Salonist vs Zenoti (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Salonist grades higher than Zenoti: 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 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
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
| 2.4GPASalonistFair | 1.8GPAZenotiWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | 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 | 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. | FNo free plan and no trial on record, so you pay before you use it. |
| Features | 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. | 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 salon system with point of sale and inventory means setup. | CNo store rating on record. A multi-site business has a long set-up before it works. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb plus iPhone and Android, with QuickBooks, Stripe, Mailchimp, WhatsApp and Shopify links. 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 | salons that want unlimited staff on every plan | 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: Salonist and Zenoti. How we grade
Where they differ
- Salonist also covers email campaigns, shift scheduling, time clock, inventory, sMS marketing and whatsApp messaging.
- Zenoti also covers reports and class booking.
At a glance
| Salonist | Zenoti | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | $59 per month, billed monthly (Essential) | Not published |
| Free plan | Marketplace Listing: online booking, calendar, shift management and staff reports for up to 50 appointments a month. | None |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial, no credit card required | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Salonist | Zenoti |
| Price read from | salonist.io | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Zenoti
Pricing could not be confirmed. See zenoti.com.
Ways to pay less
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.
Zenoti
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Salonist or Zenoti?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Salonist starts at $59 per month, billed monthly (Essential), and Zenoti has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Salonist or Zenoti?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Salonist has a free plan. Zenoti does not.
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.