Salonist vs SimpleSpa

Salonist is cloud-based salon management software covering bookings, point of sale, inventory, staff, marketing and memberships. It works on web and mobile without installation. Clients can book at any time through a website, Instagram or the Salonist app, with automatic reminders and options for recurring or package bookings. Its integrated POS supports card, contactless and Stripe terminal payments, bulk checkout, payment reports and stock updates. The service targets businesses ranging from hair salons, massage centers and spas to barbershops, nail salons, aesthetic skin clinics and pet groomers. Salonist lists more than 40 integrations, including Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, Clover, QuickBooks and Authorize.Net. The free Market Place Listing plan includes 50 appointments per month. Essential costs $59.00 per month, Advance costs $109.00 per month and Expert costs $179.00 per month. Expert includes a custom-branded client app published under the salon's name. A 15% commission applies once to the first visit from a new client discovered through its marketplace; returning-client and direct bookings do not incur that fee.

SimpleSpa is cloud-based appointment management software with scheduling, online booking, integrated point of sale, and automatic appointment reminders. Each business receives an online booking page that can also be embedded on its website. The system supports multiple locations and staff, inventory, gift certificates, service packages, forms, resources, and business reports. It is intended for appointment-based businesses including salons, spas, massage therapists, gyms, hotels, chiropractors, and medical and wellness providers. SimpleSpa runs on the web and supports Android and iOS through a responsive web service that can be installed as a progressive web app; documentation notes some PWA navigation limitations. It supports Mac and PC computers and recommends Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Payments can be processed online through Stripe partners or in person through certified terminals from merchant services partners. Plans include unlimited appointments and users, support, cloud backup, export tools, and updates, while staff capacity and photo storage differ by tier. The Basic monthly plan costs $10 a month for one staff member and 1GB photo storage. The Basic yearly plan costs $100 a year; yearly rates are discounted and non-refundable for a limited time. There is no free plan, and a 14-day trial is listed.