Square Appointments is known for its intuitive, all-in-one booking and payment experience for salons, spas, and wellness businesses—but a smooth interface doesn’t always mean it’s the best operational fit. As your business expands, adds locations, or needs more flexibility around workflows, reporting, or pricing, Square Appointments can start to feel limiting in ways that affect day-to-day efficiency.

That’s where this guide comes in. Below, we break down the top Square Appointments alternatives—each excelling in different areas, from deeper customization and more advanced business tools to scalable pricing and industry-specific features. Whether you’re reevaluating your current software or choosing a platform for the first time, this list will help you find a system that supports how your business actually operates today—and where it’s headed tomorrow.

Is Square Appointments the Right Fit?

Square Appointments is a popular choice in the salon, spa, and wellness software space—but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

Where Square truly shines is in convenience-driven businesses that value simplicity and seamless payment integration. Its interface is straightforward and user-friendly, and features like integrated POS, online booking, automated reminders, and payment processing make it especially appealing for solo providers or small studios that want a reliable, all-in-one system without a steep learning curve.

That said, Square’s strengths come with trade-offs.

The platform is designed around a standardized workflow, which can limit flexibility for businesses that need more complex scheduling, multi-location management, or advanced reporting. Pricing and feature scalability can also be a concern for growing teams that need more robust tools beyond what Square offers in its core packages.

In short, Square Appointments is often the right fit if:

1. Your business prioritizes simplicity, fast onboarding, and integrated payments

2. You’re comfortable operating within a streamlined, standardized system

Eight Square Appointments Alternatives Explored

Alternative #1: Vagaro | The Highest-Rated Software for Salons and Spas

Vagaro is a scheduling and business management tool made for beauty, wellness, and fitness professionals. From salons and spas to gyms and yoga studios, Vagaro caters to businesses of all sizes with a robust suite of features.

Vagaro simplifies online booking by letting clients schedule appointments directly through your website—or through Vagaro’s own marketplace—so you can capture bookings wherever your audience is already browsing. Automated appointment reminders help reduce no-shows, and the built-in point-of-sale makes it easy to accept payments, track sales, and manage inventory without juggling multiple systems.

Where Vagaro really stands out is its built-in marketing toolkit. Email campaigns, targeted promotions, and client retention tools help you stay top-of-mind and turn one-time visitors into loyal repeat clients.

What makes Vagaro a strong alternative to platforms like Zenoti is its adaptability. Whether you run a busy salon with multiple stylists or a fitness studio with classes and memberships, Vagaro offers the features needed to keep operations organized and efficient. Its clean, intuitive interface and strong focus on beauty and wellness make it a popular choice for businesses that want a single platform to handle scheduling, payments, and growth.

Recommended for: Small-to-mid-sized and enterprise beauty, wellness, and fitness businesses that want an all-in-one solution for booking, payments, and marketing.

Key Features

Alternative #2: Phorest | A Growth-Focused Salon & Spa Platform

Phorest is a comprehensive salon, spa, and clinic management platform designed to unify scheduling, client management, and marketing in a single system. Its robust toolset helps businesses streamline daily operations, boost repeat bookings, strengthen client relationships, and drive revenue.

Beyond basic appointment booking, Phorest combines online scheduling with full business management capabilities—including CRM, loyalty programs, POS, inventory tracking, and automated marketing—giving owners a clear view of operations and greater control over growth.

Clients can book appointments anytime through your website, social media channels, or Phorest’s custom-branded app, while the smart calendar prevents double-bookings and optimizes appointment spacing for smoother workflow.

Phorest also includes powerful marketing and client-retention features like automated SMS and email campaigns, review management, and a digital loyalty program to keep clients coming back.

Recommended for: Medium to larger salons, spas, or multi-location businesses that want robust scheduling plus advanced client engagement, automated marketing, and full business management tools.

Key Features

Alternative #3: Booksy | A Mobile-First Booking Platform for Beauty Professionals

Booksy is a mobile-first scheduling and business management platform tailored for beauty and wellness professionals, including hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, and nail technicians. It unifies online booking, client management, payments, and marketing tools in a single system built for fast-paced, appointment-heavy businesses.

Clients can schedule appointments around the clock through your website, social media, booking link, or the Booksy marketplace app. The platform’s smart calendar prevents double-bookings by managing service lengths, availability rules, and buffer times. Automated reminders, optional deposits, and cancellation policies help reduce no-shows and protect your schedule.

For teams, Booksy supports multiple staff calendars, shared client profiles, and coordinated scheduling. Solo operators can handle bookings, payments, and client communication directly from their phone. Integrated marketing features—like promotions, client messaging, and loyalty programs—help keep your business visible and encourage repeat visits.

Booksy’s popularity comes from its industry focus and mobile-first design. Instead of adapting a general scheduling tool to fit beauty services, Booksy is built around how these businesses actually operate—making it easier to manage bookings, clients, and revenue without extra workarounds.

Recommended for: Hair, beauty, and wellness professionals who want a mobile-friendly scheduling platform with built-in payments, automated reminders, and client engagement tools tailored to their industry.

Key Features

Alternative #4: Zenoti | Enterprise-Grade Software for Scaling Salons & Spas

Zenoti is a comprehensive management platform designed for salons, spas, medspas, and fitness businesses, especially those operating at scale. Built for multi-location and high-volume operations, it extends beyond basic scheduling to support complex workflows, detailed reporting, and enterprise-level growth.

Clients can book appointments online 24/7 via branded web pages, mobile apps, or social media, while Zenoti’s smart scheduling engine maximizes staff efficiency, prevents double-bookings, and handles high appointment volumes seamlessly. Features like deposits, cancellation policies, and automated reminders help protect revenue and reduce no-shows.

Zenoti excels in its all-in-one capabilities. The platform integrates scheduling with a full POS system, inventory tracking, memberships and packages, payroll management, and marketing automation. Businesses can launch targeted email and SMS campaigns, monitor client behavior across locations, and use advanced analytics to guide decisions on pricing, staffing, and promotions.

For expanding teams, Zenoti provides multi-location management, role-based access controls, centralized reporting, and performance tracking—making it an ideal choice for franchises or brands planning significant growth.

Zenoti is best known for helping established beauty and wellness brands scale efficiently. While it may be more complex—and higher priced—than lightweight scheduling tools, it offers the operational depth and data visibility growing businesses need to stay in control as they expand.

Recommended for: Multi-location salons, spas, medspas, and fitness brands that need enterprise-level scheduling, reporting, marketing automation, and operational control to support growth at scale.

Key Features

Alternative #5: Rosy Salon Software | Customizable Tools for Independent Salons

Rosy Salon Software is a salon-focused platform designed for independent salons seeking flexibility without the complexity of enterprise systems. Tailored for hair and beauty businesses, it integrates scheduling, POS, payroll, and reporting into a single system that adapts to the way your salon operates.

Clients can book appointments online via a fully customizable booking page that reflects your services, staff availability, and business rules. On the backend, Rosy helps maintain organized schedules with service duration controls, staff-specific availability, and double-booking prevention. Automated reminders reduce no-shows, while detailed client profiles track visit history, formulas, and notes for a more personalized experience.

Beyond appointment management, Rosy delivers robust operational tools. It includes POS and inventory management, commission and payroll tracking, and comprehensive reporting—giving salon owners insight into revenue, staff performance, and business trends. Its modular design allows you to activate only the features you need, keeping your workflows efficient and tailored to your salon’s unique needs.

Rosy appeals to salon owners who want control and customization without committing to a large, enterprise-level platform. It’s especially well-suited for businesses that need strong staff management, payroll tracking, and reporting alongside everyday scheduling.

Recommended for: Independent salons and small salon groups that want customizable scheduling, POS, payroll, and reporting tools built specifically for hair and beauty businesses.

Key Features

Alternative #6: Mangomint | A Modern, Automation-First Platform for Growing Salons & Spas

Mangomint is a sleek, modern salon and spa management platform built for businesses that value speed, automation, and an intuitive user experience. Designed primarily for salons, spas, and wellness studios, Mangomint focuses on simplifying day-to-day operations while reducing manual work for owners and staff.

Clients can book appointments online through a clean, easy-to-navigate booking flow that supports service customization, add-ons, and automated confirmations. Smart scheduling features help optimize calendars, enforce booking rules, and minimize gaps—making it easier to maintain full schedules without constant oversight.

On the operational side, Mangomint offers detailed client profiles, integrated payments, digital forms, memberships, and packages, along with powerful automation tools for reminders, follow-ups, and internal workflows. Its real-time dashboards and reports give owners visibility into revenue, staff productivity, and booking patterns without digging through complex menus.

What sets Mangomint apart is its automation-first philosophy. Instead of leading with branding and presentation, it prioritizes efficiency—helping teams move faster, communicate less manually, and rely on systems that “just work.” For operators who want fewer clicks and more done in less time, Mangomint delivers a noticeably streamlined experience.

Recommended for: Growing salons, spas, and wellness businesses that want a fast, intuitive platform with strong automation, clean scheduling tools, and minimal operational friction—without the heavier, enterprise-style feel of more brand-centric platforms.

Key Features

Alternative #7: GlossGenius | The Top Choice for Customization in the Beauty Industry

GlossGenius is a sleek, all-in-one platform built for beauty professionals looking to streamline both scheduling and business operations. Ideal for hairstylists, estheticians, makeup artists, and nail technicians, its intuitive interface makes managing appointments, client details, and payments simple and efficient.

Clients can book through fully customizable booking pages, while automated reminders and secure payment processing help ensure smooth, hassle-free transactions. GlossGenius also offers marketing features—like targeted email campaigns and client retention tools—so you can nurture relationships and grow your business with ease.

What sets GlossGenius apart is its focus on the beauty industry, offering tools that cater specifically to professionals in this space. The mobile app ensures you can manage your business on the go, and with transparent, affordable pricing, it’s a great choice for independent beauty entrepreneurs looking to elevate their business while keeping things simple and professional.

Recommended for: Beauty professionals and wellness providers who want a sleek, customizable booking system with integrated payment processing and powerful marketing tools to grow their client base.

Key Feautures

Alternative #8: Fresha | A No-Subscription Solution for Salons & Spas

Fresha is a salon and spa management platform designed for beauty and wellness professionals who want comprehensive tools without a fixed monthly fee. Its intuitive interface, built-in payment processing, and automated marketing features make it easy to manage appointments, client relationships, and revenue.

Rather than charging a traditional subscription, Fresha operates on a pay-per-transaction model, applying fees only when payments are processed through the platform. Businesses get unlimited bookings, staff accounts, and calendar access at no base cost, making it an attractive, low-risk option for salons and spas that want powerful features without upfront software expenses.

Fresha’s powerful marketing tools, no-show protection, and built-in payment processing make it an ideal choice for beauty businesses seeking a cost-effective yet comprehensive scheduling solution.

Recommended for: Salon, spa, and wellness professionals who want a robust, no-subscription scheduling system with seamless payments and marketing tools.

Key Features

Choosing the Right Square Appointments Alternative for Your Business

Square Appointments is a popular choice for salons, spas, and solo service providers thanks to its ease of use and integrated payment ecosystem, but it isn’t the right fit for every business. As your operations grow, many teams explore alternatives that offer more flexibility in pricing, advanced reporting, robust mobile workflows, or industry-specific tools.

Whether you’re managing multiple locations, running a busy studio, or operating independently, the options listed above each excel in different areas. The goal is to identify where Square Appointments may limit your daily workflow and choose a platform that not only supports your business today but also scales with your growth tomorrow.