Phorest vs SalonBiz (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Phorest and SalonBiz share a 1.8 GPA, neither has a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on whether you care more about value for money, where Phorest grades higher, or features, where SalonBiz does.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
SalonBiz
Salon software for commission-based teams, with Aveda integration
From $160/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 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
| 1.8GPAPhorestWeak | 1.8GPASalonBizWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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 on record, so you pay before you use it. | FNo free plan and no trial on the listing, so you pay from day one. |
| 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. | 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. A salon has to set up its calendar, services and card reader first. | CNo store rating on record, and a commission and inventory system for a multi-stylist salon takes setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, with four integrations listed. No open API is named. | 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 | salon software with built-in texting | 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: Phorest and SalonBiz. How we grade
Where they differ
- Phorest also covers sMS marketing and review collection.
- SalonBiz also covers email campaigns, shift scheduling and inventory.
In commonWebiOSReportsAppointment booking
At a glance
| Phorest | 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 | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Phorest | SalonBiz, Inc |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | salonbizsoftware.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.
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
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.
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
Phorest
Pricing could not be confirmed. See phorest.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, Phorest or SalonBiz?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Phorest 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, Phorest or SalonBiz?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Phorest nor SalonBiz has a free plan.
Which platforms do Phorest and SalonBiz run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Phorest lists macOS, Windows and Android apps. 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
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.