The Phorest Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Phorest in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Phorest
The Insider’s Guide
Salon and medspa software for booking, POS and marketing
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among salon, spa and studio booking apps, read from Phorest’s own pages.
Made by Phorest · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Phorest’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Phorest’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 7 of the 33 other salon, spa and studio booking apps we grade
Phorest is salon, spa and medspa software that covers the appointment calendar, online booking with deposits, point of sale, reminders and a marketing suite. It sells four tiers, Starter, Grow, Complete Advantage and Elite, and the vendor's own page says Starter is aimed at businesses with three or more staff. Every tier is priced by quote.
To get you started, here are 7 things to know about Phorest, taken from its own pages and our grades.
All four tiers are quotes, and two-way texting, memberships and the app are only included at the top tier.
- 1
Best for salon software with built-in texting
Phorest is salon and medspa software with booking, point of sale, automated texts and a branded client app.
- 2
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
- 3
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.
- 4
Point of sale and payments
Appointment and retail checkout, stock management, cardless checkout and PhorestPay card payments with cashless tipping.
- 5
Automated SMS and email
Reminders, review requests and marketing messages. Higher tiers include a monthly SMS allowance; Starter pays 5 cents per SMS.
- 6
A 1.8 GPA, above 7 of 33
That is against the other salon, spa and studio booking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 7
Keep it
To replace Phorest you would be making texts to thousands of numbers, registered with the carriers. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Phorest at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Phorest
- Category
- Salon, Spa & Studio Booking
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for salon software with built-in texting
Phorest is salon and medspa software with booking, point of sale, automated texts and a branded client app. All four tiers are quotes, and two-way texting, memberships and the app are only included at the top tier.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No price is published. All four tiers are quote only, so cost cannot be compared with the $49.90 middle of the category. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan and no trial on record, so you pay before you use it. |
| Features | C | Calendar, 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. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. A salon has to set up its calendar, services and card reader first. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, with four integrations listed. No open API is named. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Phorest is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Salons and medspas with three or more staff
- Owners who want SMS reminders and marketing built into the booking system
- Multi-location beauty businesses
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Phorest's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
No free plan and no trial on record, so you pay before you use it.
We could not confirm Phorest’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. phorest.com has them.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Salon and medspa software for booking, POS and marketing. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, appointment booking, sMS marketing, review collection.
Calendar, point of sale, payments, automated SMS and email and a desktop app.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Reserve with Google
- Shopify
Phorest is made by Phorest.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/33
Other salon, spa and studio booking apps it is graded above
Phorest's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 7 of the 33 other salon, spa and studio booking apps we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 9 of 33) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 34 salon, spa and studio booking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Phorest’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 33
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 33
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 33
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 33
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 9 of 33
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Phorest you would be making texts to thousands of numbers, registered with the carriers. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 19 of the 33 other salon, spa and studio booking apps grade higher.
What you could make
- Appointment booking, reports and review collection: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Texts to thousands of numbers, registered with the carriers.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Phorest’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Fresha, Vagaro, Mangomint, Boulevard and Mindbody
The 5 tools Phorest is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Fresha
Free trial · from $19.95/mo
Salon and spa booking with a consumer marketplace for new clients.
- Only Phorest lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Phorest also covers reports and sMS marketing.
- Fresha also covers email campaigns, shift scheduling and inventory.
- 2.6GPA
Vagaro
Free trial · from $30/mo
Booking, payments and marketing for salons, spas and studios.
- Only Phorest lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Phorest also covers reports, sMS marketing and review collection.
- Vagaro also covers forms, email campaigns, payroll, inventory and class booking.
- 2.4GPA
Mangomint
Free trial · from $120/mo
Salon, spa and medspa software priced per location and user.
- Only Phorest lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Phorest also covers reports, sMS marketing and review collection.
- Mangomint also covers marketing automation, forms, payroll, business phone line, business texting and inventory.
- 2.0GPA
Boulevard
From $143/mo
Booking, checkout and marketing for salons, spas and medspas.
- Only Phorest lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Phorest also covers reports, sMS marketing and review collection.
- Boulevard also covers marketing automation, forms, email campaigns and business texting.
- 2.2GPA
Mindbody
From $79/mo
Studio, gym, spa and salon software with a consumer booking app.
- Only Phorest lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Phorest also covers reports and review collection.
- Mindbody also covers marketing automation, email campaigns and class booking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
9
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Phorest free?
No. Phorest is a paid product.
What platforms does Phorest work on?
Phorest is available on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Does Phorest have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Phorest is listed for Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Is Phorest open source?
Phorest is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Phorest integrate with?
Phorest's listing names Reserve with Google, Shopify, Facebook and Instagram.
Who makes Phorest?
Phorest is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Phorest?
The closest alternatives to Phorest in our directory are Fresha, Vagaro, Mangomint, Boulevard and Mindbody.
How does Phorest compare with other salon, spa and studio booking apps?
Phorest's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 7 of the 33 other salon, spa and studio booking apps we grade, and level with 7.
Could I make my own version of Phorest?
To replace Phorest you would be making texts to thousands of numbers, registered with the carriers.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Phorest’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Phorest's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Phorest. Prices change, so check phorest.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Phorest, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/phorest
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Phorest: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/phorest
Know someone choosing between salon, spa and studio booking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/phorest/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded salon, spa and studio booking apps after Phorest, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Salon, Spa & Studio Booking Insider's GuideEvery one of the 34 salon, spa and studio booking apps we grade, compared
- Square Appointments Insider's GuideBooking, point of sale and payments for appointment businesses3.2 GPA
- Fresha Insider's GuideSalon and spa booking with a consumer marketplace for new clients3.0 GPA
- Booksy Insider's GuideBooking app and marketplace for barbers, salons and beauty pros2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Phorest’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Phorest is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Phorest. Prices and plans change: check phorest.com before you buy.