Lightspeed POS vs POS Maid

Founded in 2005 in Montreal, Quebec, Lightspeed POS is a cloud-based platform that provides tailored solutions for retail, restaurant, golf, and e-commerce businesses of all sizes. They offer a unified platform that helps businesses operate day-to-day tasks and reach their potential. They have served over 168,000 small to medium-sized businesses in more than 100 countries worldwide. They offer software and hardware tools for in-person sales and e-commerce, as well as inventory management, team management, supplier management, and store location management. They also offer 24/7 support, real-time analytics, and reporting capabilities to help businesses run more efficiently. Additionally, they offer marketing tools, third-party integrations, and API access. Lightspeed takes data security seriously and maintains compliance with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards through a team of IT security experts. They use PCI-compliant third-party providers for transactions and undergo annual assessments and audits for SOC 2 Type 2 compliance to keep their network monitored and safe. Lightspeed is well-regarded by peers and clients, with high review scores on Trustpilot and industry leader lists. However, they are not BBB-accredited and have an F rating. 

Alexandria Point of Sale has been around since 2010, and are based in Florida. They provide separate retail, restaurant, and salon point-of-sale software systems, each with global capabilities. POS Maid is their retail software that is completely free and made readily available for download. While they don't provide hardware, they suggest purchasing from a list of compatible retailers or sourcing your own devices. Their FAQs recommend add-ons that may increase the overall cost depending on your priorities but, in general, are very cost-efficient options. While selecting separate devices can incur additional costs, strategic planning can lead to significant savings. Perfect for small-sized businesses wanting to enter the world of POS systems, they created their system with an easy user interface and a library of aid with specific FAQs to help guide you. Given these factors, their praise and impressive 4.6 out of 5 review scores on both Capterra and Software Advice and their A+ rating on the BBB come as no surprise.