We make ShearCRM, so it's on this list. Every other entry uses each company's own published figures, linked below each entry. Prices change; check the source before you decide, and tell us if something is out of date.
Vagaro at a glance
- Price: $30/mo ($23.99 intro for 6 months)
- Card fees: 2.6% + 10¢ in person under $4k/mo; 2.29% + 19¢ + $10/mo above
- Payouts: 1–2 business days (instant payout 1.75%)
- Contract: Month-to-month, no cancellation fee
1. ShearCRM
Best for: salons, nail studios, lash bars, barbershops and spas of one to about twenty people who want booking, payments and payroll in one place.
- Price: $29, $59 or $99 a month ($24, $49 or $79 billed annually), flat per salon.
- Card fees: Interchange-plus or a cash discount program, through Cloud9 Payments.
- Payouts: Same or next business day, depending on batch time.
- Worth knowing: payroll with a time clock is on Growth; there's no consumer marketplace, so new clients come from your own website, Google and social links.
ShearCRM vs Vagaro, side by side
2. GlossGenius
Best for: solo artists and small teams who want a polished, simple app.
- Price: $28–$168/mo ($24–$148 billed annually)
- Card fees: 2.4% + 15¢ in person; 2.9% + 30¢ online invoices
- Payouts: Same-day free Mon–Thu (instant +1.8%)
- Strength: Polished design, easy setup and free same-day payouts Monday to Thursday.
- Trade-off: Flat-rate card pricing; team tools and payroll sit on higher plans or add-ons.
Sources: GlossGenius pricing (opens in a new tab) · GlossGenius rate comparison (opens in a new tab) · ShearCRM vs GlossGenius
3. StyleSeat
Best for: independent stylists who want marketplace exposure.
- Price: $35/mo
- Card fees: 2.5% + 30¢ Tap to Pay; 2.6% + 30¢ card on file
- Payouts: 1–2 business days (instant 1.8%)
- Strength: Client marketplace and AI social post tools.
- Trade-off: Clients pay a $2.35 booking fee, and new-client marketplace bookings carry a fee.
Sources: StyleSeat: How much does StyleSeat cost? (opens in a new tab) · StyleSeat payouts (opens in a new tab) · StyleSeat Terms for Professionals (opens in a new tab) · ShearCRM vs StyleSeat
4. Booksy
Best for: barbers and stylists who want marketplace discovery.
- Price: $29.99/mo + $20 per extra staff
- Card fees: 2.49% + 10¢ card reader; 2.69% + 30¢ mobile or keyed
- Payouts: Next business day (fast payout 1.5%)
- Strength: Strong consumer marketplace and mobile booking.
- Trade-off: Per-staff pricing adds up for teams, and there's no built-in payroll.
Sources: Booksy pricing (opens in a new tab) · Booksy features (opens in a new tab) · ShearCRM vs Booksy
5. Fresha
Best for: salons that want low per-member pricing and marketplace exposure.
- Price: $19.95/mo solo; $14.95 per team member/mo
- Card fees: 2.29% + 20¢ in person; 2.79% + 20¢ online
- Payouts: Next working day
- Strength: Low per-member pricing and a large client marketplace.
- Trade-off: A 20% fee on new clients from its marketplace, and per-member pricing for teams.
Sources: Fresha pricing (opens in a new tab) · Fresha: About surcharges (opens in a new tab) · Fresha: Automatic payouts (opens in a new tab) · ShearCRM vs Fresha
6. Mangomint
Best for: established salons and spas that want a premium experience.
- Price: $120/location + $10/user per month (from $130)
- Card fees: 2.45% + 15¢ in person; 2.90% + 30¢ virtual
- Payouts: Not published
- Strength: Excellent user experience and US-based support.
- Trade-off: Starts at $130 a month for one person; payroll and phone/texting are paid add-ons.
Sources: Mangomint pricing (opens in a new tab) · Mangomint pricing changes (2026) (opens in a new tab) · ShearCRM vs Mangomint
7. Square Appointments
Best for: businesses already using Square for everything.
- Price: Free, $49 or $149/mo per location
- Card fees: 2.4–2.6% + 15¢ in person by plan; 3.5% + 15¢ keyed or card on file
- Payouts: Next business day (instant 1.75%)
- Strength: Free plan and the familiar Square point of sale.
- Trade-off: A general appointments tool, not built specifically for salons.
Sources: Square Appointments pricing (opens in a new tab) · Square fees (help center) (opens in a new tab) · Square instant transfers (opens in a new tab) · Square surcharges (opens in a new tab) · ShearCRM vs Square Appointments
8. Zenoti
Best for: large multi-location chains and franchises.
- Price: Quote only
- Card fees: Not published
- Payouts: Not published
- Strength: Deep feature set for multi-location operators.
- Trade-off: No published pricing; built for chains more than single salons.
Sources: Zenoti pricing (opens in a new tab) · Zenoti Surcharges (help center) (opens in a new tab) · Zenoti Series D (Dec 2020) (opens in a new tab) · ShearCRM vs Zenoti
How to choose
- Price your real month: subscription, plus card fees on a typical month's sales, plus per-staff and marketplace fees.
- Decide on discovery: a marketplace can bring new clients but may charge for them; your own booking page keeps clients focused on you.
- Match your team: if you pay hourly or salaried staff, check for a time clock and payroll, not just commission reports.
- Ask about switching: how your clients, services and future appointments come across, and who helps.
More on what to look for in our salon booking software guide.
