SalonBiz vs Zenoti (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SalonBiz and Zenoti 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 features, where SalonBiz grades higher, or value for money, where Zenoti 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 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
Pick Zenoti if
- Fits if you run several salons or spas and want payroll, stock and booking in one system
- Works for a med spa chain that can go through a demo and a quote
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a posted price, as every plan goes through a demo
- Watch out: the AI agents need the AI Plus package, and add-ons are priced separately
- Watch out: voice, SMS and messaging are billed by use
- Too light for a phone-first user, as the mobile app is tuned for tablets over 9.5 inches
How we grade them
| 1.8GPASalonBizWeak | 1.8GPAZenotiWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | CNo price is published. Every plan is a quote, so cost cannot be set against the $49.90 middle of the category. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial on the listing, so you pay from day one. | FNo free plan and no trial on record, so you pay before you use it. |
| Features | 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. | CBooking, point of sale, payroll and commissions, inventory and a mobile app. The AI agents need the AI Plus package and add-ons are sold apart. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and a commission and inventory system for a multi-stylist salon takes setting up. | CNo store rating on record. A multi-site business has a long set-up before it works. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | BWeb plus iOS and Android apps, with one integration listed. The mobile app is tuned for tablets over 9.5 inches. |
| Best for | commission-paying salons, especially Aveda ones | spa and salon chain software |
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: SalonBiz and Zenoti. How we grade
Where they differ
- SalonBiz also covers email campaigns, shift scheduling and inventory.
- Zenoti also covers class booking.
In commonWebiOSReportsAppointment booking
At a glance
| SalonBiz | Zenoti | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | $160 per month and up, by number of service providers | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | SalonBiz, Inc | Zenoti |
| Price read from | salonbizsoftware.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Zenoti
- No prices are published: every plan is a quote through a demo request, so cost cannot be compared up front.
- AI agents need the AI Plus package, and add-ons are priced separately.
- Voice, SMS and messaging use is billed by consumption, with optional base packs.
- Zenoti Mobile is optimized for tablets larger than 9.5 inches, per the vendor.
Key features
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.
Zenoti
- Appointment book and online booking
- A scheduling book for providers and rooms, plus an online booking page, social booking and Reserve with Google.
- Point of sale and payments
- Checkout, payment processing, text-to-pay links, gift cards, loyalty rewards, memberships and packages.
- Payroll, commissions and staff
- Employee management, payroll and commission calculation, and staff performance goals sit in the same system.
- Inventory and multi-location tools
- Stock management, resource and room management, and franchise and multi-location controls with cross-location reporting.
- AI agents (Zenoti OS)
- Agents for phone answering, lead handling, marketing, scheduling and inventory. The vendor says they require its AI Plus package.
- Zenoti Mobile app
- A staff-facing app for schedules, check-ins, guest records, digital forms and payments, on iOS and Android.
Plans
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.
Zenoti
Pricing could not be confirmed. See zenoti.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, SalonBiz or Zenoti?
As of Nov 13, 2026, SalonBiz starts at $160 per month and up, by number of service providers, and Zenoti has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, SalonBiz or Zenoti?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither SalonBiz nor Zenoti has a free plan.
Which platforms do SalonBiz and Zenoti run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Zenoti lists an Android app. 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.