Pronto

Overview

Pronto is salon-management software for businesses that want appointments, checkout, client records and inventory in one system. It is best suited to small salons and barbershops that need low-friction online booking and can work within the free plan’s caps or justify a paid tier as the team grows. Its breadth is useful, but the free tier’s booking limit and the self-hosting requirements are meaningful trade-offs.

Key features

Booking and client management

Clients can book with only a name and phone number, without creating an account or installing an app. That removes steps for customers, while staff calendars, cancellation controls and appointment payments support the salon’s side of the booking flow. A booking page can be linked from Instagram or Google, and client lists can be imported from Fresha, Vagaro, Booksy, Mindbody, Square or another service that exports CSV. That makes Pronto a more plausible switch for an existing salon than a system that requires rebuilding its client list.

Checkout and reminders

The point of sale accepts cash, card and transfer, supports discounts and printed or digital receipts, and allows offline checkout. For salons that need checkout to continue when connectivity is interrupted, that is a practical advantage. Automated confirmations and reminders can go through Email, Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber, giving businesses several ways to reach clients.

Data and hosting

Cloud users can export client data and history at any time; with self-hosting, data stays on the salon’s server. Self-hosting uses Docker Compose and requires at least 1 GB RAM on Linux, macOS or Windows with WSL2, so it is a choice for operators willing to manage a server rather than a turnkey option for every salon. The privacy policy describes TLS encryption in transit, encryption at rest, access controls and regular security reviews, and says personal data is not sold. Passwords are hashed, payment card data is not stored by Pronto, and deleted-account data is deleted or anonymized within 30 days except where legally retained.

White-label mode, API access, staff permissions and dedicated support with SLA are coming soon. Email and priority support are listed, with priority support included on Agency; documentation directs users to GitHub issues for help. Buyers who need those advanced controls now should not choose Pronto on the assumption that they are already part of the product.

Pricing

Pronto is freemium, with a free plan billed Forever and paid plans billed monthly. The free tier costs nothing and includes 1 staff member, 100 clients, 50 bookings/mo and 100 products. It is a sensible starting point for a solo operator with modest appointment volume, but the booking and client caps can make it a poor fit once demand grows.

Starter costs $19 a month and raises the allowance to 5 staff, Unlimited clients, Unlimited bookings/mo and 2,000 products. It suits a small team that has outgrown the free caps, though the product ceiling remains relevant to retail-heavy salons. Pro costs $39 a month and includes 15 staff, Unlimited clients, Unlimited bookings/mo and Unlimited products, making it the stronger fit for a larger team or one with substantial stock. Agency costs $79 a month and adds Unlimited team, Unlimited clients, Unlimited bookings/mo and Multiple locations; it is aimed at multi-location operators and includes priority support. Each paid plan is monthly, so the choice is mainly about team size, product capacity and locations.

Platforms

Pronto is available on the web and can be self-hosted on Linux, macOS or Windows with WSL2. The self-hosted option offers server-side data control but requires Docker Compose and at least 1 GB RAM; teams that do not want to maintain that setup can use the cloud service. The POS also supports offline checkout.

Who it's for

Pronto is presented for beauty salons, hair salons, nail salons, barbershops, spas, lash studios and tattoo studios. The free plan best fits a solo business with limited bookings and stock, while Starter and Pro offer clear room to add staff and products. Agency is the natural tier for a team operating across multiple locations. Businesses that need white-labeling, API access or staff permissions immediately should wait for those features or consider another system.

Pros and cons

Pro: Booking without an account or app, plus Instagram and Google links, reduces friction for clients and helps salons bring in bookings from existing channels.

Pro: POS support for several payment types, receipts and offline checkout keeps core checkout options together.

Pro: Cloud export and a self-hosted option give businesses different ways to retain control of client records.

Con: The free plan’s 50 bookings per month and 100-client cap make it unsuitable for a busy salon, even before the 1-staff and 100-product limits become a constraint.

Con: Self-hosting requires Docker Compose and server resources, adding operational work for businesses that choose it.

Con: White-label mode, API access, staff permissions and dedicated SLA support are not ready yet, limiting the case for teams that depend on them.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison by business type, see Esthetician Software, Salon Appointment Scheduling Software, Barbershop Scheduling Software, Massage Therapy Scheduling Software, Massage Therapy Software and Salon POS Software.

Salonist is worth comparing if a free plan and trial appeal, and its free Marketplace Listing includes 50 appointments per month, online booking, scheduling and staff shift management. Salonized is an alternative for buyers who prefer a paid service with a trial and Android or iOS access; its Appointments plan starts at €21 a month on monthly billing, with annual billing available at a 10% discount and extra charges for employees and locations. DaySmart Salon may suit a salon that wants a paid option with a trial and social booking: its Basic plan is $29 a month for one user and includes online booking, appointment confirmations, and Instagram and Facebook booking.

Orbis Salon is another paid option with a trial; its Lite plan is £4.99 a month for one staff member and one location, with 30 bookings per month, five services and a 50p booking service fee per booking. GlossGenius is worth considering for a paid service with a trial and a Standard plan at $28 a month that includes a custom booking website, client notifications, email and text marketing, and inventory and retail features. Kitomba is a paid alternative with stock management and POS with integrated EFTPOS; Meevo is a paid alternative with salon and spa plans; and DaySmart Med Spa is a paid option with a trial and a Basic plan at $29 a month.

Verdict

Choose Pronto if you run a salon or barbershop that wants booking, checkout and client management together, especially if a modest free tier or self-hosted data control matters. Its clearest reasons to look elsewhere are the free plan’s low booking and client caps, the technical work of self-hosting, and advanced features that are still coming soon.