Salon and beauty professionals can have all the talent in the world, but they’ll struggle with consistent client appointments if the booking calendar is messy.
The archaic approach of texting or calling via phone is a thing of the past. Nunzio Saviano, a veteran stylist from New York, suggests that “Something as small as being able to book your own clients gives hairstylists freedom.” But it goes beyond that.
Article Shortcuts:
- Top 10 Best Salon Management Software Choices
- Goldie – Best for Solo Beauty Professionals
- Fresha – Commission-Free Bookings for Salons
- Acuity – Flexible Self-Scheduling Solution
- Vagaro – Customizable for Beauty, Wellness & Fitness
- GlossGenius – Sleek All-in-One for Independent Stylists
- Mangomint – Premium Experience for Salons & Spas
- Mindbody – Ideal for Fitness & Wellness Businesses
- Planfy – Affordable Option for Small Salons
- Zenoti – Enterprise-Level Growth Platform
- ChiDesk – Advanced Scheduling & Inventory Management
- FAQ: Salon Scheduling & Management Tools
Nowadays, customers expect a simple solution to book their appointments. They also want to receive reminders to avoid missing appointments.
Scheduling software for salons and beauty pros offers a solution to the aforementioned problems. Modern tools streamline the workflow, starting with making appointments and finishing with payments.
If you are unsure which scheduling software to use as a beauty or wellness professional, consider the detailed list below.
Top 10 Best Salon Management Software Choices
- Goldie - Ideal for solo beauty professionals who want a simple all-in-one app for booking, reminders, and payments.
- Fresha - A top option for salons and barbershops seeking commission-free bookings and access to a large client marketplace.
- Acuity - Flexible self-scheduling software with robust calendar syncing and payment integrations, ideal for service-based pros.
- Vagaro - A versatile platform for beauty, wellness, and fitness businesses that need customizable booking, POS, and marketplace exposure.
- GlossGenius - Great for independent stylists who want sleek booking, payment processing, and built-in marketing in one app.
- Mangomint - Designed for premium salons and spas that want a modern, seamless, client-focused scheduling and payment system.
- Mindbody - Best suited for fitness and wellness businesses needing integrated class scheduling, appointment booking, and marketing tools.
- Planfy - Perfect for small salons and barbershops that want branded booking pages, client reminders, and online payment options.
- Zenoti - Tailored for enterprise-level salons, spas, and wellness chains looking for complete growth and operations software.
- ChiDesk - A strong choice for salons and spas that need advanced scheduling, POS, and inventory management.
How to Choose the Best Salon Management Software
Since there are different options, one has to consider key factors to come up with the best available choice. As far as scheduling software for beauticians goes, you should be emphasizing the following:
- Costs of running the software. Some platforms are cheaper than others, but even those that cost very little may have hidden fees and such. It’s imperative to determine the budget and be realistic about how much you can afford to spend.
- Features that go beyond scheduling. While booking appointments and other scheduling tasks are the priority, you should look at what else a platform has to offer. If it gives you an advantage in other areas, why not consider it?
- User interface and ease of use. For the most part, this type of software is pretty intuitive and doesn’t take too long to figure out. On the other hand, some platforms may be a bit complicated, especially for less tech-savvy users. Give a free trial a go, where you can, to get the feel of how the software is.
- The size and type of your business. Most software offers different plans for individuals and small or large beauty salons. Explore the most suitable plans and choose among those that make the most sense for your business type.
1. Goldie – Best for Solo Beauty Professionals
Source - HeyGoldie
Goldie is ideal for solo beauty professionals who want a simple all-in-one app for booking, reminders, and payments.
It excels in smart scheduling, making it easy for clients to book appointments. Text reminders help reduce no-shows. The software tracks payments, sends invoices, and lets beauticians access data from their mobile devices.
Pros
- Offers a free trial.
- Has insightful business reports.
- Provides reservations via Google.
Cons
- The advanced plan could be too expensive if you still want to access all the advanced features.
Pricing
Goldie has three plans. The first is Free Starter with the basic feature set. The Pro Plan offers unlimited appointments at 29.99€/mo or 299.99€/yr. Lastly, the Pro Plus with advanced features costs 59.99€/mo or 599.99€/yr.
2. Fresha – Commission-Free Bookings for Salons
Source: Fresha
Fresha is a top option for salons and barbershops seeking commission-free bookings and access to a large client marketplace.
It’s equipped with a powerful POS and a smart auto-reminder system to eliminate potential booking bottlenecks.
Pros
- Costs are relatively low, especially at an entry level.
- The mobile interface is user-friendly.
- Beauticians can utilize the marketplace for extra exposure.
- The platform offers built-in tools to boost sales.
Cons
- Customer support could use some improvements.
- Some features are locked behind paid add-ons.
Pricing
Fresha is free to use. The monthly fees are not there, but you will have to pay for additional features to make full use of the software.
3. Acuity – Flexible Self-Scheduling Solution
Source: Acuity
Acuity is flexible self-scheduling software with robust calendar syncing and payment integrations, ideal for service-based pros.
Self-booking is available 24/7 with automated reminders. Users also benefit from secure payments thanks to the flexibility of the different available payment gateways.
Pros
- The user interface is clean and intuitive.
- The scheduling and automation stand out as great.
- Different integrations for your booking calendar.
- Streamlined payment experience.
Cons
- Customizing the software could be a tad difficult with no prior experience.
- While payment options are flexible, you might still run into some constraints.
Pricing
Acuity has three plans—Starter, Standard, and Premium, costing $16/mo, $27/mo, $49/mo, respectively.
4. Vagaro – Customizable for Beauty, Wellness & Fitness
Source: Vagaro
Vagaro is a versatile platform for beauty, wellness, and fitness businesses that need customizable booking, POS, and marketplace exposure.
It’s one of the most versatile software for beauticians looking to streamline appointment scheduling and more.
Pros
- The software offers a friendly and rich user experience.
- Client reminders are effective.
- Excellent for businesses looking to grow beyond what they have now.
- Offers helpful tutorials.
Cons
- Some users reported problems with uploading images.
- Costs can ramp up if you want to explore various add-ons.
Pricing
The starter package costs £30/mo and gets expensive by £10 for each additional calendar. Once the number of bookable calendars reaches 7, anything beyond that still costs £90.
5. GlossGenius – Sleek All-in-One for Independent Stylists
Source: GlossGenius
GlossGenius is great for independent stylists who want sleek booking, payment processing, and built-in marketing in one app. You will find pretty much everything you’d expect in scheduling software for beauticians.
Pros
- Comes with an attractive UI.
- Offers transparent pricing and integrated payment options.
- Has insightful reports and analytic tools.
Cons
- Flexibility is not the strongest suit of the software.
- Web access is limited.
Pricing
Like most tools, GlossGenius has three plans. Standard costs $24/mo, Gold costs $48/mo, and Platinum costs $148/mo.
6. Mangomint – Premium Experience for Salons & Spas
Source: Mangomint
Mangomint is designed for premium salons and spas that want a modern, seamless, client-focused scheduling and payment system.
The platform is pleasing to the eye and offers virtually everything you would want to manage your bookings.
Pros
- Offers excellent customer support.
- It is easy to use and onboard.
- Comes with automated marketing flows.
- Has memberships, packages, and gift cards.
Cons
- The reporting tool could use some improvements.
- Customization options feel limited at times.
Pricing
Not surprising that Mangomint offers three plans. Essentials start at $165/mo, then there is Standard for $245/mo, and Unlimited for $375/mo.
7. Mindbody – Ideal for Fitness & Wellness Businesses
Source: Mindbody
Mindbody is best suited for fitness and wellness businesses needing integrated class scheduling, appointment booking, and marketing tools.
It’s a solid option for fitness and wellness professionals who want a simple solution.
Pros
- Has an all-in-one approach in how they build the platform.
- Provides real-time monitoring and updates.
- A marketplace gives exposure to expand business opportunities.
Cons
- Costs are unclear.
Pricing
As mentioned in the cons part, the pricing is unclear. If you want to use the software, you will need to talk to the sales team.
8. Planfy – Affordable Option for Small Salons
Source: Planfy
Planfy is perfect for small salons and barbershops that want branded booking pages, client reminders, and online payment options.
Beauticians control a cloud-based platform that allows clients to book appointments via website or social media channels.
Pros
- Clean and modern-looking UI.
- Excellent way to manage client photos for clarity.
- One of the most affordable options for small businesses.
- Booking on social media.
Cons
- Not the most transparent when it comes to user reviews.
- Customer support could use some improvements.
Pricing
Three plans—Solo for 17€/mo with 250 bookings, Team for 37€/mo with 1500 bookings, and Ultimate for 97€/mo with unlimited bookings.
9. Zenoti – Enterprise-Level Growth Platform
Source: Zenoti
Zenoti is tailored for enterprise-level salons, spas, and wellness chains looking for complete growth and operations software.
The emphasis is on artificial intelligence, most notably its AI assistant Zeenie, among other features.
Pros
- Comprehensive and simple to use.
- Has solid reporting capabilities and AI-driven marketing.
- Automated waitlist management.
Cons
- Sometimes glitches occur.
- Comes with hidden fees.
Pricing
Zenoti offers Growth for different niches—Salons and Spas are $350/mo, barbershops are $250/mo, Medspas are $400/mo, and fitness clubs are $1500/mo.
10. ChiDesk – Advanced Scheduling & Inventory Management
Source: ChiDesk
ChiDesk is a strong choice for salons and spas that need advanced scheduling, POS, and inventory management.
One of its standout features is the drag-and-drop calendar. It tracks individual and group appointments. Staff can then sign the necessary equipment or additional staffing for clients as needed.
Pros
- Offers flexibility when you want to integrate other tools.
- Clients are free to check themselves in and out.
- Employee scheduling and automated stock control.
Cons
- It can be a bit difficult to learn how to use the software.
- The inventory module, while it has its uses, comes with limitations.
FAQ: Salon Scheduling & Management Tools
1. How does this software reduce no-shows?
Scheduling software comes with features to send automated reminders. Automation is essential for small businesses. In this particular case, clients receive reminders via text messages or emails. From there, they can reschedule appointments if they cannot make it on the originally agreed date.
2. Do clients need to download an app to book their appointments?
Not always, since some platforms have web-based booking. Opening a browser and booking directly from a website is enough. Still, a dedicated mobile app makes things easier for clients as well.
3. Is there third-party integration?
Depends entirely on the platform you are using, as well as the tools you want to integrate. Advanced platforms will naturally have more int