Square vs Lightspeed vs KiwiTri: Restaurant POS in Australia

A fair comparison of Square, Lightspeed and KiwiTri POS for Australian restaurants: published prices, kitchen screens, table service and who each suits.

If you run a restaurant or café in Australia and you're shopping for a POS, Square and Lightspeed will almost certainly be on your list. KiwiTri POS is a newer, browser-based option worth considering for independents. This comparison sets out published prices and practical differences so you can decide which fits your venue – not which is "best" in general.

Prices below are published 2026 prices and change over time. Features vary by plan, so check each provider's current details before signing up.

Quick summary

• Square for Restaurants – a free plan to start and a Plus plan at A$129 per location per month. Appeals to venues that want payments and POS from one provider.
• Lightspeed – Starter A$79, Essential A$179 and Premium A$359 per month, with kitchen display at A$40 per screen. An established platform with a broad tier range.
• KiwiTri POS – Standard A$90, Pro A$135 and Plus A$180 per month plus GST. Runs in a browser; kitchen display and QR ordering included from Pro; no setup fees or per-order charges.

Side-by-side comparison

Pricing: what you'll really pay

Headline prices only tell part of the story. Here's how to work out a fair comparison:

1. Count your locations. Square Plus is priced per location, so two venues means two subscriptions. KiwiTri charges an extra-outlet add-on per month on Plus.
2. Count your kitchen screens. On Lightspeed, each screen is A$40/month on top of the plan. Two screens on Essential is A$259/month before payments.
3. Add payment processing. Each provider handles card payments differently. Get a quote based on your monthly card volume.
4. Add hardware. Can you reuse existing iPads or Android tablets? Do you need specific terminals or printers?
5. Apply discounts. KiwiTri annual billing is 33% off and quarterly 10% off; ask the others about annual pricing.

Example: a single venue wanting a kitchen screen and table service. On Lightspeed Essential with one screen, that's A$219/month in software. On KiwiTri Pro, it's A$135/month plus GST. On Square, it depends on whether the free plan covers what you need or whether you move to Plus. Run your own numbers – your setup may differ.

Where each one fits best

Choose Square if…

• You want to start for free and grow into paid features.
• You already use Square for payments and like one provider for everything.
• You run a café, food truck or counter-service venue with simple needs.

Choose Lightspeed if…

• You want an established platform with many tiers to grow into.
• You run a larger or more complex operation and budget for higher tiers.
• You value a mature ecosystem and are comfortable with add-on pricing.

Choose KiwiTri if…

• You're an independent restaurant or café wanting table service features at one flat price.
• You want to run on phones, tablets or PCs you already own.
• You'd like QR table ordering with a photo menu, veg marks and nutrition per dish (kcal, protein, carbs, fat, fibre).
• You want loyalty stamp cards, customer CRM, inventory alerts and food-cost tracking in one plan (Plus).

KiwiTri is a smaller, newer provider than Square or Lightspeed. That's worth weighing: trial it in a real service and ask about support before committing.

Table service and kitchen flow

For a sit-down restaurant, the floor plan and kitchen communication matter most. Check how each system shows table status, how waiters take orders at the table, and how dishes reach the kitchen. KiwiTri Pro includes unlimited tables with a live floor plan coloured by status (free, ordering, eating, bill due), waiter mode on phones, QR ordering straight to the kitchen, and a kitchen display. Kitchen tickets can also print to 58mm or 80mm Bluetooth printers on every plan.

Reporting and GST

All three handle sales reporting. For BAS time, make sure your chosen system shows 10% GST collected, sales by payment type and item sales clearly. KiwiTri includes a daily sales report on Standard, item and GST reports on Pro, and analytics on best days, busy hours and top dishes on Plus. Ask your accountant to review a sample report from whichever system you trial.

Questions to put to every provider

• What is the total monthly cost for my number of locations, terminals and kitchen screens?
• Are there setup, onboarding or cancellation fees?
• Which features in the demo are in my plan, and which are add-ons?
• What happens to my sales data if I leave?
• When is support available – including Friday and Saturday nights?

The answers often matter more than the feature list.

Ask each provider to put pricing in writing for your exact setup. A short email confirming the monthly total, any add-ons and the notice period protects you from surprises later and makes the side-by-side comparison much simpler.

How to decide this week

1. Write down your must-have features and number of screens and locations.
2. Price each option for 12 months.
3. Trial your top two during a Friday or Saturday service.
4. Pick the one your staff found easiest when it was busy.

If KiwiTri is on your shortlist, start the 2-day free trial with your real menu – no card needed – or compare plans on the pricing page.

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