SalonUltimate vs SalonBiz (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SalonBiz grades higher than SalonUltimate: 1.8 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
SalonBiz grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, 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.
SalonUltimate
Salon software for single shops, franchises and multi-location chains
SalonBiz
Salon software for commission-based teams, with Aveda integration
Which one is for you
Pick SalonUltimate if
- Fits if you run a franchise or a chain and want central management
- Works for salons already on Clover hardware
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you run one small salon: $159 a month
- Watch out: the about page says $69 for BookedBy on Clover while the pricing page shows $159 and $199
- Watch out: texts past the allowance cost $0.03 each
- Skip it if you need staff apps, as none are listed
- Tight if you want a trial, as none is listed and multi-store is sold through sales
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
| 1.6GPASalonUltimateWeak | 1.8GPASalonBizWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D$159 a month for a single store and $199 per location for multi-store, past the $149 where the category's dearest tenth begins. | 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 listed on the vendor pages, so nothing here is free. | FNo free plan and no trial on the listing, so you pay from day one. |
| Features | CAppointments, time clock, payroll setup, memberships, inventory and reports. But no staff app is listed, and a branded customer app is a custom build. | 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 franchise tools mean a heavy setup. | CNo store rating on record, and a commission and inventory system for a multi-stylist salon takes setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with Google Reserve, QuickBooks, Tippy and Clover links. No downloadable apps. | 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 chains and franchises | 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: SalonUltimate and SalonBiz. How we grade
Price against what you get
SalonUltimate starts at $69 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. SalonBiz starts at $160 a month and scores 2.7.
SalonBiz scores higher, and starts $91 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other salon, spa and studio booking apps on the chart, 21 score higher than SalonUltimate for less, and 6 score higher than SalonBiz for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- SalonUltimate also covers time clock and sMS marketing.
- SalonBiz also covers shift scheduling.
At a glance
| SalonUltimate | SalonBiz | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | $69 per location per month (BookedBy on Clover) | $160 per month and up, by number of service providers |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Made by | SalonUltimate | SalonBiz, Inc |
| Price read from | salonultimate.com | salonbizsoftware.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
SalonUltimate
- Text messages beyond the plan allowance cost $0.03 each.
- The $69 BookedBy on Clover figure appears on the about page, while the pricing page itself shows $159 and $199 and sends small businesses to BookedBy.
- Multi-Store and Enterprise are arranged through sales, and the page lists no free trial.
- The site lists no downloadable staff apps; a branded customer app is offered as a custom build.
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
SalonUltimate
- Appointments and online booking
- Appointment book with recurring bookings, online queuing with live wait times, a branded booking portal and Google Reserve.
- Check-in and check-out
- Customers check themselves in, and guided or self check-out is built to raise tips and rebookings.
- Employee scheduling and time clock
- Staff schedules from anywhere, timecards and payroll setup with gross pay calculation.
- Franchise and central management
- Set brand standards, manage every location centrally and see consolidated customer history across stores.
- Marketing and memberships
- Email and SMS campaigns, memberships, promotions and referral rewards, with a branded mobile app available.
- Reports and integrations
- Over 100 report types, with Tippy, QuickBooks and Google Reserve listed as integrations.
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
SalonUltimate
BookedBy on Clover$69
per location per month
Software plus Clover hardware shipped to the business, for small independent salons; the page sends buyers to BookedBy.
SalonUltimate Single Store$159
per month for 1 location
Appointments, scheduling, time clock, payroll setup, memberships, packages, inventory and purchase orders; 100+ reports.
SalonUltimate Multi-Store$199
per location per month
Adds cross-store booking, consolidated customer history, formulas and notes for chains; sold through sales.
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, SalonUltimate or SalonBiz?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SalonUltimate is cheaper to start with: $69 a month, against $160 a month for SalonBiz. SalonUltimate starts at $69 per location per month (BookedBy on Clover), and SalonBiz starts at $160 per month and up, by number of service providers.
Which has a free plan, SalonUltimate or SalonBiz?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither SalonUltimate nor SalonBiz has a free plan.
Which platforms do SalonUltimate and SalonBiz run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only SalonBiz lists an iOS app. 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.