Phorest vs Rosy Salon Software (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Rosy Salon Software grades higher than Phorest: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Rosy Salon Software grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Rosy Salon Software
Cloud salon and spa scheduling, point of sale and retail stock
Free trial · from $44/mo
Which one is for you
Pick Phorest if
- Fits if you run a salon or medspa with three or more staff and want booking and client texts in one place
- Works for a salon that wants a desktop app at the front desk and a phone app for staff
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a posted price, as all four tiers are quote only
- Pricey if you send many texts, because Starter charges 5 cents each and the higher tiers cap free texts at 1,000, 5,000 and 27,000
- Watch out: two-way SMS, memberships and the branded app are included only at Elite
- Not for you if you work alone, as the pricing page says Starter is for 3 or more staff
Pick Rosy Salon Software if
- Fits if you run a salon or spa with one or a few stylists
- Works for shops that also sell retail products and want stock tracked
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you add stylists, as the price follows the number of providers with their own calendar
- Watch out: text messaging, email marketing and client images are Premium extras with no price shown
- Skip it if you want a native phone app, as only a mobile web app is mentioned
- Tight if you want a free start, as only a 14-day trial is listed
How we grade them
| 1.8GPAPhorestWeak | 2.0GPARosy Salon SoftwareFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published. All four tiers are quote only, so cost cannot be compared with the $49.90 middle of the category. | C$44 a month for 1 provider per the listing, between the cheaper quarter and the middle of the category. The price rises with providers, and the page showed $29 with a RosyPay discount. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial on record, so you pay before you use it. | D14-day free trial, with card terms not stated. No free plan. |
| Features | CCalendar, point of sale, payments, automated SMS and email and a desktop app. Two-way SMS, memberships and the branded app are paid add-ons below Elite, which is a gap in the lower tiers. | CAppointment book, online booking, POS, retail inventory and reports. Text messaging, email marketing and client images are optional Premium features. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A salon has to set up its calendar, services and card reader first. | CNo store rating on record. A salon builds its services, staff calendars and stock list before it works. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, with four integrations listed. No open API is named. | BWeb app with Reserve with Google, Facebook, RosyPay and Tippy. A mobile web app is mentioned, but no downloadable apps. |
| Best for | salon software with built-in texting | small salons wanting a browser scheduler, till and stock |
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: Phorest and Rosy Salon Software. How we grade
Where they differ
- Phorest also covers review collection.
- Rosy Salon Software also covers email campaigns and inventory.
In commonWebReportsAppointment bookingSMS marketing
At a glance
| Phorest | Rosy Salon Software | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | Not published | $44 per month for 1 service provider |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Phorest | SalonRunner Software, LLC |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | rosysalonsoftware.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Phorest
- No prices are published: all four tiers are quote only, so cost cannot be compared up front.
- SMS allowances differ by tier: 1,000, 5,000 and 27,000 free a month on Grow, Complete Advantage and Elite, and 5 cents each on Starter.
- Two-way SMS, memberships and the branded app are included only at Elite; elsewhere they are paid add-ons.
- The pricing page says Starter is for salons and medspas with 3 or more staff.
Rosy Salon Software
- The price follows the number of providers with their own calendar; only the "Just Me" figure is shown without choosing a tier.
- Text messaging, automated and mass email marketing and client images are listed as optional Premium features, with no price shown on the pricing page.
- A browser-based product; the site mentions a mobile web app but no downloadable iOS or Android app.
Key features
Phorest
- Calendar and online booking
- An appointment calendar with a waiting list, 24/7 online booking, booking deposits, no-show charges and rooms or equipment linked to services.
- Point of sale and payments
- Appointment and retail checkout, stock management, cardless checkout and PhorestPay card payments with cashless tipping.
- Automated SMS and email
- Reminders, review requests and marketing messages. Higher tiers include a monthly SMS allowance; Starter pays 5 cents per SMS.
- Desktop and PhorestGo apps
- A Windows and macOS desktop app plus the PhorestGo mobile app for staff, with a manager view on the Grow tier and above.
- Branded client app
- An optional salon-branded iOS and Android app for booking and rebooking, included in the Elite tier and optional on lower tiers.
- AI tools
- An AI client cheat sheet that summarizes client history before a visit, and a Front Desk AI add-on for everyday client conversations.
Rosy Salon Software
- Appointment book
- Staff book clients in a few clicks, set up several services in one visit, see client history and send reminders by email.
- Online client scheduling
- Clients book from the salon's website or business Facebook page, and open slots can be offered through Reserve with Google.
- Point of sale
- Checkout with cash drawer, gift cards and card payments. RosyPay is the built-in card processing, provided by Fullsteam Operations in the US.
- Retail inventory
- Running-low alerts, product reservations and mass updates keep retail and back-bar stock counted against sales.
- Reports
- A reporting engine with 60+ reports and filters, exportable to several formats, including reports for accounting and payroll.
- Premium marketing features
- Optional extras: automated email marketing, mass email, enhanced text reminders and confirmations, client images and an image library.
Plans
Phorest
Pricing could not be confirmed. See phorest.com.
Rosy Salon Software
Standard subscription$44
per month and up, for 1 provider with their own calendar
Priced by how many employees need a calendar; the page shows $44 a month for "Just Me" and a higher rate as providers are added.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Phorest or Rosy Salon Software?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Phorest has no price we could confirm, and Rosy Salon Software starts at $44 per month for 1 service provider.
Which has a free plan, Phorest or Rosy Salon Software?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Phorest nor Rosy Salon Software has a free plan. Rosy Salon Software has a free trial.
Which platforms do Phorest and Rosy Salon Software run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Phorest lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
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.