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Top 5 Salon Scheduling Software to Keep Your Schedule Full and Clients Happy

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26 Sep 202523 min read

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Running a salon involves much more than delivering excellent services. Efficient scheduling, payment processing, and client management are essential for smooth daily operations. The right software can automate these tasks, reduce missed appointments, and give customers a convenient way to book at any time.

From small beauty studios to multi-location wellness centers, the right booking platform can increase revenue and enhance client satisfaction.

This guide reviews some of the most effective salon scheduling tools available today, outlining their features, pros, cons, and pricing. Whether you need advanced marketing functions, integrated payments, or a dependable calendar, there is a solution to fit your business.

1.Bookeo

Bookeo is a booking platform tailored for wellness businesses. Since then, it has handled more than 96 million bookings and processed over USD 33 billion in client booking revenue.

Bookeo Key Features

Bookeo’s salon scheduling software shows real-time availability and allows clients to book services anytime from any device. It automatically syncs with Google Calendar, iCal, and Outlook to avoid double bookings.

Notable capabilities include:

  • Customizable booking pages with your brand’s colors and layout
  • Website widget integration without disruptive pop-ups
  • Direct Google Reserve connection for bookings through Google Maps
  • Automated email and SMS reminders to reduce no-shows
  • Client profiles with booking history and digital intake forms
  • Marketing tools for selling gift certificates and service packages

It also supports group bookings, recurring appointments, and color-coded service views for quick scheduling.

Pros

  • User-friendly interface with strong customization options
  • No commissions or hidden fees
  • No long-term contracts
  • Automated reminders by email and SMS
  • Multi-channel booking via website and social media

Bookeo Pricing

A 30-day money-back guarantee follows the trial, giving 60 days of risk-free use. Seasonal businesses can freeze accounts at 30% of the normal rate during slow periods.

Bookeo Best For

Ideal for small to mid-sized salons and wellness centers, including hair salons, massage therapists, beauty studios, and spas. Perfect for businesses wanting a simple, customizable booking system with no transactional fees, especially as appointment volume grows.

2.Square Appointments

Square's booking platform makes salon scheduling effortless. Millions of businesses worldwide trust its appointment tools. The system works seamlessly whether you're a solo provider or part of a larger wellness team that needs a packed schedule.

Square Appointments Key Features

Square Appointments gives you complete scheduling capabilities:

  • Online booking site with customization options and website integrations
  • Automated reminders sent via text and email to reduce no-shows
  • Prepayment options that let clients pay upfront for specific services
  • No-show protection with cancellation policies and automatic fee charging
  • Resource management to assign rooms, stations, and equipment
  • Multi-staff booking that lets clients book services with different staff members

The platform manages waitlists for popular services, supports multiple locations, and provides class booking packages.

Square Appointments Pros And Cons

Pros:

  • Rich features in the free plan if you have a solo practice
  • One platform handles both booking and payment processing
  • Connects with Instagram, Facebook, and Google
  • No contracts to lock you in
  • Mobile app works on iOS and Android devices

Cons:

  • Google Calendar sync costs extra with paid plans
  • Booking pages have limited customization options
  • Square's payment processing is mandatory
  • Support by phone only during business hours
  • Standard reporting includes simple analytics

Square Appointments Pricing

Square keeps pricing simple with three tiers:

  • Free: USD 0/month for solo professionals (single location)
  • Plus: USD 29/month per location
  • Premium: USD 69/month per location

Payment processing starts at 2.5% + 10¢ for in-person transactions. The free version means endless calendars and schedules built just for you.

Square Appointments Is Best For

Square Appointments works perfectly for small wellness businesses at their start. Solo practitioners like massage therapists or estheticians can use the free version to handle simple scheduling at no cost.

The Plus plan fits growing salons that need waitlist management and cancellation protection for multiple staff members. Larger operations can use the Premium plan to manage various rooms and complex scheduling needs.

Small salons will appreciate Square's straightforward approach when they need everything in one place. Appointments and payments now flow together effortlessly.

3.Mindbody

Twenty-two years old, Mindbody stands as a heavyweight contender in the salon software arena. Thousands of wellness businesses run on this platform's full management system. Plus, it connects salon owners to millions of potential clients through its online market.

Mindbody Key Features

Mindbody's platform goes beyond simple appointment scheduling:

  • Online booking through website widgets and the Mindbody app, downloaded 5 times every minute
  • Multi-location management with corporate-level controls and unlimited scalability
  • Branded mobile app option accessible on iOS and Android without development hassles
  • Marketplace exposure gives access to 2.8 million active users
  • Marketing automation to target client campaigns and promotions
  • Client relationship management with detailed profiles and history tracking

The system provides financial support through Mindbody Capital. Businesses can receive cash advances based on their performance without minimum payments or ongoing interest.

Mindbody Pros And Cons

Pros:

  • A vast marketplace that brings new clients
  • No user limits (unlimited staff members per location)
  • Integration with 90+ third-party services
  • Complete features to grow your business
  • 24/7 online support access

Cons:

  • Small businesses face a steep learning curve
  • You need a 12-month minimum contract
  • Support hours are limited (stateside support only for higher-tier plans)
  • Prices run higher than those of competitors

Mindbody Pricing

Mindbody's pricing comes in four tiers:

  • Starter: USD 139/month (simple features)
  • Accelerate: USD 289/month (adds marketing tools)
  • Ultimate: USD 469/month (most popular plan)
  • Ultimate Plus: USD 599/month (has a custom mobile app)

Each plan requires a 12-month minimum commitment.

Mindbody Best For

Mindbody excels for established salons with growth ambitions. This platform clicks when your business pairs its everyday services with solid educational content.

Multi-location operations needing centralized control will find this platform valuable.

Salons looking to attract new clients through the Mindbody marketplace see great results here.

Companies prepared to invest in comprehensive software solutions, including learning, will find this helpful. Salons that need to monetize classes alongside their services will discover unique capabilities for in-person, online, and livestreaming channels.

4.Boulevard

Boulevard has grown into a leading platform for high-end salons since its launch in 2016.

The salon booking software has earned recognition as the "#1 client experience platform" for appointment-based self-care businesses.

Boulevard Key Features

The platform's notable features are:

  • Precision Scheduling™ technology uses AI to fill calendar gaps efficiently
  • Membership programs help predict revenue and keep customers coming back
  • Client profiles let you tag VIPs and loyal clients
  • Customizable reports give detailed business insights
  • Two-way texting and caller ID come as add-ons
  • Three membership types: Voucher, Account Credit, and Unlimited

Boulevard Pros And Cons

Pros:

  • The user-friendly interface makes training and daily use simple
  • Online booking system delivers great results
  • Client data helps improve retention and boost sales
  • Connects well with many third-party apps
  • Front Desk view shows quick operational updates

Cons:

  • Plans cost more than most competitors
  • Professional mobile app needs work and gets poor reviews
  • Setting up staff services takes too much time
  • Optional Offset feature might raise concerns
  • Few options for third-party POS card readers

Boulevard Pricing

Boulevard's three main tiers are:

  • Essentials: USD 176.00/month per location (up to 5 professionals)
  • Premier: USD 293.00/month per location (unlimited professionals)
  • Prestige: USD 410.00/month per location (has Forms add-on)[352]

Add-ons cost between USD 25.00 for text marketing and USD 65.00 for forms.

Boulevard best for

Luxury salons that appreciate modern design and a smooth user experience will love Boulevard. Our system is perfect for established businesses, those open for six years or more, that house many service pros under one roof. Salons focused on membership programs will find Boulevard's premium features justify the higher price tag.

5.Connecteam

Connecteam delivers an all-in-one salon management software that makes daily operations smooth through mobile-first technology. Over 130,000 companies now rely on this platform. They trust it to help them run their teams smoothly.

Connecteam Key Features

The platform offers powerful tools that make salon management simple:

  • Smart staff scheduling with an AI auto-scheduler that assigns shifts based on qualifications and availability
  • Wix Booking integration that syncs appointments between platforms
  • Digital forms and checklists to handle client intake and feedback
  • Time tracking with GPS verification that ensures accurate payroll
  • In-app chat that enables quick team communication

Connecteam Pros And Cons

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Small teams under 10 users get a free-for-life plan
  • Customer support stands out
  • A single platform eliminates multiple software needs

Cons:

  • The platform requires an internet connection
  • Additional integrations under development

Connecteam Pricing

  • Free-for-life plan supports up to 10 users
  • Premium plans begin at USD 29.00/month for 30 users
  • Try free for 14 days without a credit card

Connecteam Best For

Salon businesses that need staff management and appointment scheduling will find Connecteam valuable. Juggling several business services just got easier.

This platform puts you in charge of your supplies, connects your team instantly, and lets you follow every single job step-by-step.

Final Words

Selecting the best salon booking software depends on your business size, budget, and long-term goals. Some platforms focus on simplicity and affordability for solo professionals, while others offer advanced features for managing multiple locations and larger teams.

Capabilities such as automated reminders, integrated payment systems, and marketing tools can save hours of administrative work and help attract new clients.

By choosing a platform that aligns with your operational needs, you can streamline the booking process, improve client satisfaction, and increase profitability.

The right system will handle the details behind the scenes while you concentrate on delivering great services and growing your salon.

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