Datacolor ColorReader vs Lightspeed Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated May 2026 8 min read

Datacolor ColorReader

0.0 (0 reviews)

Datacolor ColorReader is a portable color identification solution that helps painters, designers, and homeowners instantly match any flat surface to the most accurate paint colors from major brands.

Starting at $69/mo
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL
VS

Lightspeed

0.0 (0 reviews)

Lightspeed provides a unified commerce platform that simplifies inventory management, sales tracking, and customer engagement for ambitious retail and hospitality businesses looking to scale their operations globally.

Starting at $89/mo
Free Trial 14 days

Quick Comparison

Feature Datacolor ColorReader Lightspeed
Website datacolor.com lightspeedhq.com
Pricing Model One_time Subscription
Starting Price $69/month $89/month
FREE Trial ✘ No free trial ✓ 14 days free trial
Free Plan ✓ Has free plan ✘ No free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment mobile saas mobile desktop
Integrations Bluetooth Adobe Photoshop Email Text Messaging QuickBooks Xero Sage Mailchimp Homebase 7shifts DoorDash UberEats BigCommerce ShipStation
Target Users freelancer small-business mid-market small-business mid-market enterprise
Target Industries construction real-estate design retail hospitality golf
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 1970 2005
Headquarters Lawrenceville, USA Montreal, Canada

Overview

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Datacolor ColorReader

Datacolor ColorReader is a precision color-matching system that connects a handheld sensor to your smartphone via Bluetooth. You can scan any flat surface—whether it is a wall, fabric, or decorative accessory—to instantly find the closest paint match from top brands like Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Behr. It eliminates the guesswork of manual color matching and helps you visualize your projects with professional accuracy.

You can create custom color palettes, share them with clients or colleagues, and coordinate entire room schemes directly from your mobile device. The tool is designed for professional painters, interior designers, and DIY enthusiasts who need to maintain color consistency across different materials and lighting conditions. By using the dedicated mobile app, you can save your favorite colors and ensure your final paint selection matches your original vision every time.

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Lightspeed

Lightspeed is a comprehensive commerce platform designed to help you run your entire business from a single interface. Whether you manage a high-end retail boutique or a busy multi-location restaurant, you can sync your physical inventory with an online store, track sales in real-time, and manage staff schedules effortlessly. It eliminates the friction between offline and online selling by providing a centralized hub for all your data.

You can leverage advanced reporting to identify your best-selling products and optimize your stock levels across multiple locations. The platform also includes built-in payment processing and customer loyalty tools to help you build lasting relationships. It is specifically built for mid-market and enterprise-level businesses that require sophisticated features like multi-currency support and complex inventory matrixing to fuel their growth.

Overview

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Datacolor ColorReader Features

  • Instant Color Matching Scan any flat surface to find the most accurate paint match from over 50 leading global brands.
  • Digital Palette Creation Build and save custom color collections for different projects so you can keep your design ideas organized.
  • Color Coordination Find complementary colors, triads, and analogous schemes instantly to create perfectly balanced rooms and designs.
  • Project Sharing Send your saved color palettes to clients, contractors, or paint stores via text, email, or social media.
  • Brand Filtering Toggle between specific paint manufacturers to ensure you only see results from the brands you prefer to use.
  • Quality Control Mode Compare two different colors to check for consistency and see the precise Delta E difference between them.
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Lightspeed Features

  • Multi-Location Inventory. Track and move stock across all your physical stores and warehouses from one central dashboard in real-time.
  • Integrated Ecommerce. Launch your online store automatically synced with your physical inventory to prevent overselling and simplify order fulfillment.
  • Advanced Reporting. Access deep insights into your margins, unit costs, and employee performance to make data-driven decisions for your business.
  • Lightspeed Payments. Accept all major payment types with transparent pricing and built-in hardware that integrates directly with your POS system.
  • Customer Loyalty. Create custom rewards programs and targeted email campaigns to keep your customers coming back for more.
  • Supplier Network. Order stock directly from thousands of integrated suppliers within the platform to streamline your procurement process.

Pricing Comparison

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Datacolor ColorReader Pricing

ColorReader EZ
$69
  • Portable Bluetooth sensor
  • 85% + matching accuracy
  • Access to top paint brands
  • Create and share palettes
  • Free iOS and Android app
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Lightspeed Pricing

Lean
$89
  • Retail POS terminal
  • Lightspeed Payments
  • One-on-one onboarding
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Basic reporting
  • Integrated ecommerce

Pros & Cons

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Datacolor ColorReader

Pros

  • Extremely accurate matching compared to visual guessing
  • Saves significant time during client consultations
  • Compact design fits easily in your pocket
  • No monthly subscription fees for app usage

Cons

  • Requires flat surfaces for the most accurate scans
  • Bluetooth connection occasionally requires a quick reset
  • Glossy surfaces can sometimes distort the reading
A

Lightspeed

Pros

  • Excellent inventory management for complex product catalogs
  • Clean and modern user interface is easy to navigate
  • Reliable 24/7 customer support for technical issues
  • Seamless integration between physical and online stores

Cons

  • Higher starting price compared to basic POS systems
  • Additional fees for extra registers can add up
  • Steeper learning curve for advanced reporting features
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