Aura'd

Aura'd is booking and client-management software for independent beauty professionals and salons. It suits stylists who want a branded booking channel and a clear path from solo work to staff scheduling. Its free tier is useful for a small appointment book, but busy businesses will need a paid plan.

Overview

Clients can book around the clock through a branded app or website, with availability updated in real time. That gives salons a direct booking route beyond opening hours; the Free plan's 50-booking monthly limit and five-service cap, however, put a ceiling on how far a busy schedule can grow without an upgrade.

Client lists, promotions, preference tracking, and appointment notes keep customer context alongside appointments. This makes Aura'd more than a booking calendar, particularly for stylists who want to record preferences and encourage repeat visits.

Key features

Automated SMS and email reminders are described as reducing no-shows by up to 90%. Free includes email confirmations but no email reminders; Solo adds both email and SMS reminders, making it the practical starting point for businesses that want active appointment follow-up.

Aura'd integrates with Stripe and accepts cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Clearpay, and Klarna. Booking commission is zero on every plan, but card processing costs 1.9% + 20p, so payment volume still brings a transaction cost. Deposits and payments are included from Business.

The REST API covers services, availability, bookings, and client management, with API key authentication and HTTPS encryption; Aura'd claims 99.9% uptime. API access is exclusive to Premium, so businesses wanting to connect booking data to other systems must pay for the top tier. Aura'd also says setup takes under 15 minutes and offers free setup assistance; Business adds priority support.

Pricing

Aura'd is freemium, with a free trial also offered. The Free plan costs nothing and allows 50 bookings per month and five services, with a basic booking page and email confirmations. It excludes email reminders, analytics, and custom branding, making it a constrained fit for a small practice rather than a growing salon.

Solo costs £19 a month and removes booking and service limits, while adding a custom booking page, email and SMS reminders, analytics, and custom branding. It is the strongest fit for a solo stylist who has outgrown the free caps; it does not add staff tools.

Team costs £39 a month and includes everything in Solo, plus up to five staff members, a staff portal, and staff scheduling. It suits a small salon coordinating several calendars. Business costs £69 a month and adds unlimited staff, deposits and payments, advanced analytics, and priority support, so the higher price is relevant to larger teams or salons collecting deposits.

Premium costs £149 a month. It includes everything in Business, plus white label, a custom domain, custom email sender, branded PWA, and API access. It is aimed at operators who need deeper branding or API integrations; for a salon that only needs bookings and staff scheduling, Team or Business avoids paying for those extras.

Platforms

Aura'd supports Android, iOS, web, and API access. Its branded salon appointment apps are available on iOS and Android, giving clients mobile booking options alongside the web channel.

Who it's for

Aura'd is designed for hair stylists, lash technicians, beauty therapists, and other beauty professionals, from solo operators to teams. The Free plan can suit a low-volume practice with a short service menu; Solo fits a busy independent stylist, while Team and Business address staff coordination. It is less compelling for a business that needs API access but cannot justify Premium's monthly price.

Pros and cons

Pros: Zero booking commission across all plans keeps the fee structure straightforward, although card processing still applies.

Pros: Solo removes booking and service caps and adds reminders and analytics, a substantial step up for an independent stylist.

Pros: Team and Business provide progressively larger staffing capacity, from five staff to unlimited staff.

Cons: Free is limited to 50 monthly bookings and five services, and lacks email reminders, analytics, and custom branding.

Cons: Deposits and payments are held back until Business, even though payment methods and Stripe integration are offered more broadly.

Cons: API access requires Premium at £149 a month, a steep tier for businesses that only need an integration.

Alternatives

Salon App Builder Software is a useful place to compare salon app-building options. ScheduleAnyone may suit a business looking for a free tier with up to 200 appointments and three staff for up to six months, across a broader set of desktop and mobile platforms. WellnessLiving is an alternative with a Starter plan at $62 a month billed annually, covering one staff member and booking for classes and appointments. Salonist offers a free Marketplace Listing with 50 appointments per month, online booking, calendar and scheduling, and staff shift management. Vagaro is another paid option, with no free plan and a One Location plan at $30 a month. Orbis Salon may appeal to a smaller operation seeking a lower monthly starting price: its Lite plan costs £4.99 a month for one staff member, one location, 30 bookings, and five services, with a 50p booking service fee per booking. Tonso offers a free option when the business passes booking fees to clients. Next offers free booking, scheduling, and app features, with unlimited SMS texts as an optional $5 a month add-on. Salonipy is a paid alternative with a Monthly plan at $5 a month for a whole salon, all features, and unlimited appointments.

Verdict

Aura'd is a strong match for beauty professionals who want bookings, client context, and a tiered route to staff scheduling in one product. Its zero booking commission and useful Solo upgrade are persuasive; look elsewhere if you need API access without paying for Premium, or if the Free plan's caps are too low for your schedule.