Brandwave

Lightspeed vs Square for Restaurants:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Lightspeed had more branded searches than Square for Restaurants among restaurant management software worldwide. Lightspeed had about 27,900 branded searches, while Square for Restaurants had 2,400. Lightspeed made up 26.1% of all restaurant management software searches we track, and Square for Restaurants accounted for 2.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about restaurant management software, Lightspeed and Square for Restaurants each appeared in three of the five answers. Square for Restaurants was mentioned before Lightspeed in three out of four answers.

Among restaurant management software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Lightspeed, about 12 searches for every 1 for Square for Restaurants

Lightspeed 27.9K searchesSquare for Restaurants 2.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Lightspeed in 3 of 5Square for Restaurants in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Square for Restaurants, named ahead of Lightspeed in 3 of 4 answers

Square for Restaurants first in 3Lightspeed first in 1

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Top restaurant management software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Lightspeed was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Square for Restaurants was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Square for Restaurants was listed before Lightspeed in three out of four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Toast1st
  2. Square for Restaurants2nd
  3. Lightspeed3rd
  4. Restaurant3654th
  5. TouchBistro5th
  6. MarketMan–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Toast4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Restaurant3654 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lightspeed3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Square for Restaurants3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • TouchBistro1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • MarketMan0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about restaurant management software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Lightspeed or Square for Restaurants more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Lightspeed and Square for Restaurants by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six restaurant management software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Lightspeed and Square for Restaurants among restaurant management software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Lightspeed, Square for Restaurants. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthToastLightspeedRestaurant365MarketManTouchBistroSquare for Restaurants
Oct 202537.2%29.1%11%11%9%2.7%
Nov 202535.1%28.8%12.6%12.6%8.4%2.5%
Dec 202537.9%25.6%13.6%11.1%9.1%2.7%
Jan 202638.6%25.5%14%11.5%7.7%2.8%
Feb 202639.1%26.9%11.9%11.9%7.9%2.3%
Mar 202637.7%30.6%11%11%7.4%2.2%
Apr 202638.6%28.8%11.4%11.4%7.6%2.2%
May 202638.7%28.6%11.4%11.4%7.6%2.2%
Jun 202640.5%24.8%12.3%12.3%8.2%2%
Jul 202639.3%25.4%11%11%11%2.2%
Aug 202637.2%29.6%13.1%10.7%7.2%2.1%
Sep 202638.9%26.1%13.9%11.3%7.6%2.2%

How has the Lightspeed and Square for Restaurants comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for restaurant management software worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Lightspeed lost share of searches among restaurant management software worldwide, from 29.6% to 26.1%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Square for Restaurants worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 3.6K to 2.4K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

35 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Lightspeed’s and Square for Restaurants’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Lightspeed

34 branded search terms

  • kounta
  • kounta lightspeed
  • lightspeed commerce
  • lightspeed epos
  • lightspeed epos system
  • lightspeed hq
  • lightspeed kounta
  • lightspeed point of sale system
  • lightspeed pos
  • lightspeed pos app
  • lightspeed pos demo
  • lightspeed pos ecommerce
  • lightspeed pos hardware
  • lightspeed pos inventory
  • lightspeed pos restaurant
  • lightspeed pos retail
  • lightspeed pos software
  • lightspeed pos system
  • lightspeed restaurant
  • lightspeed restaurant pos
  • lightspeed retail point of sale
  • lightspeed retail pos
  • lightspeed vend
  • pos lightspeed
  • pos vend
  • retail lightspeed
  • vend by lightspeed
  • vend hq
  • vend lightspeed
  • vend pos
  • vend pos app
  • vend pos system
  • vend software
  • vendhq lightspeed

Square for Restaurants

1 branded search term

  • square for restaurants

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among restaurant management software

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