Square is worth exploring when its supported workflows fit your business and the complete cost makes sense. A switch should improve your working day—not remove tools you rely on.
The decision in context
Lightspeed Restaurant is a hospitality-specific system. Square also provides restaurant-focused tools. The useful comparison begins with your service model: a coffee counter, a takeaway kitchen and a full-service dining room need different things.
What to keep on your shortlist
Build a test order with modifiers, multiple courses, a split payment and a request that needs to reach the correct kitchen station. Include your delivery and accounting integrations. Establish which Lightspeed product and configuration you use; do not confuse Restaurant with the separate Retail offering.
Where switching to Square could help
A café or straightforward hospitality venue may value Square’s combination of POS and payment hardware, especially when it wants a consistent counter and online sales setup. The benefit is a potentially more unified operating model. Confirm the exact plan and Australian feature availability rather than assuming every advertised restaurant tool is included.
What the migration needs to cover
Prepare the menu and modifier structure before importing items. Check printer compatibility, kitchen display requirements, tax configuration, open tabs and gift card obligations. A new POS does not automatically carry forward your historical reports or every integration. Rehearse a complete service before choosing the cutover.
Compare the complete cost
Compare software, processing, devices, kitchen tools and required integrations on equivalent quotes. A lower initial cost is not useful if it creates extra work at the pass during peak service. Ask both providers to demonstrate how your venue handles internet interruptions and support during your operating hours.
Run the Friday service test
Enter a takeaway order with extra modifiers, then a dine-in order that needs a kitchen instruction and a split payment. Check exactly where the tickets print and how the team corrects an error. Repeat the test with the equipment and plan you would really install. A successful demonstration should include recovery from a mistake, not just a perfect sale. If a critical routing or service step fails, resolve that gap before setting the migration date.
The next step for your business
Ninety Degrees helps Gold Coast and Northern Rivers businesses assess the fit and plan their Square setup. Bring your current configuration, essential workflows and a recent bill to the conversation. We can scope installation and any supported migration after reviewing the requirements. A provider name alone is not enough to promise a complete transfer or a lower cost.
Lightspeed Restaurant vs Square: what to check
| Decision | Lightspeed Restaurant | Square |
|---|---|---|
| Orders and service flow | Demonstrate your current workflow | Test the equivalent in the chosen Square plan |
| Kitchen and venue integrations | List the features and integrations you rely on | Confirm replacements or retain the essential tools |
| Menu, hardware and cutover | Check exports and outstanding obligations | Agree a written scope and reconcile the result |
| Total cost | Use your actual plan and payment statement | Include software, processing, hardware and setup |
Let’s plan your next chapter.
Tell us about your business and we’ll work through the moving parts.
Talk to Ninety Degrees