Quick Overview
- 1#1: Vagaro - All-in-one salon software for seamless appointment booking, client management, payments, and marketing automation.
- 2#2: Fresha - Free booking platform for hair salons with online scheduling, reminders, and POS integration.
- 3#3: Mindbody - Comprehensive management software for salons including class bookings, memberships, and reporting.
- 4#4: Boulevard - Modern salon platform with AI-powered scheduling, retail optimization, and multi-location support.
- 5#5: GlossGenius - Mobile-first booking app for beauty pros with contactless payments and client retention tools.
- 6#6: Mangomint - Intuitive salon software emphasizing beautiful design, automated waitlists, and reporting.
- 7#7: Phorest - Salon management system with advanced marketing, loyalty programs, and appointment scheduling.
- 8#8: DaySmart Salon - Cloud-based software for salons supporting booth rentals, inventory, and online booking.
- 9#9: Square Appointments - Affordable scheduling tool integrated with payments for small hair salons and barbershops.
- 10#10: Zenoti - Enterprise salon software for large chains with global bookings, analytics, and customization.
Tools were selected based on key factors like feature depth (including booking, payments, and client retention), usability, overall quality, and value, ensuring they cater to salons of all sizes and operational needs
Comparison Table
Explore the key features, pricing, and user experience of leading hair salon appointment book software with this comparison table, featuring Vagaro, Fresha, Mindbody, Boulevard, GlossGenius, and more. Readers will discover how each tool streamlines operations—from scheduling to client management—to suit their salon’s unique needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vagaro All-in-one salon software for seamless appointment booking, client management, payments, and marketing automation. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 2 | Fresha Free booking platform for hair salons with online scheduling, reminders, and POS integration. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 3 | Mindbody Comprehensive management software for salons including class bookings, memberships, and reporting. | enterprise | 8.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | Boulevard Modern salon platform with AI-powered scheduling, retail optimization, and multi-location support. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 5 | GlossGenius Mobile-first booking app for beauty pros with contactless payments and client retention tools. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Mangomint Intuitive salon software emphasizing beautiful design, automated waitlists, and reporting. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 7 | Phorest Salon management system with advanced marketing, loyalty programs, and appointment scheduling. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 8 | DaySmart Salon Cloud-based software for salons supporting booth rentals, inventory, and online booking. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.6/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 9 | Square Appointments Affordable scheduling tool integrated with payments for small hair salons and barbershops. | other | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 10 | Zenoti Enterprise salon software for large chains with global bookings, analytics, and customization. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 |
All-in-one salon software for seamless appointment booking, client management, payments, and marketing automation.
Free booking platform for hair salons with online scheduling, reminders, and POS integration.
Comprehensive management software for salons including class bookings, memberships, and reporting.
Modern salon platform with AI-powered scheduling, retail optimization, and multi-location support.
Mobile-first booking app for beauty pros with contactless payments and client retention tools.
Intuitive salon software emphasizing beautiful design, automated waitlists, and reporting.
Salon management system with advanced marketing, loyalty programs, and appointment scheduling.
Cloud-based software for salons supporting booth rentals, inventory, and online booking.
Affordable scheduling tool integrated with payments for small hair salons and barbershops.
Enterprise salon software for large chains with global bookings, analytics, and customization.
Vagaro
specializedAll-in-one salon software for seamless appointment booking, client management, payments, and marketing automation.
Vagaro Marketplace, which exposes your salon to millions of potential clients searching for hair services online.
Vagaro is a comprehensive cloud-based salon management platform tailored for hair salons, offering online appointment booking, drag-and-drop scheduling, and automated SMS/email reminders to minimize no-shows. It integrates payment processing, client CRM, inventory tracking, and marketing tools like email campaigns and loyalty programs. With a user-friendly mobile app for both staff and clients, Vagaro streamlines daily operations while providing robust reporting and analytics for business growth.
Pros
- Seamless online booking and calendar management with real-time availability
- Powerful marketing automation including email/SMS campaigns and waitlists
- Integrated payments, inventory, and client management in one platform
Cons
- Higher-tier plans can be costly for very small salons
- Steep learning curve for advanced reporting features
- Credit card processing fees add to overall costs
Best For
Busy hair salons and multi-location businesses needing an all-in-one solution for bookings, payments, and client retention.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Start plan) up to $209/month (Pro plan) per location, plus optional add-ons and ~2.75% + $0.30 per transaction for payments.
Fresha
specializedFree booking platform for hair salons with online scheduling, reminders, and POS integration.
Global beauty marketplace that promotes your salon to millions of potential clients searching for hair services nearby
Fresha is a comprehensive, cloud-based appointment booking platform tailored for hair salons, spas, and beauty businesses, enabling 24/7 online scheduling, staff management, and client bookings. It integrates POS payments, inventory tracking, automated reminders, and marketing tools like email/SMS campaigns to streamline salon operations. As a marketplace, it also connects salons to new clients searching for local services.
Pros
- Free core platform with no monthly subscription fees
- Intuitive mobile app and drag-and-drop calendar for easy scheduling
- Built-in marketplace exposure to attract new clients organically
Cons
- 20% commission on prepaid online bookings can reduce margins for high-volume salons
- Limited advanced customization options for reporting and workflows
- Payment processing tied to Fresha, reducing flexibility with third-party gateways
Best For
Small to medium hair salons seeking a user-friendly, cost-effective booking system with marketplace discoverability to grow their client base.
Pricing
Free forever with 20% commission on prepaid online bookings; optional pay-as-you-go for card payments at 2.19% + $0.20 per transaction.
Mindbody
enterpriseComprehensive management software for salons including class bookings, memberships, and reporting.
Integrated Mindbody app marketplace that connects salons to millions of consumers for direct bookings and discovery.
Mindbody is a comprehensive business management platform tailored for wellness and beauty businesses, including hair salons, offering robust appointment scheduling, online booking, and client management tools. It streamlines operations with features like staff scheduling, point-of-sale integration, inventory tracking, marketing automation, and detailed reporting. Ideal for salons looking to scale, it connects businesses to a vast consumer marketplace for client discovery and bookings.
Pros
- All-in-one solution with advanced scheduling, POS, and marketing tools
- Seamless online booking and client management with automated reminders
- Scalable for multi-location salons with strong reporting and analytics
Cons
- Steep learning curve and occasionally clunky interface
- High cost with add-on transaction fees
- Overkill for very small or single-stylist operations
Best For
Multi-stylist or multi-location hair salons needing full business management beyond basic booking.
Pricing
Starts at $139/month for Essentials (1-5 staff), up to $429/month for Ultimate; plus 2.75-3.3% + $0.30 per transaction fees.
Boulevard
specializedModern salon platform with AI-powered scheduling, retail optimization, and multi-location support.
Visual drag-and-drop scheduling with real-time availability, waitlists, and no-show protection tailored for dynamic salon environments
Boulevard is a cloud-based salon management platform tailored for hair salons, spas, and barbershops, offering seamless appointment scheduling, online booking, and client management. It integrates POS, inventory tracking, staff scheduling, and automated marketing tools to streamline operations. The software emphasizes client retention through personalized communications and a modern, mobile-friendly interface for both staff and customers.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one solution with strong online booking and waitlist management
- Advanced clienteling and marketing automation for retention
- Intuitive visual calendar and mobile apps for staff and clients
Cons
- Premium pricing may be steep for small independent salons
- Occasional reports of integration glitches with third-party tools
- Learning curve for full utilization of reporting and analytics features
Best For
Established hair salons with multiple locations or stylists needing robust client management and marketing alongside appointment booking.
Pricing
Starts at around $275/month for a single location, with tiered plans scaling by number of stylists, services, and add-ons like payroll.
GlossGenius
specializedMobile-first booking app for beauty pros with contactless payments and client retention tools.
Beautiful, customizable online booking pages that clients love, branded to match the salon's style for higher conversion rates
GlossGenius is an all-in-one booking and management platform tailored for beauty professionals, including hair salons, enabling seamless online appointment scheduling, client reminders, and waitlist management. It integrates payments, POS, inventory tracking, and marketing tools like automated emails and SMS campaigns to streamline salon operations. The mobile-first design ensures stylists can manage bookings on the go, with customizable service menus and staff calendars for efficient team coordination.
Pros
- Intuitive mobile app and drag-and-drop scheduling for quick setup
- Built-in payments and POS reduce need for multiple tools
- Strong marketing automation with email/SMS and loyalty programs
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers add up for larger teams
- Limited advanced reporting compared to enterprise competitors
- Customization of booking pages could be more flexible
Best For
Small to medium hair salons or independent stylists seeking an user-friendly, all-in-one solution for booking and client management.
Pricing
Starts at $24/month for solo users (Essentials plan), $112/month for teams (Pro plan), with a 14-day free trial; per-location pricing scales with features.
Mangomint
specializedIntuitive salon software emphasizing beautiful design, automated waitlists, and reporting.
Drag-and-drop visual scheduling with AI-powered color-coding and real-time availability that prevents double-bookings effortlessly
Mangomint is a premium all-in-one salon management software tailored for hair salons and spas, featuring online appointment booking, drag-and-drop scheduling, POS integration, client CRM, inventory management, and automated marketing. It streamlines operations with two-way texting, staff scheduling, payroll processing, and detailed reporting to help salon owners save time and increase revenue. The platform stands out with its sleek, modern interface that feels more like a consumer app than traditional business software.
Pros
- Intuitive, visually stunning interface that reduces training time
- Comprehensive automation including payroll, inventory, and marketing tools
- Robust mobile app and excellent customer support with fast response times
Cons
- Higher pricing may deter very small salons
- Limited third-party integrations compared to some competitors
- No free plan or perpetual lifetime deal options
Best For
Mid-sized hair salons and spas seeking a premium, user-friendly platform to manage appointments, staff, and growth without multiple tools.
Pricing
Starts at $165/month (billed annually) for Starter plan; Pro at $275/month, Elite at $385/month, with custom enterprise pricing.
Phorest
specializedSalon management system with advanced marketing, loyalty programs, and appointment scheduling.
Integrated reputation management that automates review collection and displays real-time feedback in the client database
Phorest is a comprehensive cloud-based salon management platform tailored for hair salons, offering seamless appointment booking, client relationship management, and business growth tools. It features online scheduling, automated SMS/email reminders, inventory control, staff rostering, and integrated payments to streamline daily operations. Additionally, its advanced marketing automation and analytics help salons boost retention and revenue through targeted campaigns and performance insights.
Pros
- Powerful marketing automation with email/SMS campaigns and client retention tools
- Robust appointment booking with drag-and-drop scheduling and online client access
- Detailed analytics and reporting for revenue tracking and business optimization
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for small, single-location salons
- Steeper learning curve due to extensive feature set
- Fewer third-party integrations than some generalist competitors
Best For
Growing hair salons and multi-location chains seeking advanced marketing and client management to drive revenue.
Pricing
Custom quotes starting around $150-$300/month per location, plus setup fees and add-ons for advanced features.
DaySmart Salon
specializedCloud-based software for salons supporting booth rentals, inventory, and online booking.
Advanced booth rental management with automated rent collection and commission calculations
DaySmart Salon is a cloud-based management platform tailored for hair salons and spas, offering robust appointment scheduling, online booking, and client management tools. It includes POS integration, inventory tracking, staff scheduling, and specialized features like booth rental management and commission tracking. The software also provides marketing automation, reporting, and a mobile app for on-the-go access, helping salons streamline operations and boost revenue.
Pros
- Comprehensive salon-specific tools like booth rental and color tracking
- Seamless online booking and automated reminders
- Strong reporting and POS integration for efficient operations
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with number of stylists
- Interface feels dated in some areas with a learning curve
- Customer support can be inconsistent during peak times
Best For
Mid-sized hair salons or those with booth renters needing detailed commission and scheduling management.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month for basic plans (1 stylist), scaling to $165+/month for Pro/Enterprise tiers based on stylists and features; custom quotes available.
Square Appointments
otherAffordable scheduling tool integrated with payments for small hair salons and barbershops.
Free unlimited appointments and staff scheduling for a single location
Square Appointments is a user-friendly scheduling and POS solution from Square, tailored for small service businesses like hair salons to manage online bookings, staff calendars, and client interactions. It offers 24/7 self-scheduling for clients, automated reminders to reduce no-shows, and seamless integration with Square's payment processing for deposits and full payments. The platform supports service menus, client notes, and basic reporting, making it a solid entry-level tool for salon appointment management.
Pros
- Completely free for single-location salons with unlimited staff and appointments
- Intuitive mobile app and quick setup for easy daily use
- Seamless Square POS integration for payments and deposits
Cons
- Lacks advanced salon-specific tools like stylist commissions or product inventory
- Reporting and analytics are basic compared to dedicated salon software
- Paid upgrades required for multi-location or advanced features
Best For
Solo stylists or small hair salons seeking a free, simple booking system with built-in payments.
Pricing
Free for one location (unlimited staff/appointments); Plus $29/month/location; Premium $69/month/location.
Zenoti
enterpriseEnterprise salon software for large chains with global bookings, analytics, and customization.
AI-powered business intelligence for personalized client recommendations and revenue optimization
Zenoti is a comprehensive cloud-based management platform tailored for salons, spas, and wellness businesses, with powerful appointment booking capabilities including online scheduling, waitlists, and automated reminders. For hair salons, it offers client relationship management, staff rostering, service customization, and integrated payments to optimize daily operations. Its analytics and marketing tools provide insights to drive growth, though it's best suited for larger operations due to its depth.
Pros
- Extensive feature set including AI-driven insights and multi-location support
- Robust online booking and client self-service options
- Strong integration with POS, inventory, and marketing automation
Cons
- Steep learning curve for smaller teams
- High pricing not ideal for solo or small salons
- Customization can require professional setup assistance
Best For
Multi-location hair salon chains or growing businesses needing enterprise-level management and analytics.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $200-$500 per location/month depending on features and scale.
Conclusion
After reviewing the top tools, Vagaro stands out as the clear choice, offering an all-in-one solution for appointments, client management, payments, and marketing. Fresha impresses with its free, user-friendly design and POS integration, while Mindbody excels with its comprehensive class booking and membership features, making it a strong option for varied salon needs. Together, these tools redefine salon efficiency, each tailored to specific goals.
Begin with Vagaro—its intuitive platform is the key to streamlining your salon's operations and boosting success.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison