7 Best Appointment Booking Apps for Salons and Spas in 2024

Looking for the best appointment booking app and software to schedule appoints and process client payments? Here are our top picks for the best tools.

GlossGenius Staff
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Running a salon business is no easy feat. There are many different things you need to think about, from managing appointments, finding more clients, accepting payments, doing your taxes, and other miscellaneous tasks that come with being a salon owner.

But at the core of your business is the ability to serve your clients. And this means that you need to provide a seamless way for people to book appointments with you. The easier you make it for clients to receive your services, the better your client experience will be. And with a great client experience comes repeat clients.

But, with so many clients to book, reschedule, and manage, it can be difficult to stay organized and efficient. That's where appointment booking apps come to play. These apps can help streamline your booking process, improve your customer experience, and ultimately, help you grow your salon business.

In this blog post, we'll be taking a closer look at the seven best appointment booking apps for salons. We'll discuss the benefits of using appointment booking apps, how they work, and what factors you should consider when choosing an app for your salon. Then, we'll dive into the top apps on the market, providing a detailed overview of each app, including pricing, features, and user reviews. Whether you're a new salon owner or a seasoned professional, this post will help you find the perfect appointment booking app to fit your business needs.

Why You Need an Appointment Booking App

Whether you’re an independent salon owner, or you have a full staff of employees, your time is precious. You have clients to attend to, staff to manage, and a business to run. One of the most significant benefits of using a salon calendar app is that it can help you save time and streamline your entire booking process.

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

Not only that, but many salon appointment software, like GlossGenius, have a built-in client management system. This allows you to send appointment reminders, through SMS or email reminders, to clients before their appointment date so you can decrease the number of no-show clients.

Here are some of the benefits of using a salon appointment scheduling app:

  • Increased Efficiency: When you have an appointment booking app, you can easily manage your bookings and schedule without the need for a physical appointment book. You can quickly see when your staff is available, schedule appointments, and send reminders to clients all in one place.
  • Better Organization: With an appointment booking app, you can keep track of all your appointments in one place. This can help you avoid double-booking, scheduling conflicts, avoid no-show clients, and other common booking mistakes.
  • Improved Customer Experience: An appointment booking app can help improve your customer experience by providing your clients with an easy way to book appointments. They can quickly see your availability, book an appointment online, and receive automatic reminders before their appointment.
  • Increased Revenue: By using an appointment booking app, you can reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations. This can help you fill empty slots with new clients or offer your services to walk-ins, ultimately increasing your revenue.

Long story short, an appointment booking app is your best friend when it comes to improving your client relationships and acquiring more clients. Before we dive into our top picks for the best apps, let’s quickly go over how these platforms actually work.

How Does an Appointment Booking App Work (And What To Look For)?

Most booking and salon scheduling software give you a custom calendar that you can send to clients to view open time slots that they can book. Some of these platforms give you a generic landing page that you can put on your website, while others offer you a custom website where clients can view your services, purchase, and book directly in one place.

When looking for an appointment booking app, you need to make sure it has the right features for the type of business you are running. Here are some key features you should consider:

  • Automated Reminders: You want an appointment booking app that can send automated reminders to your clients before their appointments. This can help reduce no-shows and ensure that your clients are prepared for their appointment. It also gives you the opportunity to follow up with clients to ask for reviews or get them to rebook with you.
  • Staff Management: Running a business requires organization. The right app can help you manage your staff by providing you with a clear overview of their schedules, availability, and appointment history. This can help you assign staff to specific appointments and ensure that you have enough staff on hand to meet demand.
  • Payment Processing: The best appointment booking apps let you charge clients directly through your website. This gives your clients the ability to pay for their appointments online (or to set up recurring payments for your services). This feature can also help you reduce late payments, no-shows, and missed appointments by requiring deposits to book an appointment.
  • Reporting and Analytics: The last important feature is to have detailed reports and analytics on your bookings, revenue, and customer history. This can help you make informed decisions about your business and identify areas for improvement.

Okay, now that we know what features make a great appointment booking app, let’s go over some of the best platforms for online appointment scheduling on the market today.

7 Best Appointment Booking Apps to Use in 2024

Here are our top picks for the best appointment booking software:

  1. GlossGenius
  2. Square
  3. Acuity Scheduling
  4. Mindbody
  5. Fresha
  6. Vagaro
  7. Booksy

Okay, let’s dive deeper into each one.

1. GlossGenius

GlossGenius appointment booking app
  • Best for: Independent beauty professionals and salon owners
  • Pricing: Starts at $24/month

Female-founded in 2016, GlossGenius has quickly become one of the most popular salon software on the market, processing over $2B in annualized transaction activity for salon and spa owners across the U.S.

GlossGenius’ CEO, Danielle Cohen-Shohet, designed the platform to help salon owners with everything from online booking to managing payments, and helping salons market themselves online to get more clients. Today, GlossGenius helps over 50,000 independent salons set up their online booking page, send client notifications, process payments both online and through a physical credit card reader.

Key features of GlossGenius as an appointment scheduling software:

  • Online Booking: A fully customizable online booking system that allows your clients to book appointments directly through your website or social media pages. You can set your availability, prices, and services, and clients can choose the staff member they want to book with. You can also sync with Outlook, iCal, or your Google Calendar.
  • Client Management: A detailed client profile for each of your clients, including appointment history, notes, and contact information. You can also set up automated appointment reminders and follow-up messages to keep your clients engaged and informed.
  • Staff Management: Manage your staff schedules and availability, assign them to specific appointments, and view their appointment history. You can also set up individual staff profiles, including pictures and bios, to help clients choose the staff member they want to book with.
  • Payment Processing: Integrated payment processing, allowing your clients to pay for their appointments online. You can also require deposits for some or all service types at booking.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Detailed reports and analytics on your bookings, revenue, and client history. This can help you make informed decisions about your business and identify areas for improvement.

GlossGenius also offers different paid plans for each stage of your salon business. The GlossGenius Standard plan costs just $24 per month and includes all the essential features you need to get up and running. The GlossGenius Gold plan offers everything in the Standard plan, as well as advanced features such as client waitlist, liability waivers, and a smart form builder called Genius Form, for $48 per month.

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

2. Square

Square Appointment booking app
  • Best for: Businesses of all sizes
  • Pricing: Has a free plan

Square is a popular online scheduling platform designed for businesses of all types. From salons, fitness studios, to coffee shops, many in-person businesses rely on Square to process their payments.

It’s important to note that Square is very much focused on payments first. So if you’re looking for a robust booking system designed specifically for salons or spas, it might be worth looking into an alternative. But, if you want a simple booking system that can process payments, Square Appointments can be a viable option.

Here are some of the pros of using Square:

  • Popular platform used by many businesses
  • Broad range of use cases
  • Buy now, pay later features
  • Has a free plan

Here are some of the cons of using Square:

  • Not the best customer support
  • Add-ons can make it expensive
  • Not every business is accepted
  • Irregular use of Square can freeze your account

Square also offers a broad range of pricing plans. Their pricing starts at 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction for their "Pay as you go" plan, which includes basic features like online booking and payment processing. They also offer a "Plus" plan for $29+ per month, which includes more advanced features like staff management, marketing, and analytics.

3. Acuity Scheduling

Acuity appointment scheduling
  • Best for: Squarespace websites
  • Pricing: Starts at $20/month

Acuity Scheduling is an appointment scheduling software that enables clients to book appointments, make payments, and fill out intake forms online. It was initially founded in 2006, but was later acquired by Squarespace (a popular website building platform). Acuity is a great platform for small to medium sized salon businesses looking for an affordable booking solution.

Just like GlossGenius, Acuity gives you the ability to accept payments online and share your calendar availability with potential clients. But if you want a salon software that gives you more than just appointment scheduling, it might be worth looking into an alternative. Regardless, Acuity is a great platform if all you need is the ability to let clients book appointments with you.

Here are some of the pros of Acuity:

  • Affordable for salons just starting out
  • Custom booking pages
  • Payment processing
  • Appointment reminders and calendar sync

Here are some of the cons of using Acuity:

  • Pricing can get expensive if you have multiple locations
  • Limited customer support
  • Limited reporting options

Acuity Scheduling offers four pricing plans, starting from the "Emerging" plan ($20/month) that allows for one calendar and one appointment type. The other plans are "Growing" ($34/month) and "Powerhouse Player" ($61/month). The higher-tier plans come with additional features, such as class scheduling, custom branding, and custom reporting.

Related Reads: Acuity vs GlossGenius vs Vagaro: Which Is Best?

4. Mindbody

Mindbody booking app
  • Best for: Enterprise businesses
  • Pricing: Custom pricing options

Mindbody is a wellness platform that was founded in 2001, catering to clients looking for salon, spa, fitness, and beauty and wellness services. For business owners, the platform offers Mindbody Business – a comprehensive salon software solution that allows them to manage their operations. Similar to GlossGenius, Mindbody Business offers much more than a simple online booking platform.

Some of its key features include appointment scheduling, a branded mobile app (for iOS and Android), AI customer support, payment management, and various marketing tools. This suite of capabilities enables businesses to streamline their operations, while also expanding their reach and customer base.

Here are some of the pros of using Mindbody:

  • Marketplace integration to list your services
  • Appointment scheduling and payment processing
  • Detailed analytics reports

Here are some of the cons of using Mindbody:

  • May not be the most user-friendly interface
  • Can be expensive for independent salon owners
  • Limited customization

Mindbody has custom pricing plans which are not public on their website. Because of this, Mindbody does lean more on the enterprise side and is probably better suited for larger businesses.

5. Fresha

Fresha appointment booking app
  • Best for: Salon professionals just starting out
  • Pricing: Free to start with

Fresha is an appointment scheduling software that caters to the beauty and wellness industry. Similar to Vagaro and Mindbody, Fresha also has a services marketplace that can help businesses expand their customer base. Fresha offers many of the same features as other salon software solutions, including appointment scheduling, a POS system, inventory management, and a marketplace.

Fresha's basic features, such as appointment scheduling, client email notifications, and inventory management, are free to use. However, if you want access to their marketplace, better marketing and texting features, and automated notifications, you will have to pay per use. This pricing model can be attractive for new beauty professionals, but as your business grows, so will your monthly bill. While the Fresha marketplace can help you find new clients, it also means you'll be competing on price and location with other businesses on the platform.

Here are some of the pros of using Fresha:

  • Free basic features
  • Mobile app to manage your business on the go
  • Marketplace to acquire more clients

Here are some of the cons of using Fresha:

  • Pay-per-use model, which can get expensive
  • Competition on the marketplace
  • Limited marketing tools

Overall, Fresha is a solid platform for salons and spas that are just starting out and want to test the waters. Its mobile application and marketplace can be useful tools for expanding your business, but the pay-per-use model may become costly as your business grows.

6. Vagaro

Vagaro appointment booking app
  • Best for: Salons looking for a marketplace
  • Pricing: Starts at $25/month

Created in 2009, Vagaro is a marketplace designed to help people find salons and spas in their local neighborhoods so they could book appointments online. In addition to being a marketplace, Vagaro offers salon owners a suite of software tools designed to help with the back end of their business, such as online booking, payments, notifications, and customer tracking.

Vagaro is a good option for hair salons or wellness spas who are looking for a platform with similar features to GlossGenius. However, it's important to note that Vagaro uses an add-on model where you need to pay to unlock certain features, which can add up quickly.

Here are some of the pros of using Vagaro:

  • Robust appointment scheduling tool
  • Includes a mobile app to manage your business on the go
  • Has a marketplace to promote your services

Here are some of the cons of using Vagaro:

  • Pricing can add up and get expensive
  • Some users report a lack of customer service
  • Costs extra to use custom templates for your booking page

Vagaro's pricing starts at $25 per month for individual business owners with no employees. But if you have multiple team members or want to grow your business, Vagaro charges an additional $10 per user per month, which can become expensive.

Related Reads: 10 Best Vagaro Alternatives for Salons and Spas

7. Booksy

Booksy appointment booking app
  • Best for: Simple appointment booking
  • Pricing: Starts at $29.99/month (plus tax)

Booksy is an all-in-one booking and management software specifically designed for beauty and wellness businesses. It was founded in 2013 and has since grown into a popular salon and spa software solution.

Booksy has a wide range of features, just like GlossGenius, such as online booking, online payments, marketing tools, and client management (CRM). But, if you’re looking for a custom salon website and a mobile app to manage your business, it might be worth looking into an alternative.

Here are some of the pros of using Booksy:

  • Automated reminders and appointment confirmation functionality
  • “Boost” option to help you acquire more clients
  • 24/7 booking options

Here are some of the cons of using Booksy:

  • Limited customization for booking page
  • Limited customization around client reviews
  • Limited options for client reminders and notifications

Overall, Booksy is a solid option for small businesses looking for a comprehensive salon and spa booking software. But, the limited customization around client reminders and reviews can make you want to look for an alternative.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using an appointment booking app can be extremely beneficial for salon owners, as it can save time, improve organization, and enhance the customer experience. By reducing no-shows and cancellations, appointment booking apps can ultimately increase revenue for your salon business.

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

When choosing an appointment booking app, consider features such as automated reminders, staff management, payment processing, and reporting and analytics. Our top picks for the best appointment booking apps for salons include GlossGenius, Square, Acuity Scheduling, Mindbody, Fresha, Vagaro, and Booksy. By implementing an appointment booking app into your salon business, you can streamline your booking process, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately grow your business.

If you’re ready to start booking more appointments, be sure to start your free trial with GlossGenius!

No credit card required.

No credit card required.

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7 Best Appointment Booking Apps for Salons and Spas in 2024

GlossGenius Staff
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Running a salon business is no easy feat. There are many different things you need to think about, from managing appointments, finding more clients, accepting payments, doing your taxes, and other miscellaneous tasks that come with being a salon owner.

But at the core of your business is the ability to serve your clients. And this means that you need to provide a seamless way for people to book appointments with you. The easier you make it for clients to receive your services, the better your client experience will be. And with a great client experience comes repeat clients.

But, with so many clients to book, reschedule, and manage, it can be difficult to stay organized and efficient. That's where appointment booking apps come to play. These apps can help streamline your booking process, improve your customer experience, and ultimately, help you grow your salon business.

In this blog post, we'll be taking a closer look at the seven best appointment booking apps for salons. We'll discuss the benefits of using appointment booking apps, how they work, and what factors you should consider when choosing an app for your salon. Then, we'll dive into the top apps on the market, providing a detailed overview of each app, including pricing, features, and user reviews. Whether you're a new salon owner or a seasoned professional, this post will help you find the perfect appointment booking app to fit your business needs.

Why You Need an Appointment Booking App

Whether you’re an independent salon owner, or you have a full staff of employees, your time is precious. You have clients to attend to, staff to manage, and a business to run. One of the most significant benefits of using a salon calendar app is that it can help you save time and streamline your entire booking process.

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

Not only that, but many salon appointment software, like GlossGenius, have a built-in client management system. This allows you to send appointment reminders, through SMS or email reminders, to clients before their appointment date so you can decrease the number of no-show clients.

Here are some of the benefits of using a salon appointment scheduling app:

  • Increased Efficiency: When you have an appointment booking app, you can easily manage your bookings and schedule without the need for a physical appointment book. You can quickly see when your staff is available, schedule appointments, and send reminders to clients all in one place.
  • Better Organization: With an appointment booking app, you can keep track of all your appointments in one place. This can help you avoid double-booking, scheduling conflicts, avoid no-show clients, and other common booking mistakes.
  • Improved Customer Experience: An appointment booking app can help improve your customer experience by providing your clients with an easy way to book appointments. They can quickly see your availability, book an appointment online, and receive automatic reminders before their appointment.
  • Increased Revenue: By using an appointment booking app, you can reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations. This can help you fill empty slots with new clients or offer your services to walk-ins, ultimately increasing your revenue.

Long story short, an appointment booking app is your best friend when it comes to improving your client relationships and acquiring more clients. Before we dive into our top picks for the best apps, let’s quickly go over how these platforms actually work.

How Does an Appointment Booking App Work (And What To Look For)?

Most booking and salon scheduling software give you a custom calendar that you can send to clients to view open time slots that they can book. Some of these platforms give you a generic landing page that you can put on your website, while others offer you a custom website where clients can view your services, purchase, and book directly in one place.

When looking for an appointment booking app, you need to make sure it has the right features for the type of business you are running. Here are some key features you should consider:

  • Automated Reminders: You want an appointment booking app that can send automated reminders to your clients before their appointments. This can help reduce no-shows and ensure that your clients are prepared for their appointment. It also gives you the opportunity to follow up with clients to ask for reviews or get them to rebook with you.
  • Staff Management: Running a business requires organization. The right app can help you manage your staff by providing you with a clear overview of their schedules, availability, and appointment history. This can help you assign staff to specific appointments and ensure that you have enough staff on hand to meet demand.
  • Payment Processing: The best appointment booking apps let you charge clients directly through your website. This gives your clients the ability to pay for their appointments online (or to set up recurring payments for your services). This feature can also help you reduce late payments, no-shows, and missed appointments by requiring deposits to book an appointment.
  • Reporting and Analytics: The last important feature is to have detailed reports and analytics on your bookings, revenue, and customer history. This can help you make informed decisions about your business and identify areas for improvement.

Okay, now that we know what features make a great appointment booking app, let’s go over some of the best platforms for online appointment scheduling on the market today.

7 Best Appointment Booking Apps to Use in 2024

Here are our top picks for the best appointment booking software:

  1. GlossGenius
  2. Square
  3. Acuity Scheduling
  4. Mindbody
  5. Fresha
  6. Vagaro
  7. Booksy

Okay, let’s dive deeper into each one.

1. GlossGenius

GlossGenius appointment booking app
  • Best for: Independent beauty professionals and salon owners
  • Pricing: Starts at $24/month

Female-founded in 2016, GlossGenius has quickly become one of the most popular salon software on the market, processing over $2B in annualized transaction activity for salon and spa owners across the U.S.

GlossGenius’ CEO, Danielle Cohen-Shohet, designed the platform to help salon owners with everything from online booking to managing payments, and helping salons market themselves online to get more clients. Today, GlossGenius helps over 50,000 independent salons set up their online booking page, send client notifications, process payments both online and through a physical credit card reader.

Key features of GlossGenius as an appointment scheduling software:

  • Online Booking: A fully customizable online booking system that allows your clients to book appointments directly through your website or social media pages. You can set your availability, prices, and services, and clients can choose the staff member they want to book with. You can also sync with Outlook, iCal, or your Google Calendar.
  • Client Management: A detailed client profile for each of your clients, including appointment history, notes, and contact information. You can also set up automated appointment reminders and follow-up messages to keep your clients engaged and informed.
  • Staff Management: Manage your staff schedules and availability, assign them to specific appointments, and view their appointment history. You can also set up individual staff profiles, including pictures and bios, to help clients choose the staff member they want to book with.
  • Payment Processing: Integrated payment processing, allowing your clients to pay for their appointments online. You can also require deposits for some or all service types at booking.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Detailed reports and analytics on your bookings, revenue, and client history. This can help you make informed decisions about your business and identify areas for improvement.

GlossGenius also offers different paid plans for each stage of your salon business. The GlossGenius Standard plan costs just $24 per month and includes all the essential features you need to get up and running. The GlossGenius Gold plan offers everything in the Standard plan, as well as advanced features such as client waitlist, liability waivers, and a smart form builder called Genius Form, for $48 per month.

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

2. Square

Square Appointment booking app
  • Best for: Businesses of all sizes
  • Pricing: Has a free plan

Square is a popular online scheduling platform designed for businesses of all types. From salons, fitness studios, to coffee shops, many in-person businesses rely on Square to process their payments.

It’s important to note that Square is very much focused on payments first. So if you’re looking for a robust booking system designed specifically for salons or spas, it might be worth looking into an alternative. But, if you want a simple booking system that can process payments, Square Appointments can be a viable option.

Here are some of the pros of using Square:

  • Popular platform used by many businesses
  • Broad range of use cases
  • Buy now, pay later features
  • Has a free plan

Here are some of the cons of using Square:

  • Not the best customer support
  • Add-ons can make it expensive
  • Not every business is accepted
  • Irregular use of Square can freeze your account

Square also offers a broad range of pricing plans. Their pricing starts at 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction for their "Pay as you go" plan, which includes basic features like online booking and payment processing. They also offer a "Plus" plan for $29+ per month, which includes more advanced features like staff management, marketing, and analytics.

3. Acuity Scheduling

Acuity appointment scheduling
  • Best for: Squarespace websites
  • Pricing: Starts at $20/month

Acuity Scheduling is an appointment scheduling software that enables clients to book appointments, make payments, and fill out intake forms online. It was initially founded in 2006, but was later acquired by Squarespace (a popular website building platform). Acuity is a great platform for small to medium sized salon businesses looking for an affordable booking solution.

Just like GlossGenius, Acuity gives you the ability to accept payments online and share your calendar availability with potential clients. But if you want a salon software that gives you more than just appointment scheduling, it might be worth looking into an alternative. Regardless, Acuity is a great platform if all you need is the ability to let clients book appointments with you.

Here are some of the pros of Acuity:

  • Affordable for salons just starting out
  • Custom booking pages
  • Payment processing
  • Appointment reminders and calendar sync

Here are some of the cons of using Acuity:

  • Pricing can get expensive if you have multiple locations
  • Limited customer support
  • Limited reporting options

Acuity Scheduling offers four pricing plans, starting from the "Emerging" plan ($20/month) that allows for one calendar and one appointment type. The other plans are "Growing" ($34/month) and "Powerhouse Player" ($61/month). The higher-tier plans come with additional features, such as class scheduling, custom branding, and custom reporting.

Related Reads: Acuity vs GlossGenius vs Vagaro: Which Is Best?

4. Mindbody

Mindbody booking app
  • Best for: Enterprise businesses
  • Pricing: Custom pricing options

Mindbody is a wellness platform that was founded in 2001, catering to clients looking for salon, spa, fitness, and beauty and wellness services. For business owners, the platform offers Mindbody Business – a comprehensive salon software solution that allows them to manage their operations. Similar to GlossGenius, Mindbody Business offers much more than a simple online booking platform.

Some of its key features include appointment scheduling, a branded mobile app (for iOS and Android), AI customer support, payment management, and various marketing tools. This suite of capabilities enables businesses to streamline their operations, while also expanding their reach and customer base.

Here are some of the pros of using Mindbody:

  • Marketplace integration to list your services
  • Appointment scheduling and payment processing
  • Detailed analytics reports

Here are some of the cons of using Mindbody:

  • May not be the most user-friendly interface
  • Can be expensive for independent salon owners
  • Limited customization

Mindbody has custom pricing plans which are not public on their website. Because of this, Mindbody does lean more on the enterprise side and is probably better suited for larger businesses.

5. Fresha

Fresha appointment booking app
  • Best for: Salon professionals just starting out
  • Pricing: Free to start with

Fresha is an appointment scheduling software that caters to the beauty and wellness industry. Similar to Vagaro and Mindbody, Fresha also has a services marketplace that can help businesses expand their customer base. Fresha offers many of the same features as other salon software solutions, including appointment scheduling, a POS system, inventory management, and a marketplace.

Fresha's basic features, such as appointment scheduling, client email notifications, and inventory management, are free to use. However, if you want access to their marketplace, better marketing and texting features, and automated notifications, you will have to pay per use. This pricing model can be attractive for new beauty professionals, but as your business grows, so will your monthly bill. While the Fresha marketplace can help you find new clients, it also means you'll be competing on price and location with other businesses on the platform.

Here are some of the pros of using Fresha:

  • Free basic features
  • Mobile app to manage your business on the go
  • Marketplace to acquire more clients

Here are some of the cons of using Fresha:

  • Pay-per-use model, which can get expensive
  • Competition on the marketplace
  • Limited marketing tools

Overall, Fresha is a solid platform for salons and spas that are just starting out and want to test the waters. Its mobile application and marketplace can be useful tools for expanding your business, but the pay-per-use model may become costly as your business grows.

6. Vagaro

Vagaro appointment booking app
  • Best for: Salons looking for a marketplace
  • Pricing: Starts at $25/month

Created in 2009, Vagaro is a marketplace designed to help people find salons and spas in their local neighborhoods so they could book appointments online. In addition to being a marketplace, Vagaro offers salon owners a suite of software tools designed to help with the back end of their business, such as online booking, payments, notifications, and customer tracking.

Vagaro is a good option for hair salons or wellness spas who are looking for a platform with similar features to GlossGenius. However, it's important to note that Vagaro uses an add-on model where you need to pay to unlock certain features, which can add up quickly.

Here are some of the pros of using Vagaro:

  • Robust appointment scheduling tool
  • Includes a mobile app to manage your business on the go
  • Has a marketplace to promote your services

Here are some of the cons of using Vagaro:

  • Pricing can add up and get expensive
  • Some users report a lack of customer service
  • Costs extra to use custom templates for your booking page

Vagaro's pricing starts at $25 per month for individual business owners with no employees. But if you have multiple team members or want to grow your business, Vagaro charges an additional $10 per user per month, which can become expensive.

Related Reads: 10 Best Vagaro Alternatives for Salons and Spas

7. Booksy

Booksy appointment booking app
  • Best for: Simple appointment booking
  • Pricing: Starts at $29.99/month (plus tax)

Booksy is an all-in-one booking and management software specifically designed for beauty and wellness businesses. It was founded in 2013 and has since grown into a popular salon and spa software solution.

Booksy has a wide range of features, just like GlossGenius, such as online booking, online payments, marketing tools, and client management (CRM). But, if you’re looking for a custom salon website and a mobile app to manage your business, it might be worth looking into an alternative.

Here are some of the pros of using Booksy:

  • Automated reminders and appointment confirmation functionality
  • “Boost” option to help you acquire more clients
  • 24/7 booking options

Here are some of the cons of using Booksy:

  • Limited customization for booking page
  • Limited customization around client reviews
  • Limited options for client reminders and notifications

Overall, Booksy is a solid option for small businesses looking for a comprehensive salon and spa booking software. But, the limited customization around client reminders and reviews can make you want to look for an alternative.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using an appointment booking app can be extremely beneficial for salon owners, as it can save time, improve organization, and enhance the customer experience. By reducing no-shows and cancellations, appointment booking apps can ultimately increase revenue for your salon business.

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

When choosing an appointment booking app, consider features such as automated reminders, staff management, payment processing, and reporting and analytics. Our top picks for the best appointment booking apps for salons include GlossGenius, Square, Acuity Scheduling, Mindbody, Fresha, Vagaro, and Booksy. By implementing an appointment booking app into your salon business, you can streamline your booking process, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately grow your business.

If you’re ready to start booking more appointments, be sure to start your free trial with GlossGenius!

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7 Best Appointment Booking Apps for Salons and Spas in 2024

Running a salon business is no easy feat. There are many different things you need to think about, from managing appointments, finding more clients, accepting payments, doing your taxes, and other miscellaneous tasks that come with being a salon owner.

But at the core of your business is the ability to serve your clients. And this means that you need to provide a seamless way for people to book appointments with you. The easier you make it for clients to receive your services, the better your client experience will be. And with a great client experience comes repeat clients.

But, with so many clients to book, reschedule, and manage, it can be difficult to stay organized and efficient. That's where appointment booking apps come to play. These apps can help streamline your booking process, improve your customer experience, and ultimately, help you grow your salon business.

In this blog post, we'll be taking a closer look at the seven best appointment booking apps for salons. We'll discuss the benefits of using appointment booking apps, how they work, and what factors you should consider when choosing an app for your salon. Then, we'll dive into the top apps on the market, providing a detailed overview of each app, including pricing, features, and user reviews. Whether you're a new salon owner or a seasoned professional, this post will help you find the perfect appointment booking app to fit your business needs.

Why You Need an Appointment Booking App

Whether you’re an independent salon owner, or you have a full staff of employees, your time is precious. You have clients to attend to, staff to manage, and a business to run. One of the most significant benefits of using a salon calendar app is that it can help you save time and streamline your entire booking process.

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Not only that, but many salon appointment software, like GlossGenius, have a built-in client management system. This allows you to send appointment reminders, through SMS or email reminders, to clients before their appointment date so you can decrease the number of no-show clients.

Here are some of the benefits of using a salon appointment scheduling app:

  • Increased Efficiency: When you have an appointment booking app, you can easily manage your bookings and schedule without the need for a physical appointment book. You can quickly see when your staff is available, schedule appointments, and send reminders to clients all in one place.
  • Better Organization: With an appointment booking app, you can keep track of all your appointments in one place. This can help you avoid double-booking, scheduling conflicts, avoid no-show clients, and other common booking mistakes.
  • Improved Customer Experience: An appointment booking app can help improve your customer experience by providing your clients with an easy way to book appointments. They can quickly see your availability, book an appointment online, and receive automatic reminders before their appointment.
  • Increased Revenue: By using an appointment booking app, you can reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations. This can help you fill empty slots with new clients or offer your services to walk-ins, ultimately increasing your revenue.

Long story short, an appointment booking app is your best friend when it comes to improving your client relationships and acquiring more clients. Before we dive into our top picks for the best apps, let’s quickly go over how these platforms actually work.

How Does an Appointment Booking App Work (And What To Look For)?

Most booking and salon scheduling software give you a custom calendar that you can send to clients to view open time slots that they can book. Some of these platforms give you a generic landing page that you can put on your website, while others offer you a custom website where clients can view your services, purchase, and book directly in one place.

When looking for an appointment booking app, you need to make sure it has the right features for the type of business you are running. Here are some key features you should consider:

  • Automated Reminders: You want an appointment booking app that can send automated reminders to your clients before their appointments. This can help reduce no-shows and ensure that your clients are prepared for their appointment. It also gives you the opportunity to follow up with clients to ask for reviews or get them to rebook with you.
  • Staff Management: Running a business requires organization. The right app can help you manage your staff by providing you with a clear overview of their schedules, availability, and appointment history. This can help you assign staff to specific appointments and ensure that you have enough staff on hand to meet demand.
  • Payment Processing: The best appointment booking apps let you charge clients directly through your website. This gives your clients the ability to pay for their appointments online (or to set up recurring payments for your services). This feature can also help you reduce late payments, no-shows, and missed appointments by requiring deposits to book an appointment.
  • Reporting and Analytics: The last important feature is to have detailed reports and analytics on your bookings, revenue, and customer history. This can help you make informed decisions about your business and identify areas for improvement.

Okay, now that we know what features make a great appointment booking app, let’s go over some of the best platforms for online appointment scheduling on the market today.

7 Best Appointment Booking Apps to Use in 2024

Here are our top picks for the best appointment booking software:

  1. GlossGenius
  2. Square
  3. Acuity Scheduling
  4. Mindbody
  5. Fresha
  6. Vagaro
  7. Booksy

Okay, let’s dive deeper into each one.

1. GlossGenius

GlossGenius appointment booking app
  • Best for: Independent beauty professionals and salon owners
  • Pricing: Starts at $24/month

Female-founded in 2016, GlossGenius has quickly become one of the most popular salon software on the market, processing over $2B in annualized transaction activity for salon and spa owners across the U.S.

GlossGenius’ CEO, Danielle Cohen-Shohet, designed the platform to help salon owners with everything from online booking to managing payments, and helping salons market themselves online to get more clients. Today, GlossGenius helps over 50,000 independent salons set up their online booking page, send client notifications, process payments both online and through a physical credit card reader.

Key features of GlossGenius as an appointment scheduling software:

  • Online Booking: A fully customizable online booking system that allows your clients to book appointments directly through your website or social media pages. You can set your availability, prices, and services, and clients can choose the staff member they want to book with. You can also sync with Outlook, iCal, or your Google Calendar.
  • Client Management: A detailed client profile for each of your clients, including appointment history, notes, and contact information. You can also set up automated appointment reminders and follow-up messages to keep your clients engaged and informed.
  • Staff Management: Manage your staff schedules and availability, assign them to specific appointments, and view their appointment history. You can also set up individual staff profiles, including pictures and bios, to help clients choose the staff member they want to book with.
  • Payment Processing: Integrated payment processing, allowing your clients to pay for their appointments online. You can also require deposits for some or all service types at booking.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Detailed reports and analytics on your bookings, revenue, and client history. This can help you make informed decisions about your business and identify areas for improvement.

GlossGenius also offers different paid plans for each stage of your salon business. The GlossGenius Standard plan costs just $24 per month and includes all the essential features you need to get up and running. The GlossGenius Gold plan offers everything in the Standard plan, as well as advanced features such as client waitlist, liability waivers, and a smart form builder called Genius Form, for $48 per month.

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2. Square

Square Appointment booking app
  • Best for: Businesses of all sizes
  • Pricing: Has a free plan

Square is a popular online scheduling platform designed for businesses of all types. From salons, fitness studios, to coffee shops, many in-person businesses rely on Square to process their payments.

It’s important to note that Square is very much focused on payments first. So if you’re looking for a robust booking system designed specifically for salons or spas, it might be worth looking into an alternative. But, if you want a simple booking system that can process payments, Square Appointments can be a viable option.

Here are some of the pros of using Square:

  • Popular platform used by many businesses
  • Broad range of use cases
  • Buy now, pay later features
  • Has a free plan

Here are some of the cons of using Square:

  • Not the best customer support
  • Add-ons can make it expensive
  • Not every business is accepted
  • Irregular use of Square can freeze your account

Square also offers a broad range of pricing plans. Their pricing starts at 2.6% + 10¢ per transaction for their "Pay as you go" plan, which includes basic features like online booking and payment processing. They also offer a "Plus" plan for $29+ per month, which includes more advanced features like staff management, marketing, and analytics.

3. Acuity Scheduling

Acuity appointment scheduling
  • Best for: Squarespace websites
  • Pricing: Starts at $20/month

Acuity Scheduling is an appointment scheduling software that enables clients to book appointments, make payments, and fill out intake forms online. It was initially founded in 2006, but was later acquired by Squarespace (a popular website building platform). Acuity is a great platform for small to medium sized salon businesses looking for an affordable booking solution.

Just like GlossGenius, Acuity gives you the ability to accept payments online and share your calendar availability with potential clients. But if you want a salon software that gives you more than just appointment scheduling, it might be worth looking into an alternative. Regardless, Acuity is a great platform if all you need is the ability to let clients book appointments with you.

Here are some of the pros of Acuity:

  • Affordable for salons just starting out
  • Custom booking pages
  • Payment processing
  • Appointment reminders and calendar sync

Here are some of the cons of using Acuity:

  • Pricing can get expensive if you have multiple locations
  • Limited customer support
  • Limited reporting options

Acuity Scheduling offers four pricing plans, starting from the "Emerging" plan ($20/month) that allows for one calendar and one appointment type. The other plans are "Growing" ($34/month) and "Powerhouse Player" ($61/month). The higher-tier plans come with additional features, such as class scheduling, custom branding, and custom reporting.

Related Reads: Acuity vs GlossGenius vs Vagaro: Which Is Best?

4. Mindbody

Mindbody booking app
  • Best for: Enterprise businesses
  • Pricing: Custom pricing options

Mindbody is a wellness platform that was founded in 2001, catering to clients looking for salon, spa, fitness, and beauty and wellness services. For business owners, the platform offers Mindbody Business – a comprehensive salon software solution that allows them to manage their operations. Similar to GlossGenius, Mindbody Business offers much more than a simple online booking platform.

Some of its key features include appointment scheduling, a branded mobile app (for iOS and Android), AI customer support, payment management, and various marketing tools. This suite of capabilities enables businesses to streamline their operations, while also expanding their reach and customer base.

Here are some of the pros of using Mindbody:

  • Marketplace integration to list your services
  • Appointment scheduling and payment processing
  • Detailed analytics reports

Here are some of the cons of using Mindbody:

  • May not be the most user-friendly interface
  • Can be expensive for independent salon owners
  • Limited customization

Mindbody has custom pricing plans which are not public on their website. Because of this, Mindbody does lean more on the enterprise side and is probably better suited for larger businesses.

5. Fresha

Fresha appointment booking app
  • Best for: Salon professionals just starting out
  • Pricing: Free to start with

Fresha is an appointment scheduling software that caters to the beauty and wellness industry. Similar to Vagaro and Mindbody, Fresha also has a services marketplace that can help businesses expand their customer base. Fresha offers many of the same features as other salon software solutions, including appointment scheduling, a POS system, inventory management, and a marketplace.

Fresha's basic features, such as appointment scheduling, client email notifications, and inventory management, are free to use. However, if you want access to their marketplace, better marketing and texting features, and automated notifications, you will have to pay per use. This pricing model can be attractive for new beauty professionals, but as your business grows, so will your monthly bill. While the Fresha marketplace can help you find new clients, it also means you'll be competing on price and location with other businesses on the platform.

Here are some of the pros of using Fresha:

  • Free basic features
  • Mobile app to manage your business on the go
  • Marketplace to acquire more clients

Here are some of the cons of using Fresha:

  • Pay-per-use model, which can get expensive
  • Competition on the marketplace
  • Limited marketing tools

Overall, Fresha is a solid platform for salons and spas that are just starting out and want to test the waters. Its mobile application and marketplace can be useful tools for expanding your business, but the pay-per-use model may become costly as your business grows.

6. Vagaro

Vagaro appointment booking app
  • Best for: Salons looking for a marketplace
  • Pricing: Starts at $25/month

Created in 2009, Vagaro is a marketplace designed to help people find salons and spas in their local neighborhoods so they could book appointments online. In addition to being a marketplace, Vagaro offers salon owners a suite of software tools designed to help with the back end of their business, such as online booking, payments, notifications, and customer tracking.

Vagaro is a good option for hair salons or wellness spas who are looking for a platform with similar features to GlossGenius. However, it's important to note that Vagaro uses an add-on model where you need to pay to unlock certain features, which can add up quickly.

Here are some of the pros of using Vagaro:

  • Robust appointment scheduling tool
  • Includes a mobile app to manage your business on the go
  • Has a marketplace to promote your services

Here are some of the cons of using Vagaro:

  • Pricing can add up and get expensive
  • Some users report a lack of customer service
  • Costs extra to use custom templates for your booking page

Vagaro's pricing starts at $25 per month for individual business owners with no employees. But if you have multiple team members or want to grow your business, Vagaro charges an additional $10 per user per month, which can become expensive.

Related Reads: 10 Best Vagaro Alternatives for Salons and Spas

7. Booksy

Booksy appointment booking app
  • Best for: Simple appointment booking
  • Pricing: Starts at $29.99/month (plus tax)

Booksy is an all-in-one booking and management software specifically designed for beauty and wellness businesses. It was founded in 2013 and has since grown into a popular salon and spa software solution.

Booksy has a wide range of features, just like GlossGenius, such as online booking, online payments, marketing tools, and client management (CRM). But, if you’re looking for a custom salon website and a mobile app to manage your business, it might be worth looking into an alternative.

Here are some of the pros of using Booksy:

  • Automated reminders and appointment confirmation functionality
  • “Boost” option to help you acquire more clients
  • 24/7 booking options

Here are some of the cons of using Booksy:

  • Limited customization for booking page
  • Limited customization around client reviews
  • Limited options for client reminders and notifications

Overall, Booksy is a solid option for small businesses looking for a comprehensive salon and spa booking software. But, the limited customization around client reminders and reviews can make you want to look for an alternative.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using an appointment booking app can be extremely beneficial for salon owners, as it can save time, improve organization, and enhance the customer experience. By reducing no-shows and cancellations, appointment booking apps can ultimately increase revenue for your salon business.

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

When choosing an appointment booking app, consider features such as automated reminders, staff management, payment processing, and reporting and analytics. Our top picks for the best appointment booking apps for salons include GlossGenius, Square, Acuity Scheduling, Mindbody, Fresha, Vagaro, and Booksy. By implementing an appointment booking app into your salon business, you can streamline your booking process, improve customer satisfaction, and ultimately grow your business.

If you’re ready to start booking more appointments, be sure to start your free trial with GlossGenius!

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