Salons live and die on their scheduling software. Double-bookings lose clients. Clunky booking pages lose walk-ins. No-show management loses revenue. Here are the best options.
What salons need
- Appointment booking with service type, therapist, and duration
- Walk-in management — slot someone in without disrupting the schedule
- Client notes — "always gets balayage, allergic to X product"
- Gift card sales and redemption
- Online booking link for Instagram bio and Google
- POS for services + retail
Best platforms
1. KOLLABO OS — best for multi-staff salons
When you select "Beauty & Wellness" during setup, the app hides fitness features and focuses on appointments. Multi-therapist scheduling, gift cards, POS, client notes, branded app. Zero transaction markup. $99/month.
2. Fresha — best for solo operators
Free basic scheduling. Takes commission on marketplace bookings. Good for solo hairdressers. Limited for multi-staff salons.
3. Vagaro — best budget for small salons
From $30/month. Decent appointment booking. Per-staff pricing gets expensive. Marketplace app (not branded).
4. Timely — best NZ/AU option for basic scheduling
Clean interface, good calendar. Limited POS and no branded app.
The beauty-specific features that matter
KOLLABO OS adapts its entire UI for beauty businesses — no class tabs, no gym jargon. Just appointments, clients, and sales. Try it