Apoynt vs Salonist

Apoynt is a business platform for service businesses that already have their customers, including barbers, salons, beauty businesses, personal trainers, and tattoo artists. Customers book through a business page by choosing a named person, date, and available time; multi-location businesses can offer location selection, subject to plan limits. Its point-of-sale tools cover cash floats, shift checks, cash, card and gift totals, tips, change, and end-of-day cash-up. Businesses can sell gift cards online, redeem them at the till, check balances, and offer loyalty stamps, with availability depending on the plan. Communications include booking confirmations, 24-hour reminders, campaign emails, live chat, and WhatsApp contact features. Businesses can connect their own PayPal or Stripe account or take bank transfers. Apoynt says it takes no commission on bookings, till sales, deposits, or gift cards, though payment-provider fees may apply. Plans are Starter at £14.99 a month, Premier at £29.99 a month, and Premier Plus at £59.99 a month. A 14-day trial includes every feature. The service runs on Android, iOS, and the web.

Salonist is cloud-based salon management software covering bookings, point of sale, inventory, staff, marketing and memberships. It works on web and mobile without installation. Clients can book at any time through a website, Instagram or the Salonist app, with automatic reminders and options for recurring or package bookings. Its integrated POS supports card, contactless and Stripe terminal payments, bulk checkout, payment reports and stock updates. The service targets businesses ranging from hair salons, massage centers and spas to barbershops, nail salons, aesthetic skin clinics and pet groomers. Salonist lists more than 40 integrations, including Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, Clover, QuickBooks and Authorize.Net. The free Market Place Listing plan includes 50 appointments per month. Essential costs $59.00 per month, Advance costs $109.00 per month and Expert costs $179.00 per month. Expert includes a custom-branded client app published under the salon's name. A 15% commission applies once to the first visit from a new client discovered through its marketplace; returning-client and direct bookings do not incur that fee.