Phorest vs SalonTarget (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Phorest grades higher than SalonTarget: 1.8 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Phorest grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
SalonTarget
Salon management with a single priced-by-employee Professional plan
Paid
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 SalonTarget if
- Fits if you run one hair or nail salon and are happy to phone for a quote
- Works for booth-renters and small teams priced by headcount
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a posted price, as you have to call
- Tight if you need two-way texting or text marketing, as those are add-ons billed monthly
- Not for you if you want a phone app, as none is mentioned
- Skip it if you run several locations, as that's an add-on too
- Watch out: there's only one Professional plan, so no cheaper tier
How we grade them
| 1.8GPAPhorestWeak | 1.6GPASalonTargetWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CNo price is published; the page says to call and that the price follows the number of employees. |
| 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 shown on the listing, so nothing here is free. |
| 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. | CBooking, cancellation list, client records, inventory and payments. But texting, remote receptionist and multi-location are separate paid add-ons. |
| 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 inventory and add-ons means setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, with four integrations listed. No open API is named. | CWeb only. The site names no iOS or Android app, and the links are to social and review sites. |
| Best for | salon software with built-in texting | salons that will call for a quote |
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 SalonTarget. How we grade
Where they differ
- SalonTarget also covers email campaigns and inventory.
In commonWebReportsAppointment bookingSMS marketingReview collection
At a glance
| Phorest | SalonTarget | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Phorest | SalonTarget, INC. |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| 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.
SalonTarget
- No prices are published: the pricing page says to call, with the price based on the number of employees.
- Two-way texting, employee alerts, remote receptionist, text marketing and multi-location support are separate add-ons, billed monthly.
- The site mentions no mobile app for iOS or Android.
- The page lists a single Professional plan beside custom feature sets, so there is no lower tier.
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.
SalonTarget
- Booking and scheduling
- Multi-service and multi-staff appointments, processing and gap time, room and resource scheduling and a customizable online booking page.
- Auto-fill cancellation list
- Cancelled slots are offered to clients on a list, with text, email and voice confirmations and same-day text reminders.
- Client management
- A client dashboard, merge tools, status labels from first-time to lost, memberships, packages, series and on-account transactions.
- Inventory control
- Product dashboards, purchase orders with receiving and transfers, barcode scanner support and product-specific promotions.
- Point of sale and payments
- Tip management with separate tips per provider, customizable receipts, eGift cards and card on file or pre-authorization.
- Marketing add-ons
- Targeted email campaigns and a loyalty program are listed; two-way texting, remote receptionist and text marketing are monthly add-ons.
Plans
Phorest
Pricing could not be confirmed. See phorest.com.
SalonTarget
Pricing could not be confirmed. See salontarget.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Phorest or SalonTarget?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Phorest has no price we could confirm, and SalonTarget has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Phorest or SalonTarget?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Phorest nor SalonTarget has a free plan.
Which platforms do Phorest and SalonTarget 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.