Choosing between Upserve and Shift4 for your business? Both are popular restaurant solutions, but they serve different needs. Upserve starts at $89/month and is Restaurant POS with offline mode and comprehensive analytics., while Shift4 starts at Contact for pricing and is Payment processing and POS technology company. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which POS system is the right fit for your operation.
Quick Comparison: Upserve vs Shift4
| Feature | Upserve | Shift4 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Restaurant | Multi-Industry |
| Starting Price | $89/month | Contact for pricing |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Target Business | Small Business | Small Business to Enterprise |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Free Trial | Yes | No |
| Free Version | No | No |
| Best For | Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics | Businesses wanting integrated payment solutions |
Upserve Overview
Upserve, now Lightspeed Restaurant U-Series, is a restaurant POS offering offline mode, employee management, and real-time insights. Consolidates menu performance, staff productivity, and customer behavior data into one platform.
Upserve is offered by Lightspeed Commerce (founded 2009) based in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The system focuses on Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Bakeries.
Key Features:
- Order management
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Staff management
- Customer loyalty
- Analytics/reporting
Shift4 Overview
Shift4 is a payment processing and POS technology company serving hospitality, retail, and other industries. Owns POSitouch, Harbortouch, and other POS brands. Offers integrated payments and software.
Shift4 is offered by Shift4 (founded 1994) based in Allentown, PA. The system focuses on Hospitality, Retail, Entertainment.
Key Features:
- Payment Processing
- POS Systems
- Gift Cards
- Loyalty
- Analytics
- Enterprise Solutions
Feature Comparison
Upserve Features:
- Order management
- Payment processing
- Inventory management
- Staff management
- Customer loyalty
Shift4 Features:
- Payment Processing
- POS Systems
- Gift Cards
- Loyalty
- Analytics
When comparing features, Upserve stands out with Offline mode for outages, while Shift4 differentiates itself with End-to-end payments. Your choice should depend on which features align better with your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
| Pricing Aspect | Upserve | Shift4 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $89/month | Contact for pricing |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Quote-based |
| Price Range | Mid-range | Mid-range to Premium |
| Free Trial | Available | Not available |
| Free Version | No | No |
Both systems offer competitive pricing for their respective feature sets. Consider the total cost of ownership including hardware, processing fees, and add-on modules when making your decision.
Pros and Cons
Upserve
Pros:
- Easy setup
- 24-hour phone support
- Offline mode
- Real-time insights
- Employee success tracking
Cons:
- System crashes reported
- Learning curve for customization
- Customer service issues
Shift4
Pros:
- Integrated payments
- Multiple POS brands
- Enterprise scale
- Payment innovation
Cons:
- Complex product lineup
- Custom pricing
- May be overkill for small businesses
Who Should Choose Upserve?
Upserve is ideal for Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics. The system is particularly well-suited for Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Bakeries.
However, Upserve may not be the best fit for Retail businesses, those needing simple basic POS.
Who Should Choose Shift4?
Shift4 is ideal for Businesses wanting integrated payment solutions. The system is particularly well-suited for Hospitality, Retail, Entertainment.
However, Shift4 may not be the best fit for Very small businesses wanting simple solutions.
Our Recommendation
Both Upserve and Shift4 are solid POS solutions, but they excel in different areas. Choose Upserve if you’re Restaurants, bars, and cafes wanting comprehensive analytics. Choose Shift4 if you’re Businesses wanting integrated payment solutions. Upserve has a higher user rating (4.3 vs 4.1). We recommend trying demos or free trials of both systems before making your final decision.