Did you know? Over 40% of small salon owners switch from Vagaro within their first year!
Why? While Vagaro is popular, it doesn’t work perfectly for everyone. Some find it too tricky to use. Others think it costs too much. And many just want features that better fit their business.
That’s where Vagaro alternatives come in! These are the tools that are made to help beauty businesses such as salons, spas, and wellness centers. It includes services like booking clients, sending reminders, taking payments, and even growing online easily!
Scroll down and explore the best Vagaro alternatives that you can consider for your business needs. In the end, you will also learn why Salonist is considered the best choice instead of Vagaro.
Let’s dive in!
Best Vagaro Alternatives You Can Consider
Salonist
It is one of the best salon management software built to support the real needs of beauty and wellness businesses. Salonist helps you organize appointments, manage customer records, and handle payments all through one dashboard. It reduces manual tasks by automating things like client booking, appointment reminders, and invoice generation. You can also monitor your business performance through built-in reports and analytics. Whether you need to manage one location or several, Salonist offers tools that scale with your growth.
Features:
- Appointment Management
- Customer Management
- Reward/Loyalty System
- Marketing Automation
- Online Booking
- Inventory Management
- Point of Sale
- Employee Management
- Analytics Services
- Location/Branch Management
- Customize Mobile App
- Online Store
- Forms
- SalonistPay
- Integrations
- Membership Programs
Pricing:
Salonist offers different plans depending on your needs. It has mainly four types of plans, which are marketplace, essential, advance, and expert. To know more about the service you get with these plans, you can check out our pricing plans.
Benefits:
- It is super easy to learn and use.
- This helps you to save time by automating daily tasks like bookings and billing.
- Keeps your clients happy with reminders and quick check-ins.
- Helps grow your business with innovative reports and marketing tools.
- Works on phones and computers, so you can manage your salon anywhere.
- Supports your team by making their schedules and work clear.
- Builds loyalty with reward programs and discount offers.
- It offers great support, so you never get stuck.
Simplybook.me
Simplybook.me is another trusted booking system used by businesses around the world. It mainly supports service-based businesses by offering them reliable scheduling, payment, and customer management tools.
This even allows business owners to receive online bookings, manage their services, and track client activity through a single dashboard. It has built-in marketing tools that help businesses to retain and attract clients.
Features:
- Facebook and Instagram Bookings
- Coupons and gift cards
- Membership
- Packages
- Online Payments
- Service Categories
- Google Reviews
- Custom Email
- Loyalty System
- Notifications
Pricing:
Simpltbook.me offers different plans depending on your needs. It has mainly four types of plans, which are Free, Basic, Standard, and Premium. To know more about the service you will get, check out their pricing plans.
Benefits:
- It is very easy to use for you and your clients.
- Works great on all devices.
- Saves time with smart tools that do the hard work for you.
- Gives your business a professional look with a custom booking site.
- Helps you grow faster by adding packages, memberships, and reviews.
Acuity Scheduling
This is a cloud-based appointment scheduling software developed by Squarespace. It is one of the best salon software programs in 2025. It makes it easier for service providers to organize appointments, receive payments, and communicate directly with clients.
Businesses offer online booking that can be done in the right way with their customized booking pages. It syncs with calendars, which ensures business owners do not create double bookings.
Advanced options available on the platform include intake forms, scheduling group appointments, and allowing you to sell service packages or subscriptions. Automation and detailed reports allow this system to automate certain jobs and give valuable insights into the way clients use the system.
Features:
- Online Booking
- Client Management
- Client Loyalty
- Availability Control
- Calendar Management
- Payments
- Invoicing Software
- Staff Management
Pricing:
Acuity Scheduling offers different plans depending on your needs. It has mainly four types of plans, which are Starter, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. To know more about the service you will get, check out their pricing plans.
Benefits:
- Super easy to set up and start using.
- Let your business stay open for bookings 24/7.
- Reduces no-shows with automatic reminders.
- Saves time by taking care of scheduling, billing, and client info.
- Looks professional with custom booking pages.
- Great for solo stylists or big salons.
Fresha
Fresha is a top-rated booking platform designed especially for use by salons, spas, and wellness providers. You can manage appointments, client records, inventory, and everything regarding payments with no extra effort.
A huge advantage of Fresha is that it does not charge a monthly subscription fee. Businesses can take advantage of features such as online booking, scheduled reminders, and handling online payments for free. It’s best for small and mid-sized beauty businesses that want professional tools.
Features:
- Online Booking
- Appointment Scheduling
- Calendar Integration
- Client Database
- Employee Scheduling
- Point of Sale
- Billing and Invoicing
- Inventory Management
Pricing:
Fresha is free to use with no monthly fees. You only pay a small commission when you get a new client through the Fresha marketplace or when you take online payments. There are no setup costs, and you can cancel anytime.
Benefits:
- 100% free to start and use with most features included.
- Very simple and user-friendly for both staff and clients.
- Helps reduce no-shows with smart reminders.
- Works on phones, tablets, and computers.
- Let you sell products and track stock easily.
- Offers great support and online help when needed.
- Trusted by thousands of salons around the world.
Calendly
It is a scheduling software that helps businesses of all types. It is especially designed for salons, spas, and wellness providers that help them to simplify their appointment booking process. It lets clients to view your available times and book their appointments online.
The platform links with your calendars and helps you plan events without worrying about double-booking. With automated confirmations and reminders, it reduces no-shows. It makes scheduling easier, saves everyone’s time and takes the stress out of booking appointments.
Features:
- Scheduling Automation
- Customizable Availability
- Mobile Apps
- Browser Extension
- Meeting Routing
- Event Types
- Email & Website Embeds
- Reminders and Follow-ups
- Meeting Pools
- Analytics
- Admin Management
Pricing:
Calendly offers different plans depending on your needs. It has mainly four types of plans, which are Free, Standard, Team, and Enterprise. To know more about the service you will get, check out their pricing plans.
Benefits:
- It is very easy to set up and use.
- Helps clients book 24/7 without waiting for replies.
- Saves time by removing back-and-forth messages.
- Reduces missed appointments with reminders.
- Works on all types of devices.
- Good for small businesses and solo pros.
- It lets you connect with your favorite tools.
GlossGenius
It is an all-in-one business management software that is designed especially for beauty and wellness professionals. This contains hairstylists, makeup artists, estheticians, and spa owners. It even combines booking, payment processing, and client management into a single platform. This helps you to save time and adds polish to your brand.
With GlossGenius, you can offer seamless online booking, accept payments with low fees, and keep detailed client notes like service history, preferences, and formulas. The platform also provides a beautifully designed custom website, helping you maintain a professional online presence. It’s built to simplify daily operations while making your business look and run like a pro.
Features:
- Customer Relationship Management
- Inventory Management
- Online Booking
- Client Management
- Appointment Scheduling
- Payment Processing
- Point of Sale
- Automated Reminder
- Calendar Sync
- Event Management
- Team Management
- Reporting & Analytics
Pricing:
GlossGenius offers different plans depending on your needs. It has mainly three types of plans, which are the Standard Plan, Gold Plan, and Platinum Plan. To know more about the service you will get, check out their pricing plans.
Benefits:
- This is made just for a beauty perspective.
- It is very easy to set up and use.
- Gives you a professional look with a beautiful custom site.
- Helps keep your client records safe and organized.
- Fast deposits, get paid as soon as the next day.
- Everything in one app, no switching between different tools.
Why choose Salonist instead of Vagaro
When it comes to running your salon smoothly, the right tools make a lot of difference. Let’s look at the comparison table of Salonist vs Vagaro and know how you can pick the best fit for your business.
| Features | Salonist | Vagaro |
| Ease of use | Very simple and user-friendly | Has more features but is harder to learn |
| Pricing Plan | Starts at $18/ month | Starts at $25/month, but adds fees for extras |
| Free Trial | Yes, with all main features included | Yes, but limited for 30 days |
| Online Booking | Included in all plans | Included |
| Client Management | Tracks history, notes, visits, and preferences | Available with more setup |
| Staff Scheduling | Easy staff shift planning and calendar views | Available |
| Inventory Management | Included in all plans | Only available in higher plans |
| Payment Processing | Integrated payments with fast checkout | Available, but extra fees apply |
| Multi-location Support | Built-in, easy to manage | Available, but needs advanced setup |
| Custom Branding | A booking site can match your business look | Customization options are limited on lower plans |
| Reports & Analytics | Smart reports with visual charts | Detailed reports, but can be complex |
| Marketing Tools | Includes Loyalty programs and offers | Requires add-ons or upgrades |
| Customer Support | Fast and friendly via chat, email, and phone | Support is available but slower during bust times |
After looking at the comparison table, Salonist can be a better choice than Vagaro because:
- It has more features included in each plan.
- Easier to use, even for beginners.
- Better value for money with simple pricing.
- Great for managing multiple locations and growing teams.
- Quick and friendly customer support when you need help.
Conclusion
Handling a salon or spa should be exciting and easy, but not confusing and stressful. While Vagaro is popular software, but it may not be the best fit for every business. That’s why software like Salonist, SimplyBook.me, Acuity, Fresha, Calendly, and GlossGenius can help more!
Each one is made to save you time, make bookings simple, and keep your clients satisfied. But Salonist stands out with more features, better prices, and great support. So if you want software that does it all and feels just right, Salonist could be your perfect match!