Salonist vs Squadra

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.

Squadra is a web-based workforce scheduling tool for shift-based businesses, including retail, restaurants, salons, pharmacies, and hotels. Managers can build weekly schedules in a grid, copy the previous week in one click, and share shifts through a link. Employees can view a shared schedule without an app download or account. Optional time tracking lets staff clock in and out on a phone or tablet, with hours totaled automatically. Attendance controls include tablet PINs, random verification photos, GPS checks at clock-in, and lunch-break management. Squadra lists live connectors for BambooHR, HiBob, Personio, Factorial HR, PayFit, and Lucca. The free plan covers up to 10 employees at one location; Pro is $29/month or $289/year and supports unlimited employees and locations. Enterprise pricing is custom. The product also offers availability and time-off management. Squadra says it hosts data in Europe, supports full export at any time, and retains data for 30 days after cancellation.