GlossGenius vs. Square: A Complete Guide

Key takeaways

• GlossGenius is purpose-built business management software for beauty, wellness, and health businesses, while Square Appointments is a general scheduling tool that requires paid plans for advanced features.

• GlossGenius offers a flat payment processing rate across all transaction types and plans, whereas Square Appointments charges variable rates that fluctuate based on the transaction method.

• GlossGenius includes industry-specific features like processing time for salons, spas, and medspas and built-in marketing tools, helping businesses see an average 22% increase in appointments within their first year.

• Square Appointments provides a free tier for basic scheduling needs, but adding essential business tools like marketing, loyalty, and payroll requires separate subscriptions.

Finding the right software for your needs can feel overwhelming, especially for small businesses looking to build from the ground up. Read on for a comparison of two popular booking software options: GlossGenius and Square, diving into their features, pricing, customer support, and reviews to see what's right for your business.

GlossGenius vs Square at a glance

GlossGenius is a tailored platform for industry businesses featuring a consistent 2.6% processing fee, while Square Appointments is a broad booking platform with a free tier but variable fees and certain features locked behind paid plans. Here's a quick snapshot before we dive deeper.

What is GlossGenius?

GlossGenius is business management software designed specifically for beauty, wellness, and health businesses. Instead of spending more time on admin than actual work, you can combine scheduling, payments, marketing, client management, and staff tools into one streamlined platform — all with a modern, sleek design that reflects the aesthetic standards of the personal care sector.

What is Square Appointments?

Square Appointments is the scheduling arm of Square's broader business ecosystem. It offers online booking and payment processing for a range of industries, not just beauty, wellness, and health.

While it includes a no-cost plan for simple calendar management and other basic features, many features that beauty, wellness, and health business owners need — like marketing, loyalty programs, and advanced staff tools — require additional paid subscriptions.

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GlossGenius vs Square subscription plans

GlossGenius starts at $24/month with all core features included, while Square Appointments offers a free basic plan but charges extra for marketing, loyalty, and other features most service businesses require.

Reviewing the included features in each plan is crucial — you don't want to pick a plan that's missing something critical for your business.

Both GlossGenius and Square Appointments offer multiple subscription plans, so you can pick the best one for your business and budget needs. You can also switch your plan at any time on either platform, so as your business grows and changes, your software can adapt too.

GlossGenius plan options

GlossGenius offers three subscription plans. New members can try any plan free for 14 days, and you can switch plans at any time as business needs change.

• The Standard Plan (starting at $24/month): Covers all business essentials like a customizable booking website, online booking features, payment processing, and client/inventory management. Best for independent business owners getting started.

• The Gold Plan (starting at $48/month): Includes all the features from the Standard Plan plus advanced features like forms and waivers, waitlists, rebooking reminders, and Reserve with Google. For individual business owners and supports teams up to 9.

• The Platinum Plan (starting at $148/month): Includes all the features from the Gold Plan plus extra features for larger businesses: unlimited staff at no extra cost, staff scorecards, goal setting, premium customer support, and customizable commission structures.

Square Appointments plan options

Square Appointments pricing starts at $0 per month. Their free plan includes basic features such as a booking site, integrated payments, and invoicing.

Their Plus plan is $49/month and includes email and text marketing, plus loyalty rewards (standard in the GlossGenius Standard plan), and staff management. Square's Premium plan costs $149/mo and includes everything in the Plus plan, plus advanced reporting, no gift card load fees, and lower payment processing rates.

GlossGenius vs Square payment processing fees

GlossGenius charges a flat 2.6% on all transactions regardless of payment type, while Square Appointments charges variable rates from 2.5% to 3.5% plus per-transaction fees.

If you're considering either platform to process your payments, these differences are super important to understand — they directly impact your bottom line.

GlossGenius payment processing

If you're tired of chasing deposits and losing revenue to unpredictable fees, GlossGenius solves this with a predictable 2.6% payment processing rate across all payment types and subscription plans. That means no surprise transaction fees or fluctuating rates, whether you're charging a card on file or swiping a physical card in your place of business.

This is one of the most competitive payment processing rates in the beauty, wellness, and health business space, and it's very clear and intuitive to understand.

What does that look like in real dollars? Businesses save an average of 25% on processing fees by switching to GlossGenius's payments.

For a business processing $100,000 annually, the difference between GlossGenius's standard 2.6% and Square's variable rates (especially on card-on-file and online transactions) can add up to significant savings over the course of a year.

Square payment processing

Square Appointments payment processing fees vary based on your subscription plan and payment type. The Square Appointments' free subscription plan has a higher payment processing fee for in-person transactions compared to their Plus or Premium plans.

All three subscription plans will also charge much higher rates for online payments (2.9% - 3.3% + 30¢), which includes things like pre-paid appointments, and manually entered or card-on-file charges (3.5% + 15¢) for things like deposits.

Check out this table that compares Square Appointments and GlossGenius processing rates. You can also read a full breakdown of Square Appointments pricing on our blog.

POS hardware comparison

Especially when you have a lot of first-time business, it's important to invest in a POS system for beauty, wellness, and health businesses so you can quickly check out clients before or after their appointments.

Card transactions processed through terminals are associated with a 14% increase in median tips over cash payments. And if you're using Square Appointments for payments, its fees are lower for in-person transactions where you use a payment device compared to card-on-file ones.

GlossGenius

GlossGenius has two POS device options, a small card reader called the Tap & Go and a larger handheld payment terminal that has a client-facing screen called the Pro Reader.

GlossGenius's Tap & Go Reader comes in a variety of colors and designs, so you can pick one that reflects your unique style and brand.

• GlossGenius Tap & Go Reader: Starting at $50

• GlossGenius Pro Reader: Starting at $299

Square Hardware

• Square Register (2nd generation): $899 or $44/mo over 24 months

• Square Handheld: $399 or $37/mo over 12 months

• Square Terminal: $299 or $27/mo over 12 months

• Square Stand: $149 or $14/mo over 12 months

• Square Reader: $59

GlossGenius vs Square feature breakdown

Features are one of the most important things to consider when picking software to run your service-based business. What features a platform offers and how intuitive they are to use can be critical to how much time you spend on regular business tasks.

What if your booking system doesn't have waitlists? Your staff can spend hours on the phone trying to fill last-minute calendar spaces. And if your software does offer a waitlist option but it's confusing for your staff and/or your clients, that's even more time and frustration.

When looking at GlossGenius and Square Appointments, they share a similar list of features between the different subscription plans. Because GlossGenius doesn't have any hidden fees, it tends to have more features for less money.

Members who use GlossGenius reported saving 10+ hours on administrative tasks each week — including scheduling, payments, client communications, and inventory management.

Here's a high-level look at some of the features GlossGenius offers that Square Appointments doesn't.

Most specialized care businesses may need more than what's offered in Square Appointments' Free plan alone. If you're struggling with a lack of professional online presence to attract clients, GlossGenius's base plan comes with a custom website builder, alongside client and inventory management tools.

Rather than stressing over no-shows and last-minute cancellations costing revenue, you can keep your calendar full using the advanced email and text marketing features included in GlossGenius's base plan, which Square Appointments Free plan does not have.

The monthly revenue earned by GlossGenius members who used email or SMS marketing was 29% higher (by $1,700 on average) than those who used neither — so having those tools built in from day one matters.

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Pros and cons of GlossGenius vs Square

Both GlossGenius and Square Appointments have distinct advantages: GlossGenius excels in transparent pricing and beauty-specific features, while Square offers a free tier and broader ecosystem integrations. Here's an honest look at the strengths and weaknesses of each.

GlossGenius pros and cons

Here are some of the benefits and disadvantages of GlossGenius:

Pros:

• Flat 2.6% payment processing rate on all transaction types — no hidden fees

• Specifically designed for personal care businesses with industry-specific features

• Built-in email and text marketing included on all plans

• Stylish, customizable card readers and booking site templates

• Businesses on GlossGenius have a 75%+ rebooking rate

• Free data transfer from any previous booking system

• Clients can book in under 30 seconds

Cons:

• No free plan (though a 14-day free trial is available on all tiers)

• Waitlists and staff management requires Gold or Platinum plan

Square Appointments pros and cons

Square Appointments has several pros and cons users should weigh before committing to their platform.

Pros:

• Free plan available for entry-level booking requirements

• Broad name recognition and established brand

• Wide range of POS hardware options and payment plans

• Part of a larger ecosystem of Square products for businesses in multiple industries

Cons:

• Variable payment processing fees — up to 3.5% + 15¢ for card-on-file transactions

• Essential features like marketing, loyalty, and advanced texting require paid plans

• Built for general businesses, not specifically for the beauty, wellness, and health industry

• Per-location fees on paid plans can add up for multi-location businesses

GlossGenius vs Square customer support

GlossGenius offers dedicated industry-specific support six days a week via phone and text, while Square provides general support Monday through Friday that handles all Square products — not just Appointments.

Square's general customer support line does include support for Square Appointments. It's available from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET (only for the first 90 days on Free plan).

GlossGenius's customer support line is available Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, through phone and text.

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Who should choose GlossGenius vs Square

Choose GlossGenius if you want transparent pricing and beauty-specific features. Choose Square if you need only simple, no-cost calendar tools or already use other Square products. Here's a more detailed breakdown.

Choose GlossGenius if

• You run a beauty, wellness, or health business and want software built for your industry

• You want one flat payment processing rate with no hidden fees or surprise charges

• You need built-in marketing tools (email and text) without paying for extra modules

• Aesthetics matter to you — from your booking site to your card reader

• You want an all-in-one platform where scheduling, payments, marketing, and client management live in one place

• You're growing your business and want a platform that scales with you (on average, businesses on GlossGenius see a 26%+ increase in revenue within their first year)

Choose Square Appointments if

• You want free basic appointment scheduling and don't need marketing, loyalty, or advanced client management tools

• You're already using other Square products and want to stay within that ecosystem

• You're testing the waters with a free plan before committing to paid software

• You run a business outside the beauty, wellness, and health industry that doesn't need industry-specific features like processing time or stylish card readers

• You need a wide range of POS hardware options, including countertop registers

Grow your business and boost your revenue, with GlossGenius

The most important differences between GlossGenius and Square Appointments are aesthetics, features, and price.

Square Appointments is a popular option because of its name recognition and payment system, however its business operations features might be a bit generic for specialized wellness businesses. If you need any of their supplementary features or process a lot of payments, Square Appointments is likely the more expensive option.

GlossGenius has a sleek, intuitive design built to help you grow and manage your beauty, wellness, or health business, with a modern feel that can also be customized to fit your brand. It is an all-in-one solution, without hidden fees for extra features, and with one low, predictable 2.6% rate it can often be cheaper than Square Appointments.

For members transitioning from other software options, like Square Appointments, GlossGenius offers free data transfers for new members. To spare you the difficulty of managing client history and preferences from scratch, GlossGenius will seamlessly transfer all appointments, client lists, services, and products from your current booking system, no matter what it is, over to GlossGenius for free.

GlossGenius also offers a 14-day free trial so you can see how GlossGenius can work for your business, no credit card required.

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Read more

Does GlossGenius use Square for payments?

No, GlossGenius has its own fully integrated payment processing system with a flat 2.6% rate across all transaction types. GlossGenius's payments are built directly into the platform, so there's no need for a third-party processor. This means you get one consistent rate whether clients pay in person, online, or with a card on file.

What are Square Appointments payment processing fees?

Square Appointments charges 2.4%–2.6% + 15¢ for in-person transactions, 2.9%-3.3% + 30¢ for online payments, and 3.5% + 15¢ for manually keyed or card-on-file transactions. These rates vary by plan and payment type, which can make it harder to predict your monthly processing costs compared to GlossGenius's flat rate.

Does GlossGenius have a free plan like Square?

No, GlossGenius does not offer a free plan, but it does provide a 14-day free trial on all subscription tiers starting at $24/month. Even without a free tier, GlossGenius often costs less overall than Square Appointments once you factor in Square's extra charges for marketing, loyalty, and other features that GlossGenius includes in every plan.

Can I transfer my data from Square to GlossGenius?

Yes, GlossGenius offers free data transfers for new members, including appointments, client lists, services, and products from Square or any other booking system. The transfer is handled by GlossGenius's support staff, so you don't have to worry about losing client information or manually re-entering data.

Which platform has better customer support?

GlossGenius offers specialized support six days a week via phone and text, while Square provides general support Monday through Friday that handles all Square products. Because GlossGenius's support staff specializes in the personal care sector, they're better equipped to help with industry-specific questions and workflows.

Is Square Appointments good for salons?

Square Appointments can work for salons, spas, and medspas needing free basic scheduling. If you need a plan that includes marketing tools or inventory tracking, GlossGenius is a better fit.

What is the monthly fee for GlossGenius?

GlossGenius starts at $24/month for the Standard Plan, with the Gold Plan starting at $48/month and the Platinum Plan starting at $148/month for larger businesses. All plans include core features like online booking, payment processing, client management, and built-in marketing — with no hidden add-on fees.

Does Square charge extra for text reminders?

No. All of Square's plans include email and text reminders.

Which is better for a small salon, GlossGenius or Square?

For most small salons, GlossGenius offers better value with its flat payment processing rate and included features like marketing tools and custom reminders. Square's free tier may suit salon businesses only needing basic scheduling, but once you add the features most salons actually need, GlossGenius's Standard Plan starting at $24/month is often the more affordable and powerful option.

Does GlossGenius offer financing?

Yes, GlossGenius offers financing options for members based on their payment processing history. This can help beauty, wellness, and health businesses owners access capital to grow their business without going through a traditional lender.

This information is provided for general educational purposes only. For legal, cybersecurity or compliance advice specific to your business or situation, please consult a professional.

All prices and feature comparisons are as of March 2026. GlossGenius has no affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement with the other companies mentioned in this article or their affiliates. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are used for identification purposes only and remain the property of their respective owners.

All trademarks, logos and brand names are used for identification purposes only and remain the property of their respective owners.

Stripe Capital offers financing types that include loans and merchant cash advances. All financing applications are subject to review prior to approval. In the US, Stripe Capital loans are issued by Celtic Bank and YouLend provides Stripe Capital merchant cash advances.