Alternatives · Salon & Studio
Salonist alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Salonist alternative for most people is Fresha (3.0 GPA), second in our ranking of salon, spa and studio booking apps.
Salonist compared with 6 alternatives: Fresha, Vagaro, Zenoti, Phorest, Booksy and 1 more.
Salonist has a free plan. Paid plans start at $59 per month, billed monthly (Essential). None of the alternatives has a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Salonist sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalonistThis tool | Free plan · from $59/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Fresha | Free trial · from $19.95/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Vagaro | Free trial · from $30/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Zenoti | Paid | No | Web, iOS, Android |
| Phorest | Paid | No | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Booksy | Free trial · from $29.99/mo | Trial only | Web, iOS, Android |
| Zolmi | Free trial · from $15/mo | Trial only | Web |
Price against what you get
Salonist starts at $59 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 4 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Fresha.
Vagaro, Booksy and Zolmi start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Salonist
Fresha
Salon and spa booking with a consumer marketplace for new clients
- Fresha starts at $19.95 per month for one bookable team member (Independent).
- Fresha has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Salonist.
- Fresha also covers review collection.
- Fresha does not cover time clock, sMS marketing and whatsApp messaging, which Salonist does.
Suits: Salons, barbers and spas that want low subscription costs
Vagaro
Booking, payments and marketing for salons, spas and studios
- Vagaro starts at $30 per month for 1 calendar, after $23.99 a month for the first 6 months.
- Vagaro has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Salonist.
- Vagaro also covers forms, payroll and class booking.
- Vagaro does not cover shift scheduling, time clock, sMS marketing and whatsApp messaging, which Salonist does.
Suits: Salons, spas and barbers that want a low entry price
Zenoti
Booking, POS and operations software for salons, spas and gyms
- Zenoti has no free plan, unlike Salonist.
- Zenoti also covers reports and class booking.
- Zenoti does not cover email campaigns, shift scheduling, time clock, inventory, sMS marketing and whatsApp messaging, which Salonist does.
Suits: Multi-location salon, spa and medspa groups and franchises
Phorest
Salon and medspa software for booking, POS and marketing
- Phorest has no free plan, unlike Salonist.
- Phorest also lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Phorest also covers reports and review collection.
- Phorest does not cover email campaigns, shift scheduling, time clock, inventory and whatsApp messaging, which Salonist does.
Suits: Salons and medspas with three or more staff
Booksy
Booking app and marketplace for barbers, salons and beauty pros
- Booksy starts at $29.99 per month, plus $20 per extra team member.
- Booksy has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Salonist.
- Booksy also covers forms.
- Booksy does not cover shift scheduling, time clock, inventory and whatsApp messaging, which Salonist does.
Suits: Barbers and independent beauty pros who run their book from a phone
Zolmi
Salon booking and checkout priced per staff member, no commissions
- Zolmi starts at $15 per month for the first staff member, billed annually ($20 billed monthly).
- Zolmi has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Salonist.
- Zolmi lists no iOS and Android apps, which Salonist has.
- Zolmi also covers reports and review collection.
- Zolmi does not cover email campaigns, shift scheduling, time clock and whatsApp messaging, which Salonist does.
Suits: Independent US salons that want to avoid booking commissions
Limits worth knowing in Salonist
- A brand-new client who finds you through the Salonist marketplace costs 15% of that first visit, once; card fees are separate.
- The free listing stops at 50 appointments a month and omits point of sale and reminders.
- Optional add-ons cost extra: Digital Wallet Cards from $39 a month, and the AI Receptionist is quoted by conversation volume.
- Annual billing is shown as 10 times the monthly price ($590, $1,090, $1,790); groups of several locations get custom pricing.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Salonist?
The alternatives to Salonist in this directory are Fresha, Vagaro, Zenoti, Phorest, Booksy and Zolmi. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Salonist.
Is there a free alternative to Salonist?
None of the alternatives listed here has a free plan. Fresha, Vagaro, Booksy and Zolmi offer a free trial.
Which Salonist alternatives work on Windows?
The Salonist listing does not include a Windows app. Phorest lists one.
Which Salonist alternatives work on macOS?
The Salonist listing does not include a macOS app. Phorest lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 24, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.