Overview

Salonist is an operating platform for salons, spas, barbershops, and other beauty businesses that need to manage clients and staff as well as appointments. It is best suited to teams that want booking, checkout, and business administration together, though the free tier’s appointment cap and marketplace fee need to fit the way they acquire clients.

Key features

Bookings and checkout

Clients can book through links, website widgets, Instagram, or Google, while staff use the scheduling calendar. That range makes Salonist a reasonable fit for businesses taking bookings across several channels. The POS handles desk and mobile checkout, tips, and split payments, which is useful when a service business needs more than appointment tracking.

Business operations

Client records, memberships, packages, retail inventory, staff permissions, timesheets, and reporting cover much of the routine work around a visit. The breadth is a strength for owners seeking one system for appointments and operations. But plan placement matters: inventory is included in Advance, while the entry paid Essential plan emphasizes POS, reports, and standard data import.

Apps, integrations, and safeguards

Salonist offers partner and customer booking apps; the client booking app is described as available on iOS and Android. It lists 40+ integrations, including Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, WhatsApp, Mailchimp, QuickBooks, Shopify, and Google Calendar. Custom integrations and API access are reserved for Expert, so businesses with bespoke connection needs should factor in the higher tier.

Salonist says it uses HTTPS sessions, online data storage with regular backups, and owner-assigned staff access levels. It also states 99.95% service availability and 24/7 support and maintenance. The software runs in 13 languages and serves customers in more than 60 countries, which may matter to businesses operating across language or geographic boundaries.

Pricing

The free Marketplace Listing costs 0.00 USD per free and includes online booking, a calendar, and scheduling for up to 50 appointments per month. That is a useful starting point for a small or low-volume business, but the cap makes it unsuitable as a no-cost option for busier calendars. Salonist also charges a one-time 15% fee on the first visit from a new client acquired through its marketplace, so marketplace bookings can carry a cost even on the free plan.

Essential costs 79.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and includes unlimited staff, POS, reports, standard data import, and in-app chat support. It fits businesses that need checkout and reporting without the higher-tier tools. Advance costs 109.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and adds campaigns, inventory, WhatsApp/SMS notifications, and advanced data import; it is the more relevant choice for businesses managing retail stock or customer outreach.

Expert costs 179.00 USD per month, billed monthly, and includes unlimited staff, a dedicated account manager, multi-branch reporting, consent forms, custom integrations, and API access. It is aimed at businesses with multiple branches or integration needs that justify a substantial step up from Advance. Salonist offers a seven-day free trial without a credit card and says it does not automatically charge when the trial ends. Free onboarding and data import are available; chat and on-demand phone support are listed on Essential, while Expert includes a dedicated account manager.

Platforms

Salonist supports Android, iOS, web, and API. The client booking app is available on iOS and Android; API access is part of Expert rather than a general inclusion across paid plans.

Who it's for

Salonist is a stronger fit for salons and wellness businesses that want booking channels, POS, staff administration, and client management under one roof. Teams needing inventory, campaigns, notifications, multi-branch reporting, or custom integrations should compare the relevant paid tiers against their requirements. Businesses seeking only a low-cost calendar may find the free appointment limit restrictive, while marketplace-driven businesses should account for the first-visit fee.

Pros and cons

Pros: Booking through links, widgets, Instagram, and Google gives clients multiple ways to reserve appointments.
Pros: POS supports mobile and desk checkout, tips, and split payments, alongside client, staff, and retail-management tools.
Pros: Unlimited staff is included in all three paid plans, and Expert adds multi-branch reporting and API access.
Cons: The free Marketplace Listing stops at 50 appointments per month and charges a one-time 15% fee on the first marketplace-acquired visit from a new client.
Cons: Inventory, campaigns, WhatsApp/SMS notifications, and API access require higher paid tiers rather than Essential.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Salon Software, Salon and Spa Scheduling Software, and Salon Payroll Software.

DaySmart Salon is worth comparing if a paid option with a 29.00 USD per month Basic plan, one user, online booking, confirmations, and social booking fits better than Salonist’s free tier or unlimited-staff paid plans. Insight Salon Software starts at 25.00 USD per month for a single employee on Solo Edition, making it an alternative for a solo operator weighing per-employee scope against Salonist’s unlimited-staff paid tiers. Orbis Salon offers a 4.99 GBP per month Lite plan for one staff member and one location, capped at 30 bookings monthly with a 50p booking service fee per booking; choose it if that narrower, lower-priced setup suits your scale.

GlossGenius has a 28.00 USD per month Standard plan with a custom booking website, unlimited client notifications, email and text marketing, and inventory and retail features, an alternative if those tools are the priority. Ovatu charges US$25 per month for its first employee on Neat and US$7 for each additional employee, so it may suit a business preferring employee-based pricing. Rosy is another paid option with a Just Me plan for one service provider calendar. Meevo is an alternative for businesses comparing salon and spa software with web, desktop, and mobile platform support. Simple Salon starts at 20.00 USD per month on Starter, capped at seven operators with no included SMS, and may suit a smaller team willing to manage that constraint.

Verdict

Choose Salonist if your salon or wellness business needs bookings, POS, and staff and client operations in one platform, especially if unlimited staff or multi-branch reporting matters. Its main drawback is the gap between the free listing’s 50-appointment ceiling and the paid plans, compounded by a fee on qualifying marketplace-acquired visits. Look elsewhere if that cost structure or the paid-tier placement of the tools you need does not suit your business.

	ELIV8	Salonist
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	£19/mo	$79/mo
Platforms	iOS, Web	Android, api, iOS, Web
Free plan	No	Yes
Online booking	Yes	Yes
Staff calendar	Yes	Yes
POS and payments	Yes	Yes
Client reminders	Yes	Yes
Inventory tracking	Yes	Yes
Multi-location support	Yes	Yes
Memberships and packages	Yes	Yes
Paid from		79 /mo

ELIV8 vs Salonist

ELIV8

Salonist