What is the best free booking software for salons?

Square Appointments and Setmore offer genuine free tiers for solos. Fresha uses paid subscriptions (~$14.95–$19.95/mo in many markets) plus processing. See our free salon booking comparison.

Is Fresha really free for salons?

No. Fresha moved to tiered subscriptions plus payment processing and optional marketplace fees. It can still be cost-competitive vs Booksy per staff — but it is not a free platform. Verify fresha.com/pricing.

Can I switch booking systems later?

Yes, but migrating client lists and recurring appointments takes time. Pick a tool that exports customer data early.

Do I need a separate website?

Most tools provide booking pages you link from Instagram or Google Business Profile. A full website helps SEO but is not required on day one.

Which software works best in Europe?

Fresha, Booksy, and SimplyBook.me serve EU markets — confirm payment methods and pricing for your country before committing.

Best Booking Software for Salons (2026)

Choosing salon booking software in 2026 means balancing three things: monthly cost, how clients actually book (app, Instagram, Google), and whether payments and no-show protection are built in. This guide compares five tools salon owners search for most often.

Pricing as of June 2026 — verify on official sites before signing up.

Comparison table

Feature comparison

Based on publicly listed product features as of June 2026.

Feature	Fresha	Booksy	Square Appointments	SimplyBook.me	Mindbody
Starting price	From ~$14.95/mo Team plan per member + payment fees; marketplace commission on new clients — verify fresha.com	~$29.99/mo ~$29.99/mo for the first user, plus ~$20/mo per additional staff member.	Free Free plan available; payment processing fees apply	~$9.90/mo Free limited plan available — verify on simplybook.me	~$129/mo Enterprise-leaning — verify for your market
Online booking	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Deposits / no-show protection	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Client mobile app	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Multi-staff calendars	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Marketing tools	✓	✓	—	—	✓
Integrated payments	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Free tier available	—	—	✓	✓	—
Get started	Fresha	Booksy	Square Appointments	SimplyBook.me	Mindbody

Fresha

Fresha is popular with hair salons and multi-chair studios for salon-native booking at per-staff subscription pricing (~$19.95/mo solo, ~$14.95/mo per team member in many markets) plus payment processing and optional marketplace fees on new clients.

Pros: Competitive per-seat pricing vs Booksy, strong mobile experience, marketplace can bring new clients, deposits and card on file.

Cons: You pay on transactions; less control than a fully custom website; marketplace dependence varies by city.

Best for: Salons with several stylists that want an all-in-one booking + payments stack without a fixed SaaS bill.

View Fresha for business

Booksy

Booksy charges a monthly subscription (pricing varies by region) but invests heavily in client-facing apps, reminders, and marketing tools barbers and hair salons use daily.

Pros: Strong mobile app, marketing features, popular with barbers, good no-show tooling on paid plans.

Cons: Monthly cost from day one; can feel US-centric in some European markets.

Best for: Barber shops, hair salons, and businesses where Instagram-driven rebooking matters.

View Booksy for business

Square Appointments

Square fits salons already using Square POS or owners who want a simple free tier for solo or small teams.

Pros: Free plan for individuals, integrates with Square payments, straightforward setup.

Cons: Fewer salon-specific marketing features than Booksy or Fresha; advanced multi-location features cost more.

Best for: Small US/EU salons, solo stylists, or anyone already on Square hardware.

View Square Appointments

SimplyBook.me

SimplyBook.me is a flexible, affordable booking platform used across many industries, including beauty.

Pros: Lower entry price, customizable booking pages, free limited tier available.

Cons: Interface less polished than salon-first apps; some features require higher tiers.

Best for: Budget-conscious salons that want control over branding and don’t need a marketplace.

View SimplyBook.me

Mindbody

Mindbody is the enterprise end of this list — full studio management, classes, and memberships.

Pros: Deep feature set, strong for spa + fitness hybrids, established brand.

Cons: Expensive and complex for a typical 2–6 chair salon; long setup time.

Best for: Larger studios, spa resorts, or businesses mixing appointments with classes.

View Mindbody

Which should you choose?

Choose Fresha if you want salon-first multi-staff booking and will run payments (and optionally marketplace) through the platform.
Choose Booksy if you prioritize client marketing, reminders, and a barber/hair-focused ecosystem.
Choose Square if you’re solo or tiny team and may already use Square for payments.
Choose SimplyBook.me if budget is tight and you want a customizable booking page.
Choose Mindbody if you’re beyond a small salon — multiple locations, classes, or spa packages.

For free-tier options, see our free salon booking software guide. For mixed beauty services (nails, lashes, spa), see appointment scheduling for beauty businesses.