SalonSynq vs Tonso
SalonSynq
salonsynq.co.ukTonso
tonso.com.auSide by side
| Figure | SalonSynq | Tonso |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £22/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 4 |
| Spec score · Salon App Builder Software | 7.9 (#19) | 8.6 (#5) |
| Client retention | Pro salons can publish updates and offers through their branded app and schedule service-based rebooking reminders that stop when a client books again. | TonsoEngage includes automated reminders, tailored offers, coupons, gift cards, and loyalty rewards. |
| Security | SalonSynq says it uses access controls, encrypted transport where appropriate, cloud security controls, monitoring and operational logging to protect personal information. | Tonso's privacy policy says stored personal information is protected with encryption, firewalls and access controls. |
| Support | The terms direct questions to [email protected]. | The contact page offers support through a web form, phone number 1300 368 313 and an Enfield address. |
Plans
Tonso
- Free when fees are passed to clientsFree
- Tonso service feeA$1, paid once
- Card processingA$1.70, paid once
- Pay-per-transactionPrice not published
In their own words
SalonSynq
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.
Tonso
Tonso brings bookings, staff scheduling, customer engagement, and performance insights together for salon and beauty businesses. TonsoAlign pairs clients with experts using skills, availability, and workload balance. TonsoFlow learns service durations and expert pace to reduce gaps in daily schedules. For walk-ins, TonsoQueue lets clients scan a QR code, see wait times, and receive a notification when it is time to return. TonsoPay supports deposits or full payment at booking and syncs with cash or in-store terminals. Retention tools include automated reminders, tailored offers, coupons, gift cards, and loyalty rewards. The platform also includes inventory tracking, multi-branch management, commissions, analytics, and staff roster management. It runs on Android, iOS, and the web, and businesses receive branded iPhone and Android booking apps for clients. Resource scheduling and adaptive staff scheduling are marked as coming soon. A free plan is listed when booking fees are passed to clients; transaction and card processing fees may also be passed to clients.