The Best Salon Software Programs

More and more prospective clients are looking to book an appointment directly online, instead of picking up the phone. According to BookedIn 82% of clients use mobile devices to book appointments in 2019 alone. Your lack of a booking system may be holding you back from maximizing your revenue!

We’ve compiled a list of the best hair salon software programs, according to hair stylists:

• Vagaro
• Squire
• Salon Iris
• Fresha
• Bookedin

Vagaro

Vagaro offers all the features you need as a salon: POS system, online booking, text notifications and more! You can also customize forms and take advantage of their customizable form system. Vagaro has been compared to Square, but it doesn’t allow for extras to be added on easily to an appointment. For example, if your client last minute wants to add on a deep condition, charging for that service will take a workaround. Vagaro pricing starts at $25.00 per month, but you can try out all the features for free with their free trial.

Squire

Squire is another all-in-one booking platform with the goal of improving your salon operations. Clients can book appointments with an embeddable booking widget, you can control staff schedules and run payroll via the system. They also have text reminders and allow you to keep notes on the client! Downsides of the platform include a lack of a search bar in the inventory list, so if you have a lot of products it’s hard to search. Additionally, the mobile app is a bit clunky and not all desktop features are available on the app. A squire subscription starts at $99 per month.

Salon Iris

Salon Iris is a great choice for booth renters and salons alike. They have a mobile app and client login portal, as well as a QuickBooks integration and a POS. The platform is easy to use and highly rated, but the biggest complaint is the lack of support. When you run into an issue with the software, be wary of their customer service and help line. A Salon Iris subscription starts at $59 per month

Fresha

Fresha is a “free” scheduling app that offers a variety of services for your business. They have appointment scheduling, a point of sale system, inventory and payment processing. One downside is that they currently do not offer the ability to charge for add-ons during a service. To incorporate add-ons you have to create a whole new service, or calculate the total after. Additionally Fresha is marketed as “free,” when in reality the payment is passed onto the customer in the form of a 2.29% up charge plus $0.20 per transaction fees.

Bookedin

Bookedin has many great features – but one highlight is recurring appointments. If you have a client that comes in regularly and is picky about time slots, suggest setting up a recurring appointment so that they can always have their favorite slot. Downsides include the fact that the booking page is not customizable, so it might not match your branding. Other reviewers reported that the scheduling set up itself is slightly confusing, so make sure you take your time when creating appointments.

Bookedin also offers custom booking forms, so you can easily ask specific questions ahead of the appointment. Other great features include: auto text reminders for clients, online payment processing, client history and notes, and client profiles. A bookedin subscription starts at $29 per month.

Booksy

Booksy is a beauty appointment service that allows customers to book appointments with their favourite salon or spa from the convenience of their phone. Booking an appointment has never been easier. The app makes it possible to find and book your next hair cut, eyebrow wax, manicure, or massage in seconds without ever leaving home! Whether you are looking for a last-minute appointment or you want to schedule a month ahead of time, this app will have something for you. For providers, Booksy also offers a scheduling platform that lets you stay on top of your business no matter where you are.