Lightspeed inventory management add-ons are apps that connect to Lightspeed Retail and extend its native reports. They forecast demand, plan buys, sync stock or price the cash sitting in slow stock. We rank seven, and Cash Margin Partners ranks #1 for X-Series stores wanting trapped cash in dollars, free, over a read-only connection.
Disclosure: Cash Margin Partners publishes this site. That's us at #1, and each entry below says when another tool fits your store better.
The 7 Lightspeed Retail Inventory Add-Ons at a Glance
| Rank | Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cash Margin Partners | X-Series stores that want trapped cash and a ranked plan in dollars | Free |
| 2 | Inventory Planner by Sage | Forecasting and purchase orders on X-Series or R-Series | Pricing on request |
| 3 | Easy Insight | Custom X-Series reports and dashboards | $149 per month |
| 4 | Retail Smart Guys | Done-for-you open-to-buy plans | Pricing on request |
| 5 | SKU IQ | Syncing Lightspeed stock with an online store | $19 per month |
| 6 | Finale Inventory | X-Series stores with a warehouse and barcode workflow | $499 per month |
| 7 | Cin7 Core | X-Series stores that also sell wholesale | $349 per month |
Why This List Exists and How We Chose These 7
Lightspeed buyers keep mixing up two products. Lightspeed Retail X-Series (formerly Vend) and Lightspeed Retail R-Series are separate systems with separate reports and app support.
An add-on built for one series doesn't automatically work on the other. Lightspeed's integrations marketplace labels each listing "Retail POS (X-Series)", "Retail POS (R-Series)" or both, and we checked every label.
We scored each tool on five things, verified October 15, 2026:
- Series support: listed on Lightspeed's marketplace and confirmed on the vendor's site.
- Dollar answers: whether it tells you how much cash sits in stock, or only how many units.
- Data direction: whether it only reads Lightspeed data or also writes back.
- Published pricing: a number on the website.
- Owner fit: whether a one- or two-person team can run it.
We dropped Retail Toolkit and Unleashed because we couldn't confirm their Lightspeed connections on their own sites on October 15.
What Lightspeed's Native Inventory Reporting Already Covers
Check Lightspeed's own reports before paying for an add-on. Coverage depends on series and plan.
Lightspeed Retail X-Series reports
On X-Series, basic reporting comes with every plan, and its only inventory report is the Adjustment report, per Lightspeed's reporting guide. Advanced reporting adds low inventory, inventory summary, replenishment, performance, sell-through, recently out of stock and dusty inventory reports.
The same guide says the Core plan excludes the dusty inventory, sell-through and recently out of stock reports. Lightspeed describes dusty inventory as showing "what products in your inventory are not selling quickly."
The inventory performance report shows closing inventory, sell-through rate, days cover, inventory cost and retail value. Lightspeed notes gross profit equals revenue if you haven't recorded product costs. The inventory turns report adds GMROI and turns.
Forecasting sits in Insights, which Lightspeed's demand forecasting guide says is available on Plus plans. It reads the last six weeks of sales, and seasonal items need year-over-year history.
Lightspeed Retail R-Series reports
On R-Series, inventory reporting lives in Lightspeed Analytics. Its reporting guide lists Sell Through, Dusty Inventory, Low Stock Alerts, Margin Alert, Uncounted Old Inventory, Turns and GMROI.
Both series tell you what sat still. Neither guide describes a ranked plan for what to mark down, bundle or liquidate first.
If you want that number for your own store, start with the free trapped-cash estimate. It's a short questionnaire that returns a directional range before you connect anything.
1. Cash Margin Partners: Best for Seeing Trapped Cash in Dollars on X-Series
Cash Margin Partners is an inventory cash-recovery practice for independent, owner-operated retailers. We show you how much cash is trapped in unsold inventory and give you a prioritized plan to get it back.
I think of a Lightspeed store's slow stock as a back room: the place cash goes to sit down and stop moving. Lightspeed's dusty inventory report tells you who's in there. We put a dollar figure on each item and rank what should leave first.
Connections and data
- Lightspeed Retail X-Series: labeled Live on our integrations page. We read every active outlet, your inventory and up to 366 days of completed sales.
- Read-only: we never write to your Lightspeed account. Stock counts, prices and purchase orders stay as you left them.
- Shopify and Square: live, read-only connections for stores that run more than one system.
- Spreadsheet upload: item-level catalog and sales exports in CSV, TSV or Excel, with a guided column review. R-Series stores use this path.
Key features
- Trapped cash by SKU, with the items that have sat too long flagged first.
- A recovery plan ranking markdown, bundling and liquidation moves by expected cash and time-to-cash.
- Estimated 30, 60 and 90-day cash-at-risk ranges when there's enough supported sales history and cost data.
- Stockout dates and reorder timing with confidence bands, plus price-to-sell recommendations.
- Reports and exports you keep.
Pricing
Cash Margin Partners is free, per our pricing page. There's one plan, diagnostics and predictive analytics are included, and there's no card or time limit. CMP earns a 20% fee only if you sell through the CMP Exchange marketplace and the transaction closes. CMP Exchange availability and transaction handling follow its published seller terms.
Who should choose Cash Margin Partners
- X-Series owners on a plan without the dusty inventory or sell-through reports.
- Owners who want a dollar answer before they pay for planning software.
- R-Series stores willing to upload an export to get the same diagnostic.
Limitations
Our Lightspeed connection covers X-Series only, so R-Series stores have to upload a spreadsheet. Lightspeed connects through a capacity-managed custom app that may pause new connections, and availability depends on workspace eligibility.
We don't build purchase orders or sync stock. Thin cost data in Lightspeed means a thinner diagnostic.
2. Inventory Planner by Sage: Best for Forecasting and Purchase Orders
Inventory Planner by Sage is demand forecasting and replenishment software. Lightspeed's marketplace listing shows it for both Retail POS (R-Series) and Retail POS (X-Series).
Inventory Planner's own site has a dedicated X-Series integration page and a separate, general Lightspeed page that doesn't name a series.
Key features
- Pulls product information, sales orders and purchase orders from X-Series automatically.
- Pushes a purchase order to X-Series as soon as it's created, and receiving data syncs back.
- Prepares stock transfers and syncs them to Lightspeed for multi-location replenishment.
- Open-to-buy planning, profit forecasts and bundle or kit component management.
- Historical inventory levels you can view and analyze over time.
Pricing
Inventory Planner publishes no price. Its pricing page quotes on request, based on the inventory volume you manage, with unlimited users.
Who should choose Inventory Planner by Sage
- Buyers who reorder the same lines every season and want suggested quantities.
- Multi-outlet stores that move stock between locations.
- R-Series stores that need forecasting connected to their POS.
Limitations
You can't see a price without asking for one. Inventory Planner also writes purchase orders and transfers into Lightspeed, so a second system can change your account. Its general Lightspeed page doesn't name R-Series, so R-Series stores should confirm the connection directly.
Inventory Planner by Sage vs Cash Margin Partners
Inventory Planner is built for the next buy, and Cash Margin Partners is built for the stock you already paid for. Use Inventory Planner to decide what to order and CMP to decide what to clear before you do.
| Point | Inventory Planner by Sage | Cash Margin Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Lightspeed series | X-Series and R-Series (marketplace listing) | X-Series live; R-Series by spreadsheet upload |
| Writes to Lightspeed | Yes, purchase orders and transfers | No, read-only |
| Main output | Forecasts and replenishment suggestions | Trapped cash and a ranked recovery plan |
| Open-to-buy | Yes | No |
| Starting price | Pricing on request | Free |
3. Easy Insight: Best for Custom X-Series Reports and Dashboards
Easy Insight is a business intelligence tool with a ready-made Lightspeed connection. Lightspeed's marketplace listing shows Retail POS (X-Series) only, and Easy Insight's own Lightspeed page is titled for X-Series reports and dashboards.
Easy Insight pulls X-Series data from the Lightspeed API, with prebuilt dashboards and custom reports on top.
Key features
- Sales totals, quantities and margins by SKU, product category, outlet or customer.
- Sales, inventory and consignment data in a single report, plus profit by order and SKU.
- Sales velocity, reorder points, reorder quantities and supplier lead-time trends.
- Reports across multiple Lightspeed instances, with per-outlet data visibility for each user.
- Scheduled report delivery by email, and joins with Xero, QuickBooks Online or uploaded spreadsheets.
Pricing
Easy Insight starts at $149 per month for the Professional plan, per its pricing page. That includes 10 SaaS connections, up to 100,000 sales orders a year, two designers and 50 viewers, with hourly refreshes.
Who should choose Easy Insight
- X-Series owners who already know which report they want and can't build it in Lightspeed.
- Groups running more than one Lightspeed account.
Limitations
Easy Insight gives you the tools to build reports, and someone has to build them. Its Lightspeed page doesn't mention inventory aging, so a dead stock view is yours to design. It's X-Series only.
Easy Insight vs Cash Margin Partners
Easy Insight suits owners who want to design their own reporting. Cash Margin Partners suits owners who want the trapped-cash answer without building anything, at no cost.
| Point | Easy Insight | Cash Margin Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Lightspeed series | X-Series | X-Series live; R-Series by spreadsheet upload |
| Setup work | Prebuilt dashboards plus custom reports you design | Connect and review the diagnostic |
| Other data sources | Xero, QuickBooks Online, spreadsheets and more | Shopify, Square, spreadsheets |
| Dead stock view | Build your own | Built in, ranked by dollars |
| Starting price | $149 per month | Free |
4. Retail Smart Guys: Best for Done-for-You Open-to-Buy Plans
Retail Smart Guys is a service firm, and that's the point. Its homepage says it "provides open-to-buy planning, merchandise planning, and inventory consulting for independent retailers," from single-store boutiques to 50-store chains.
Lightspeed's marketplace listing shows both R-Series and X-Series. The firm's homepage shows Lightspeed and Lightspeed X logos among the systems it works with.
Key features
- Open-to-buy plans by class and location, per its services page.
- Sales forecasting, cash flow planning and purchase order entry, so the plan turns into orders.
- Data pulls that consolidate sales and inventory data into reports.
- A free retail inventory analysis that reviews your sales and inventory data, offered with no obligation.
- Back-office help on request, including bookkeeping, payroll and invoice processing.
Pricing
Retail Smart Guys doesn't publish pricing, so treat it as pricing on request. The free inventory analysis is the published starting point, and the firm describes its services as affordable.
Who should choose Retail Smart Guys
- Owners who want a person to build and run the buying plan instead of learning planning software.
- Apparel, gift and specialty stores that plan by class.
- Stores on either Lightspeed series.
Limitations
You're hiring people, so results depend on the team. With no published price, you can't compare cost until you've talked to them.
Retail Smart Guys vs Cash Margin Partners
Retail Smart Guys plans what you buy next and can do the admin work too. Cash Margin Partners is software you run yourself on the inventory already in the building.
| Point | Retail Smart Guys | Cash Margin Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Service with planners | Self-serve software |
| Lightspeed series | X-Series and R-Series (marketplace listing) | X-Series live; R-Series by spreadsheet upload |
| Open-to-buy | Yes, by class and location | No |
| Trapped cash in dollars | Not stated | Yes |
| Starting price | Pricing on request | Free |
5. SKU IQ: Best for Syncing Lightspeed Stock With an Online Store
SKU IQ syncs inventory and orders between a point-of-sale system and an ecommerce platform. Its Lightspeed page says it supports "the Lightspeed R-Series and Lightspeed X-Series (formerly Vend)," and Lightspeed's marketplace listing shows both.
On the online side, SKU IQ's homepage lists Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace and BigCommerce.
Key features
- Stock levels kept aligned across systems in near real time.
- Products sync from Lightspeed to the online store, or the other way around, with variants and images.
- A unified order view showing online and in-store orders together.
- Combined sales reports, top sellers and top customers, per the marketplace listing.
Pricing
SKU IQ starts at $19 per month for Basic, per its pricing page. Plus is $49 and Pro is $99, multi-location costs $10 per location, and the trial runs up to 14 days.
Who should choose SKU IQ
- Stores that sell the same stock in the shop and online.
- Owners tired of entering inventory twice.
Limitations
SKU IQ keeps counts in sync and doesn't tell you which stock to clear. Its FAQ says your Lightspeed plan must allow third-party connections and real-time inventory tracking.
SKU IQ vs Cash Margin Partners
SKU IQ moves inventory data between channels so you don't oversell. Cash Margin Partners reads that inventory and shows what's costing you cash, and the two can run side by side.
| Point | SKU IQ | Cash Margin Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Stock and order sync | Trapped-cash diagnostic |
| Lightspeed series | X-Series and R-Series | X-Series live; R-Series by spreadsheet upload |
| Writes to Lightspeed | Yes, product and stock sync | No, read-only |
| Starting price | $19 per month | Free |
| Trial | Up to 14 days | No time limit |
Key data point
U.S. retailers held $838,983 million in inventory at the end of July 2026, seasonally adjusted, per the Census Bureau's September 16 release. The retail inventories-to-sales ratio was 1.27, against 1.28 in July 2025.
That ratio means stores held about 1.27 months of sales on the shelf. Your own store's figure is the one that pays rent, and a free workspace shows it in dollars.
6. Finale Inventory: Best for X-Series Stores With a Warehouse
Finale Inventory is inventory and warehouse management software for multichannel sellers. Lightspeed's marketplace listing shows Retail POS (X-Series) only.
Finale's own Lightspeed page says "Lightspeed POS" without naming a series, so confirm X-Series before you sign. It says in-store transactions import every five minutes.
Key features
- Stock levels pushed back to Lightspeed and other sales channels.
- Inventory allocated by the Lightspeed location that made the sale, so each outlet's counts stay right.
- Reordering with forecasting, low-stock alerts and dynamic reorder points.
- Barcode scanning, multi-warehouse sublocations and kit or bundle tracking.
- Purchase order tracking, customizable reports and a QuickBooks Online connection.
Pricing
Finale starts at $499 per month for Essentials, per its pricing page. Growth starts at $799, and Enterprise is custom with API and EDI access. Its FAQ says most customers choose 12, 24 or 36-month terms, and standard onboarding is included.
Who should choose Finale Inventory
- X-Series retailers who also ship online orders from a stockroom or warehouse, including through ShipStation.
- Teams that scan barcodes for picking, packing and receiving every day.
Limitations
At $499 a month with multi-year terms common, Finale is a big commitment for a single shop. Its vendor page doesn't name the Lightspeed series, so get X-Series support in writing. Lightspeed lists no R-Series support.
Finale Inventory vs Cash Margin Partners
Finale runs day-to-day stock control, receiving and picking, and becomes part of how every order flows. Cash Margin Partners sits beside your POS and reports on the cash tied up in it.
| Point | Finale Inventory | Cash Margin Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Inventory and warehouse management | Trapped-cash diagnostic |
| Lightspeed series | X-Series (marketplace listing) | X-Series live; R-Series by spreadsheet upload |
| Writes to Lightspeed | Yes, stock levels | No, read-only |
| Barcode workflow | Yes | No |
| Starting price | $499 per month | Free |
7. Cin7 Core: Best for X-Series Stores That Also Sell Wholesale
Cin7 Core is cloud inventory management for businesses that run retail and wholesale from one stock pool. Lightspeed's marketplace listing shows Retail POS (X-Series) only.
Cin7's own Lightspeed integration page describes importing your catalog from a Lightspeed Retail X-Series store. It also supports connecting multiple Lightspeed stores.
Key features
- Stock levels updated from Cin7 Core to Lightspeed automatically, across multiple connected Lightspeed stores.
- Sales orders, purchases and stock adjustments downloaded from Lightspeed into Cin7 Core.
- Bulk product listing and updates from Cin7 Core to Lightspeed, including variants.
- Inventory costs and movements synced to an accounting app.
- Centralized inventory across locations, with wholesale and retail transactions in one view.
Pricing
Cin7 Core starts at $349 per month for Standard, per its pricing page. That covers five users, two ecommerce or app integrations and 6,000 sale orders a year. Pro is $599 and Advanced is $1,199, with prices shown excluding tax.
Who should choose Cin7 Core
- X-Series retailers with a wholesale or B2B channel that draws on the same stock.
- Stores that want Cin7 Core as the inventory record, with Lightspeed at the counter.
Limitations
Cin7 Core makes Lightspeed one channel among several, which is more system than most single-store retailers need. The Standard plan's two integrations can fill up fast, and Lightspeed lists no R-Series support.
Cin7 Core vs Cash Margin Partners
Cin7 Core can become your inventory record and push stock levels to Lightspeed. Cash Margin Partners leaves Lightspeed in charge and only reads from it.
| Point | Cin7 Core | Cash Margin Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Inventory management for retail and wholesale | Trapped-cash diagnostic |
| Lightspeed series | X-Series | X-Series live; R-Series by spreadsheet upload |
| Writes to Lightspeed | Yes, stock levels and products | No, read-only |
| Wholesale orders | Yes | No |
| Starting price | $349 per month | Free |
Lightspeed Inventory Add-Ons Compared
| Tool | Starting price | Lightspeed series (marketplace) | Writes to Lightspeed | Main job | Best-fit store |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Margin Partners | Free | X-Series live; R-Series by upload | No, read-only | Trapped cash and recovery plan | Independent, owner-operated |
| Inventory Planner by Sage | Pricing on request | X-Series and R-Series | Yes | Forecasting and purchase orders | Multi-outlet buyers |
| Easy Insight | $149 per month | X-Series | Not stated | Custom reports and dashboards | Report-minded owners |
| Retail Smart Guys | Pricing on request | X-Series and R-Series | Not stated | Open-to-buy service | Boutiques to 50-store chains |
| SKU IQ | $19 per month | X-Series and R-Series | Yes | Stock and order sync | Shop plus online store |
| Finale Inventory | $499 per month | X-Series | Yes | Inventory and warehouse management | High-SKU, multichannel |
| Cin7 Core | $349 per month | X-Series | Yes | Retail and wholesale inventory | Retail plus wholesale |
How to Pick the Right Lightspeed Add-On for Your Store
- Confirm your series first. Check the Lightspeed marketplace label for X-Series or R-Series, then confirm on the vendor's site.
- Use your plan's reports before buying. Export dusty inventory and inventory performance if your plan has them.
- Name the job. Buying means Inventory Planner or Retail Smart Guys; syncing means SKU IQ; stock control means Finale or Cin7 Core.
- Pick one system of record. Two tools pushing stock levels into one Lightspeed account will fight.
- Size the stuck cash before the subscription. A $499 monthly tool should be measured against the dollars sitting in your back room.
Store example
Take a hypothetical two-outlet gift store on X-Series. Its dusty inventory report lists 310 items averaging nine units on hand at $18 cost.
That's $50,220 at cost. Against $7,500 a month in rent, the list is holding close to seven months of rent.
What the First 90 Days With a Lightspeed Inventory Add-On Look Like
The first 90 days decide whether an add-on pays for itself. This is the rhythm we use in a Cash Margin Partners workspace.
Week 1: connect and read the evidence
Connect X-Series, or upload an R-Series export, and check that every outlet and your cost data came through.
Weeks 2 to 4: choose what leaves the back room
Work the ranked list from the top: mark down, bundle, return to vendor or liquidate. Hold next season's buy on those lines.
Weeks 5 to 12: measure again
Re-run the diagnostic after each markdown cycle. CMP estimates cash-at-risk again on fresh sales, showing which items still sit.
Operator tip
Record product costs in Lightspeed before connecting anything. Without costs, Lightspeed shows gross profit equal to revenue, and every add-on inherits that gap.
How to Vet a Lightspeed Inventory Add-On
- Which series is this for? The tell: the vendor's page and Lightspeed's label agree.
- Does it write to my account? The tell: a clear list of what it reads and what it changes.
- Does it answer in dollars? The tell: inventory cost by SKU.
- Is the price on the website? The tell: a number and what it includes.
- What happens after it flags slow stock? The tell: a recommended next action per item.
How to Get Started This Week
- Confirm whether you're on Lightspeed Retail X-Series or R-Series, and which plan you're on.
- Export the dusty inventory report with costs, if your plan has it, and total on-hand units times cost.
- Get the free trapped-cash estimate, then open a free workspace and connect X-Series or upload your export. This directional questionnaire gives a benchmark range; use a supported connection or reviewed item-level upload for SKU-level analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Lightspeed Retail add-on for inventory?
Cash Margin Partners is the best Lightspeed add-on for X-Series stores that want trapped cash in dollars. It's free, read-only and reads up to 366 days of completed sales from every active outlet. Inventory Planner by Sage is the stronger pick for forecasting and purchase orders.
What's the difference between Lightspeed Retail X-Series and R-Series?
Lightspeed Retail X-Series (formerly Vend) and Lightspeed Retail R-Series are separate Lightspeed point-of-sale products, each with its own reports and app compatibility. Lightspeed's integrations marketplace labels every listing Retail POS (X-Series), Retail POS (R-Series) or both, so check the label before you install.
Does Lightspeed Retail have a dead stock report?
Lightspeed Retail has a dusty inventory report on both series. On X-Series it sits in advanced reporting, and Lightspeed's help center says the Core plan excludes it. On R-Series it's one of the Lightspeed Analytics sales and inventory reports, alongside Turns, GMROI and Uncounted Old Inventory.
Does Cash Margin Partners work with Lightspeed Retail R-Series?
Cash Margin Partners has no live R-Series connection; its live Lightspeed connection is for X-Series. An R-Series store can upload item-level catalog and sales exports as CSV, TSV or Excel. Cash Margin Partners then runs the same diagnostic after a guided column review.
Which Lightspeed add-on is best for forecasting and purchase orders?
Inventory Planner by Sage is the better fit for forecasting and purchase orders, and Lightspeed lists it for both series. On X-Series, it pushes purchase orders to Lightspeed when they're created and syncs receiving data back.
Will a Lightspeed inventory add-on change data in my Lightspeed account?
Many Lightspeed inventory add-ons write to your account by design. Cin7 Core, Finale Inventory and SKU IQ update stock levels, and Inventory Planner by Sage pushes purchase orders and transfers. Cash Margin Partners reads only and never writes to your Lightspeed account.
Related reading
- 7 Best Square Inventory Management Apps
- 7 Best Inventory Aging Report Tools for Retail
- What Is Dead Stock in Retail? A Retailer's Definition
- 9 Signs Your Cash Is Trapped in Inventory
Lightspeed already shows you what's dusty. Put a dollar figure on it this week, then choose your add-on.