Cuppacard vs Salonist

Cuppacard provides digital stamp-and-reward loyalty schemes for independent businesses, including coffee shops, bakeries, barbers, takeaways, and salons. Businesses choose stamp rules and rewards, then brand cards with their logo, colours, and wording. Customers can scan a QR code to add a card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet without installing the Cuppacard app; this wallet option works worldwide and needs no hardware. UK venues can instead use the Cuppacard Tag: customers tap a phone to collect a stamp, with a push notification possible without staff action. The browser-based business dashboard reports stamps, redemptions, and returning customers. Businesses can send offers based on loyalty progress or inactivity; push notifications go to Cuppacard app users. The maker offers iOS and Android apps. The free plan allows up to 15 monthly active users. Cuppacard Plan costs £10 a month for up to 50 users, and Pro costs £20 a month for 51 or more, with unlimited users; both paid plans include a first month free.

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.