Updated June 11, 2026
Salon Booking Software Pricing Compared (2026)
Salon booking app pricing compared — monthly fees, free tiers, and payment processing for Fresha, Booksy, Square, Mindbody, and more.
Salon owners compare headline prices and still get surprised by the invoice. Booking software uses three pricing models — free + transaction fees, flat monthly subscription, and enterprise tiers. Here’s how they stack up in 2026.
Pricing as of June 2026 — verify on official sites before signing up.
Hub: best booking software for salons · free options.
Full pricing comparison table
Feature comparison
Based on publicly listed product features as of June 2026.
| Feature | Fresha | Booksy | Square Appointments | SimplyBook.me | Acuity Scheduling | Mindbody | Setmore | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ~$16/mo Squarespace company — verify current plans | ~$129/mo Enterprise-leaning — verify for your market | Free Pro plans ~$5–12/mo — verify on setmore.com | ~$25/mo US-focused — verify availability in your region |
| 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 | Acuity Scheduling | Mindbody | Setmore | Vagaro |
Pricing models explained
Model A: Free or low software + payment processing
Square (free individual plan), Setmore (free tier with limits) — minimal software line item; you pay processing and upgrades.
Fresha uses paid subscriptions (~$15–20/mo per seat) plus processing — not Model A, but often cheaper per staff than Booksy.
Watch for: processing % on every card payment; Fresha marketplace commission on new discovery clients.
Model B: Monthly subscription
Booksy ($30/mo), Vagaro ($25/mo), Acuity ($16/mo), SimplyBook.me ($10/mo) — predictable cost, pay even in slow months.
Watch for: per-staff add-ons; SMS fees; annual contracts.
Model C: Enterprise
Mindbody (~$129/mo+) — classes, memberships, multi-location reporting.
Watch for: onboarding fees; modules you don’t need; annual minimums.
Quick price reference
| Tool | Starting price | Free tier? |
|---|---|---|
| Fresha | ~$14.95–19.95/mo + fees | No |
| Booksy | ~$29.99/mo | No |
| Square Appointments | Free | Yes (individual) |
| SimplyBook.me | ~$9.90/mo | Limited free |
| Acuity | ~$16/mo | No |
| Mindbody | ~$129/mo | No |
| Setmore | Free | Yes |
| Vagaro | ~$25/mo | No |
How to estimate YOUR cost
Solo stylist, 40 clients/mo, $60 average ticket:
- Square free + 2.6% processing ≈ $62/mo in fees, $0 software
- Booksy $30/mo + processing ≈ $30 + fees
4-chair salon, $25k/mo card revenue:
- Fresha: 0 software + processing % (compare rate to Booksy $30 + lower %)
- Mindbody $129/mo only makes sense if you use class/membership modules
Run the math for your volume — don’t copy another salon’s pick.
Cheapest by scenario
| Scenario | Cheapest realistic pick |
|---|---|
| Solo, side hustle | Setmore or Square |
| Multi-chair, hate monthly bills | Fresha |
| Barber, marketing focus | Booksy (if ROI on fills) |
| Budget branded page | SimplyBook.me |
| Spa enterprise US | Vagaro or Mindbody |
Choosing framework: how to choose salon booking software.
Frequently asked questions
How much does salon booking software cost per month?
From $0 on free tiers (Square, Setmore) to ~$15–20/mo for Fresha subscriptions to $129+/mo for Mindbody. Most multi-chair salons land between $0–40/mo effective cost depending on payment volume.
Is Fresha really free?
No. Fresha uses tiered subscriptions (~$19.95/mo Individual, ~$14.95/mo per team member in many US markets) plus payment processing and optional marketplace commission on new clients. Verify fresha.com/pricing.
Which salon booking app is cheapest?
For solos: Square and Setmore free tiers. For multi-staff salons: Fresha's per-staff subscription model (~$14.95/mo per member) often beats paying per-seat subscriptions.
Why is Mindbody so expensive?
Mindbody targets enterprise wellness with classes, memberships, and multi-location tools — features small salons subsidize but never use.
Subscription vs payment fees — which is cheaper?
High-volume salons may prefer flat subscriptions (Booksy) with predictable bills. Solos often prefer Square's free plan. Multi-staff salons should compare Fresha's per-seat subscription vs Booksy's flat staff fees plus processing on both.