8 Best Scheduling Software for Hair Salons

These days, running a beauty business looks completely different than how it did just a few years ago. For the modern ones, appointment books and sticky notes are now replaced by smart, modern tools that make scheduling faster, smoother, and way less stressful. With the technology we have today, salon owners can manage bookings, track clients, and keep everything organized all in one device.  

This shift toward digital tools has helped salons deliver a better experience for both staff and customers. If you’re a salon owner, hairstylist, or beauty professional who wants to bring your business up to speed or simply make everyday operations easier, a good salon scheduling software will take care of the grunt work for you. It’ll book appointments, send reminders, process payments, and keep your client details organized. 

To help you find the right one, in this guide, we'll review the best scheduling tools worth trying as you modernize your business. 

Our methodology 

We tested and compared 30+ salon scheduling platforms to find the most reliable ones when it comes to handling appointments. Specifically, we evaluated each platform based on: 

• Ease of use. How simple it is to set up and use to manage daily bookings. 
• Features. Useful functions, like online booking, reminders, payments, and staff management. 
• Scalability. How well the system handles multiple users or branches. 
• Marketing tools. Built-in email, text, and loyalty features that help bring clients back. 
• User feedback. Ratings and reviews from verified salon businesses. 
• Pricing. Transparency, affordability, and available free trials. 

Now, let’s take a closer look at each one. 

1. Booksy Biz

Booksy Biz's salon management software is built for hair salons, spas, and barbershops that need everything in one place. It handles scheduling, client management, marketing, and payments without the need to switch between different programs. You get two versions that work together: Booksy Biz Pro for your computer and front desk, and Booksy Biz Lite for your smartphone when you're working on the go. 

Main features: 

• 24/7 online booking via website, mobile app, and social media 
• Automated reminders, confirmations, and cancellation protection 
• Client database with history, notes, and loyalty tracking 
• Integrated POS for payments, tips, and product sales 
• Marketing campaigns, email/text promotions, and business analytics 

It can support global operations across 40+ countries, provide multilingual access, and integrate marketing automation with booking tools. Booksy Biz is considered one of the best scheduling software for hair salons, thanks to its all-in-one functionality and regular app updates. 

Pricing: 

• Starts at $29.99/month for the first user 
• Additional users: $20/month each 
• Credit card processing at 2.69% + $0.30 
• Free trial available 

Supported countries: 40+ 

2. SimplyBook.me

SimplyBook.me works for all service-based businesses, from hair salons and spas to wellness centers and educational services. It's cloud-based software that fits most business sizes, whether you're working solo, running a small salon, or managing a larger operation. The platform offers over 70 different features you can mix and match based on what you really need. 

Main features: 

• 24/7 online booking through website, widgets, or mobile app 
• Automatic confirmations and follow-ups 
• Client profiles with detailed notes 
• Visitor history 
• Payment processing through Apple Pay, Google Pay, QR codes, and tap to pay 
• Intake forms 
• HIPAA compliance 
• Analytics 

Pricing: $13.9+/month 

Supported countries: 100+ 

3. Timely

Next on our list is Timely. It's a cloud-based software designed specifically for salons, spas, and wellness businesses. Timely brings together everything you need to run your business: scheduling appointments, tracking inventory, processing payments, and managing your staff. 

Main features: 

• Online self-booking  
• Automated confirmations and reminders 
• Integrated POS with payment processing 
• Inventory management 
• Payroll tracking 

Pricing: $20+/month 

Supported countries: 160+ 

4. Mangomint 

Mangomint is a salon and spa software designed for automation-driven salon management and workflow optimization. It combines appointment management, payment processing, and inventory management in one cloud-based interface aimed at multi-provider salons and wellness businesses.  

Main features: 

• Drag-and-drop calendar with Express Booking™  
• Waitlist automation 
• Two-way texting 
• Detailed client profiles 
• Integrated POS, split payments, gift cards, and memberships 
• Rebooking nudges and follow-ups 
• Advanced reporting tools 
• Multi-location support 

Pricing: $165+/month 

Supported countries: 2 (United States and Canada) 

5. Fresha 

Fresha is used by over 130,000 businesses and 450,000 professionals in more than 120 countries. It's a complete system that handles scheduling, payments, and gets your business in front of new clients through its marketplace.  

Main features: 

• Unlimited bookings 
• Point of sale system 
• Automatic reminders and confirmations 
• Loyalty programs 
• Reports on how your business is performing 
• Marketplace listing 

Pricing: Free + pay-as-you-go fees for marketplace bookings (~20% commission) 

Supported countries: 120+ 

6. GlossGenius 

GlossGenius is booking software made for solo professionals, nail techs, and small salons. It’ll help you manage appointments and client information. You can take bookings online, process payments, and run marketing campaigns, all through your own website and mobile app that you can customize however you like. 

Main features: 

• 24/7 online booking 
• Built-in payment processing 
• Instant payouts and mobile POS 
• Cancellation policy controls 
• Client history 
• Loyalty tracking 
• Marketing suite 

Pricing: $24+/month 

Supported countries: United States and United Kingdom only 

7. Vagaro 

Vagaro is a schedule management platform that helps salons, spas, and wellness businesses run their operations. You can use it to schedule appointments, keep track of customers, and process payments. Since it's cloud-based, you can access everything online. The platform also handles marketing tasks automatically, manages payroll and inventory, and connects to the Vagaro Marketplace, where new clients can find your business and make bookings. 

Main features: 

• 24/7 online booking 
• Automated appointment reminders  
• Email follow-ups 
• Cloud-based POS 
• Staff and resource management 
• 1,000 free monthly emails and loyalty programs 

Pricing: $23.99/month 

Supported countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia 

8. Square Appointments 

Finally, Square Appointments is scheduling software built by Square to help salons manage bookings, track client information, and handle payments. What makes it stand out is how it connects with other Square tools. With it, you get everything in one place: your point-of-sale system, payroll, inventory tracking, and customer loyalty programs. 

Main features: 

• 24/7 online booking 
• Unlimited staff accounts 
• Integrated Square POS 
• Appointment reminders  
• Cancellation policies 
• Inventory management 

Pricing: $0+/month 

Supported countries: 6 (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Japan) 

Recommended features  

Look for software that saves time, keeps clients happy, and makes running your salon easier. 

These criteria will come in handy for you: 

• 24/7 online booking and calendar sync 
• Automatic reminders and no-show protection 
• Built-in payments and checkout tools 
• Client profiles with visit history and notes 
• Stock tracking and inventory alerts 
• Simple marketing for promos and rebooking 
• Reports on sales and staff performance 
• Tools for managing multiple stylists or rooms 

Wrapping up 

The right salon scheduling software can transform how you handle bookings, clients, and day-to-day operations. It can save you time, reduce no-shows, and help your salon run more smoothly. To find the best one for your business, consider the number of users you’ll have, the extent of automation you need, and most importantly, your budget.  

FAQs 

1. What features should hair salon scheduling software include? 

A good salon scheduler should make it a breeze for clients to book appointments online, send automatic reminders, and handle payments without hassle. It also helps track inventory, manage staff calendars, and organize client profiles.  

2. How does scheduling software help salon owners manage appointments? 

It keeps everything in one place. You can view appointments, staff shifts, and handle cancellations on any device. Automatic reminders also help cut down on missed bookings.  

3. Can salon scheduling software manage multiple stylists or branches? 

Yes, most platforms support multi-stylist and multi-location setups. Each stylist gets their own calendar, while the main dashboard shows every appointment and payment made across branches. This kind of visibility helps to better organize multi-provider beauty businesses. 

4. How does salon software help in client retention and loyalty? 

Software programs can automate follow-ups, reminders, and rebooking messages. The convenience of quick online booking and improved quality of service will make them more likely to return.