Phorest vs Salonist (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Salonist grades higher than Phorest: 2.4 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
Salonist grades higher on the free plan and features. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Salonist
Salon and spa management with unlimited staff on every plan
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 Salonist if
- Fits if you have a big or changing team and don't want to pay per stylist
- Works for salons that want to test the marketplace listing before paying
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free, as the listing caps at 50 appointments a month and has no point of sale or reminders
- Watch out: a new client from the marketplace costs 15% of that first visit
- Pricey if you need loyalty, SMS or inventory, which start on Advance at $109 a month
- Watch out: Digital Wallet Cards from $39 a month and the AI Receptionist are separate add-ons
- Skip it if you run several branches, as multi-branch reporting is on Expert at $179 a month
How we grade them
| 1.8GPAPhorestWeak | 2.4GPASalonistFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CEssential is $59 a month and unlimited staff, so the price doesn't climb with headcount. That sits between the category's middle of $49 and its dearer quarter at $99. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial on record, so you pay before you use it. | CA free listing with online booking and a calendar, capped at 50 appointments a month, plus a 7-day trial with no card. You'll hit the cap fast. |
| 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. | BBooking, point of sale, memberships, commissions, gift cards, campaigns and inventory all appear across the tiers. Some pieces sit on dearer plans, but the core salon job is covered. |
| 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 salon system with point of sale and inventory means setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, with four integrations listed. No open API is named. | BWeb plus iPhone and Android, with QuickBooks, Stripe, Mailchimp, WhatsApp and Shopify links. No computer app. |
| Best for | salon software with built-in texting | salons that want unlimited staff on every plan |
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 Salonist. How we grade
Where they differ
- Phorest also covers reports and review collection.
- Salonist also covers email campaigns, shift scheduling, time clock, inventory and whatsApp messaging.
At a glance
| Phorest | Salonist | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan |
| Starts at | Not published | $59 per month, billed monthly (Essential) |
| Free plan | None | Marketplace Listing: online booking, calendar, shift management and staff reports for up to 50 appointments a month. |
| Free trial | None listed | 7-day free trial, no credit card required |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Phorest | Salonist |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | salonist.io |
| 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.
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.
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.
Salonist
- Calendar and online booking
- Drag-and-drop calendar and room calendars, with booking from the salon's own link, website widget, Instagram and Google.
- Point of sale
- Desk and mobile checkout with tips and split payments, plus SalonistPay for card processing.
- Memberships, packages and gift cards
- Subscriptions, e-wallet balances, packages and gift cards; gift cards and membership subscriptions start at Advance.
- Campaigns and reminders
- WhatsApp, SMS and email reminders and campaigns; the pricing page lists unlimited notifications from the Advance plan.
- Retail, inventory and staff data
- Stock, purchase orders and service-usage tracking, with commissions, timesheets and login permissions.
- Client booking app
- A client-facing booking app for iOS and Android, and a marketplace where new clients can find the salon.
Plans
Phorest
Pricing could not be confirmed. See phorest.com.
Salonist
Marketplace Listing$0
Up to 50 appointments a month, online booking, calendar, staff shifts and a free listing on the Salonist marketplace.
Essential$59
per month, billed monthly, with unlimited staff
Adds point of sale, memberships and e-wallet, commissions, tips, retail products, service reminders and phone support.
Advance$109
per month, billed monthly, with unlimited staff
Adds loyalty points, gift cards, SMS, email and WhatsApp campaigns, inventory, timesheets and one-on-one onboarding.
Expert$179
per month, billed monthly, with unlimited staff
Adds QuickBooks, multi-branch reporting, a dedicated account manager, forms, waitlists and AI marketing automation.
Ways to pay less
Phorest
No public discounts listed.
Salonist
- Annual discount
Pay yearly: $590, $1,090 or $1,790
The pricing page's Annual toggle lists Essential at $590, Advance at $1,090 and Expert at $1,790 a year, against $59, $109 and $179 monthly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Phorest or Salonist?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Phorest has no price we could confirm, and Salonist starts at $59 per month, billed monthly (Essential).
Which has a free plan, Phorest or Salonist?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Salonist has a free plan. Phorest does not.
Which platforms do Phorest and Salonist run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Phorest lists macOS and Windows apps. Both list a web app and iOS and Android apps. 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.