How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Vagaro | 2-6 chair salons wanting the broadest feature set | $30/month (1 bookable calendar; up to $85/month for 7+) | Free trial (30 days) |
 Fresha | Early-stage salons that need marketplace discovery | $19.95/month (Individual); $14.95/month per team member (Team) | No |
 GlossGenius | Solo providers and very small teams | $24/month (Standard, billed annually) | Free trial (14 days, no credit card required) |
 Boulevard | Premium salons and medspas competing on client experience | See website (custom quote) | No (demo required) |
 Booksy | Barbershops and salons wanting predictable budgeting | $29.99/month + tax (single user; +$20/month per extra member) | Free trial (14 days, no credit card required) |
 Mangomint | Growing salons where client experience is part of the brand | $120/month per location + $10/month per user | Free trial available |
 Square Appointments | Solo stylists and salons already on Square POS | $0 (Free plan); Plus $49/month per location; Premium $149/month per location | Yes |
 Acuity Scheduling | Service businesses needing pure scheduling power at low cost | $20/month (Starter; $16/month billed annually) | Free trial (7 days, no credit card required) |
 Zenoti | Multi-location salon, spa and medspa chains | See website (custom quote) | No (demo only) |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Key takeaways
- The subscription price is only half the bill: Fresha charges 20% commission on new marketplace clients and Booksy's Boost takes 30% of a first visit, so model commissions before you compare.
- Vagaro ($30 to $85/month by calendar count) and Booksy ($29.99 plus $20 per extra member) suit small teams; GlossGenius ($24/month) is the cleanest pick for solos.
- Premium salons choose between Boulevard (from ~$176/month per location, 12-month contract) and Mangomint ($120/month per location plus $10 per user, no contract).
- If you already run Square POS, Square Appointments adds scheduling free; if you need the best salon POS software depth, compare Vagaro, Boulevard and Mangomint on inventory and commission tracking.
The best booking software for salons
It is 10 a.m. on a Saturday. All three chairs are full, the phone is ringing with booking requests, and a no-show just opened a 45-minute hole in chair two. The salon that fills that hole in two minutes and the salon that eats the loss are running different booking software. These nine tools cover the real market for salons, spas and barbershops, compared on the numbers that decide the bill: subscription price, per-staff fees, marketplace commissions and the add-ons nobody mentions on the pricing page.
#1
Vagaro
Best for: 2-6 chair salons wanting the broadest feature set
Visit vagaro.com
Starting price$30/month (1 bookable calendar; up to $85/month for 7+)
Free planFree trial (30 days)
Vagaro is the broadest option at an accessible base price: booking, POS, payroll, marketing automation, inventory and loyalty under one subscription. Pricing scales by calendar count ($30 for one, $40 for two, $50 for three, $70 for five, $85 for seven or more), and the consumer marketplace listing brings discovery bookings without per-booking commissions. The subscription is cancel-anytime with no long-term contract.
The catch is the add-on stack. Text marketing runs about $20 a month, intake forms about $10, the website builder about $20, so a 3-person salon realistically pays $100 to $150-plus a month before payment processing (2.2 to 3.5 percent per transaction). Clients must create a Vagaro account to book, which some owners dislike. Good value under seven providers; solo stylists may find GlossGenius or Fresha cheaper.
What we like- Broad all-in-one set with booking, POS, payroll, marketing automation, inventory and loyalty in one platform
- The consumer marketplace brings discovery bookings with no per-booking commissions
- A hard $85 monthly cap keeps costs predictable as staff grows
Watch out for- Key features are paid add-ons (text marketing, intake forms, website builder), so real bills run $100 to $150-plus a month
- Each location needs a separate account at full price
#2
Fresha
Best for: Early-stage salons that need marketplace discovery
Visit fresha.com
Starting price$19.95/month (Individual); $14.95/month per team member (Team)
Free planNo
Fresha looks like the cheapest subscription on this list until you read the commission clause. The subscription is genuinely low ($19.95 a month solo, $14.95 per team member), and the marketplace is enormous, which suits discovery-driven businesses. But every new client the marketplace sends costs a 20 percent one-time commission with a $6 minimum: at 30 new clients a month on $80 tickets, that is roughly $480 in commissions on top of the subscription.
Import your existing client list before going live so returning clients are not flagged as new, and model marketplace volume over 12 months before committing. Note the subscription-free model was retired in 2025, so there is no free tier anymore. Processing is competitive; marketplace dependency is the real cost driver. Best for high-discovery businesses; established client bases usually do better on flat-fee tools.
What we like- The lowest headline subscription in the category with a huge consumer marketplace
- Low card processing (2.29% + $0.20 in the US) and cheap per-member team pricing
- Strong in the UK, Australia and Canada
Watch out for- A 20% one-time commission (minimum $6) on every new client from the marketplace
- Limited free SMS, no website builder and fewer automations than Vagaro
Starting price$24/month (Standard, billed annually)
Free planFree trial (14 days, no credit card required)
GlossGenius is the solo stylist's favorite for a reason you notice in the first five minutes: it is fast to set up, looks good, and the marketing tools are included instead of sold separately. Standard runs $24 a month on annual billing ($28 monthly), Gold $48 ($56 monthly, up to 9 users) and Platinum $148 ($168 monthly, unlimited). Card processing is a flat 2.6 percent, and the 14-day trial needs no credit card.
The tier jumps are the thing to watch. Going from solo to a two-person setup pushes you toward Gold, so a 3-stylist team pays $56 a month while Vagaro charges $50 at that size. There is no marketplace, so every client is yours with no commissions, which many owners prefer. The website builder does not support custom domains. For one to three providers who value branding and simplicity, it is the cleanest pick.
What we like- Clean, mobile-first design with setup measured in minutes
- Email and text marketing included in the flat subscription instead of paid add-ons
- Flat 2.6% card processing with no add-on fees for tap-to-pay or card-on-file
Watch out for- Forms, waivers and waitlist require the Gold tier ($56/month)
- The Gold-to-Platinum jump ($48 to $148) is steep for teams crossing 9 users
#4
Boulevard
Best for: Premium salons and medspas competing on client experience
Visit boulevard.io
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo (demo required)
Boulevard is the premium pick, and it prices like one. The client-facing booking experience is the best in the category: a modern self-booking flow, AI-optimized Precision Scheduling, and an on-brand widget that clients actually comment on. The all-in-one POS is designed for beauty and wellness rather than adapted from retail, and the front-desk workflow suits upscale operations with memberships and packages.
The commercial terms are the heaviest here. Third-party 2026 reviews report Essentials around $176 a month per location, Premier $293 to $325 and Prestige $410 to $455, with a 12-month minimum contract and no trial. Add-ons (Forms and Charts around $55 a month, Contact Center from $25) and reported $495 onboarding stack on top, plus 2.6 percent plus $0.10 in-person processing. Each location is billed at full rate. Do not buy while still scaling; revisit once revenue and team are stable.
What we like- Best-in-class client-facing booking experience with a polished on-brand widget
- Precision Scheduling optimizes slot sequencing
- Strong POS, inventory and front-desk workflow for upscale operations
Watch out for- A 12-month minimum contract with no free trial means committing before testing with your real team
- Add-ons and onboarding stack on top of the base price
#5
Booksy
Best for: Barbershops and salons wanting predictable budgeting
Visit booksy.com
Starting price$29.99/month + tax (single user; +$20/month per extra member)
Free planFree trial (14 days, no credit card required)
Booksy keeps it simple: one flat feature set, no tiers to open up, everything included from day one. The single-user price is $29.99 a month plus tax, with $20 a month per additional team member, and 2,000 SMS marketing messages a month are included. The marketplace is large, and payments run on Booksy's rails at 2.49 to 2.69 percent plus $0.10 to $0.30. Month-to-month with no long-term commitment.
The catch is staff scaling: hiring directly raises the software cost, unlike Vagaro's $85 cap. The optional Boost marketplace promotion takes a 30 percent one-time commission on a new client's first visit ($10 minimum, $100 cap), so leave it off unless you need discovery. Best when the client base is established and repeat bookings drive the business; discovery-hungry shops should weigh Fresha's commission model against Booksy's subscription.
What we like- A single flat feature set with no tiers to open up, so everything is included from day one
- 2,000 SMS marketing messages a month included, with confirmations and reminders always free
- A huge consumer marketplace for discovery
Watch out for- Per-staff fees compound fast, with a 5-chair shop approaching $110-plus a month before processing
- The optional Boost promotion takes a 30% one-time commission on a new client's first visit
#6
Mangomint
Best for: Growing salons where client experience is part of the brand
Visit mangomint.com
Starting price$120/month per location + $10/month per user
Free planFree trial available
Ask around about Mangomint and you hear the same word: fast. The interface is the most responsive reviewers have used, Express Booking handles multi-service appointments cleanly, and the new simplified pricing (effective August 2026) ungates everything: memberships, forms and charting, HIPAA with BAA and integrations are all included. No contracts, which is a real advantage over Boulevard's 12-month lock.
The floor is the filter. At $120 a month per location plus $10 per user, a 5-person salon starts at $170 before add-ons: phone ($70 per line), payroll ($50 plus $8 per worker) and marketing credits ($30-plus). Realistic single-location cost runs $200 to $400-plus a month. Free data import assistance comes with onboarding. Do the math at your staff count; under roughly $8,000 monthly revenue the premium is hard to defend. Above it, the experience justifies the price.
What we like- Consistently among the highest-rated in the category on G2 and Capterra, with reviewers praising the fastest, most responsive interface
- Express Booking for multi-service appointments and strong smart automations
- All core features ungated, including memberships, forms, charting and HIPAA with BAA
Watch out for- The entry price rules out solos and small shops
- Booking packages spanning multiple providers is a noted limitation
#7
Square Appointments
Best for: Solo stylists and salons already on Square POS
Visit squareup.com
Starting price$0 (Free plan); Plus $49/month per location; Premium $149/month per location
Free planYes
Square Appointments is the only genuinely free option here, and it makes sense for exactly one buyer: the salon already running Square. The free tier covers online booking, calendar sync and reminders, and everything connects to the Square ecosystem the business already uses. Per-location pricing with unlimited calendars is friendly for multi-staff single sites, and retail-heavy beauty businesses benefit most from the POS integration.
The catch is that "free" covers only the subscription. Card processing still applies (2.6 percent plus 15 cents in person on Free), and the features salons want as they grow (cancellation policies, waitlist, no-show fees, resource scheduling) sit behind Plus and Premium. There is no commission tracking and no walk-in management. If you need the best salon POS software depth with salon-specific workflows, compare Vagaro, Boulevard and Mangomint instead. If you run Square and need scheduling, this is the obvious add.
What we like- The free plan covers online booking, calendar sync and reminders, with tight integration across Square POS, hardware, invoicing, payroll and banking
- Per-location (not per-staff) pricing with unlimited calendars on all plans
- Cancel anytime with no long-term contract
Watch out for- Scheduling is a layer on a payments company, not purpose-built salon software: no commission tracking, no walk-in management
- SMS reminders and advanced features need paid tiers
Starting price$20/month (Starter; $16/month billed annually)
Free planFree trial (7 days, no credit card required)
Acuity Scheduling is not salon software at all, which is exactly why some salons choose it. It does one thing, appointment scheduling, at a price almost nothing touches: Starter $20 a month ($16 annual), Standard $34 ($27 annual, up to 6 calendars), Premium $61 ($49 annual, up to 36 calendars). Intake forms, packages, memberships and gift certificates are deep, and payments run through your own Stripe, Square or PayPal account. Owned by Squarespace, so Squarespace embeds work without extra setup.
The missing salon layer is the trade. No built-in POS, no commission tracking, no salon marketing tools: you will pair it with a separate POS and marketing tool, so total stack cost may approach an all-in-one. HIPAA compliance and API access require Premium, and SMS reminders start at Standard. Best for appointment-heavy, retail-light operations that already handle payments and marketing elsewhere.
What we like- Flat per-plan pricing by calendar count rather than per seat: 6 calendars for about $324 a year is hard to beat
- Deep customization with intake forms, packages, memberships and gift certificates
- Payments through your own Stripe, Square or PayPal account
Watch out for- Not salon-specific: no built-in POS, commission tracking or salon marketing tools
- The 7-day trial is short for evaluation
Starting priceSee website (custom quote)
Free planNo (demo only)
Zenoti is the enterprise end of this list: multi-location salon, spa and medspa chains, not single shops. One platform scales across sites with centralized reporting, KPI dashboards, franchise support, an AI receptionist and advanced marketing automation. Integrated payments come with competitive processing rates. If you run five locations and need one system, this is the category leader.
The cost structure is enterprise through and through. Reported packages run $350 to $500 per location per month, with add-ons (reputation management $189 a month, AI chatbot $150 to $400) and implementation fees reported from $5,000 to $30,000. Typical contracts run 12 months. Do not consider it for a single location; the sales process alone is heavyweight. Get a detailed proposal covering modules, onboarding and exit terms before comparing to Boulevard or Mangomint.
What we like- Enterprise-grade depth with multi-location management, an AI receptionist, advanced marketing automation and analytics
- Strong reporting and KPI dashboards with franchise and chain support
- Integrated payments with competitive processing rates
Watch out for- Quote-only pricing with implementation, data migration and training costs on top
- A dated desktop interface and steep learning curve, with 4 to 8 week implementation typical
Frequently asked questions
How much does salon booking software cost per month?
For a small salon, $24 to $110 a month: GlossGenius Standard ($24), Vagaro ($30 to $85 by calendars), Booksy ($29.99 plus $20 per extra member), Acuity (from $20). Premium options run higher: Mangomint from $170 for a 5-person salon, Boulevard from ~$176 per location, Zenoti $350-plus per location. Add payment processing (2.2 to 3.5 percent) and marketplace commissions on top.
Should I choose a marketplace or a flat-fee tool?
Choose the marketplace (Fresha, Booksy, Vagaro) if you need new clients: discovery bookings can fill chairs faster than ads. Choose flat-fee (GlossGenius, Mangomint, Square) if your book is already full: you keep every dollar with no commissions. Fresha's 20 percent new-client commission and Booksy's 30 percent Boost fee are the numbers to model before deciding.
What is the cheapest booking software for a solo stylist?
Square Appointments is free if you run Square POS. Otherwise GlossGenius Standard at $24 a month (annual) is the cleanest value, with marketing included. Fresha Individual at $19.95 is cheaper on subscription but adds 20 percent commissions on new marketplace clients. Acuity Starter at $20 works if you handle payments and marketing separately.
Do I need a contract?
Vagaro, Booksy, Fresha, GlossGenius, Mangomint, Square and Acuity are all cancel-anytime with no long-term contract. Boulevard requires a 12-month minimum and Zenoti typically runs 12-month contracts. If you are still growing or might switch, avoid the contract options until the business is stable.
Can clients book without creating an account?
It depends on the platform. Vagaro requires clients to create a Vagaro account to book, which some owners dislike. Most others (GlossGenius, Booksy, Square, Acuity) let clients book as guests. If frictionless booking matters to your clientele, test the guest flow before committing.
Commissions vs. subscriptions: do the real math
The subscription price is the advertised cost; commissions are the real one. Fresha's 20 percent commission on new marketplace clients means 30 new clients a month on $80 tickets costs roughly $480 in commissions, dwarfing the $19.95 subscription. Booksy's Boost takes 30 percent of a new client's first visit. Vagaro, GlossGenius, Mangomint and Square charge no per-booking commissions at all.
Run the numbers for your shop. Take last month's new-client count, multiply by your average ticket, and apply the commission rate. A discovery-heavy salon gaining 40 new clients a month can pay more in Fresha commissions than a Boulevard subscription costs. A salon with a full book of regulars pays nothing extra on flat-fee tools. The cheapest subscription is rarely the cheapest software.
The add-on stack that doubles your bill
Almost every platform on this list sells the base cheap and the extras separately. Vagaro's text marketing ($20), intake forms ($10) and website builder ($20) can take a $50 plan past $100. Mangomint's phone ($70 per line), payroll ($50 plus $8 per worker) and marketing credits ($30-plus) stack on the $120 base. Boulevard's Forms and Charts ($55) and Contact Center (from $25) sit outside the per-location price.
Before you compare subscriptions, list the add-ons you will actually switch on: text reminders, intake forms, marketing automation, payroll, phone. Price the stack, not the plan. The platforms with everything included (GlossGenius includes marketing; Booksy includes 2,000 SMS) look more expensive at first glance and cheaper once the add-ons are counted.
How we chose
We started with the searches buyers actually run: booking software for salons, salon POS software, salon scheduling software and spa booking systems. For each candidate we opened the vendor's own pricing page, checked plan names and prices against public reviews on G2 and Capterra and practitioner discussion on Reddit, and compared feature depth, commission structures and business-size fit. Where the vendor publishes no prices we wrote "See website" rather than repeating estimates as facts. The shortlist mixes flat-fee tools with marketplace platforms, because a salon filling chairs and a salon keeping regulars are buying different things.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://www.vagaro.com/pricing
- https://www.fresha.com/pricing
- https://www.glossgenius.com/pricing
- https://boulevard.io
- https://www.booksy.com/pricing
- https://www.mangomint.com/pricing
- https://www.squareup.com/appointments/pricing
- https://acuityscheduling.com/pricing
- https://www.zenoti.com
- https://www.g2.com/categories/salon-software
- https://www.capterra.com/salon-software/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.