DaySmart Salon vs uniCenta oPOS
DaySmart Salon
daysmart.comuniCenta oPOS
unicenta.comSide by side
| Figure | DaySmart Salon | uniCenta oPOS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $29/mo | £6/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 6 |
| Spec score · Point-of-Sale Software | 8.8 (#8) | 8.4 (#26) |
| Company history | DaySmart's About page says it has served small businesses since 1998 and lists Salon 2000 as launching in May 1998. | Founder Jack Gerrard says uniCenta oPOS began as a hobby project in 2010, and subscription support was introduced in 2016. |
| Founded | 1998 | 2010 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States | London, England |
| Multi-location support | Yes | Yes |
| Product | DaySmart Salon combines appointment scheduling, payments, communications, reporting and salon management in one system. | uniCenta oPOS is commercial-grade open-source point-of-sale software for retail and hospitality. |
| Support | DaySmart lists phone support from 9 AM to 9 PM ET Monday through Friday, live chat Monday through Saturday, and email responses within 24 hours on weekdays. | Subscribers receive access to online support and a knowledge base, while community forums are described as free and unsupported. |
Plans
DaySmart Salon
- Basic$29 a month
- Deluxe$69 a month
- Deluxe Growth$149 a month
- Premium$199 a month
- Premium GrowthPriced on request
uniCenta oPOS
- BASE subscription£72 a year
- PLUS subscription£144 a year
- HOSTED subscription£180 a year
- BASE£72 a year
- PLUS£144 a year
- HOSTED£180 a year
In their own words
DaySmart Salon
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.
uniCenta oPOS
uniCenta oPOS is open-source point-of-sale software for retail, hospitality, mixed-use venues, and specialist businesses. Version 5.0 is free to download under the GNU GPL3 license. Its listed functions include barcode scanning, customizable receipts, payment methods and terminals, restaurant and retail modes, and secure user logon. Sales tools include table management, split receipts, refunds, and discounts; inventory features include stock management, multiple warehouses, and multiple stores. WooCommerce can retrieve customer, order, and product data, while APIs support synchronization and links to other applications. The maker lists Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X installers, and browser use on Android and iOS devices. Paid subscriptions add combinations of reporting, support, API access, and hosting. BASE costs £6 per month charged yearly (£72); PLUS costs £12 per month charged yearly (£144); HOSTED costs £15 per month charged yearly (£180). Hosted service includes cloud hosting, daily backups, email support, a web firewall, and automatic upgrades. The software continues working after a subscription expires.