Next vs SalonSynq

Next is a free booking app for salon professionals working in salon suites. Professionals can set booking rules, choose request-based or direct booking, customize service durations and stack appointments. Marketing tools support email, in-app and SMS campaigns, including prepared or custom campaigns. Its point-of-sale system supports deposits, cards on file, coupons, discounts, touch and touchless payments, and merged or split payments. The payment page lists a flat 2.52% processing rate on chipped card transactions, including AMEX and Discover, with no per-transaction fees. Next can connect with participating salon suite locations for rent management, website booking, cross-marketing and maintenance requests. The maker identifies hairstylists, barbers, nail artists, makeup artists, lash technicians, estheticians, massage therapists and other personal-care professionals as its audience. The app is available on Android, iOS and the web. Booking features are free; unlimited SMS texts are an optional $5 a month plan. Connection to a salon suite website and check-in system is marked as coming soon.

SalonSynq gives salon and beauty professionals tools for bookings, payments and day-to-day business workflows. It creates a branded booking page showing services, prices and opening hours, and supports service setup, team calendars, reminders, deposits, reviews, notifications and analytics. The free Start plan is for one solo professional and includes unlimited bookings, manual payment logging, a vanity booking link and email reminders, with no SalonSynq online payment fee. Flex is also free, adding no-show protection, online deposits and Tap-to-Pay on phone; it charges a 6% transaction fee. Pro costs £22 a month, with a 2.2% transaction fee plus 20p per online payment. It includes up to four team members at no extra cost, a branded client app, automated SMS reminders, and service-based rebooking journeys and offers. SalonSynq says rebooking reminders stop once a client books again. Payments run through Stripe or another supported provider, and SalonSynq says it does not store full card details. The service is available on Android, iOS and web.