Quick Overview
- 1#1: Vagaro - All-in-one platform offering online booking, payments, marketing, and management for salons, spas, and fitness studios.
- 2#2: Mindbody - Comprehensive management software for fitness, wellness, and beauty studios with booking, payments, and class scheduling.
- 3#3: Fresha - Free booking, POS, and client management platform designed for beauty, hair, and wellness studios worldwide.
- 4#4: HoneyBook - Clientflow platform for creative professionals including photographers and studios, handling bookings, contracts, and payments.
- 5#5: Acuity Scheduling - Flexible online appointment scheduling software ideal for studios with calendar syncing and client self-booking.
- 6#6: Bookeo - Online booking system for studios offering resource management, group bookings, and payments for rentals and appointments.
- 7#7: SimplyBook.me - Customizable booking website and app supporting multiple services, staff, and resources for various studios.
- 8#8: StudioCloud - Free business management software for photography studios with booking, invoicing, and client tracking features.
- 9#9: Setmore - Free online appointment scheduling tool with staff management and payment integration suitable for small studios.
- 10#10: Calendly - Simple scheduling automation software for easy meeting and studio session bookings with calendar integrations.
We evaluated and ranked these tools based on feature robustness, user-friendliness, performance reliability, and overall value, ensuring they deliver exceptional utility across varied studio types and scales.
Comparison Table
This comparison table examines leading studio booking software tools such as Vagaro, Mindbody, Fresha, HoneyBook, Acuity Scheduling, and others, outlining key features to assist readers in finding the best solution for their studio operations.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vagaro All-in-one platform offering online booking, payments, marketing, and management for salons, spas, and fitness studios. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 2 | Mindbody Comprehensive management software for fitness, wellness, and beauty studios with booking, payments, and class scheduling. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.6/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 3 | Fresha Free booking, POS, and client management platform designed for beauty, hair, and wellness studios worldwide. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 4 | HoneyBook Clientflow platform for creative professionals including photographers and studios, handling bookings, contracts, and payments. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 5 | Acuity Scheduling Flexible online appointment scheduling software ideal for studios with calendar syncing and client self-booking. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Bookeo Online booking system for studios offering resource management, group bookings, and payments for rentals and appointments. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 7 | SimplyBook.me Customizable booking website and app supporting multiple services, staff, and resources for various studios. | specialized | 8.3/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 8 | StudioCloud Free business management software for photography studios with booking, invoicing, and client tracking features. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 9 | Setmore Free online appointment scheduling tool with staff management and payment integration suitable for small studios. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 10 | Calendly Simple scheduling automation software for easy meeting and studio session bookings with calendar integrations. | specialized | 7.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
All-in-one platform offering online booking, payments, marketing, and management for salons, spas, and fitness studios.
Comprehensive management software for fitness, wellness, and beauty studios with booking, payments, and class scheduling.
Free booking, POS, and client management platform designed for beauty, hair, and wellness studios worldwide.
Clientflow platform for creative professionals including photographers and studios, handling bookings, contracts, and payments.
Flexible online appointment scheduling software ideal for studios with calendar syncing and client self-booking.
Online booking system for studios offering resource management, group bookings, and payments for rentals and appointments.
Customizable booking website and app supporting multiple services, staff, and resources for various studios.
Free business management software for photography studios with booking, invoicing, and client tracking features.
Free online appointment scheduling tool with staff management and payment integration suitable for small studios.
Simple scheduling automation software for easy meeting and studio session bookings with calendar integrations.
Vagaro
enterpriseAll-in-one platform offering online booking, payments, marketing, and management for salons, spas, and fitness studios.
Vagaro Marketplace, which connects studios directly to new clients searching for local services
Vagaro is a comprehensive all-in-one booking and management platform tailored for fitness studios, yoga centers, dance studios, salons, and spas. It enables seamless online scheduling for appointments and classes, client management, payment processing, memberships, and marketing tools to streamline studio operations. With features like waitlists, capacity controls, automated reminders, and robust reporting, it helps studios maximize bookings and revenue while enhancing client retention.
Pros
- Highly customizable online booking widget with class packs and memberships
- Integrated marketplace for client discovery and increased visibility
- Excellent mobile apps for both staff and clients with real-time updates
Cons
- Higher-tier plans required for advanced features like unlimited staff
- Additional transaction fees can impact costs for high-volume studios
- Steeper learning curve for complex class scheduling setups
Best For
Small to mid-sized fitness, yoga, or dance studios needing robust class booking, membership management, and client acquisition tools.
Pricing
Starts at $29/month (Starter, 1 location/user) up to $269/month (Elite), billed annually, plus optional 1% processing fee or $0.20/transaction.
Mindbody
enterpriseComprehensive management software for fitness, wellness, and beauty studios with booking, payments, and class scheduling.
The Mindbody Network marketplace, which connects studios to millions of active clients for increased visibility and bookings.
Mindbody is a comprehensive cloud-based platform tailored for fitness, wellness, and beauty studios, providing robust online booking, class scheduling, client management, and payment processing capabilities. It supports seamless appointment management, memberships, waitlists, and retail sales while offering marketing automation and reporting tools to drive business growth. With dedicated mobile apps for businesses and clients, it facilitates real-time engagement and multi-location scalability.
Pros
- Extensive feature set including advanced scheduling, memberships, and marketing tools
- Strong integrations with payment processors, POS systems, and third-party apps
- Powerful analytics and reporting for data-driven decisions
Cons
- High pricing with additional transaction fees that can add up
- Steep learning curve and occasionally clunky interface
- Customer support can be slow and inconsistent
Best For
Mid-sized to large fitness and wellness studios needing a full-featured management platform with client discovery capabilities.
Pricing
Starts at $129/month per location for basic Essentials plan; Pro plan at $229/month; plus 2.75% + $0.30 transaction fees and add-ons.
Fresha
specializedFree booking, POS, and client management platform designed for beauty, hair, and wellness studios worldwide.
The 'Fresha for Customers' app, a universal client-facing app for discovering and booking across thousands of partnered businesses.
Fresha is a comprehensive booking and management platform tailored for beauty, wellness, hair, and fitness studios, enabling online appointment scheduling, client management, and payment processing. It offers tools for staff scheduling, inventory tracking, POS integration, and automated marketing to streamline studio operations. The platform stands out with its free software model for businesses, charging commissions only on new client bookings made online.
Pros
- Free software with no subscription fees, only commissions on new online bookings
- Intuitive interface and mobile app for both staff and clients
- Robust marketing tools including email/SMS campaigns and loyalty programs
Cons
- 20% commission on first-time client payments booked via the platform
- Reporting and analytics could be more advanced for larger studios
- Limited customization options compared to enterprise-level competitors
Best For
Small to medium-sized beauty, wellness, or fitness studios seeking an affordable, all-in-one booking solution without upfront costs.
Pricing
Free for businesses; 20% commission on online payments from new clients (repeat clients book commission-free).
HoneyBook
specializedClientflow platform for creative professionals including photographers and studios, handling bookings, contracts, and payments.
Automated Sequences that guide clients through personalized booking, contract, and payment workflows without manual intervention
HoneyBook is an all-in-one client management platform tailored for creative professionals like photographers, videographers, and event planners, enabling seamless studio session bookings, contract signing, invoicing, and payments. It features integrated scheduling calendars, automated workflows, and client portals to handle the entire booking process from inquiry to completion. While versatile for service-based businesses, it adapts well to studio booking needs with customizable booking forms and real-time availability syncing.
Pros
- Comprehensive automation for bookings, contracts, and payments in one platform
- User-friendly interface with mobile app support for on-the-go management
- Customizable templates and client portals enhance professional booking experience
Cons
- Not specialized for multi-room studio management or equipment tracking
- Higher pricing tiers required for advanced features like unlimited projects
- Limited native integrations with studio-specific hardware or POS systems
Best For
Solo studio owners or small creative teams needing an all-in-one tool for client bookings, scheduling, and payments without complex setup.
Pricing
Starts at $19/month (billed annually) for Starter plan with basic features; Essentials at $39/month and Premium at $79/month for full automation and unlimited clients.
Acuity Scheduling
specializedFlexible online appointment scheduling software ideal for studios with calendar syncing and client self-booking.
Customizable intake forms that capture detailed client info before booking, streamlining studio onboarding and personalization.
Acuity Scheduling is a user-friendly online appointment booking platform that helps studios manage individual sessions, group classes, workshops, and events through customizable calendars and booking pages. It automates reminders, processes payments, and collects client information via intake forms, reducing administrative workload. With integrations for Zoom, Stripe, and Google Calendar, it's suitable for fitness, yoga, dance, and creative studios handling both in-person and virtual bookings.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface with drag-and-drop customization
- Strong support for group classes including waitlists and capacity limits
- Seamless integrations with payment processors and video tools like Zoom
Cons
- Limited advanced reporting and analytics compared to studio-specific tools
- Additional fees for multiple staff calendars and premium features
- Lacks built-in membership or subscription management for recurring studio clients
Best For
Small to medium studios seeking a straightforward, customizable scheduling tool without needing complex gym management features.
Pricing
Starts at $16/month (Emerging, 1 calendar) up to $49/month (Powerhouse, 6 calendars); extra staff seats $15-20/month each, with a 7-day free trial.
Bookeo
specializedOnline booking system for studios offering resource management, group bookings, and payments for rentals and appointments.
Universal Booking Widget for seamless embedding on any website or Facebook page with real-time availability
Bookeo is a cloud-based booking platform tailored for service businesses like studios, enabling online scheduling for appointments, classes, workshops, rentals, and events with capacity controls and waitlists. It integrates payment processing, automated SMS/email reminders, and client management to reduce no-shows and streamline operations. Studios benefit from customizable booking pages, membership sales, and multi-location support, making it suitable for fitness, dance, yoga, and creative spaces.
Pros
- Highly customizable booking widgets for websites and social media
- Supports multiple booking types including classes with capacity limits
- Automated reminders and integrated payments reduce administrative work
Cons
- Reporting and analytics are basic compared to enterprise competitors
- No native POS or inventory management
- Customer support primarily email-based with limited live chat
Best For
Small to medium-sized studios seeking an affordable, user-friendly booking system for classes and appointments without needing advanced CRM features.
Pricing
Plans start at $14.95/month for appointments, $39.95/month for classes/courses, up to $89.95/month for full features like rentals and events; 30-day free trial, no setup fees.
SimplyBook.me
specializedCustomizable booking website and app supporting multiple services, staff, and resources for various studios.
Marketplace of 50+ customizable add-ons for specialized studio tools like digital waivers, loyalty programs, and equipment rentals
SimplyBook.me is a flexible online booking platform designed for service-based businesses, including studios, allowing users to schedule appointments, classes, workshops, and resource bookings like studios or equipment. It features customizable booking pages, payment processing, automated reminders, and client management tools to streamline operations. For studio owners, it supports group sessions, memberships, waitlists, and multi-location management, making it suitable for yoga, dance, art, and fitness studios.
Pros
- Highly customizable booking widgets and forms
- Extensive add-ons marketplace for studio-specific needs like waivers and intake forms
- Strong mobile apps for admins and clients with real-time updates
Cons
- Core features locked behind paid plans and add-ons increase costs
- Setup can be complex for non-tech-savvy users
- Reporting and analytics are basic without premium upgrades
Best For
Small to mid-sized studios such as yoga, dance, or photo studios seeking customizable scheduling with group class and resource management.
Pricing
Free (50 bookings/month); Basic $9.90/mo; Standard $29.90/mo; Premium $59.90/mo (billed annually); add-ons extra.
StudioCloud
specializedFree business management software for photography studios with booking, invoicing, and client tracking features.
Automated belt rank progression and testing management for martial arts studios
StudioCloud is an all-in-one management software tailored for studios like martial arts, dance, fitness, and music schools, offering online booking, class scheduling, student tracking, and billing. It streamlines operations by combining CRM, attendance management, payments, and marketing tools into a single platform. The software emphasizes automation to reduce administrative tasks and boost client retention for small to medium-sized studios.
Pros
- Comprehensive studio-specific features like belt testing and attendance tracking
- Free core software with no subscription for basic use
- Integrated billing and online booking reduce manual work
Cons
- Outdated user interface can feel clunky
- Steep learning curve for non-tech-savvy users
- Limited advanced reporting and customization options
Best For
Small to medium studio owners in martial arts, dance, or fitness needing an affordable all-in-one tool for scheduling and billing.
Pricing
Free for unlimited users and basic features; Pro upgrades start at $49/month per location for advanced tools like online payments.
Setmore
specializedFree online appointment scheduling tool with staff management and payment integration suitable for small studios.
Resource booking that allows reserving specific rooms, studios, or equipment alongside services or classes
Setmore is a user-friendly online scheduling platform designed for appointment-based businesses, including studios, offering customizable booking pages for classes, private sessions, and resources like rooms or equipment. It supports multiple staff calendars, capacity limits for group classes, automated reminders via email and SMS, and seamless payment integrations with Stripe, PayPal, and Square. While versatile for small operations, it provides core booking functionalities without the complexity of enterprise-level studio management software.
Pros
- Generous free plan with unlimited appointments
- Intuitive drag-and-drop calendar and easy embedding of booking widgets
- Class scheduling with capacity controls and resource booking for rooms/equipment
Cons
- Lacks advanced studio-specific features like memberships, packages, or waitlists
- Reporting and analytics are basic compared to specialized tools
- Some premium integrations and customizations require paid plans
Best For
Small studios, freelancers, or instructors seeking a simple, affordable online booking system for classes and private sessions.
Pricing
Free plan for single users with core features; paid Team plan at $9/user/month and Pro at $12/user/month (billed annually).
Calendly
specializedSimple scheduling automation software for easy meeting and studio session bookings with calendar integrations.
One-click embeddable scheduling links that handle time zones and availability in real-time across devices
Calendly is a versatile online scheduling platform that enables users to create shareable booking links for appointments, automatically syncing with personal calendars to prevent overlaps. For studio booking, it supports custom event types like session slots, with features for buffers, time zones, and basic team scheduling. However, it lacks specialized tools for multi-room allocation, equipment tracking, or client galleries typical in dedicated studio software.
Pros
- Intuitive setup with shareable links for quick client bookings
- Seamless integrations with Google Calendar, Zoom, and payment tools like Stripe
- Automated reminders and workflows reduce no-shows
Cons
- No native support for multiple resources like studios or equipment
- Limited client management or post-booking features like file sharing
- Advanced team and routing features locked behind higher tiers
Best For
Solo studio operators or small teams needing simple, calendar-synced appointment scheduling without complex resource management.
Pricing
Free basic plan; Essentials at $8/user/month, Professional at $12/user/month, Teams at $16/user/month (billed annually).
Conclusion
The reviewed tools highlight diverse solutions for studio management, from all-in-one platforms to free scheduling tools. The top choice, Vagaro, stands out with its robust blend of booking, payments, and marketing features, while Mindbody and Fresha offer compelling alternatives—Mindbody for comprehensive studio management and Fresha for global accessibility and affordability. Together, they address varied needs across different studio types.
Ready to elevate your studio operations? Start with Vagaro to experience seamless booking, streamlined payments, and effective management tailored to your studio’s unique goals.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison