A Lightspeed alternative
ChefSynk vs Lightspeed
How the two compare on contract, commission, delivery apps and who controls your customers’ data. Every Lightspeed fact links to Lightspeed’s own pages, and we say where Lightspeed is better.
Checked 11 Nov 2026
Where ChefSynk is different
- No lock-in. ChefSynk is monthly rolling. Lightspeed’s agreement renews automatically for the same term unless you give 90 days’ notice, and charges the remaining fees if you leave early.
- Your own card machine. In store you bring your own card machine, and online payments go into your own Stripe account. Lightspeed’s agreement requires Lightspeed Payments unless it agrees otherwise, and charges a monthly fee if you process cards elsewhere.
- Delivery apps built in. Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats are built into Growth and Complete, on our own code. Lightspeed connects them through Deliverect.
- Inventory and loyalty on every plan. On ChefSynk, recipe-level inventory and loyalty at the till are on every plan. On Lightspeed Basic both are add-ons; they are included on Core and Pro.
Where Lightspeed is better
- Built for scale. Lightspeed Pro adds multi-location management, benchmark data and new revenue streams, for full-service restaurants and groups.
ChefSynk vs Lightspeed at a glance
| Topic | ChefSynk | Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | £35, £55 or £99 a month, ex VAT | Basic £79, Core £149, Pro £219 a monthSource: Lightspeed, Monthly price (opens in a new tab) |
| Contract | Monthly rolling, no lock-in | Term on the order form, renews automatically, 90 days’ notice; the remaining fees are due if you leave earlySource: Lightspeed, Contract (opens in a new tab) |
| Your own online orders | 0% commission; customers pay a 50p + VAT platform fee | Add-on on Basic and Core; included on ProSource: Lightspeed, Your own online orders (opens in a new tab) |
| Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats | Built in-house, on Growth and Complete | Through DeliverectSource: Lightspeed, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats (opens in a new tab) |
| Card payments | Online: your own Stripe account. In store: bring your own card machine | Lightspeed Payments, or a monthly fee based on your volumeSource: Lightspeed, Card payments (opens in a new tab) |
| Customer data | You own it, stored in a secure UK cloud | You keep the rights to your content; Lightspeed has a licence to use itSource: Lightspeed, Customer data (opens in a new tab) |
| Self-order kiosk | Own kiosk, £25 per device a month | Add-onSource: Lightspeed, Self-order kiosk (opens in a new tab) |
| Kitchen display | Included on Growth and Complete | Included on Core and Pro; add-on on BasicSource: Lightspeed, Kitchen display (opens in a new tab) |
| Inventory and stock | Recipe-level inventory, on every plan | Included on Core and Pro, with fully-costed recipes; add-on on BasicSource: Lightspeed, Inventory and stock (opens in a new tab) |
| Loyalty | At the till on every plan; online with your ordering site | Included on Core and Pro; add-on on BasicSource: Lightspeed, Loyalty (opens in a new tab) |
| Reports and analytics | Analytics on every plan; multi-store consolidation on Complete | Reporting and Advanced Insights on Basic, Core and ProSource: Lightspeed, Reports and analytics (opens in a new tab) |
| Driver app and live tracking | Free on every plan, for your own online and till orders, with live customer tracking | Not published |
| Multi-store | On Complete | Multi-location management on ProSource: Lightspeed, Multi-store (opens in a new tab) |
| Support | Phone and WhatsApp, 24/7, on every plan | 24/7 chat and phoneSource: Lightspeed, Support (opens in a new tab) |
Monthly price
- ChefSynk
- £35, £55 or £99 a month, ex VAT
- Lightspeed
- Basic £79, Core £149, Pro £219 a monthSource: Lightspeed, Monthly price (opens in a new tab)
Contract
- ChefSynk
- Monthly rolling, no lock-in
- Lightspeed
- Term on the order form, renews automatically, 90 days’ notice; the remaining fees are due if you leave earlySource: Lightspeed, Contract (opens in a new tab)
Your own online orders
- ChefSynk
- 0% commission; customers pay a 50p + VAT platform fee
- Lightspeed
- Add-on on Basic and Core; included on ProSource: Lightspeed, Your own online orders (opens in a new tab)
Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats
- ChefSynk
- Built in-house, on Growth and Complete
- Lightspeed
- Through DeliverectSource: Lightspeed, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats (opens in a new tab)
Card payments
- ChefSynk
- Online: your own Stripe account. In store: bring your own card machine
- Lightspeed
- Lightspeed Payments, or a monthly fee based on your volumeSource: Lightspeed, Card payments (opens in a new tab)
Customer data
- ChefSynk
- You own it, stored in a secure UK cloud
- Lightspeed
- You keep the rights to your content; Lightspeed has a licence to use itSource: Lightspeed, Customer data (opens in a new tab)
Self-order kiosk
- ChefSynk
- Own kiosk, £25 per device a month
- Lightspeed
- Add-onSource: Lightspeed, Self-order kiosk (opens in a new tab)
Kitchen display
- ChefSynk
- Included on Growth and Complete
- Lightspeed
- Included on Core and Pro; add-on on BasicSource: Lightspeed, Kitchen display (opens in a new tab)
Inventory and stock
- ChefSynk
- Recipe-level inventory, on every plan
- Lightspeed
- Included on Core and Pro, with fully-costed recipes; add-on on BasicSource: Lightspeed, Inventory and stock (opens in a new tab)
Loyalty
- ChefSynk
- At the till on every plan; online with your ordering site
- Lightspeed
- Included on Core and Pro; add-on on BasicSource: Lightspeed, Loyalty (opens in a new tab)
Reports and analytics
- ChefSynk
- Analytics on every plan; multi-store consolidation on Complete
- Lightspeed
- Reporting and Advanced Insights on Basic, Core and ProSource: Lightspeed, Reports and analytics (opens in a new tab)
Driver app and live tracking
- ChefSynk
- Free on every plan, for your own online and till orders, with live customer tracking
- Lightspeed
- Not published
Multi-store
- ChefSynk
- On Complete
- Lightspeed
- Multi-location management on ProSource: Lightspeed, Multi-store (opens in a new tab)
Support
- ChefSynk
- Phone and WhatsApp, 24/7, on every plan
- Lightspeed
- 24/7 chat and phoneSource: Lightspeed, Support (opens in a new tab)
Prices are shown as Lightspeed publishes them, not converted. “Not published” means we couldn’t find it on Lightspeed’s own UK pages. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll correct it.
Switching from Lightspeed
How do I leave Lightspeed?
Its agreement renews automatically for the same term unless you give 90 days’ notice before the term ends, and ending early means paying the remaining fees. Note your renewal date before you switch.
Do I have to use Lightspeed Payments?
Lightspeed’s agreement says you must, unless Lightspeed agrees otherwise in writing. With ChefSynk you don’t. In store you bring your own card machine, and online payments go into your own Stripe account.
Can ChefSynk run more than one site?
Yes. Multi-store management is on Complete.
Do I need Deliverect with ChefSynk?
No. Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats are built in on Growth and Complete.
Other comparisons
See ChefSynk on your own menu
Book a demo. No contract to sign, and your first month is on us.