EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) vs SalonBiz (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) grades higher than SalonBiz: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software)
Salon, spa and barber booking software now sold as EnvisionNow
Paid
SalonBiz
Salon software for commission-based teams, with Aveda integration
From $160/mo
Which one is for you
Pick EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) if
- Fits if you run a salon, spa or barbershop and want a waitlist and calendar sync
- Works for owners who want their appointments in Google Calendar or Outlook
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to compare prices, as none are shown
- Watch out: Standard is 1 user, then $20 each added up to 5
- Tight if you send many texts: allowances are 500, 5,000 and 10,000 a month by plan
- Watch out: the vendor is now a PatientNow brand, so check what changed
- Skip it if you want a trial, as none is listed
Pick SalonBiz if
- Fits if you run 2 or more stylists on commission and want payroll in the same system
- Works for Aveda and Bumble and Bumble salons, where rewards and ordering are built in
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you work alone, as plans are sized for teams of 2 or more providers
- Pricey if you add it up: from $160 a month, and the plan prices are quotes
- Watch out: the rate moves with the payment processor, as using SalonBiz Payments takes $25 to $45 a month off
- Watch out: no Android app is mentioned on the site
- Tight if you want a free trial, as none is listed
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAEnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software)Fair | 1.8GPASalonBizWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo plan price is shown, only "pricing tailored to your practice". Standard includes 1 user and charges $20 for each extra up to 5. | DPlans are advertised from $160 a month, by number of providers, with every tier a quote. The dearest tenth of the category starts at $149. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial shown on the listing, so nothing here is free. | FNo free plan and no trial on the listing, so you pay from day one. |
| Features | BOnline booking, waitlist, calendar sync, client notes, payments, reviews and marketing. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core job. | BCalendar, online booking, deposits, commission payroll, inventory, retail, gift cards, memberships and marketing are all in. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core salon job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and tiers by size mean choosing and setting up. | CNo store rating on record, and a commission and inventory system for a multi-stylist salon takes setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb plus iOS and Android, with QuickBooks, Google Calendar, Outlook, WooCommerce and Canva links. No computer app. | BWeb, an iPad app, a stylist app and the Pocket Salon client app, plus Aveda, QuickBooks and DemandForce links. No Android app is mentioned, and no computer app. |
| Best for | salons, spas and barbers on a plan by size | commission-paying salons, especially Aveda ones |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) and SalonBiz. How we grade
Where they differ
- EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) also covers sMS marketing and review collection.
- SalonBiz also covers shift scheduling.
In commonWebiOSReportsEmail campaignsInventoryAppointment booking
At a glance
| EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) | SalonBiz | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | $160 per month and up, by number of service providers |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | PatientNow | SalonBiz, Inc |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | salonbizsoftware.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software)
- The pricing page cards say "Pricing tailored to your practice" with no figures, so no plan prices are recorded here.
- Standard includes 1 user and charges $20 for each added user up to 5 seats.
- Included allowances: 500, 5,000 and 10,000 SMS notifications a month on Standard, Amplify and Ultimate.
- The envisionsalon.com address now redirects to envisionnow.com, a PatientNow brand.
SalonBiz
- No plan price is published beyond "plans starting at $160/month"; each plan is a request for a quote.
- Priced by service providers and aimed at teams of 2 or more, so it does not target solo practitioners.
- Using SalonBiz Payments lowers the subscription by $25 (Basic), $35 (Essential) or $45 (Premium) a month, so the rate depends on the processor chosen.
- The apps named on the site are an iPad app and Pocket Salon; no Android app is mentioned.
Key features
EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software)
- Online booking and waitlist
- Branded 24/7 booking with required deposits, tiered pricing by stylist, and a waitlist that fills cancelled slots.
- Calendar sync
- The calendar syncs with Google, Outlook or iPhone calendars and tracks team availability and resources.
- Marketing and reviews
- Automated SMS and email campaigns with templates and AI assistance, review requests and Canva for before-and-after photos.
- Client notes and payments
- Client preferences, formulas and photos are stored with each client, with integrated payments, Tippy tipping and QuickBooks.
- Mobile apps
- A custom client app for Android and iOS handles booking, loyalty and push notifications, and there is an employee app.
- Plans by size
- Standard, Amplify and Ultimate allow 1, 25 and unlimited users, with SMS and campaign email allowances that rise by tier.
SalonBiz
- Scheduling and booking
- Drag-and-drop calendar, 24/7 online booking, waitlist, automated confirmations, appointment deposits and digital consultation forms.
- Commission payroll and reporting
- Stylist performance, retail sales per ticket, commission calculations and client retention across locations, in consolidated or per-site views.
- Inventory and retail
- Stock tracking from any device, automated reorder reminders, retail reporting and ordering built for Aveda and Bumble and Bumble.
- Payments and billing
- Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless, with card on file, prepayments, digital gift cards and recurring membership billing.
- Marketing and retention
- Email campaigns, loyalty programs, Aveda Plus Rewards, guest profiles and cross-location booking.
- Apps
- A stylist app, an iPad app and Pocket Salon, a free client app for rebooking and shopping; the page says apps cost nothing extra.
Plans
EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software)
Pricing could not be confirmed. See envisionnow.com.
SalonBiz
BasicCustom
2 to 5 service providers; quote on request. Plans are advertised from $160 a month.
EssentialCustom
6 to 12 service providers; quote on request. Every plan has the full feature set.
PremiumCustom
13 or more service providers; quote on request. Institute and enterprise pricing is separate.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) or SalonBiz?
As of Nov 13, 2026, EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) has no price we could confirm, and SalonBiz starts at $160 per month and up, by number of service providers.
Which has a free plan, EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) or SalonBiz?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) nor SalonBiz has a free plan.
Which platforms do EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) and SalonBiz run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) lists an Android app. Both list a web app and an iOS app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
- EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) vs Meevo
- EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) vs Zenoti
- EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) vs Phorest
- EnvisionNow (Envision Salon Software) vs Vagaro
- SalonBiz vs Rosy Salon Software
- SalonBiz vs Salon Iris (DaySmart Salon)
- SalonBiz vs Zenoti
- SalonBiz vs Meevo
- SalonBiz vs Phorest
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.