Upserve POS Review – Now Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series

Updated as of August, 2025

If you’re opening a new restaurant or thinking of upgrading your current POS platform, my Upserve POS review takes a more in-depth look at one of the largest tablet-based competitors in the industry. If you want a full-service restaurant management system, this is undoubtedly an effective option. Let’s examine everything on offer at Upserve POS!

Overview of Upserve POS

Note: While this review focuses on the original Upserve system (now Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series), Lightspeed also offers newer unified restaurant platforms. Existing Upserve customers continue using the U-Series, while new customers may be directed to different Lightspeed Restaurant offerings.

Upserve POS originally went by the name of Breadcrumb. In 2016, the company was purchased by Swipely, and the name was changed to Upserve POS — this was following Swipely’s attempt to make Upserve a full-service restaurant management platform rather than a simple POS system.

Upserve POS certainly offers a comprehensive service — there’s much more than payment processing available in this powerful platform. If you’re looking for a system that helps you transform how you manage your restaurant, you’ll find plenty of useful tools at Upserve POS.

You can use the Upserve app on iOS and Android devices, so it’s an excellent option if you want a touch screen POS system. Upserve POS consulted designers from a broad range of hospitality niches. The platform has been built using the input of hardworking restaurant and café professionals.

This approach to the design process doesn’t just make things easier for your staff members; it also makes things easier for you. As a business owner or manager, it’s critical to use a type of POS that is easy to learn and operate for your business environment. It helps prevent mistakes in the workplace and means you won’t waste too much time training your employees.

Upserve POS provides you with easy menu building, a full list of integrations, tons of seamless features, restaurant management tools, excellent hardware options, and more. It’s time to take a more in-depth look at the critical components of this major platform.

Pros vs Cons

Pricing

Lightspeed Restaurant (formerly Upserve) pricing starts at $89 per month. If you use a point of sale platform outside of your business’s budget, it can seriously eat into your profits. Since Lightspeed acquired Upserve in 2020, the pricing structure has been updated. Lightspeed Restaurant offers its services in three distinct packages, though exact pricing details are no longer publicly listed and require contacting Lightspeed for a quote.

Lightspeed Restaurant Cost

• Starter Plan – Starting at $89/month (Additional terminal fees apply)
• Professional Plan – Mid-tier pricing (Contact for quote)
• Enterprise Plan – Up to $399/month (Contact for quote)

Note: Since the Lightspeed acquisition, exact pricing details are no longer publicly available. We recommend contacting Lightspeed directly for current pricing and package details specific to your business needs.

Starter Plan Includes: Lightspeed Restaurant POS, Payment Processing, EMV, Sale Reporting, Labor Reporting, Marketing Insights, Mobile App, Workforce Management

Professional Plan Includes: All Starter features plus Menu Optimization, Server Performance Analytics, Loyalty Programs, Inventory Management, Online Ordering

Enterprise Plan Includes: All Professional features plus Dedicated Success Manager, Custom Reporting, Data API Access, Advanced Analytics

As you can see, while Lightspeed Restaurant (formerly Upserve) offers competitive pricing starting at $89/month, the total cost will depend on your specific needs and the number of terminals required. You’ll need to have a budget that accommodates both the monthly software fees and any additional terminal costs. However, you can also add features individually if you want to upgrade partially.

There is a flat fee of 2.6% + $.10 per transaction in terms of payment processing. They also offer 0% financing on hardware, software, and implementation for qualified buyers.

Key Features

A POS’s features are the most critical component to consider when you’re deciding on a new platform — let’s take a look at what Upserve has to offer:

Data Reporting

The back-office features on offer from Upserve POS are great. You can access them from any device connected to the internet — you can get a full view of your business’s performance when you’re on-the-go.

You can look at detailed sales analytics, labor reporting, campaigns, employee management, and more. You can see detailed, individualized reporting figures from individual staff members, locations, and the business as a whole.

You can view all your restaurant’s data from the Upserve HQ — a central location that retains all the information you need. You can also set up a ‘Daily Digest Email’ to send you a daily summary of your restaurant or business’s performance.

Deployment Type

It’s hard to find a point of sale system that doesn’t have a cloud computing component. You’ll find a hybrid form of point of sale if you decide to work with Upserve. While you can store and access all reporting data and information from a cloud, the offline mode means that the software will store valuable information on your hardware if the internet cuts out.

There are some limitations to Upserve’s Offline Mode; for instance, you can’t work a check on multiple iPads. If a check is changed from different iPads, it will throw off reports and payments. EMV readers will not work if you lose the internet or if your network goes down.

If you are operating in Offline Mode, you can swipe any chip card through the Upserve POS swiper. Upserve POS will encrypt the swipe and hold it securely until connectivity is restored. Once you’re connected again, Upserve sends the encrypted data to the card processor for authorization. This is a great feature most cloud-based systems don’t offer.

If you want to avoid costly data losses and you enjoy accessing reporting data from back-office locations, this form of POS system is just what you’re looking for. I’m a big fan of hybrid systems — they provide you with the best of both worlds, but it’s best to verify you have a fast and stable internet connection to eliminate as much downtime as possible.

Industries Served

You’ll be pleased to know that Upserve POS is built explicitly for the hospitality industry – this means all the tools in the platform are geared towards helps cafés, restaurants, quick-service restaurants, food trucks, bars, and a range of other hospitality-based industries.

While this platform is excellent for businesses of any size, its cost may be impractical for small venues. In many ways, I suggest that you use this platform for mid-sized to more substantial businesses — especially if you’re investing in the more premium packages.

Ease of Use

It’s hard to find a platform that prioritizes ease of use more than Upserve. As discussed previously, this platform was designed by hospitality professionals to make things much easier for business owners and staff.

You’ll find that the user interface is straightforward, making it easy to navigate and see what you’re looking for. This is great for busy periods in your restaurant — your staff members will be able to process transactions quickly and build orders without wasting time.

In terms of the backend, it’s straightforward to build menus, change items, develop categories, and customize your entire POS platform to your particular needs and wants. It’s a great POS platform for those who want to avoid complications.

Training and Onboarding

Upserve POS includes comprehensive training. The Getting Started Guide walks owners and managers through the system’s functionalities, helping them customize the POS to their requirements.

They also provide dedicated onboarding resources covering essential topics like service management and setting up employee roles. Those running the show can quickly get a handle on the system and effectively train their staff.

Upserve has streamlined the learning process on the server side with specific training modules and video tutorials. These resources focus on the essential skills servers need, covering everything from menu management to processing payments.

There’s also a Training Mode feature where new hires can get hands-on experience with the system without the risk of messing up real orders. It’s a low-pressure way for staff to familiarize themselves with the interface and workflows, building their confidence before they start serving actual customers.

This mix of targeted resources and practical experience means new staff can often be trained up and ready to go in just a few hours.

Hardware

Fortunately, you can use Upserve POS on both iOS and Android devices – this gives you a much higher degree of flexibility than you’ll find with some of the other leading POS platforms. Also, it means you won’t have to purchase your hardware devices from your point of sale provider — you can source the accessories on your own! That being said, we generally recommend you get all your hardware from the POS company or provider to make sure your equipment is compatible with the software.

If you want additional hardware, such as kiosks or printers, you can purchase them from Upserve POS. These other hardware products can help you bring your system to the next level.

You’ll find that most people use iPads and Android tablets for Upserve POS. And don’t worry — you can access your reporting information from any form of device that connects to the internet – this is a feature I look for in any top POS platform.

Integrations

As you can probably tell, there are plenty of add-ons available at Upserve. Integrations and add-ons are undoubtedly one of the key benefits associated with this software. Outside of the upgrade, you can get from purchasing the premium packages mentioned in the ‘Pricing’ section of this Upserve POS review; you can also head to the Upserve Marketplace to gain access to a broad range of add-ons.

The available Upserve POS integrations and add-ons can help you manage online orders, integrate accounting, give you a more in-depth look at your analytics, help you improve scheduling, manage reservations, issue gift cards, and a range of other benefits.

Some of the additional add-ons and integrations include GrubHub, Tock, Resy, Better Chains, Homebase, 7shifts, Orca, Shogo, KitchenSync, and more. Keep in mind that many of these add-ons will cost you extra money, so you need to factor these costs into your budget.

Still, I like the number of add-ons available through Upserve POS.

Example Integrations

Payment Processing

Lightspeed Restaurant credit card processing costs a flat fee of 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction and is EMV ready.

Since the Lightspeed acquisition, there’s even less credit card processing flexibility than before — you must use Lightspeed Payments as your processing platform. If you choose to use a third-party payment processor, Lightspeed charges an additional $400 per month penalty fee. This is a significant change from the original Upserve system, which had limited flexibility but didn’t impose such steep penalties for external processors.

This lack of flexibility isn’t ideal, as it removes the option to bring your current credit card processor with you if you’re transferring systems or to shop around for better rates. However, this does mean streamlined integration and you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues between your POS and payment processor.

Lightspeed Payments offers embedded payment processing, meaning transactions are automatically recorded in your POS system, reducing errors and manual entry. The company promotes flat-rate pricing with no setup costs or hidden fees, and they process payments faster than non-integrated solutions.

I do like that they have a handheld POS option for tableside ordering with EMV payments. This is a great feature that very few companies seem to get right. The Lightspeed tableside solution includes portable payment terminals that can process payments directly at the table, which enhances the customer experience and speeds up service.

Customer Service

Lightspeed Restaurant offers comprehensive customer support with 24/7 live chat and phone support, plus an extensive knowledge base for self-service troubleshooting. Having round-the-clock support is crucial for restaurants that operate outside standard business hours.

However, customer feedback reveals some concerns worth considering. The most common complaints involve system lag, server downtime, and occasional platform crashes — serious issues when you need reliable POS operation during busy service periods. Some users also find the pricing steep compared to alternatives.

When evaluating any POS system, it’s wise to research customer reviews on independent sites to get a balanced perspective on real-world performance and support quality.

Who’s Upserve POS Best For?

From what I’ve seen, Upserve’s restaurant pos system is really best for mid-sized to larger restaurants. You’ll probably get your money’s worth if you’re running a busy place with multiple servers, a full kitchen, and a bar.

After reading the reviews, I noticed that a lot of independent restaurant owners seem to like it, too. The system appears to be particularly well-suited for full-service restaurants, cafes, and bars that need comprehensive management tools and detailed analytics.

However, its advanced features and pricing structure may be more than what small eateries require. Upserve POS is designed for businesses that can make use of its extensive reporting and operational tools to manage and grow their operations.

Where Upserve POS Excels

Upserve’s system is comprehensive. It covers everything from menu management to staff performance tracking. One standout feature is its offline capability—you can still operate if your internet goes down.

The system seems well-designed for actual restaurant needs, likely due to input from industry professionals. Their marketplace offers a good range of integrations, and the mobile app is handy for keeping an eye on things remotely.

Areas for Improvement

On the flip side, Upserve isn’t the cheapest option. Smaller operations might find it’s more than they need. There have been some reports of occasional glitches and downtime, which is always a concern in the restaurant industry.

They also require you to use their payment processing, which might not suit everyone.

Upserve POS Alternatives

FAQs

Our Verdict

So, is Upserve point of sale the right platform for your business? If you’re using an outdated POS system at the moment, there are certainly some vast advantages associated with Upserve POS. This system provides you with a full restaurant management platform that allows you to improve your business’s capabilities, but the price is on the higher side of the tablet POS market.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive system that is easy to scale, Upserve POS gives you many features and options to choose from. It also allows you to use iOS and Android devices and a range of other hardware add-ons.

It’s hard to find too much wrong with Upserve POS, but the price is steep. You’ll also need to overcome customer complaints about downtime and lagging. Still, it’s hard to find a modern tablet-based POS company with a more robust feature list. If you think Upserve POS is right for you, get in touch with their team for a free demo or visit here to see more POS reviews.