Salonist vs Zolmi (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Salonist grades higher than Zolmi: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Salonist grades higher on features and platforms. Zolmi grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
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
Zolmi
Salon booking and checkout priced per staff member, no commissions
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 Zolmi if
- Fits if you run a salon of 1 to 3 and want to pay for each chair
- Works for owners who want no commission on online bookings
Look elsewhere if
- Watch out: text messages are charged on top and the page doesn't list the rate
- Tight if you need commissions, forms, loyalty or memberships, which are Pro at $25 a month
- Skip it if you need an iOS or Android app, as no store listing is shown
- Watch out: card processing fees are separate from the plan
- Skip it if you want a free plan, as there isn't one
How we grade them
| 2.4GPASalonistFair | 2.2GPAZolmiFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | B$15 a month for the first staff member and $2 for each extra on yearly billing, which is inside the category's cheaper quarter. Commissions and memberships need Pro at $25. |
| 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. | C14-day trial, no card, and no free plan after 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. | CCalendar, online booking, client records, checkout, deposits and gift cards. Start caps stock at 10 products, and wages, commissions and forms are Pro only. |
| 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, and a salon calendar and checkout needs setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb plus iPhone and Android, with QuickBooks, Stripe, Mailchimp, WhatsApp and Shopify links. No computer app. | CWeb only. The site describes a mobile salon app but lists no store pages, and no integrations are on record. |
| Best for | salons that want unlimited staff on every plan | small salons paying per staff member |
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 Zolmi. How we grade
Price against what you get
Salonist starts at $59 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Zolmi starts at $15 a month for each person and scores 2.0.
Salonist scores higher, and starts $44 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, 4 score higher than Salonist for less, and 2 score higher than Zolmi 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
- Salonist also covers email campaigns, shift scheduling, time clock and whatsApp messaging.
- Zolmi also covers reports and review collection.
At a glance
| Salonist | Zolmi | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $59 per month, billed monthly (Essential) | $15 per month for the first staff member, billed annually ($20 billed monthly) |
| 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 | 14-day free trial, no card required |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Salonist | Umov Sp. z o.o. |
| Price read from | salonist.io | zolmi.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
Zolmi
- Text messages are charged separately from the plan; the pricing page does not list the rate.
- Wages, commissions, consultation forms, loyalty and memberships need the Pro plan.
- Card processing fees are separate from the subscription.
- The site describes a mobile salon app but lists no iOS or Android store pages.
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.
Zolmi
- Calendar and online booking
- Team appointments in one view, with clients choosing service, stylist and time online and confirming through reminders.
- Client records
- Colour formulas, visit notes and preferences stay on the client record, with digital consultation forms on Pro.
- Checkout and deposits
- Services, retail products and tips in one sale, plus booking deposits, gift cards and vouchers.
- Stock tracking
- Retail and backbar stock with quantities updated as product use is recorded; Start allows up to 10 products.
- Staff pay and reports
- Working hours and permissions on every plan; wages, commissions and end-of-day or staff reports on Pro.
- Marketing and reviews
- SMS marketing, loyalty programs, memberships and review requests, listed on the features page; texts are charged separately.
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.
Zolmi
Start$15
per month + $2 per extra staff, billed annually ($20 + $3 monthly)
Calendar, online booking and reminders, client records, checkout and deposits, gift cards, up to 10 stock products and basic reports.
Pro$25
per month + $4 per extra staff, billed annually ($30 + $5 monthly)
Adds wages and commissions, product usage, staff reports, consultation forms, Google review requests, loyalty and memberships.
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.
Zolmi
- Annual discount
Lower rates on annual billing
The pricing page shows Start at $15 plus $2 per extra staff and Pro at $25 plus $4 when billed annually, against $20 plus $3 and $30 plus $5 monthly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Salonist or Zolmi?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Salonist starts at $59 per month, billed monthly (Essential), and Zolmi starts at $15 per month for the first staff member, billed annually ($20 billed monthly). One is priced for each person and the other is not, so which costs less depends on how many of you use it.
Which has a free plan, Salonist or Zolmi?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Salonist has a free plan. Zolmi does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Salonist and Zolmi run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Salonist lists 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.