Best Salon Software for Small Salons in 2026: 5 Options Compared
GlossGenius, Vagaro, Square Appointments, Fresha and Boulevard compared on price, card fees, marketplace fees and fit for solo stylists and small teams.
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| Tool | Best for | Starts at | Free trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GlossGenius | Solo stylists and small teams who want simple flat-rate payments | $24/mo billed annually | 14 days, no card | See pricing |
| Vagaro | Small salons that want a low base price and a consumer marketplace | $23.99/mo intro rate + $10 per extra calendar | 30 days, no card | See pricing |
| Square Appointments | New salons that want to start free and add features later | $0/mo | Free plan; 30-day trial of Plus and Premium | See pricing |
| Fresha | Salons that want marketplace exposure and pay per team member | $19.95/mo (solo) | 7 days, no card | See pricing |
| Boulevard | Upscale salons and spas that sell on client experience | $143/mo (up to 5 providers) | Demo required | See pricing |
For a small salon, booking software is also your payment system, your client list and often your marketing. The subscription is only part of the bill: card processing and marketplace fees usually cost more than the software itself.
The short answer
- Solo stylist or suite renter who wants simple, flat pricing: GlossGenius, from $24 a month billed annually with a flat 2.6% card rate.
- Starting out and want to pay nothing monthly: Square Appointments Free.
- Small team that wants a low base price: Vagaro, from a $23.99 intro rate plus $10 per extra calendar.
- You want new clients from a booking marketplace: Fresha, if you accept its 20% fee on new marketplace clients.
- Upscale salon or spa with several providers: Boulevard.
What matters most for small salons
- Total monthly cost. Add the subscription, card fees on your real volume and any marketplace fees. Our true cost guide does this for a solo stylist and a four-chair salon.
- No-show protection. Deposits and cancellation fees protect your income. Square adds no-show fees on its $49 Plus plan.
- How price grows with staff. Fresha charges $14.95 per bookable team member, Vagaro $10 per calendar up to seven, and Boulevard moves to per-location pricing with unlimited providers from Premier.
- Switching help. GlossGenius offers free data migration, which matters if you already have years of client notes.
Our take
Most solo stylists should compare GlossGenius and Square side by side for a month. Small teams should price Vagaro and Fresha at their real headcount. Consider Boulevard only if you run a high-end salon or spa and the client experience is what you sell.
Each tool in detail
1. GlossGenius
Best for: Solo stylists and small teams who want simple flat-rate payments
Pricing
- Standard: $24/mo annual
- Gold: $48/mo annual, teams up to 9
- Platinum: $148/mo annual, 10+ staff
- Payroll add-on: $40/mo + $6 per employee
How it's priced
Three plans by team size; flat 2.6% card processing
Trial
14 days, no card
Strengths
- Flat 2.6% processing with no card-on-file fees
- Free same-day payouts Monday to Thursday
- Free data migration
Watch out for
- Monthly billing costs 12–14% more than annual
- Payroll is a paid add-on
2. Vagaro
Best for: Small salons that want a low base price and a consumer marketplace
Pricing
- Single location: $23.99/mo intro rate for 6 months
- $10 per additional bookable calendar, up to 7 per location
- Multiple locations: $30/mo per location
How it's priced
Base fee per location plus $10 per bookable calendar (max 7 charged)
Trial
30 days, no card
Strengths
- Low starting price
- Staff over 7 calendars add no cost
- 30-day trial without a card
Watch out for
- Intro rate ends after 6 months
- Hardware and premium services priced separately
3. Square Appointments
Best for: New salons that want to start free and add features later
Pricing
- Free: $0, 2.6% + 15¢ in person, 3.3% + 30¢ online
- Plus: $49/mo per location, 2.5% + 15¢ in person
- Premium: $149/mo per location, 2.4% + 15¢ in person
How it's priced
Per location; processing rate falls on paid plans
Trial
Free plan; 30-day trial of Plus and Premium
Strengths
- Free plan with unlimited staff calendars
- Same ecosystem as Square POS and payroll
- No-show fees and waitlist on Plus
Watch out for
- Online processing is expensive on the free plan
- Salon-specific features are thinner than Boulevard's
4. Fresha
Best for: Salons that want marketplace exposure and pay per team member
Pricing
- Independent: $19.95/mo
- Team: $14.95/mo per bookable team member
- Marketplace new client fee: 20%, minimum $6
- Card: 2.29% + $0.20 in person, 2.79% + $0.20 online
How it's priced
$19.95/mo solo or $14.95 per bookable team member
Trial
7 days, no card
Strengths
- POS, inventory and client records included
- No fee on returning or direct bookings
- Low solo price
Watch out for
- 20% fee on new marketplace clients
- Per-member price grows with the team
- Paid add-ons for AI concierge and loyalty
5. Boulevard
Best for: Upscale salons and spas that sell on client experience
Pricing
- Essentials: $143/mo, up to 5 providers
- Premier: $234/mo per location (regular $293), unlimited providers
- Prestige: $328/mo per location (regular $410)
- Annual billing saves 10%
How it's priced
Essentials capped at 5 providers; Premier and Prestige per location
Trial
Demo required
Strengths
- Unlimited professionals from Premier
- Texts, email blasts and storage included
- Strong fit for multi-provider spas
Watch out for
- Most expensive option here
- Forms ($65+/mo) and QuickBooks ($45/mo) are add-ons
- Sales demo before you can try it
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest salon software?
Square Appointments has a free plan with unlimited staff calendars. You pay only card processing: 2.6% + 15¢ in person and 3.3% + 30¢ online.
Which salon software has the lowest card fees?
Among those that publish rates, Fresha's in-person rate is 2.29% + $0.20, GlossGenius charges a flat 2.6%, and Square's paid plans go down to 2.4% + 15¢ in person. Which is cheapest depends on your average ticket; see our true cost guide.
Is Boulevard worth it for a small salon?
Usually only for upscale salons and spas that sell on client experience. Its Essentials plan is $143 a month for up to five providers, several times the entry price of the other options.