Table of Contents
Quick Summary
Choosing salon software isn’t just about features. It’s about finding a system that fits how your salon works today and where you want it to go next.
This guide compares 14 of the best salon software platforms for 2026, looking beyond surface-level functionality to examine how each solution supports scheduling, payments, client relationships, and sustainable growth. Whether you’re running a single-chair studio or managing multiple locations, this comparison is designed to help you make a clear, confident decision that supports both your operations and your vision.
A Salon Owner’s Toolkit for Elevating Salon Operations
Modern salons require a lot more than talent to be successful. You need to balance appointments, inventory, staff schedules, client communications, and payment processing as these form the backbone of exceptional service.
The right salon software combines all of these tasks into one platform to reduce costly booking errors or no-shows. That’s why we tested and compared 14 salon management software to help you choose the right one that fits your salon’s size, offerings, and growth objectives.
Why Listen To Us?
At EnvisionNow, we bring over two decades of hands-on experience building and refining salon management technology used by thousands of beauty professionals. Beyond software, we work closely with salons to understand real operational challenges and support beauty businesses with real tools and insights. For this article, the comparison draws on our industry experience, competitor analysis, and insights from real user feedback.
What is Salon Software?
Salon software is a digital platform for beauty businesses. It involves handling client records, scheduling appointments, processing point-of-sale, tracking inventory, and managing staff using one integrated system.
With this unified system, most modern salons are able to connect online booking widgets to websites and social media profiles, automatically sync calendars in various locations, send appointment reminders through email and text, and give detailed reports on product sales, revenue, and performance of a salon’s stylists.
What Are the Advantages of Using Salon Software?
Salon software does more than digitize your front desk; it simplifies daily operations and removes common friction points that slow salons down. Below are the key advantages that directly improve scheduling, payments, staff management, and overall growth.
1. Removes Double Bookings and Scheduling Errors
With automated scheduling, overlapping appointments can be eliminated, and stylists can have enough time between services. Having real-time calendar updates across all devices means an online booking system that always shows accurate availability.
2. Drastic No-Shows and Last-Minute Cancellation Reductions
Automated text and email reminders, combined with the power of pre-booking, significantly reduce missed appointments. We’ve had salons complement our reminder systems and the ease that comes with setting up hours, location, and confirmations.
3. Speed up Checkout and Processing Payments
Integrated point-of-sale systems process credit cards, apply discounts, split payments, and track tips quickly. As a salon owner, you’re able to spend less time calculating total payments manually and have more time to serve clients. This is part of what directly improves your salon’s experience for customers.
4. Analyze Performance and Seek Out Growth Opportunities
With built-in reporting, salon software can show which services generate more revenue, which stylists have the highest retention rates, and which marketing campaigns drive the most bookings. Being fed with data-driven insights helps you to make informed business decisions.
5. Empower Clients via Self-Service Booking
With online scheduling, clients are able to book appointments 24/7 without calling your salon. This ease increases bookings from busy professionals who would rather schedule outside business hours and reduces phone interruptions during those times when the salon is very busy.
6. Streamline Staff Management and Payroll
Tracking hours each staff member worked, calculating commission splits, managing time-off requests, and exporting payroll data automatically are benefits of salon software. Transparent tracking of commission makes it easy to settle disputes and helps stylists understand just how earnings are calculated.
Comparing The 14 Best Salon Software in 2026
| # | Software | Key Feature | Starting Price (Monthly) | Best For |
| 1 | EnvisionNow | AI marketing and scaling | $99 | All-in-one salon growth |
| 2 | Vagaro | Marketplace listing | $30 | Large marketplaces |
| 3 | Mangomint | “Invisible” booking | $165 | Modern user interface |
| 4 | Phorest | Salon-branded app | Available upon request | Marketing depth |
| 5 | DaySmart | Customisable dashboards | $29 | Detailed reporting |
| 6 | GlossGenius | Visual branding | $24 | Independent professionals |
| 7 | Zenoti | Multi-center analytics | Custom pricing | Large spa chains requiring deep customization |
| 8 | Boulevard | Precision scheduling | $176 | High-end salons prioritizing client experience |
| 9 | Square Appointments | Integrated payments | $0 (Free/Pay-per-use) | Solo stylists |
| 10 | Booksy | Generating leads | $29.99 | Mobile users |
| 11 | Meevo | Tracking goals | $139 | Education/training |
| 12 | Rosy | Unlimited email | $44 | Salons needing flexible appointment types |
| 13 | Goldie | Fast setup | $0 | Simple scheduling |
| 14 | Acuity | Client intake forms | $16 | Flexible workflows |
1. EnvisionNow
EnvisionNow is a comprehensive salon management platform built specifically for independent and growing beauty businesses that need insightful reporting, multi-location support, and seamless client communication, reducing operational chaos and eliminating the need to juggle multiple tools. We designed our system after years of feedback from salon owners frustrated with complicated software that always needed technical support.
Our platform combines intuitive appointment scheduling with business intelligence tools that track key performance indicators across locations, stylists, and service categories, giving owners clarity and confidence in every decision. We offer dedicated onboarding support and ongoing training to ensure your team maximizes the value of every feature.
Key Features
- Multi-Location Management Dashboard: Monitor appointments, revenue, and staff performance across all your salon locations from one centralized interface that updates in real time.
- Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Generate custom reports on client retention, service profitability, product sales, stylist productivity, and marketing campaign effectiveness.
- Automated Marketing Campaigns: Send personalized email and SMS campaigns based on client behavior triggers like birthdays, service anniversaries, or overdue appointments.
- Client Mobile App: Give your clients a branded mobile app where they can book appointments, view service history, purchase gift cards, and receive loyalty rewards.
- Inventory Management with Supplier Integration: Track product usage by service, set automatic reorder points, and connect directly with beauty supply distributors for streamlined ordering.
Pricing
Our Standard plan begins at $99 per month. For larger teams, the Amplify plan is $299 per month, and our Ultimate plan for unlimited users is $449 per month.
Pros
- Scalable plans that grow alongside your salon’s success
- Industry-leading U.S.-based customer support and onboarding
- Powerful automated drip campaigns to boost client retention
- Highly customizable reporting that gives you total business visibility
Cons
- Advanced marketing features may need brief setup, with guided onboarding included
2. Vagaro
Vagaro operates as a large marketplace and management platform, helping salons gain visibility within its ecosystem. Yet, this comes at the cost of long-term control, as client relationships, branding, and growth remain tied to the platform rather than fully owned by the business.
Key Features
- Class Scheduling and Membership Management: Offer group classes, workshops, or membership packages alongside individual service appointments.
- Consumer Marketplace Listing: Your salon appears in Vagaro’s directory, which attracts new clients searching for beauty services.
- Daily Deal Promotions: Create limited-time offers that appear to marketplace users and your existing client base.
- Waitlist Management: Automatically notify clients when appointment slots open due to cancellations.
- Text Message Marketing: Send promotional messages, appointment reminders, and re-engagement campaigns via SMS.
Pricing
Vagaro starts at $30 per month for a single user and increases by $10 for each additional staff member.
Pros
- Excellent for acquiring new clients via the marketplace
- Includes a robust website builder for your brand
- Offers 24/7 support through various channels
- High level of customization for service menus
Cons
- The interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming
- Add-on fees for certain marketing tools can add up
- Standard marketplace listing may put you next to competitors
3. Mangomint
Mangomint focuses on a clean, modern user experience that stays out of your way. However, its design-first approach sacrifices deeper customization and long-term adaptability, making it harder to shape workflows, branding, and systems as a salon scales beyond small teams.
Key Features
- Mobile-First Interface: Designed primarily for smartphone and tablet use with touch-optimized controls and streamlined navigation.
- Automated Client Messaging: Pre-configured communication sequences handle appointment lifecycle from booking confirmation through post-service follow-up.
- Visual Schedule Management: Color-coded calendars with drag-and-drop appointment rescheduling and clear service duration indicators.
- Client Self-Scheduling: Customizable online booking page that shows real-time availability and allows clients to book 24/7.
- Payment Processing: Integrated card processing with support for contactless payments, digital wallets, and split transactions.
Pricing
Mangomint’s pricing is premium, starting at $165 per month for the basic tier.
Pros
- Beautiful, intuitive design that requires very little training to use
- Fast performance with almost no lag time
- Excellent mobile app experience for stylists
- Highly rated for customer service and reliability
Cons
- One of the most expensive options on the market
- Lacks some of the deep marketing features found elsewhere
- Best suited for larger salons rather than solo pros
4. Phorest
Phorest targets established salons and spa chains that prioritize client retention and long-term relationship building. Their platform includes sophisticated client engagement tools, detailed retention analytics, and automated marketing campaigns designed to maximize lifetime customer value.
Key Features
- Branded App: Get your own salon app in the Apple and Google stores.
- Online Reputation Manager: Easily collect and publish reviews to Google and Facebook.
- Client ReConnect: An AI tool that flags clients who are overdue for an appointment.
Pricing
Phorest generally provides custom quotes, but entry-level plans typically start around $99 per month.
Pros
- Industry-leading client retention tools help maximize lifetime customer value
- Sophisticated analytics identify at-risk clients before they churn
- Comprehensive onboarding and training included with all implementations
- Strong reputation management features centralize review monitoring
- Regular industry insights and benchmarking reports help salons compare performance
Cons
- Custom pricing models are not transparent
- No free trial period makes it difficult to evaluate fit before committing
- A feature-rich platform requires significant time investment to fully implement
- Some users report a steep learning curve for staff members
5. DaySmart
DaySmart Salon targets traditional salons transitioning from paper appointment books to digital systems. Their platform contains familiar workflows and straightforward features that don’t require extensive technical knowledge or training. DaySmart works well for established salons with older staff members who may have a hard time with complex software.
Key Features
- Familiar Appointment Book Layout: Digital calendar mimics paper appointment books with intuitive column-based daily views.
- Basic Client Records: Store contact information, service history, and simple notes without overwhelming detail.
- Point-of-Sale Processing: Ring up services and retail products, apply discounts, and process payments quickly.
- Email and Text Reminders: Send appointment confirmations and reminders to reduce no-shows.
- Basic Reporting: View revenue summaries, service popularity, and stylist performance metrics.
Pricing
DaySmart starts at $29 per month for basic scheduling and scales based on features.
Pros
- Extremely reliable with decades of industry experience
- Great for businesses that need deep data analysis
- Offers a wide range of hardware integrations for POS
- Scales well from small boutiques to large chains
Cons
- The interface can feel a bit old compared to new apps
- Marketing features require higher-tier plans
- Can feel rigid if you want to change workflows often
6. GlossGenius
GlossGenius is a favorite among independent stylists and booth renters who want a stylish, easy-to-use app that looks great on their mobile phones.
Key Features
- Visual Branding: Customizable booking sites that reflect your personal style.
- Automated Reminders: Smart notifications to stop no-shows before they happen.
- Expense Tracking: Simple tools to manage your business costs for tax season.
Pricing
Pricing is straightforward, starting at $24 per month for the standard plan.
Pros
- Very affordable for solo professionals
- Beautiful user interface that clients love
- No per-staff fees, making it predictable
- Quick and easy setup process
Cons
- Lacks advanced features for large teams
- Inventory management is relatively basic
- Limited integrations with third-party business tools
7. Zenoti
Zenoti is designed for enterprise-level salons, spas, and medispa chains that operate at scale. It supports centralized management across large, multi-location businesses, including cross-brand gift card handling, employee mobility between locations, and organization-wide marketing coordination.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Business Intelligence: Machine learning algorithms identify trends, predict demand, and recommend pricing optimizations.
- Multi-Brand Management: Operate different salon brands under one corporate umbrella with separate branding, services, and pricing.
- Enterprise Gift Card System: Sell and redeem gift cards across all locations with sophisticated fraud prevention and accounting.
- Centralized Marketing Platform: Design and deploy campaigns across locations while allowing local customization.
- Advanced Inventory Management: Track product usage, forecast demand, automate purchasing, and manage transfers between locations.
Pricing
Zenoti uses custom enterprise pricing tailored to the size of the organization.
Pros
- Unmatched scalability for massive growth
- Includes specialized tools for medispas and wellness centers
- High-level security and data protection features
- Comprehensive employee management and engagement tools
Cons
- Far too complex for small or medium salons
- Highest price point in the industry
- Requires significant training to use effectively
8. Boulevard
Boulevard is positioned toward higher-end salons that prioritize operational efficiency, refined design, and personalized service workflows. It is well suited for salons with complex service menus, multi-provider scheduling needs, and tailored client experiences. Boulevard tends to be a better fit for salons that focus on experience differentiation rather than price competition.
Key Features
- Experience Builder: Design custom service journeys that automatically route clients through multiple providers, services, and consultation steps.
- Smart Scheduling: AI-powered booking suggestions that optimize stylist schedules based on service types, skill levels, and client preferences.
- Client Profiles with Consultation Notes: Detailed records including service history, product preferences, allergies, and private notes that all team members can reference.
- Integrated Payment Processing: Built-in payments with support for split transactions, gratuity management, and package purchases.
- Marketing Automation: Triggered campaigns based on client behavior, automated birthday messages, and re-engagement sequences for dormant clients.
Pricing
Boulevard starts at $175 per month, placing it at the higher end of the market.
Pros
- Excellent design and high-end feel
- Reduces gaps in the schedule automatically
- Strong focus on high-revenue salons and spas
- Smooth and modern mobile experience
Cons
- Significantly higher pricing than most competitors makes it cost-prohibitive for budget-conscious salons
- Feature-rich interface may be overwhelming for staff at traditional walk-in salons
- Requires time investment to fully configure custom experiences and automation workflows
- Some features designed for luxury spas may be unnecessary for simpler salon operations
9. Square Appointments
Square emphasizes simplicity in its design.. It is a suitable starting point for new stylists who need a free way to take bookings and process cards.
Key Features
- Free Booking Site: A basic page where clients can see your availability.
- Integrated Payments: Use the Square reader you likely already own.
- Instagram Integration: Let clients book directly from your social profile.
Pricing
Square offers a Free plan with a processing fee per transaction. Plus plans start at $29 per month.
Pros
- Reliable and fast payment processing
- Syncs easily with personal Google calendars
- No monthly cost if you don’t need advanced features
Cons
- Lacks salon-specific tools like color formula tracking
- Reporting is general and not tailored to beauty
- Marketing features are very basic
10. Booksy
Booksy is all about lead generation and mobile-first booking, making it a popular choice for barbers and stylists in busy urban areas.
Key Features
- Client App: Clients download the Booksy app to find and book you.
- Waitlist Management: Automatically notifies clients when a slot opens up.
- Flash Sales: Quickly fill empty spots by offering last-minute discounts.
Pricing
Booksy starts at $29.99 per month, plus a commission for new clients found via their marketplace.
Pros
- Strong focus on getting you new bookings
- Excellent mobile app for both sides of the chair
- Includes basic marketing tools like SMS blasts
- Easy for clients to use on the go
Cons
- Marketplace fees can eat into your margins
- Limited customization for the booking site
- Can feel competitive with other local stylists on the same app
11. Meevo
Meevo is a platform that is all about business education, staff growth, and deep goal tracking for ambitious owners. It is a full-scale enterprise management system designed to handle everything from individual stylist productivity to multi-location financial operations.
Key Features
- Goal Tracking: Set and monitor daily or monthly targets for stylists.
- Smart Center: A customizable dashboard that shows your KPIs at a glance.
- Educational Resources: Access to training to help you run a better business.
Pricing
Meevo starts at $139 per month, targeting mid-to-large salons.
Pros
- Exceptional tools for managing and motivating a team
- Very strong reporting and data visualization
- Great for salons that focus on professional development
- Solid multi-location capabilities
Cons
- The interface feels industrial
- Higher starting price than many competitors
- Takes time to set up and configure properly
12. Rosy
Rosy focuses on flexibility and customization, allowing salons to configure the system to match their unique workflows and service offerings. Their platform supports unusual appointment types, complex service combinations, and non-standard business models that don’t fit typical salon software.
Key Features
- Flexible Appointment Types: Create custom service categories, appointment durations, and booking rules that match your specific operations.
- Product Usage Tracking: Monitor which products are used during each service to accurately calculate service costs and profit margins.
- Advanced Commission Structures: Support complex compensation models including tiered commissions, service-specific rates, and team-based bonuses.
- Multi-Provider Services: Coordinate appointments requiring multiple staff members simultaneously, such as color and cut combinations.
- Client Portal: Online dashboard where clients can view appointment history, manage profile information, and rebook favorite services.
Pricing
Rosy starts at $37 per month for a single user.
Pros
- Exceptional flexibility accommodates non-standard business models and service offerings
- Detailed product usage tracking helps optimize inventory and pricing decisions
- Complex commission structures support diverse compensation models
- Multi-provider service coordination simplifies scheduling for team-based services
- A responsive customer support team helps with configuration questions
Cons
- Flexibility comes with complexity that may be overwhelming for simple operations
- Setup and configuration require more time investment than simpler platforms
- Interface design feels dated compared to more modern competitors
- Mobile app functionality is less robust than desktop version
13. Goldie
Goldie is designed for the modern, busy salon professional who needs a scheduling tool that works instantly on a mobile phone. It is designed to act as a “pocket manager” for independent professionals, moving beyond simple calendar entries to handle the entire lifecycle of a client.
Key Features
- Instant Setup: Go from download to taking bookings in minutes.
- SMS Reminders: Reliable notifications to reduce no-shows.
- Online Booking: A simple link you can put in your Instagram bio.
Pricing
Goldie offers a basic free version, with the Pro plan starting at $19 per month.
Pros
- One of the fastest setups in the industry
- Very affordable for budget-conscious salon owners
- Clean, modern app design
- Great for solo stylists who hate complicated tech
Cons
- Not suitable for salons with more than a few staff members
- Lacks deep business reporting
- No integrated POS hardware options
14. Acuity Scheduling
Acuity is designed for professionals who don’t just want to book time, but want to automate the entire financial and administrative cycle of an appointment. It moves beyond basic payments by offering tools to sell subscriptions, multi-session packages, and gift certificates directly through the booking page.
Key Features
- Custom Intake Forms: Collect every detail you need before the client arrives.
- Subscription Selling: Easily sell monthly memberships or packages.
- Vast Integrations: Connects to almost any other business tool via Zapier.
Pricing
Acuity starts at $16 per month for the basic paid tier.
Pros
- Incredibly flexible for unique service offerings
- Great for managing recurring appointments
- Strong integration with Zoom for virtual consultations
- Easy to embed on any existing website
Cons
- Not built specifically for the beauty industry
- Lacks salon-specific inventory or formula tracking
- The interface is known for being too corporate rather than creative
How We Selected These Salon Software Solutions
To create this list, we evaluated each software based on the following pillars:
- Reliability: Does the system stay up during your busiest hours?
- Growth Potential: Can the software scale as you add chairs or locations?
- Support: Is there a human available when you have a question?
- Value: Do the features justify the monthly investment?
- User Experience: Is it easy for your least tech-savvy staff member to use?
How to Choose the Right Salon Software for Your Business
Selecting salon management software requires matching your specific operational needs, budget constraints, and growth plans with the right feature set. We recommend following a structured evaluation process to avoid costly mistakes.
- Assess Your Current Pain Points: Start by identifying what’s not working in your current system. Are you losing bookings due to phone tag? Experiencing frequent double-bookings? Struggling with no-shows? Your biggest frustrations should drive your feature priorities.
- Define Your Must-Have Features: Create a shortlist of non-negotiables. Most salons need online booking, appointment reminders, client history tracking, and payment processing. Additional features like inventory management, marketing automation, or multi-location support matter for some businesses but not others.
- Consider Your Team’s Technical Comfort: Evaluate your staff’s willingness to learn new systems honestly. If your team struggles with technology, prioritize simple interfaces over advanced features. The best software in the world creates no value if your employees won’t use it.
- Calculate Total Cost of Ownership: Look beyond monthly subscription fees to include payment processing costs, setup fees, training time, and any hardware purchases required. Compare the all-in cost of each option over a 12-month period.
- Test Before You Commit: Take advantage of free trials to test platforms with your actual workflows. Book sample appointments, process test payments, generate reports, and invite team members to try the mobile apps. Most issues become obvious during hands-on testing.
Transforming Your Business with Technology
The right salon management software transforms disorganised daily operations into streamlined workflows that save time, reduce errors, and improve client experiences. EnvisionNow is built for growing salons that want powerful tools without unnecessary complexity.
If you’re a salon ready to scale, take ownership of your operations, and future-proof your growth in 2026, EnvisionNow is for you. Explore how EnvisionNow can simplify your workflow. You can also reach out to us for a walkthrough to see it in action.
FAQs
1. Can I Switch Software if I Already Have a Client List?
Yes, most premium providers like EnvisionNow offer data migration services to help you move your clients and history over safely.
2. Do I Need Special Hardware to Use Salon Software?
Most modern systems work on iPads, laptops, and smartphones. However, integrated POS hardware can make checkout faster and more professional.
3. Is Salon Software Worth the Cost for a Solo Stylist?
Absolutely. If the software prevents just one no-show or saves you two hours of admin a week, it has already paid for itself.
