DaySmart Salon vs salonMonster

DaySmart Salon is salon management software for scheduling, payments, reminders, reporting, and related business work. It is intended for hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, skin clinics, independent stylists, and suite renters, and supports multiple locations. Clients can book through a salon website, Instagram, Facebook, or a Google Business listing; bookings can require salon approval. Automated text and email reminders, two-way text confirmations, cancellations, rescheduling, and upfront deposits help manage appointments. The built-in payment processing accepts card, contactless, and mobile payments, with funds deposited the next business day. Staff tools include commission calculations, performance tracking, digital time clocks, and per-staff reporting. The mobile app lets users add, book, and check out clients, and a desktop version is available. Basic costs $29 a month and includes one user, online booking, appointment confirmations, social booking, payment processing, and online deposits. There is no free plan, though a 14-day trial is listed. QuickBooks Online connection requires a separate subscription and is limited to eligible US customers on Deluxe, Premier, or Platinum.

salonMonster handles salon booking, payments, client records and reporting through web, mobile apps, hosted booking pages and APIs. Clients can book online around the clock, while salons control eligible services and clients, lead times, cancellations and approvals. Client records can store colour and service history, no-shows, communication history and work photos. Plans include email and SMS appointment reminders and confirmations, plus bulk email marketing. Operational tools cover inventory counts, backbar tracking, automatic reordering and point-of-sale tracking. The integrated payment system works with salonMonster accounts, has no monthly processing fee and lists Stripe-powered processing; the company says it is PCI compliant. Records for clients, bookings, sales, services, products and staff can be exported to CSV at no charge. salonMonster offers free client migration and says it can import colour formulas and appointment history. Pricing starts at $30 a month, with $15/mo per additional staff member; 7+ staff is $120/mo. A 14-day trial is listed, and beauty students and schools can request free education accounts.