Insight Salon Software vs salonMonster

Insight Salon Software helps salons, spas, barber shops, and other businesses manage appointments, clients, staff, marketing, and inventory. Online booking supports real-time appointments on a mobile-responsive site and sends automatic email or SMS confirmations. Client records can hold formulas, preferences, notes, service and appointment history, and loyalty points. Marketing tools handle automated text and email campaigns, appointment reminders, and promotions for inactive clients. The software includes more than 80 reports and graphs covering sales, appointments, clients, employees, inventory, services, payroll, and management. It is offered as a cloud subscription or an installed option. Cloud subscriptions include remote access, online backups, and unlimited customer support, but require a reliable internet connection. Premium Cloud adds two-way texting, phone and tablet apps, and online booking. Installed stores data locally on a Windows PC, works without an internet connection, and includes free upgrades for one year. Cloud plans start at $25 a month for Solo Edition; Solo Edition (Premium Cloud) costs $55 a month and includes up to 500 SMS per month. A free trial is available.

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.