With restaurant technology advancing rapidly in 2025, business owners need powerful point-of-sale systems that integrate seamlessly with modern solutions. ShopKeep, now known as Lightspeed POS (S-Series), has evolved significantly since joining the Lightspeed family in 2020, offering enhanced capabilities while maintaining its commitment to helping businesses thrive. Today’s competitive marketplace demands POS systems that not only process transactions but also connect with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and automated customer service tools. Understanding ShopKeep’s current pricing structure becomes essential for merchants seeking a reliable foundation that can adapt to rapidly changing consumer expectations and technological innovations.
The evolution from ShopKeep to Lightspeed represents more than just a name change—it symbolizes expanded capabilities and enhanced support for merchants across various industries. The system continues to be trusted by thousands of small business owners who rely on its intuitive, secure iPad-based point of sale system. This cloud-based platform empowers merchants to optimize staffing, manage inventory effectively, and access comprehensive sales reports and customer information in one seamless interface. Modern restaurants and retail establishments increasingly require systems that can handle both traditional operations and integrate with new technologies like voice AI and automated phone systems.
For business owners evaluating POS options, ShopKeep offers a compelling combination of user-friendly design, powerful back-office features, and reliable performance. However, with the transition to Lightspeed, pricing structures have evolved, making it essential for potential customers to understand current costs, available plans, and what features come with each pricing tier. Today’s business environment also requires consideration of how POS systems work with emerging restaurant technologies, including AI phone agents that can handle orders and reservations automatically.
With ShopKeep’s integration into Lightspeed, the pricing structure has shifted to align with Lightspeed’s tiered approach, offering three primary pricing tiers for retail businesses: Basic, Core, and Plus. The Basic plan starts at $89 USD per month and is designed for independent retailers with essential day-to-day operational needs. The Core plan costs $149 USD per month and targets retailers seeking management tools to facilitate business growth. The Plus plan, priced at $289 USD per month, is tailored for advanced customization and ease of scalability in established retail operations.
Each plan includes specific features designed to address various business requirements. The Basic plan includes fundamental tools like the Mobile Scanner App, which turns iOS or Android devices into powerful inventory management tools. This feature allows users to count products, track inventory, and fulfill orders easily. The Core plan builds upon these features with additional capabilities, while the Plus plan offers the most comprehensive set of tools for larger or more complex retail operations.
ShopKeep’s transition to Lightspeed’s pricing model represents a move toward more structured, transparent pricing compared to its previous quote-based system. While this may mean higher starting costs for some businesses, it also provides clearer expectations about what features are included at each price point and how costs might scale with business growth. The pricing structure is designed to scale with businesses as they grow, allowing for the addition of extra locations or registers as needed.
Diving deeper into the retail plans offered under the ShopKeep by Lightspeed brand, each tier provides increasingly sophisticated features to support growing businesses. The Basic plan at $89 per month serves as an entry point for independent retailers who need essential POS functions, including inventory management capabilities, basic reporting features, and standard payment processing options. The Core plan at $149 per month enhances these offerings with more advanced management tools, improved reporting capabilities, and additional features designed to support business growth and expansion.
The Plus plan, at $289 per month, represents the premium tier for established retail operations. This comprehensive package includes advanced customization options, sophisticated inventory management tools, and enhanced scalability features. All plans come with the Mobile Scanner App, which allows businesses to transform iOS or Android devices into powerful inventory management tools. This functionality enables retailers to count products, track inventory levels, and fulfill orders efficiently from anywhere in their store.
For businesses with specific needs, ShopKeep by Lightspeed also offers flexible repayment terms and customizable solutions. The pricing structure is designed to scale with businesses as they grow, allowing for the addition of extra locations or registers as needed. While the base plan costs remain fixed, these additional components can be added incrementally to accommodate expansion.
The system’s robust features include:
While ShopKeep provides excellent POS functionality, modern restaurants face additional challenges that require specialized solutions beyond traditional point-of-sale systems. Managing phone calls, taking orders, and handling reservations can overwhelm staff during peak hours, leading to missed revenue opportunities and frustrated customers. This is where AI for restaurants becomes essential for maintaining competitive advantage.
Loman AI offers a 24/7 AI phone agent specifically designed for restaurant operations, seamlessly integrating with POS systems like Square, Toast, and Clover. The system is trained on restaurant menus, policies, and customer preferences to ensure accuracy in order taking and reservation management. Unlike general-purpose phone systems, Loman reduces missed calls, shortens wait times, and actually improves sales by intelligently upselling and capturing orders that would otherwise be lost. Built-in analytics and real-time insights provide restaurant owners with valuable data for better decision-making, while the fast setup process means businesses can be live in under a day.
What sets Loman apart from ShopKeep and other POS-focused solutions is its specialization in restaurant call handling and efficiency gains. While ShopKeep excels at transaction processing and inventory management, Loman fills the critical gap in customer communication that restaurants face daily. The system scales effortlessly for single locations, chains, or franchises, providing the same level of sophisticated call management regardless of business size. This combination of POS reliability from systems like ShopKeep with AI-powered communication from Loman creates a comprehensive technology stack that addresses both operational and customer service needs.
For restaurant owners and businesses in specialized industries, ShopKeep by Lightspeed offers tailored solutions with pricing structures that reflect the unique needs of these sectors. Unlike the retail plans which have clearly defined pricing tiers, restaurant and specialized industry pricing may require contacting the company directly for a customized quote. This approach allows ShopKeep to create packages that specifically address the distinct operational requirements of food service businesses, golf courses, and other specialized establishments.
Restaurant plans typically include features essential for food service operations, such as menu management, table layouts, kitchen display systems, and order tracking. The pricing for these specialized plans depends on factors like the size of the restaurant, number of terminals needed, and specific features required. Similarly, golf course plans incorporate features relevant to golf shop and restaurant operations, including tee time management and pro shop inventory control.
According to various sources, restaurant-specific pricing may start around the same level as retail plans but can vary based on the establishment’s specific requirements. While some reviewers mention pricing starting at around $69 per month in certain regions, the current Lightspeed structure suggests higher starting points for fully-featured restaurant systems. The company’s consultative approach to these industries ensures that each business receives a solution tailored to their specific operational model, with pricing that reflects the actual value delivered.
Restaurant implementations include:
When comparing ShopKeep by Lightspeed’s pricing to competitors like Square, Clover, and other POS providers, several differences become apparent. Square offers a more straightforward pricing structure with a free POS software option where users primarily pay for payment processing fees (2.6% + $0.10 per transaction for in-person payments). Their paid plans range from $29 to $89 per month, making them potentially more affordable for smaller businesses. Clover, meanwhile, offers two main software plans: Register Lite at $9.95 per month plus transaction fees, and Register at $39.95 per month plus slightly lower transaction fees, along with hardware costs ranging from $499 to $1,399.
ShopKeep by Lightspeed’s pricing starting at $89 per month positions it in a higher price bracket than these competitors’ entry-level offerings. However, many business owners find the additional cost justified by ShopKeep’s robust inventory management capabilities, detailed reporting features, and 24/7 customer support. For businesses with complex inventory needs or multiple locations, these advanced features may provide sufficient value to offset the higher monthly subscription cost.
Other alternatives like Toast POS (starting at $69 per month for restaurants), Lightspeed Retail (between $69 and $229 per month when paid annually), and TouchBistro (starting at $69 per month for a POS license) offer comparable pricing to ShopKeep, with varying feature sets tailored to different business types. When evaluating these options, business owners should consider not just the monthly subscription cost but also payment processing fees, hardware requirements, and specific features needed for their operation.
ShopKeep distinguishes itself through:
Beyond the monthly software subscription, payment processing fees represent a significant cost consideration for businesses using ShopKeep by Lightspeed. The platform offers integrated payment processing through ShopKeep Payments, which provides competitive rates that may be customized based on business volume and average ticket size. Standard processing rates typically start at 2.5% + $0.10 per transaction for in-person payments, though these rates can vary based on specific business profile and sales volume.
One notable advantage of ShopKeep over some competitors is its flexibility with payment processors. While the platform offers its own payment processing solution, businesses aren’t locked into using it exclusively. ShopKeep works with various payment processors, including Global Payments, First Data, Elavon, TSYS, and Heartland, among others. This flexibility allows businesses to negotiate potentially better rates based on their specific transaction volume and history, or to maintain existing relationships with preferred processors.
However, using an external payment gateway typically incurs a gateway access fee. This additional cost should be factored into calculations when comparing processing options. For many businesses, the convenience of an integrated payment solution like ShopKeep Payments, with its direct integration into the POS system and simplified reconciliation, may outweigh potential savings from using an external processor.
Payment processing choices include:
When implementing ShopKeep by Lightspeed, businesses must consider hardware costs alongside software subscription fees. The system is designed to work primarily on iOS devices, particularly iPads, though Android compatibility is also available through Clover devices. While businesses can use existing compatible hardware, ShopKeep offers various hardware bundles tailored to different business types, with most starter kits ranging from $800 to $1,500.
For retail operations, a typical hardware setup might include an iPad (not usually included in bundles), an iPad stand or enclosure, a cash drawer, receipt printer, barcode scanner, and card reader. Restaurant setups may additionally include kitchen printers or display systems. ShopKeep offers several pre-configured hardware kits designed for different business needs.
While purchasing hardware directly from ShopKeep ensures compatibility and simplifies support, it may represent a significant upfront investment. Some businesses may be tempted to use existing hardware or purchase from third parties to reduce costs. However, industry experts caution against this approach, as compatibility issues with unsupported hardware can create ongoing operational problems that outweigh initial savings.
Available configurations include:
When budgeting for ShopKeep by Lightspeed, business owners should be aware of potential additional costs beyond the base subscription fee. While the primary plans ($89, $149, and $289 per month) cover essential features, several factors could increase total investment. Additional registers or locations often incur extra charges, which should be considered for growing businesses or those with multiple storefronts. For restaurants, kitchen display systems may require additional fees per device, even on the basic plans.
Integration with third-party services can also add to monthly costs. While ShopKeep offers direct integration with essential services like QuickBooks Online, other specialized integrations might involve additional subscription fees to those services. For businesses requiring advanced features not included in their selected plan, add-ons like enhanced marketing tools, advanced reporting, or specialized loyalty programs might come at an extra cost.
Customer support is included in the base subscription, with 24/7 support available through various channels. However, some reviewers have noted that priority support is reserved for higher-tier plans, which might be a consideration for businesses that anticipate needing substantial technical assistance. Implementation and training represent another potential cost category.
Consider these possible costs:
Unlike many competitors who offer free trials or money-back guarantees, ShopKeep by Lightspeed doesn’t prominently advertise these options on their website. Based on the available information, there doesn’t appear to be a standard free trial period for ShopKeep’s full services. This stands in contrast to competitors like Square, which offers free entry-level software with no time limitation, or other POS providers that typically offer 14 to 30-day trial periods.
The absence of a clearly defined free trial option might be a consideration for businesses wanting to thoroughly test the system before committing to a subscription. However, ShopKeep does mitigate this through its no-contract policy for the software itself. While payment processing agreements may have different terms, the POS software subscription can reportedly be canceled at any time without early termination fees, reducing the risk of long-term commitment if the solution doesn’t meet business needs.
For businesses interested in trying ShopKeep before purchase, the best approach would be to contact their sales team directly to inquire about demonstration options or potential limited-time access to the system. Some reviewers mention that ShopKeep representatives may be willing to provide demonstrations or limited access to help potential customers evaluate the software’s suitability for their specific business requirements.
When evaluating whether ShopKeep by Lightspeed justifies its pricing, business owners should consider several factors beyond the monthly subscription cost. The platform’s strengths lie in its robust inventory management capabilities, detailed reporting features, and 24/7 customer support—all valuable assets for growing businesses. While the starting price of $89 per month positions it higher than some entry-level competitors, the comprehensive feature set may deliver sufficient value to offset this premium, particularly for businesses with complex inventory needs or multiple locations.
The flexibility to choose payment processors represents another potential advantage, allowing businesses to negotiate competitive rates based on their specific transaction volumes. Additionally, the system’s intuitive interface and straightforward implementation can reduce training time and operational disruptions during setup, creating indirect cost savings. The lack of long-term contracts for the software subscription also minimizes risk, allowing businesses to change solutions if needed without penalty.
However, ShopKeep may not be the most cost-effective solution for very small businesses or those just starting out. Businesses with simple needs might find that less expensive options like Square provide sufficient functionality at a lower price point. Additionally, companies requiring specialized industry features should carefully evaluate whether ShopKeep’s offerings in their sector justify the cost compared to industry-specific alternatives. For established businesses seeking a reliable, feature-rich POS system with strong support and scalability, ShopKeep often proves worth the investment despite its higher starting price. Loman AI provides the perfect complement to ShopKeep’s robust POS capabilities, offering fast implementation and scalability for single locations, chains, or franchises seeking enhanced efficiency and improved customer experience through intelligent call management and automated order processing.
Enter your information in the form to receive a call from Loman and place an order like a customer would!
