Choosing the right salon and spa software means the difference between juggling appointments, staff schedules, inventory, and client records across three apps that don’t talk to each other — or managing it all in one place: online booking, calendar scheduling, point-of-sale, and client history, all synced.
We compared six of the most widely used salon and spa platforms on pricing, ease of use, booking features, and support for growing teams. Here’s how they stack up.
Vagaro has the broadest feature set of the six, with built-in marketplace exposure and no commission on online bookings. Running a hair salon or a spa specifically? See our hair salon and spa picks below.
Quick comparison table
| Software | Best for | Starting price* | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vagaro | All-round small salons | From $23.99-30/mo per calendar, +$10/mo per extra staff calendar | Large built-in marketplace for walk-in discovery |
| Fresha | Salons wanting a low fixed cost | From $19.95/mo (Independent) or $14.95/mo per team member (Team) | No mandatory monthly fee on some plans, commission-based |
| Booksy | Independent stylists & barbers | From $29.99/mo | Large consumer app, strong in the barbershop niche |
| Mangomint | Established multi-staff salons | From $120/mo per location + $10/mo per staff (effective Aug 1, 2026) | Deep automation, two-way texting, detailed reporting |
| GlossGenius | Solo operators & small teams | From $24/mo, flat 2.6% processing | Beauty-focused design, built-in branded booking page |
| Square Appointments | Businesses already using Square for payments | Free for solo use; $49-149/mo for teams | Seamless POS + booking in one ecosystem |
*Pricing changes often in this category — providers frequently adjust plans and fees. Always confirm current pricing directly on the provider’s site before deciding. Last verified: July 2026.
A note on Fresha specifically: Fresha built its reputation as a free platform funded only by processing fees and a one-time commission on new marketplace clients. As of July 2026, Fresha’s official pricing page lists paid subscription tiers — $19.95/month for Independent and $14.95/month per team member for Team — alongside those fees. Pricing in this category changes often, so confirm current terms for your country on Fresha’s own pricing page before committing.
How we compared these tools
We looked at published pricing, verified plan details, and independent user reviews across multiple review platforms (G2, Capterra, GetApp) for each tool, focusing on four things salon and spa owners consistently care about: the real monthly cost once add-ons are included (not just the headline “starting at” price), how each platform handles multi-staff scheduling, whether payment processing is built in or bolted on, and how each platform’s marketplace or discovery features actually drive new clients versus just managing existing ones.
Vagaro
Vagaro is one of the most widely used salon platforms, and its biggest draw isn’t the software itself — it’s the built-in marketplace that can send walk-in traffic to your business at no extra commission. Pricing starts at $23.99-30/month for a single bookable calendar, but the model charges per staff calendar, so a 7-person salon can expect to pay closer to $90/month for scheduling alone before add-ons like text marketing or extra storage. Core features (online booking, POS, waitlists, recurring appointments) are solid and well-reviewed. The trade-off: essential extras are billed separately, and payment processing rates depend on your monthly volume. Best for salons that want the marketplace exposure and don’t mind budgeting for add-ons as they grow. Read our full Vagaro Review for a detailed breakdown.
Fresha
Fresha built its name as the “free” salon software — no monthly subscription, funded instead by processing fees and a one-time commission on new clients who book through its marketplace. As of July 2026, Fresha’s official pricing lists paid tiers: Independent at $19.95/month and Team at $14.95/month per member, on top of processing fees. Either way, Fresha remains one of the more affordable entry points in this category, with unlimited staff support even on its lowest tier. The catch to budget for: a 20% one-time commission on new clients acquired through the Fresha marketplace, plus standard card processing fees. Best for salons prioritizing low fixed costs over predictable flat pricing.
Booksy
Booksy leans hard into consumer discovery — its app has tens of millions of registered users, making it a genuine client-acquisition channel rather than just a calendar. Pricing starts at $29.99/month for the first team member, plus $20/month per additional staff member. Boost is a separate optional add-on — not a pricing tier — that charges a 30% one-time commission on a new client’s first visit.
It’s particularly strong in the barbershop segment, where a large share of Booksy’s user base actively searches for services. The trade-off: it lacks built-in payroll, so you’ll need a separate tool like Gusto or Square Payroll for that. Best for solo stylists and barbershops that want marketplace exposure without Vagaro’s per-calendar pricing model. Read our full Booksy Review for plan-by-plan details.
Mangomint
Mangomint is the platform to grow into, not necessarily the one to start with. Starting August 1, 2026, Mangomint moves to a single plan: $120/month per location plus $10/month per staff member, replacing its previous three-tier structure. It’s still one of the pricier options on this list, but that cost buys genuinely deep automation: two-way texting, detailed reporting, and workflow tools built specifically for salons with an established team rather than a single chair. Reviewers consistently describe it as the more “grown-up” option once a business has outgrown simpler booking tools. Best for multi-staff salons and spas with the client volume to justify the subscription — overkill for a one- or two-person operation.
GlossGenius
GlossGenius is built around two things: visual polish and pricing simplicity. Plans run $24-48/month with a flat 2.6% payment processing rate — no tiered card fees to calculate, which matters for booth renters processing many smaller transactions. The platform includes a customizable, branded booking page, plus built-in email and SMS marketing tools. It’s frequently praised for having one of the more intuitive mobile apps in this category. The trade-off: some advanced features (like waitlists and custom forms) are gated behind higher tiers, and third-party integrations are more limited than competitors like Square. Best for solo stylists, estheticians, and small teams who want booking, payments, and branding bundled into one polished app.
Square Appointments
If you’re already processing card payments through Square, Appointments is close to a no-brainer add-on: it’s free for a single location and plugs directly into the POS and card reader you’re likely already using. Team plans run $49-149/month. It’s less salon-specific than Mangomint or GlossGenius — you won’t find deep stylist-by-column scheduling or beauty-industry marketing templates — but for a straightforward operation that just wants bookings and payments in one place without learning a new ecosystem, it’s hard to beat on cost. Best for salons already inside the Square ecosystem, or anyone who wants the simplest possible free starting point.
How to choose the right salon and spa software for your business
Match the tool to your situation, not the other way around:
- Solo stylist or single chair? Prioritize low/no monthly fees (Fresha, GlossGenius) over enterprise features you won’t use — and see our guide to reservation systems for small salons for what to check and what setup really costs.
- Multi-location salon with staff? You need role-based permissions and cross-location reporting — look at Mangomint or Vagaro’s higher tiers. If you run a hair salon specifically, see our ranking of the best hair salon software for booth-rental and commission tools.
- Running a spa or med-spa? Deposits, buffer time between treatments, and room-based scheduling matter more than for a hair salon — walk through what to decide before choosing a spa booking system before you commit to a platform.
- Already using Square for retail/POS? Square Appointments avoids paying for two separate systems.
- Rely heavily on walk-ins and new client discovery? Vagaro and Booksy both have built-in marketplaces that can send you new clients, which the others don’t.
- Care more about the client-facing booking experience than back-office features? No-shows, marketing, and how easy it is for a new client to book vary a lot between platforms — see our comparison of beauty salon booking software for a closer look.
Frequently asked questions
Is there truly free salon booking software?
Yes, with caveats. Square Appointments is free for a single location if you’re already using Square for payments. Fresha’s core booking features are free or low-cost, funded through processing fees and a one-time new-client commission rather than a flat subscription — confirm the current terms for your country before assuming zero monthly cost.
Can I switch salon software without losing my client data?
Most platforms allow you to export your client list and appointment history as a CSV file, which you can then import into a new system. The process varies by provider — some (like Vagaro) offer free guided migration support, while others require more manual work. If migration support matters to you, ask about it directly before signing up, since it’s rarely advertised upfront.
Do these tools work for spas as well as hair salons?
Yes — all six handle spa-specific needs like room/resource scheduling for treatments, though Mangomint and Vagaro have the most mature resource-management features for multi-room spas. If you run a spa specifically, see our comparison of the best spa appointment scheduling software for a closer look.
Related comparisons
- Best Salon Booking Software: Full Comparison
- Best POS Software for Salons, Compared
- Hair Salon Management Software Compared
Last updated: July 2026. We periodically re-verify pricing and features; if you spot something outdated, let us know.