Square Appointments Review: Does One Size REALLY Fit All?
8 january 2026 • BY LC
Running a business used to mean juggling five different tools just to keep the day moving—one for appointments, one for payments, another for inventory… you get the idea.
Times have changed.
A platform that simplifies all by rolling bookings, payments, and customer management into one clean, intuitive system. Whether you're a solo stylist or managing a small team, Square promises to help you spend less time on logistics, and more on the services that make your business thrive.
So what makes Square such a go-to for service-based businesses? Let’s break down where it shines, and where it still has room to grow.
First, here are some:
When evaluating business software, certain features are indispensable or at least worthy of consideration before making a final decision, regardless of your service offerings.
Square Appointments takes the guesswork out of scheduling costs with a simple, transparent pricing model that works for solo entrepreneurs and larger teams alike. Here’s the breakdown:
Free Plan: $0/mo for individuals—perfect for solo service providers just getting started.
Plus Plan: $49/mo per location, adds extra features like loyalty programs and waitlists.
Premium Plan: $149/mo per location, designed for teams, with additional staff management tools and priority support.
One of Square Appointments’ biggest draws is its free forever option for solo users, a rare perk in scheduling software. Plus, all plans are month-to-month, so you can scale up or down as your business changes without being locked into long contracts.
Whether you’re a single stylist or a growing salon, Square’s pricing structure is straightforward, flexible, and easy to budget for.
Square lets you customize service menus, client notifications, and booking pages to match your brand. While not as flexible as some high-end platforms, it provides enough personalization for most small- to mid-sized salons.
Square offers a complete suite of salon management tools, depending on your plan, including appointment scheduling, staff management, inventory tracking, client profiles, and integrated POS. The system is designed to work together seamlessly, minimizing the need for additional third-party apps.
Square integrates with popular third-party platforms like QuickBooks, Instagram, Wix, and more. While its ecosystem isn’t as extensive as enterprise-level systems, it covers the essential tools most salons need to run smoothly.
Square Appointments allows clients to book 24/7 through your website, social media, or Square’s booking page. Bookings sync in real time with your calendar and can include prepayments or deposits to secure appointments.
Square Appointments features a user-friendly calendar that shows bookings, staff availability, and service durations at a glance. Appointments can be rescheduled or updated with just a few clicks, keeping your schedule organized and flexible.
Square’s client profiles store key details such as contact info, appointment history, and notes. While simpler than full-fledged CRM systems, it helps personalize service and maintain strong client relationships.
Square Appointments lets you send automated email and SMS reminders to reduce no-shows and keep clients informed. You can customize messages for upcoming appointments, confirmations, and cancellations.
Square provides comprehensive reporting dashboards that track sales, staff performance, booking trends, and inventory. These insights help salons make informed decisions, identify growth opportunities, and monitor overall business performance.
Square’s inventory management is built into its POS system, letting you track stock levels, set low-stock alerts, and manage product sales from one place. It works for both retail items and services, helping you stay organized and avoid overselling.
Loyalty programs are only available on the Square Plus plan ($49/mo.) and reward repeat clients and encourage long-term retention. Points can be automatically tracked and redeemed at checkout.
Square offers a free website builder designed for service businesses, featuring online booking, service menus, and product listings. If you already have a website, Square lets you embed its booking widget seamlessly, so clients can schedule appointments without leaving your site.
Square Appointments ties into Square’s integrated POS and payment processing, so you can take payments right at checkout or when clients book or check in. It supports all major credit and debit cards, mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, Cash App Pay, and even Afterpay (buy‑now‑pay‑later) options in person or online, giving clients flexible ways to pay while you get paid up front. Square also lets you save cards on file, accept contactless and chip payments, tap‑to‑pay on compatible phones, and process refunds or discounts all from the same system.
Note: As of January 13, 2026, Square updated its online processing fees. The online "Free" processing fee is now 3.3% + 30¢.
Square Appointments handles client communications, including automatic email and SMS appointment confirmations and reminders as part of its core features. For full marketing campaigns like promotional emails or automated customer engagement messages, you would need Square Marketing, Square’s separate marketing product that integrates with your client directory.
Ultimately, the real proof is in the day-to-day experience. Here’s what Square users are saying after putting it to work.
User Review: “I love that I don't have to do all the work. Once things are set up it allows the client to schedule and automatically sends an email with the zoom already inserted. Saves time and energy when I can be preparing for the session and not caught up in sending out a zoom invite each time.” (Aug. 31, 2023)
User Review: “I don't like the ridiculous waste of time when asking for clients' approval for text messages. We already received the approval and consent, but the system continues to ask for consent other two times for it. Clients do not answer two times. It is redundant and annoying - so we lose the messaging opportunity! Total bummer.” (Sep. 09, 2022)
User Review: “So easy to use with my small business. Thank you for all of the wonderful features and tracking purchases/reports.” (Mar. 20, 2019)
User Review: “I think my overall experience with square appointments booking system has been a great one. I rarely had to contact support and when I have any issues were resolved swiftly.” (Aug. 03, 2023)
User Review: “Great POS! Also all things in one! This is great for super beginner small business owner first year. (May 12, 2025)
User Review: “Square processing is good and we have no complaints at this time on the processing. However, we joined square to have the option for advanced business loans based on our processing volume which has been high. All details are reported as good by square, but after one year we still do not get any loan offer. That is disappointing as we would have probably went with a different processor that does offer the advance loan funding options.” (May 05, 2025)
Square has made a name for itself as one of the most accessible and user-friendly platforms for service-based businesses—and it delivers, especially for small to midsize salons and spas. Its intuitive design and all-in-one ecosystem make it easy to get started, manage appointments, take payments, and keep operations running smoothly without juggling multiple systems.
A major draw is Square’s transparent pricing. There are no subscription fees for the core plan—just transaction fees—making it a great entry point for budget-conscious businesses. However, those fees can add up for higher-volume salons, and many of Square’s more advanced tools (like email marketing or loyalty programs) come with extra monthly costs.
While Square doesn’t offer quite the same level of luxury or customization as higher-end competitors, it shines in convenience and integration. Features like online booking, CRM, and POS are built to work together out of the box. Plus, its integration with Square Payments ensures a seamless checkout process—though businesses tied to Square’s payment system may find fewer flexible options for third-party processors.
Ultimately, Square is a smart choice for salons and spas that value simplicity, scalability, and a solid set of tools with room to grow. It’s particularly well-suited for solo providers and small teams looking for a no-fuss, affordable way to run their business without compromising on quality.
