Choosing the right software for your salon, spa, or wellness business is about survival, not just convenience. Between managing clients, schedules, staff, and sales, the tools you use can either keep your business humming or have you drowning in double bookings. That’s where platforms like Vagaro and Booksy step in, promising to simplify your day-to-day. But which one actually delivers?

Let’s start by looking at what Vagaro brings to the table.

Vagaro Key Features

When it comes to running a salon, spa, or wellness business, Vagaro is built to handle more than just appointments—it’s a full-service platform designed to streamline every corner of your operation.

Cost: Vagaro’s pricing is straightforward, starting at $23.99/mo based on the size of your team and the features you need. Vagaro bundles scheduling, payments, marketing, and reporting, for a low monthly cost, making it a strong all-in-one investment.

Customization: Vagaro allows you to personalize your digital presence from the ground up, whether it’s a branded website or mobile app to custom logo, giving your business a professional edge without a steep learning curve.

Features: Beyond scheduling, Vagaro covers POS, inventory management, automated reminders, staff management, and client tracking, all from a single dashboard.

Integrations: Vagaro integrates with a wide range of tools, including accounting software and review apps, so your workflow stays seamless.

Online Booking: Clients can flexibly book online with a sleek, mobile-friendly interface. Customizable options let you control availability, service types, and pricing, keeping your schedule efficient.

Calendar: A built-in, color-coded calendar keeps staff schedules and service bookings organized, with syncing options for Google Calendar, iCal, and Outlook.

CRM: Vagaro’s CRM captures client preferences, visit history, and purchase behavior, giving you the data to personalize experiences and drive loyalty.

Reminders: Automated email and text reminders reduce no-shows and keep clients engaged with timely updates.

Reporting: From sales analytics to staff performance and client trends, Vagaro’s reporting tools give you the insights to make smart business decisions.

Inventory: Track retail and service supplies with robust inventory management, including alerts for low stock and reporting on best-selling products.

Loyalty Program: Reward repeat customers with a built-in, easy-to-use loyalty program, turning casual clients into devoted regulars.

Website Builder: Vagaro includes a streamlined website builder, letting you showcase services, sell products, and accept bookings, all seamlessly integrated with the platform.

POS/Payment Processing: Vagaro’s in-house POS system handles payments with ease, supporting multiple payment types, including Tap to Pay, and giving you fast, secure transactions.

Marketing: Email campaigns, promotional offers, and social media integration make it easy to keep your business top-of-mind and attract new clients.

Software Summary: Vagaro

Vagaro is a true all-in-one business management platform designed to grow with you—whether you’re an independent stylist or running a multi-location spa. It goes beyond scheduling and payments to give beauty, wellness, and fitness professionals a complete ecosystem for managing clients, staff, marketing, retail, and reporting all in one place.

What sets Vagaro apart is its depth and flexibility. The platform’s robust toolset includes advanced features like inventory tracking, payroll management, detailed analytics, and branded app options, making it a powerhouse for owners who want more control and scalability. Everything is highly customizable—from your booking site to your client communications—so you can shape the software around your brand instead of the other way around.

Vagaro’s integrated marketing suite also gives it a major edge. Built-in tools for email and text campaigns, automated reviews, social posting, and special promotions make it easier to keep clients engaged without juggling third-party apps. Add in the Vagaro Marketplace, which connects your business to millions of potential clients searching for services, and you’ve got both functionality and discoverability under one roof.

For business owners who want a platform that evolves as they do, Vagaro delivers the balance of power, precision, and polish—handling complex operations with the same ease it offers solo entrepreneurs.

Booksy Key Features

Booksy is a booking and business management platform designed for beauty, barber, and wellness professionals who want a simple, client-friendly solution to manage appointments, payments, and marketing—all in one place.

Cost: Booksy pricing starts at $29.99/month per provider, with additional fees for features like Boost and marketing tools. A free trial is available for new users.

Customization: Users can personalize their Booksy profile, service list, booking settings, and policies, as well as add branding elements like photos, logos, and descriptions to help attract clients.

Features: Booksy combines online booking, client management, POS, payment processing, and marketing tools to streamline daily operations for salons, spas, barbershops, and independent professionals.

Integrations: The platform integrates with Instagram, Facebook, and Google, allowing clients to book directly from social media profiles or Google search results.

Online Booking: Clients can book 24/7 through your Booksy profile, website integration, or via the Booksy app and marketplace, giving them multiple ways to reach your business.

Calendar: Booksy’s color-coded calendar helps you manage appointments, staff availability, and scheduling conflicts across multiple devices.

CRM: Keep detailed client records, including service history, visit frequency, and notes on preferences, so you can personalize each client’s experience.

Reminders: Automated SMS and email reminders reduce no-shows and keep both clients and staff informed of upcoming appointments.

Reporting: Booksy offers reporting on sales, bookings, client retention, and rebooking rates, providing data to help track business performance.

Inventory: Manage and track retail products and supplies, view low-stock alerts, and review product sales through the Booksy back end.

Loyalty Program: Booksy supports discounts, packages, and promotions to encourage repeat visits and client loyalty.

Website Integration: You can embed your Booksy booking link or widget into an existing website or connect it to your business’s social media pages.

POS/Payment Processing: Booksy offers built-in payment processing through its Booksy Card Reader and Tap to Pay options, enabling secure and convenient checkout in person or online.

Marketing: Use Boost, social posts, and client messaging to promote your services, attract new clients, and keep your calendar filled.

While Booksy’s marketing suite gives businesses a helpful boost in visibility—especially through social integrations and its popular marketplace—there’s more to consider when it comes to how the platform functions as a whole.

Software Summary: Booksy

Booksy offers an approachable, all-in-one system built for independent beauty and wellness professionals who want to simplify their day-to-day operations. Its biggest strengths lie in its ease of use, client-facing experience, and marketplace exposure. Clients can easily discover local businesses through the Booksy app, check availability, and book appointments instantly—making it a favorite among barbers, stylists, and solo practitioners who rely on steady client flow.

The dashboard and scheduling tools are intuitive and quick to learn, with color-coded calendars, automated reminders, and basic business reporting all accessible from the mobile app. Booksy also includes payment processing, client management, and review collection, so most daily tasks can be handled in one place.

That said, the platform is more focused on individual or small-team use than enterprise-level operations. Larger salons or multi-location businesses may find themselves limited by the platform’s lightweight reporting and customization options.

Overall, Booksy is an excellent option for professionals who prioritize convenience, discoverability, and client communication over deep customization or complex management tools.

The Final Verdict

When it comes to choosing the right software for your salon, spa, or wellness business, it ultimately depends on your priorities—but Vagaro clearly stands out for those looking to grow and scale. With its highly customizable platform, advanced reporting, marketing tools, and full-service features, Vagaro not only handles the solo-pro essentials but also gives you the insights and flexibility to take your business to the next level.

Square Plus is a solid, budget-friendly option that covers core needs like bookings, payments, and client management, making it a great choice for smaller operations or those just starting out. However, for businesses ready to invest in a platform that can expand with them and provide deeper control over every aspect of operations, Vagaro is the more robust, long-term solution.