • Limited Vetting Processes
    Projects and tutorials aren't always thoroughly vetted, meaning users may encounter outdated or incorrect information.
  • Commercial Bias
    Some projects and resources may be influenced by commercial sponsorships, which can affect the objectivity of the content.

Analysis of Lightspeed

Overall verdict

  • Lightspeed is generally regarded as a robust solution for businesses looking to enhance their sales operations. It offers a user-friendly interface, extensive reporting capabilities, and seamless integration with various third-party applications. While it may be priced higher than some competitors, the value offered justifies the cost for many users.

Why this product is good

  • Lightspeed is known for providing a comprehensive point of sale (POS) and eCommerce solution tailored for various retail and hospitality businesses. It integrates inventory management, analytics, and customer management into one platform, making operations more streamlined for business owners. With a focus on usability and helpful features, businesses can efficiently manage their sales both online and offline.

Recommended for

  • Retail businesses looking for integrated POS and inventory management.
  • Hospitality businesses needing a reliable and feature-rich POS system.
  • Businesses aiming to leverage detailed analytics for strategic decision-making.
  • Companies seeking a scalable solution that can grow with them.

Lightspeed videos

No Lightspeed videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Hackster videos

HACKSTER (LV 100) - EL GRAN IMIGBOSS!! ๐Ÿ˜ - Monster Legends Review

More videos:

  • Review - EL RATON HACKSTER LV 100 - Monster Legends
  • Review - Monster Legends - Hackster Review, Level 1 to 100

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Lightspeed and Hackster)
Payments Processing
100 100%
0% 0
Digital Fabrication
0 0%
100% 100
Payment Platform
100 100%
0% 0
Additive Manufacturing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Lightspeed and Hackster

Lightspeed Reviews

20 Best Retail Management Software Reviewed for 2024
Why I picked Lightspeed Retail: Lightspeed Retail offers robust features for tracking inventory across multiple locations and channels. It allows you to easily manage stock levels, receive notifications for low stock, and track item movements, enabling you to make informed decisions about restocking and optimizing inventory levels. The system provides real-time updates,...
9 Small Business Inventory Management Software
LightSpeed's real-time inventory tracking feature is invaluable for small business owners. Having access to real-time data enables you to make informed decisions, optimize stock levels, and ultimately increase customer satisfaction. This is a must-have feature for any small business looking to improve their inventory management systems.
POS: Best Point of Sale System Software for Small businesses
A solution is offered by LightSpeed Retail for restaurants, e-commerce, and retail. It is a Canadian business that offers POS and online shopping software. The business offers Lightspeed Retail support round-the-clock.
Source: qpe.co.in
Best Inventory Management Software of 2020
Pros & Cons of Lightspeed POS Software Lightspeed is easy to set up and provides almost instant improvement to the way businesses manage and track their inventory, sales, customer, and employee data. It is cloud based so that users can access or input information from anywhere that they are online, and it integrates easily with ecommerce platforms and other business...
Source: digital.com
The Best Retail Management Software of 2021
Lightspeed Retail pricing starts at $79/month for the Basic plan and tops out at $259/month for the Pro plan. For the Enterprise plan, you need to contact the vendor for a custom quote. A free trial and demo are available, while support is accessible online, via a 24/7 live rep and also during business hours.
Source: digital.com

Hackster Reviews

We have no reviews of Hackster yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Hackster seems to be a lot more popular than Lightspeed. While we know about 26 links to Hackster, we've tracked only 1 mention of Lightspeed. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Lightspeed mentions (1)

  • POS System
    Lightspeed is the biggest. They do everything rewards, integration into other things, online and b&m POS lightspeedhq.com. Source: over 3 years ago

Hackster mentions (26)

  • A powerful AR Cyberdeck that fits into your pocket!
    You'll find on our website a lot of info regarding this laptop + we are working on a Hackster.io page to share our journey through devlogs :). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Broken Samsung charger
    Note that I could not find much documentation on references written on these components and that I am pretty new to electronics but it's something I'm interested in and I love to experiment (I have already went through hackster.io and instructables.com tutorials). Source: about 2 years ago
  • Single NeoPixel Micro Device w/ Rechargeable Battery Possible?
    Something like the Gemma M0 or one of the Feather boards would work pretty well depending on what kind of connectivity you want. They both have JST connectors to connect a rechargable battery and the Gemma already has a single NeoPixel onboard. The Learn section on Adafruit or hackster.io both have excellent guides on running projects with either board. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What to do during down time
    I say this because learning Python and R are cool, but learning them in a traditional academic framework might not be as fulfilling or as productive as looking up some of the wild projects on hackaday.com, hackster.io, and instructables.com. If you start looking at these, they can really broaden your lens of what is possible, while at the same time offering projects that are more fun than rote coding exercises. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Starting my Journey
    The website https://randomnerdtutorials.com has a lot of good stuff to get you going. A lot of the more advanced projects are on https://hackster.io. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Lightspeed and Hackster, you can also consider the following products

Square - Square helps millions of sellers run their business-from secure credit card processing to point of sale solutions. Get paid faster with Square. Sign up today!

Instructables - DIY How To Make Instructions

Odoo Point of Sale - Odoo is an online point of sale solution for retail and restaurants.

Teach by Mozilla - The Mozilla Learning Network

ITSCircle POS - ITSCircle POS is a point of sale solution for retail stores.

HackADay - Hackaday.io is a platform for people who like to build things.