Alternative
A Lightspeed alternative built for game and card stores
| Game Store Software | Lightspeed Retail | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $79 (Starter) or $149 (Pro), CAD | $89, $149 or $289 USD (Basic, Core, Plus) [source] |
| Online store | Included on both plans, on the same stock as the till | Built-in Lightspeed eCommerce on every plan (a basic version on Basic) [source] |
| Multiple locations | Pro plan | Custom plan: "Get in touch with us today so we can create your custom plan together." [source] |
| Store credit | Built in, at the till and online | Supported (store credit can be issued and redeemed) [source] |
| Card payments | Stripe readers with Interac, or keep your own terminal | Lightspeed Payments card-present rate listed at 1.5% [source] |
| Trade-ins and condition pricing | Trade-in counter with price bands by value, cash or credit offers, a separate SKU per condition | Not described on its pricing page; check with Lightspeed for your setup [source] |
- Lightspeed Retail Basic: $89 USD per month (annual billing advertised as saving up to 18%) [source]
- Lightspeed Retail Core: $149 USD per month (annual billing advertised as saving up to 18%) [source]
- Lightspeed Retail Plus: $289 USD per month (annual billing advertised as saving up to 18%) [source]
Facts checked October 12, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us. →
Lightspeed Retail is a general point of sale with built-in ecommerce, sold in three plans. The facts above come from Lightspeed's own pages, with links, and the date we checked them.
Where a game store's needs differ
A general retail POS assumes one price per product. A game store has three or four: loose, complete, new, graded. It also buys almost as much as it sells.
- Trade-ins at the counter. Look up the item, pick its condition, and the cash and store-credit offers come from market value and your own price bands. See trade-ins.
- Prices by condition. Every condition is its own item with its own tag and shelf price. See inventory and labels.
- Trading cards. Singles by condition, graded slabs by cert number, bulk bought by count. See trading cards.
When Lightspeed may suit you better
If games and cards are a small corner of a larger general store, a broad retail system may cover more of what you sell.
Switching
See switching to Game Store Software, then compare plans and pricing.
Questions
Is Lightspeed a bad POS for a game store?
No. It's a capable general retail system used by many kinds of shops. The question is whether you want to build trade-ins and condition pricing around a general system or use one that starts there.
Can I keep my card terminal?
Yes. Use Stripe readers with Interac through Game Store Software, or keep your own terminal and record card payments at the till so the drawer still balances.
How do I move my stock across?
Export your products from Lightspeed to a spreadsheet and import them as opening stock. Rows match the catalog by barcode or by title and system; the rest come in as your own items.
30-day free trial. No card needed. For stores in Canada.
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