Quick Overview
- 1#1: Vagaro - All-in-one salon management platform offering online booking, appointment scheduling, payments, and client marketing tools tailored for beauty professionals.
- 2#2: Booksy - Mobile-first booking app for salons and barbershops with real-time scheduling, payments, and client retention features.
- 3#3: Fresha - Free salon booking software with online reservations, POS integration, and automated reminders for beauty businesses worldwide.
- 4#4: Mindbody - Comprehensive wellness and salon software providing scheduling, client management, and marketing automation for multi-location businesses.
- 5#5: Boulevard - Modern salon management system with advanced booking, inventory tracking, payroll, and analytics for premium beauty brands.
- 6#6: Zenoti - Enterprise-grade salon and spa software featuring AI-driven scheduling, CRM, and operations management for large chains.
- 7#7: Phorest - Cloud-based salon software with intelligent booking, marketing automation, and performance analytics to boost client retention.
- 8#8: Mangomint - Streamlined salon management tool offering customizable online booking, waitlists, payments, and reporting without commissions.
- 9#9: GlossGenius - All-in-one mobile platform for salons providing booking, invoicing, text marketing, and contactless payments.
- 10#10: Square Appointments - Free appointment scheduling software with integrated payments and reminders, ideal for small salons and service pros.
We ranked these tools based on rigorous evaluation of features, usability, reliability, and value, ensuring they address the diverse requirements of salons, barbershops, and wellness businesses worldwide.
Comparison Table
This comparison table helps salon and spa owners evaluate leading reservation software, including Vagaro, Booksy, Fresha, Mindbody, Boulevard, and more. Readers will discover differences in core features, pricing structures, and user experience to find the ideal tool for their business operations.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vagaro All-in-one salon management platform offering online booking, appointment scheduling, payments, and client marketing tools tailored for beauty professionals. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Booksy Mobile-first booking app for salons and barbershops with real-time scheduling, payments, and client retention features. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | Fresha Free salon booking software with online reservations, POS integration, and automated reminders for beauty businesses worldwide. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 4 | Mindbody Comprehensive wellness and salon software providing scheduling, client management, and marketing automation for multi-location businesses. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 7.0/10 | 7.4/10 |
| 5 | Boulevard Modern salon management system with advanced booking, inventory tracking, payroll, and analytics for premium beauty brands. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 6 | Zenoti Enterprise-grade salon and spa software featuring AI-driven scheduling, CRM, and operations management for large chains. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 9.3/10 | 7.7/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 7 | Phorest Cloud-based salon software with intelligent booking, marketing automation, and performance analytics to boost client retention. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | Mangomint Streamlined salon management tool offering customizable online booking, waitlists, payments, and reporting without commissions. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 9 | GlossGenius All-in-one mobile platform for salons providing booking, invoicing, text marketing, and contactless payments. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 10 | Square Appointments Free appointment scheduling software with integrated payments and reminders, ideal for small salons and service pros. | other | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
All-in-one salon management platform offering online booking, appointment scheduling, payments, and client marketing tools tailored for beauty professionals.
Mobile-first booking app for salons and barbershops with real-time scheduling, payments, and client retention features.
Free salon booking software with online reservations, POS integration, and automated reminders for beauty businesses worldwide.
Comprehensive wellness and salon software providing scheduling, client management, and marketing automation for multi-location businesses.
Modern salon management system with advanced booking, inventory tracking, payroll, and analytics for premium beauty brands.
Enterprise-grade salon and spa software featuring AI-driven scheduling, CRM, and operations management for large chains.
Cloud-based salon software with intelligent booking, marketing automation, and performance analytics to boost client retention.
Streamlined salon management tool offering customizable online booking, waitlists, payments, and reporting without commissions.
All-in-one mobile platform for salons providing booking, invoicing, text marketing, and contactless payments.
Free appointment scheduling software with integrated payments and reminders, ideal for small salons and service pros.
Vagaro
specializedAll-in-one salon management platform offering online booking, appointment scheduling, payments, and client marketing tools tailored for beauty professionals.
Vagaro Marketplace, a built-in discovery platform that connects salons with new clients searching for local services.
Vagaro is an all-in-one salon and spa management platform designed for beauty and wellness businesses, offering seamless online booking, appointment scheduling, and client management. It integrates POS systems, payment processing, inventory tracking, automated marketing tools, and robust reporting to streamline operations. The software also includes a mobile app for on-the-go management and features like waitlist optimization and staff scheduling.
Pros
- Comprehensive online booking with real-time availability and client self-scheduling
- Integrated marketing automation including email/SMS campaigns and review management
- Powerful POS and payment processing with no extra transaction fees on most plans
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers can become expensive for multi-location salons
- Steep learning curve for advanced reporting and customization features
- Customer support can be slow during peak times despite 24/7 availability
Best For
Salon owners and multi-staff beauty businesses seeking a scalable, feature-rich platform for reservations, payments, and growth.
Pricing
Starts at $25/month for Starter (1 user), up to $199+/month for Pro/Elite tiers; custom enterprise pricing available; 14-day free trial.
Booksy
specializedMobile-first booking app for salons and barbershops with real-time scheduling, payments, and client retention features.
The Booksy marketplace, which exposes businesses to new clients via search and discovery, driving organic bookings beyond existing customers
Booksy is a robust online booking and management platform tailored for salons, barbershops, spas, and wellness professionals, offering seamless appointment scheduling, client management, and payment processing. It features a user-friendly mobile app for both clients and staff, automated reminders to reduce no-shows, and integrated marketing tools to boost visibility and bookings. The platform's marketplace connects businesses with new local customers searching for services.
Pros
- Intuitive mobile app for clients and staff enabling easy bookings and management
- Integrated marketplace that drives new client discovery and bookings
- Comprehensive tools including payments, reminders, and marketing promotions
Cons
- Subscription costs can add up for small businesses with add-on fees
- Commission-based model on free/pay-per-booking plans reduces margins
- Limited advanced reporting and customization compared to enterprise tools
Best For
Salon owners and multi-location beauty businesses seeking client acquisition through a built-in marketplace alongside reliable scheduling.
Pricing
Free plan with booking commissions (around 2-3%); Pro subscriptions start at $29.99/month per location, with premium tiers up to $89.99/month plus add-ons for marketing and payments.
Fresha
specializedFree salon booking software with online reservations, POS integration, and automated reminders for beauty businesses worldwide.
100% free core platform with revenue share only on bookings, eliminating subscription barriers for salons
Fresha is an all-in-one booking and management platform tailored for salons, spas, barbershops, and wellness businesses, enabling 24/7 online appointment scheduling, client management, and seamless payment processing. It features a customizable booking widget for websites, staff scheduling, inventory tracking, POS integration, and marketing tools like automated reminders and promotions. The platform provides detailed analytics and reporting to optimize operations and grow clientele.
Pros
- Completely free core software with no monthly subscription fees
- Intuitive online booking system with customizable widgets and mobile app
- Integrated POS, payments, and marketing tools streamline salon operations
Cons
- Transaction fees (e.g., 1.99% + 20p per booking) can add up for high-volume businesses
- Limited advanced customization options for reports and branding
- Customer support response times can vary, especially for free users
Best For
Small to medium-sized salons and spas seeking a cost-effective, feature-rich platform without upfront costs.
Pricing
Free forever with transaction fees (varies by region, e.g., 2.19% + fixed fee per online booking); optional premium add-ons for advanced features.
Mindbody
enterpriseComprehensive wellness and salon software providing scheduling, client management, and marketing automation for multi-location businesses.
Advanced marketing automation with automated email/SMS campaigns and client retention scoring
Mindbody is a robust business management platform designed for salons, spas, and wellness businesses, offering advanced online reservation and appointment scheduling capabilities. It streamlines salon operations with features like client management, automated reminders, payment processing, and staff scheduling. Additionally, it provides marketing tools, reporting dashboards, and integrations to help salons grow and retain customers.
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set including marketing automation and analytics
- Seamless online booking widget embeddable on salon websites
- Extensive app marketplace with third-party integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users due to complex interface
- High pricing with additional transaction fees
- Customer support can be slow for non-enterprise users
Best For
Mid-sized salons and spas seeking an all-in-one platform with strong marketing and growth tools.
Pricing
Starts at $129/month for basic plans, with tiered options up to $429+/month plus 2-3% transaction fees; custom enterprise pricing available.
Boulevard
specializedModern salon management system with advanced booking, inventory tracking, payroll, and analytics for premium beauty brands.
Intelligent scheduling with auto-optimization for staff utilization and waitlist management
Boulevard is a premium cloud-based salon management software tailored for salons, spas, and multi-location beauty businesses. It provides robust online booking, intelligent scheduling, POS integration, inventory management, staff performance tracking, and marketing automation to streamline operations. The platform emphasizes client retention with personalized clienteling tools and real-time analytics for revenue optimization.
Pros
- Comprehensive all-in-one features including POS and marketing tools
- Intuitive mobile app for staff and clients
- Strong multi-location support with centralized reporting
Cons
- High pricing may deter small salons
- Initial setup and learning curve for advanced features
- Limited free trial or basic plan options
Best For
Mid-sized salons and spas with multiple locations needing scalable, feature-rich management software.
Pricing
Starts at around $295/month per location (Essentials plan), scaling to $500+ for Professional/Enterprise with custom quotes.
Zenoti
enterpriseEnterprise-grade salon and spa software featuring AI-driven scheduling, CRM, and operations management for large chains.
AI-driven Zenoti Intelligence for personalized recommendations, dynamic pricing, and predictive analytics to optimize bookings and revenue.
Zenoti is a comprehensive cloud-based platform designed for salons, spas, and wellness businesses, offering robust appointment scheduling, online booking, and client management tools. It integrates reservations with POS, inventory tracking, staff management, and marketing automation to streamline operations. With mobile apps for clients and staff, it supports multi-location businesses seeking scalability and data-driven insights.
Pros
- Extensive feature set including AI-powered scheduling and analytics
- Seamless multi-channel booking (online, app, walk-in)
- Strong integrations with payment gateways and marketing tools
- Scalable for multi-location salons
Cons
- Steep learning curve for new users
- High pricing with custom quotes only
- Overkill for small single-location salons
- Limited free trial or demo transparency
Best For
Large salon chains and multi-location businesses needing an enterprise-grade all-in-one management system with advanced analytics.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically $250-$500+ per month per location depending on features and scale; no public tiers.
Phorest
specializedCloud-based salon software with intelligent booking, marketing automation, and performance analytics to boost client retention.
PhorestBoost, an AI-powered marketing engine that automates personalized campaigns using client data to drive bookings and loyalty.
Phorest is a comprehensive cloud-based salon and spa management platform that excels in appointment booking, client management, and marketing automation. It enables seamless online reservations, staff scheduling, POS integration, and detailed reporting to streamline daily operations. Designed for salons seeking growth, it leverages client data for targeted SMS/email campaigns and reputation management to enhance retention and revenue.
Pros
- Powerful integrated marketing tools like PhorestBoost for automated SMS/email campaigns
- Robust client database with full service history and personalized profiles
- Seamless online booking and multi-location support with real-time synchronization
Cons
- Higher pricing can be steep for very small salons
- Initial setup and learning curve for advanced features
- Custom integrations may require additional support
Best For
Mid-sized to large salons and spas focused on data-driven marketing and client retention.
Pricing
Custom quote-based pricing, typically starting at $129/month per location with tiers based on users, features, and add-ons like marketing tools.
Mangomint
specializedStreamlined salon management tool offering customizable online booking, waitlists, payments, and reporting without commissions.
Booth rental management with separate calendars, bookings, and automated payouts for independent stylists
Mangomint is a premium cloud-based salon and spa management software that handles online reservations, client scheduling, payments, inventory, and staff management. It features a modern, intuitive interface with automation tools like text reminders, no-show protection, and dynamic reporting. Designed for efficiency, it supports booth rental salons by allowing independent stylists their own calendars and payouts.
Pros
- Sleek, modern interface that's fast and mobile-friendly
- Powerful automation for reminders, deposits, and workflows
- Excellent booth rental support with individual stylist tools
Cons
- Higher pricing tiers limit accessibility for small salons
- Fewer integrations than some competitors
- Steep learning curve for advanced reporting features
Best For
Upscale salons and spas, especially those with booth rental stylists, needing premium automation and a polished user experience.
Pricing
Starts at $165/month (Essentials), $275/month (Standard), $385/month (Advanced); annual billing offers discounts, no free trial but demo available.
GlossGenius
specializedAll-in-one mobile platform for salons providing booking, invoicing, text marketing, and contactless payments.
Beautiful, fully customizable booking websites that integrate seamlessly with Instagram and match your brand aesthetic
GlossGenius is an all-in-one management platform tailored for beauty and wellness professionals, such as salons, spas, barbers, and independent stylists. It offers seamless online booking, contactless payments, client CRM, marketing automation, and POS capabilities to streamline daily operations. The software emphasizes mobile accessibility and customizable booking pages, helping businesses grow their clientele without needing multiple tools.
Pros
- Intuitive mobile-first interface that's easy for non-tech-savvy users
- Comprehensive all-in-one tools including booking, payments, and marketing
- Strong focus on client retention with automated reminders and waitlists
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for teams or advanced features
- Limited third-party integrations compared to enterprise competitors
- Inventory management is basic and not ideal for large salons
Best For
Solo stylists, small salons, or beauty pros seeking a simple, branded booking and management solution without complex setup.
Pricing
Essentials at $24/mo (solo), Premium $44/mo, Pro $115/mo; billed annually for discounts, 14-day free trial.
Square Appointments
otherFree appointment scheduling software with integrated payments and reminders, ideal for small salons and service pros.
Zero-fee online booking with instant Square payment deposits to reduce no-shows and streamline revenue collection
Square Appointments is a comprehensive scheduling platform tailored for service businesses like salons, enabling online booking, staff calendars, client reminders, and no-show protection. It integrates tightly with Square's POS and payment systems for seamless transactions during or after appointments. The software supports unlimited staff on its free plan for single locations, making it accessible for small operations, while offering scalability through paid tiers.
Pros
- Free plan for single locations with unlimited staff and bookings
- Seamless integration with Square payments and POS for instant checkouts
- Intuitive mobile app and quick setup for busy salon environments
Cons
- Limited advanced salon-specific features like inventory tracking or booth rental management
- Reporting and analytics are basic compared to specialized competitors
- Fewer third-party integrations for salon tools like retail product management
Best For
Small salons, solo stylists, or multi-staff operations seeking simple, cost-effective booking with built-in payments.
Pricing
Free for single location (unlimited staff); Plus at $29/month per location; Premium custom pricing.
Conclusion
The top 10 salon reservation tools cater to varied needs, but Vagaro leads as the definitive choice—an all-in-one platform combining booking, payments, and client marketing seamlessly for beauty professionals. Booksy excels with its mobile-first approach and real-time scheduling, while Fresha stands out as a free, global solution with robust automation, making each a strong alternative. Together, they redefine operational efficiency and client experiences.
Begin your journey with Vagaro to unlock its all-encompassing features, or explore Booksy and Fresha based on your unique priorities to find the ideal fit.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison