Salon booking software compared: pricing, fees and who owns your client list (2026)

Your booking software holds your calendar, your payments and, most importantly, your client list. The monthly subscription is often the smallest cost. Card processing, marketplace commissions, text-message credits and add-ons can add up to much more.

We checked the official pricing pages and help articles of 10 major platforms on September 17, 2026. Here's what they charge and what to ask before you sign.

Quick answer

  • Subscription prices range from $0 (Square Free) to $328+/location/month (Boulevard Prestige, annual), and several platforms only quote custom prices (Meevo, Zenoti, Phorest).
  • Card fees usually matter more than subscriptions. In-person rates we found ranged from 2.29% + $0.19 (Vagaro, larger merchants) to 2.6% flat (GlossGenius) to 2.6% + 15¢ (Square Free).
  • Marketplace "new client" fees can be large. Fresha charges 20% (min $6) on a new marketplace client's first booking. Booksy Boost charges 30% of a Boost client's first visit.
  • Export your client list regularly, and always before cancelling. Fresha says cancelling removes workspace access (Fresha).

Side-by-side: 2026 published pricing

All prices USD, from official pages accessed Sept 17, 2026, unless noted. Promotional and intro rates are flagged. Tax is extra.

Platform Subscription (published) In-person card rate Online / keyed rate Marketplace fee
Vagaro $23.99/mo for 1 calendar, then +$10 per calendar (up to 7), unlimited after (Vagaro help, updated Aug 28, 2026) 2.6% + $0.10 (under $4k/mo volume); 2.29% + $0.19 (over $4k/mo, +$10/mo) Keyed 3.5% + $0.19 (Vagaro, updated Jul 1, 2026) "No booking fees" on Vagaro Marketplace, per pricing page
Fresha $19.95/mo solo; $14.95 per bookable team member (Fresha) 2.29% + $0.20 (+$0.10 per Tap to Pay) Online 2.79% + $0.20; manual 3.30% + $0.20 20% one-time, min $6 per new marketplace client
GlossGenius Standard $28/mo, Gold $56, Platinum $168 (lower if annual) (GlossGenius) 2.6% flat 2.6% flat (incl. manual/card on file) None listed
Square Appointments Free $0; Plus $49; Premium $149 per location (Square) 2.6%/2.5%/2.4% + 15¢ by plan Online 3.3% + 30¢ (Free) or 2.9% + 30¢; keyed 3.5% + 15¢ None listed
Boulevard Essentials $143; Premier $234*; Prestige $328* per location/mo (*annual) (Boulevard) Not published on pricing page Not published None listed
Mangomint $120/mo base + $10 per user (Mangomint) 2.45% + 15¢ 2.90% + 30¢ None
Booksy $29.99/mo + $20 per extra staff (Booksy) 2.49% + $0.10 (Booksy reader); Tap to Pay 2.49% + $0.20 Mobile/keyed 2.69% + $0.30 Boost: 30% of first visit
Meevo Quote only; annual contract standard (Meevo) Not published Not published —
Zenoti Quote only; AI agents need "AI Plus" package (Zenoti) Not published Not published —
Phorest Plans (Starter, Grow, Complete Advantage, Elite) shown without prices (Phorest US) Not published Not published —

Not verified: We couldn't check SalonBiz's current pricing directly in this research round. Ask for a written quote.

Worked example: what a small salon might actually pay

Let's say a four-stylist salon takes $30,000/month in in-person card payments. Using only the published rates above, and leaving out add-ons, texts and taxes:

  • Mangomint: $120 + (4 × $10) = $160/mo, plus 2.45% × $30,000 = $735 and 15¢ per transaction.
  • GlossGenius Gold (monthly): $56/mo, plus 2.6% × $30,000 = $780. Standard supports teams under 10, but features differ by tier.
  • Fresha Team: 4 × $14.95 = $59.80/mo, plus 2.29% × $30,000 = $687, plus $0.20 per transaction and any marketplace new-client fees.
  • Vagaro: $23.99 + (3 × $10) + $10 (high-volume merchant fee) = $63.99/mo, plus 2.29% × $30,000 = $687 and $0.19 per transaction.

At about 400 transactions a month, per-transaction fees add roughly $40–$80. This example is illustrative. Your front-desk users, texts, forms, payroll and hardware can change the ranking.

The lesson: a 0.3% difference in card rate on $30,000 is $90 a month. That's often more than the gap between subscriptions.

Fees that surprise salon owners

Marketplace commissions

Marketplaces can bring new clients, but you pay for them:

  • Fresha: 20% one-time commission, minimum $6, for new clients from its marketplace. Returning clients are free (Fresha pricing).
  • Booksy Boost: "one-time 30% fee" on a Boost client's first visit (Booksy).

On a $250 color service, that's $50 on Fresha or $75 on Booksy Boost. Make sure you know how the platform decides who counts as a "new" client.

Fresha's move away from "free"

Fresha became popular as free salon software that earned money from payments and marketplace fees. It now charges subscriptions: $19.95 solo and $14.95 per team member in the US. Competitor-written reviews date the end of its free plan to 2025 and point to owner complaints on Reddit (Pabau, updated Aug 25, 2026). Keep in mind Pabau sells competing software. We couldn't find an official Fresha announcement with the exact date.

Passing fees to clients

Boulevard advertises a "Boulevard Offset" program where the client pays 3% and the business pays 1% on card transactions (Boulevard). Surcharging rules vary by US state and card network. Check your state's rules and disclose surcharges clearly before you turn this on. (This isn't legal advice.)

Buy now, pay later and fast payouts

  • Vagaro lists BNPL at 6% + $0.30. Fresha lists Klarna at 5.99% + $0.30.
  • Booksy charges 1.5% for 30-minute "Fast Payouts."
  • Vagaro also lists chargeback fees of $7.50 (first) and $15 (second Mastercard chargeback).

Add-ons

Examples: Vagaro's branded app costs $100–$280/mo plus a development fee. Its "Vera Receptionist" AI add-on is $10–$15/mo. Fresha's AI Concierge is $99.95/location/month. Mangomint phone is $70/mo per line. Boulevard Forms start at $65/mo per location.

Contracts

  • Month-to-month, cancel anytime: Vagaro, Mangomint, Booksy, Square Plus/Premium (per their pages).
  • Meevo: "subscriptions are based on an annual contract." Cancellation requires "30-day notice by the 11th month." Monthly plans need 30 days' notice (Meevo).

Who owns your client list?

This is the question most owners forget until they want to leave or a stylist walks out with "their" clients.

What we found:

  • Mangomint says plainly: "You can take all of your data with you" (Mangomint).
  • Vagaro and GlossGenius publish help articles on exporting your customer or client list (Vagaro help; GlossGenius help). We couldn't open these articles to check which fields are included, such as notes, color formulas, photos or card tokens.
  • Fresha: If you cancel, "access to your workspace will be removed, and your marketplace profile will be unlisted." Reviews are kept but hidden (Fresha help). Export before cancelling.
  • Marketplaces promote other businesses. Competitor TimeTailor claims marketplace apps "promote other salons to your clients." That's a competitor claim, but it's worth weighing (TimeTailor, n.d.).

Card data usually does not transfer. Stored cards are held by the payment processor. Moving them to a new system depends on the processor's rules. Ask in writing.

Data-ownership checklist before you sign

  1. Can I export all client records myself? That means contact details, visit history, notes, color formulas, photos, forms and consent records.
  2. What format is the export (CSV, PDF), and is there a fee?
  3. How long can I get to my data after cancelling?
  4. Can the platform market to my clients or show them competing salons?
  5. If a booth renter or stylist leaves, whose clients are they in the system? Put it in your rental or employment agreement too.
  6. Where is data stored? How are breaches reported? Do they sign a data processing agreement (for UK/EU salons under GDPR)?
  7. Can stored card tokens move to a new processor?

Lawsuits and controversies

We searched for class actions, regulator actions or major lawsuits over fees against these salon platforms. We didn't find any significant, verifiable cases as of September 17, 2026. The most visible controversy was owner backlash over Fresha's shift to paid plans and its marketplace commission, reported mostly by competitors and forums. Our search wasn't exhaustive. Check PACER or your local courts for anything specific.

How to choose: a short decision guide

  • Solo stylist or suite renter: Look for low monthly cost, a flat or low card rate, deposits and no-show fees, and a simple booking link. Compare Square Free, GlossGenius Standard, Vagaro, Fresha Independent and Booksy.
  • Growing salon, 5–15 staff: Look for commissions, payroll, inventory, forms and a front-desk workflow. Compare Mangomint, Boulevard, GlossGenius Gold/Platinum, Vagaro and Phorest.
  • Multi-location or franchise: You'll need central reporting, permissions and integrations. Compare Zenoti, Meevo, Boulevard Enterprise and Phorest. Expect custom quotes and contracts.
  • Always run a free trial with real bookings. Test the client booking flow on a phone, and test the export before you migrate.

What we don't know yet

  • Processing rates for Boulevard, Meevo, Zenoti, Phorest and SalonBiz aren't published. Negotiated rates vary.
  • Exactly which fields each platform's export includes.
  • Official dates for Fresha's pricing changes.

FAQ

Which salon software has the lowest fees? It depends on your volume and how clients pay. Compare subscription plus card rate using your own monthly card sales, then add marketplace fees if you use a marketplace.

Is Fresha still free? No. As of September 2026, Fresha lists $19.95/month for one team member and $14.95 per bookable team member for teams, plus processing and marketplace fees.

What is Booksy Boost? An optional marketplace promotion. Booksy charges a one-time 30% fee on the first visit of a client who finds you through Boost.

Can I take my client list if I switch software? Most platforms let you export client data, but what's included varies. Export and check a copy before you cancel.

Should I pass card fees on to clients? Some platforms support it, but surcharge rules vary by state and card network. Check with your processor and a local advisor.

Pricing is from official pages on Sept 17, 2026 and changes often. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice. No affiliate links.

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