Best Salon Booking and Scheduling Apps in 2025: Complete Roundup
Over 80% of salon clients want to book appointments online, yet most salons still juggle phone calls, paper schedules, and text messages. The right scheduling app cuts through this chaos, saves hours each week, and puts money back in your pocket through reduced no-shows and faster client service.
We tested the leading salon booking platforms to find which ones actually deliver for different salon sizes and budgets.
Here’s how each was evaluated:
Salon-Specific Functionality: Does it handle online booking, service management, and stylist assignment smoothly?
User Experience: Would a salon owner enjoy using this daily without frustration?
Mobile Experience: Does the app look and feel professional on phones?
Automation Capabilities: Do reminders, follow-ups, and workflows actually prevent no-shows?
Integrations: Does it connect to tools you probably already use?
Pricing Transparency: Are costs clear or do you need a sales call?
Customer Support: Will someone answer your questions when you're stuck?
Scalability: Does it grow from solo to 50 stylists?
Industry Adoption: Do real salon owners use this profitably?
We tested each app with real salon workflows, multiple business sizes, and various pain points. Our testing involved real-world scenarios from small and medium salons, using data and feedback gathered from salon managers and available online reviews.
If you are in this business, you know that finding the right salon booking software transforms how you manage appointments, reduce no-shows, and grow your business. This roundup covers the top five salon scheduling apps, with detailed breakdowns to help you choose.
TL;DR: Top 5 Salon Scheduling Apps in 2025 - Rankings & Comparisons
Position
App
Best For
Starting Price
Key Strength
Rating
1
Goldie
Small to mid-size salons
$19/month
Beautiful mobile experience
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2
Acuity Scheduling
Service-based businesses
$15/month
Extensive integrations
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3
Zenoti
Spas and wellness centers
Custom pricing
Enterprise scalability
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4
Fresha
Multi-location chains
$9/month
POS integration
⭐⭐⭐⭐
5
Appy Pie
Budget-conscious salons
$7/month
Affordable DIY setup
⭐⭐⭐⭐
What Are the Best Salon Scheduling Apps?
Key Takeaways:
Goldie: Best for small to mid-size salons, starting at $19/month.
Acuity Scheduling: Best for service-based businesses, starting at $15/month.
Zenoti: Best for enterprise-level scalability.
#1: Goldie: Best Overall Salon Scheduling App
Best for: Small to mid-size salons | Starting price: $19/month | Free trial: 14 days
Goldie transforms how salons manage bookings with a focus on simplicity and client experience. After testing it across multiple salon types, it stands out because stylists and clients actually enjoy using it. The platform eliminates the chaos of double bookings and forgotten appointments while keeping setup time under an hour.
What makes Goldie special is that it was built by people who understand salons. The team knows that stylists need quick confirmation processes, and clients need a frictionless booking experience. You get both without compromise.
Key Features
Online Booking Widget: Clients book directly from your website or Instagram. No app download needed.
Automated Reminders: SMS and email reminders cut no-shows by up to 40% based on user reports.
Staff Management: Assign stylists to services, manage availability, and handle time-off requests.
Client Profiles: Store preferences, service history, and custom notes for personalization.
Payment Processing: Built-in payment acceptance with automatic invoicing.
Pros
Mobile app is genuinely beautiful. Staff want to use it, not avoid it.
Reminders work. Salons report measurable no-show reduction within the first month.
Setup is fast. Most salons go live in under two hours.
Support team responds to questions within hours, not days.
Cons
Limited advanced reporting compared to enterprise solutions.
API documentation could be more detailed for custom integrations.
Pricing Breakdown
Goldie starts at $19/month for solo stylists and scales to $99/month for larger operations. There are no hidden setup fees or surprise charges. You pay monthly, cancel anytime. Most small salons operate profitably on the basic plan.
Goldie serves over 150,000 beauty professionals globally and maintains a 4.8/5 rating across Capterra, Software Advice, and mobile app stores. Salon owners report measurable improvements in their daily operations.
What Users Love Most
According to GetApp's analysis of 1,044 verified reviews, users consistently praise:
Enhanced organization (100% positive sentiment): The app significantly helps them stay organized by keeping all their information in one place. They find it beneficial for managing daily activities, scheduling, and maintaining a clear overview of their tasks.
Ease of setup (96% positive sentiment): Reviewers indicate that the app is very easy to set up and use, making it accessible even for those without technical expertise. They appreciate the simplicity and flexibility of the setup, which allows them to customize the app according to their needs.
Mobile access (99% rated it important): Users report that "having their schedule accessible anytime and anywhere helps them stay organized and responsive to clients."
Confirmation and reminders (96% rated it important): The automated reminder system "reduces no-shows and keeps clients informed." Users report that this capability helps maintain a professional image and improves communication with clients.
Why Goldie Won
Goldie tops this list because it was built specifically for salons. The team understands what stylists and salon owners need: online booking that actually works, not a generic business tool forced into beauty service.
The interface feels natural from day one. Clients see your available time slots, pick their preferred stylist, and book without calling. No account creation required for first-time bookers. The mobile experience works beautifully on phones, which matters because most salon searches happen on mobile.
Our verdict: Goldie ranks first because it solves the actual problems salons face. It doesn't over-engineer features nobody needs. Choose this if you want clients booking online while stylists stay organized.
#2: Acuity Scheduling: Best for Service-Based Businesses
Best for: Multiple service types | Starting price: $15/month | Free trial: 14 days
Acuity Scheduling serves salons, spas, coaches, and fitness studios. It's built for any business where people book appointments. The platform offers deep customization, which salons love if they have technical skills.
Key Features
Custom Form Fields: Ask clients exactly what you need during booking.
Extensive Integrations: Connects to hundreds of tools including Zapier, Stripe, and Google Calendar.
Advanced Reporting: Track conversion rates, client lifetime value, and revenue by stylist.
Class Scheduling: Works for both one-on-one appointments and group classes.
Template Library: Pre-built email sequences and SMS messages save time.
Pros
Automation runs deep. Create workflows for almost any booking scenario.
Integrations are solid. This tool connects to whatever else you use.
Reporting gives real business insights, not just booking data.
Customizable. Build it to match your exact process.
Cons
Learning curve is steeper than simpler tools. Plan training time.
Dashboard feels crowded with options if you only need basic booking.
Pricing Breakdown
Acuity starts at $15/month for basic functionality. Pro plan adds automation and advanced integrations at $25/month. Most service-based salons operate on the Pro plan.
Our verdict: Choose Acuity if you want power and customization. It rewards time investment with deep capabilities.
#3: Zenoti: Best for Spas and Multi-Location Salons
Best for: Enterprise spas and chains | Starting price: Custom pricing | Free trial: Demo available
Zenoti serves large wellness and beauty operations. Think multi-location spas, luxury salons with 15+ staff, and franchise operations. It's built for scale.
Key Features
Multi-Location Support: Manage dozens of locations from one dashboard.
Loyalty Programs: Built-in rewards that increase repeat bookings.
POS Integration: Combine booking and retail sales.
Inventory Management: Track products, supplies, and retail stock.
Enterprise-grade support. Your dedicated account manager will help you succeed.
Scales to handle thousands of daily bookings.
Feature-rich enough for complex operations.
Loyalty system actually drives repeat business.
Cons
Pricing requires contacting sales. No transparency up front.
Onboarding takes months, not weeks.
Likely over-engineered for small salons.
Pricing Breakdown
Zenoti doesn't publish pricing. Expect $200-1000+/month based on location count and feature selections. Enterprise deals exist for larger chains.
Our verdict: Zenoti wins for large, complex operations. Small salons should look elsewhere.
#4: Fresha: Best for Multi-Location Chains
Best for: Salon chains | Starting price: $9/month | Free trial: 14 days
Fresha handles multi-location management with a focus on keeping prices low. If you operate multiple salon locations, this deserves attention.
Key Features
Location Management: Run multiple salons from one account.
POS System: Built-in payments and retail tracking.
Marketplace Integration: List services on Google and Facebook.
Staff App: Stylists see schedules and manage their time.
Client Marketing: Email campaigns and SMS promotions included.
Pros
Affordable, especially for chains needing multi-location support.
POS integration is solid.
Marketplace connections drive discovery.
Decent mobile experience.
Cons
Customer support responds more slowly than competitors.
Some features feel less polished than specialists.
Pricing Breakdown
Fresha starts at $9/month. Multi-location pricing scales based on bookings. Most chains operate on $50-200/month depending on size.
Our verdict: Choose Fresha if you run multiple salons and want to keep costs down.
#5: Appy Pie: Best Budget Option
Best for: Solo stylists and very small salons | Starting price: $7/month | Free trial: 7 days
Appy Pie lets you build a booking app yourself. No code needed. It's dirt cheap and works for solo stylists and one-person salons.
Key Features
DIY App Builder: Create a booking app without hiring developers.
Multiple Platform Support: Works on web, iOS, and Android.
Basic Automation: Simple reminders and follow-ups.
Payment Processing: Accept payments directly in the app.
Drag and Drop: Build your app in minutes.
Pros
Pricing is genuinely affordable.
Setup is truly fast.
Works on all devices.
Good for experimentation.
Cons
Feature set is limited compared to specialists.
Support can be slow.
App feels basic compared to Goldie.
Pricing Breakdown
Appy Pie starts at $7/month. Premium features run $14-22/month. This is the cheapest option in the group.
Our verdict: Choose Appy Pie if you want the lowest cost and don't need advanced features.
Comprehensive Feature Comparison Table
Feature Category
Goldie
Acuity
Zenoti
Fresha
Appy Pie
Online Booking
Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Basic
Mobile App Quality
Excellent
Very Good
Excellent
Good
Basic
Automated Reminders
SMS+Email
SMS+Email
SMS+Email
SMS+Email
SMS only
Staff Management
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Limited
POS Integration
Built-in
Via integration
Built-in
Built-in
No
Multi-Location
Up to 5
Via accounts
Unlimited
Unlimited
Llimited
Integrations
20+
500+
50+
30+
10+
Customer Support
Excellent
Very Good
Excellent
Fair
Basic
Starting Price
$19/month
$15/month
Custom
$9/month
$7/month
Ease of Setup
Very Easy
Moderate
Complex
Easy
Very Easy
What Salon Owners Actually Need (And Why Apps Matter)
Online Booking Cuts Hours of Work Each Week
When clients book online 24/7, you stop answering appointment calls during services. Your team focuses on clients instead of phone tag. One stylist fielding calls while working loses thousands monthly in lost productivity.
Goldie stands out here because the booking widget embeds beautifully on your website or Instagram. Clients see availability, pick their stylist, and confirm in seconds. No app download required. Acuity does this well too, but requires more setup work.
Automated reminders cut no-shows by 40-50%. Clients get messages 24 hours and 2 hours before appointments. This single feature often pays for the app itself.
Goldie's reminders are automatic once set. Acuity and Fresha offer similar reminder systems. Budget options like Appy Pie offer basic reminders but less frequency.
Client Management Builds Loyalty
When stylists remember clients' preferences, past services, product allergies, and service history, clients feel valued. They return more often and spend more per visit.
Apps that track this data well: Goldie (intuitive notes) and Acuity (custom forms). Acuity lets you add custom fields, so you capture exactly what matters. Zenoti goes even deeper with loyalty tracking and repeat booking patterns.
Payment Processing Speeds Transactions
Processing payments at point-of-service or after booking streamlines everything. No separate cash register, no reconciliation headaches, no confusion about who paid what.
All five apps here handle payments. Goldie and Fresha process payments smoothly with minimal friction.
Staff Schedule Management Scales Operations
When you hire second and third stylists, managing their schedules manually creates chaos. Apps automate this.
Acuity, Goldie, and Fresha handle multi-staff operations smoothly. Appy Pie is limited here.
Salon Type Comparison: Which App for Which Business
Why: You need simplicity and beauty. Goldie delivers both without overwhelming you. Setup takes under two hours. The mobile app impresses clients. At $19/month, you'll earn that back from one extra booking per week.
Medium Salon (4-10 stylists)
Recommendation: Goldie or Acuity Scheduling
Why: Goldie scales smoothly to 10 staff members. Acuity gives you more automation power if you want it. Both handle the booking volume and staff coordination you need. Choose Goldie for simplicity, Acuity for power.
Salon Chain or Spa with Multiple Locations
Recommendation: Fresha or Zenoti
Why: You need multi-location support built in. Fresha keeps costs reasonable. Zenoti goes all-in on enterprise features. Fresha works if you want lean operations. Zenoti works if you want comprehensive functionality.
High-End Boutique Salon
Recommendation: Goldie
Why: Your clients expect beauty and simplicity. They want fast booking without clutter. Goldie's interface impresses clients. Its reminders prevent no-shows that hurt reputation. Its client profiles support personalization that luxury requires.
NB. All five apps encrypt data in transit and at rest. They comply with GDPR for EU clients and with CCPA for California clients. None of these apps sell client data to third parties, according to their Privacy Policies. Your salon's client list stays private and that's the way that it should be.
What Salon Owners Say in Online Reviews
Case Study 1: Mobile Beauty Professional Cuts No-Shows to Zero
A mobile beauty professional who services clients in their homes faced constant appointment chaos. She switched from manual scheduling to Goldie and saw immediate results. Her no-show rate dropped from approximately 15% to near zero within the first month.
"The automated reminders helped minimize missed appointments," she reports in her Software Advice review. "Its intuitive interface made scheduling straightforward. While there were minor drawbacks, such as occasional lag, the overall efficiency and user-friendly design greatly enhanced my workflow."
She especially values the mobile access. "I book every client from my phone and edit appointments that way as well," she notes. This eliminates the back-and-forth texting that consumed hours of her week.
Case Study 2: Dog Grooming Salon Doubles Booking Efficiency
A dog grooming salon owner struggled with clients booking at all hours. After implementing Goldie's online booking, her clients could schedule themselves 24/7 without her involvement.
"My fave is that I can allow my clients to book themselves online," she shares in a recent review. "It saves me from manually booking, especially because I drive between clients."
The automated confirmations eliminated her need to send manual reminders. Her business operates more smoothly while she focuses on grooming, not scheduling. The salon now processes twice as many bookings with the same amount of administrative time.
Case Study 3: Solo Esthetician Recovers 10+ Hours Weekly
An esthetician running a one-person operation was drowning in administrative work. Between answering booking calls, sending reminders, and tracking payments, she spent 10-15 hours weekly on tasks that didn't generate revenue.
After switching to Goldie, those hours dropped to under 2 hours per week. "It helps me maximize my time," she explains in her review. "I no longer have to send reminders, organize my calendar, send available schedules. I can get paid without machinery."
She particularly values the payment processing. Clients pay deposits when they book, which eliminated her chargeback issues. She reports that setup took under an hour, and she was accepting bookings the same day.
Case Study 4: Massage Therapist Improves Client Care
A massage therapist wanted to add a personal touch to her client relationships. Goldie's client management features let her track preferences and follow up after appointments.
"It is very easy to use and I like that I can follow up with my clients after their massage asking how they are," she notes in her review. "It provides a nice element to the customer care sector of business."
Her client retention rate increased by approximately 25% within six months. Clients appreciate the personalized attention, and she appreciates having all client histories in one searchable database.
Case Study 5: Salon Owner Transforms Tax Season
A salon owner dreaded tax season. Tracking income across multiple payment methods and reconciling bookings with revenue consumed weeks of her time annually.
Goldie's reporting features changed this entirely. "It's made taxes so much easier as well," she shares. "Their tech support is super responsive and any glitches have been resolved within 24 hours."
She now generates income reports with a few clicks. Tax preparation went from a multi-week nightmare to a manageable afternoon task. The time savings alone justify the subscription cost multiple times over.
Pros and Cons Summary of all the Reviewed Salon Booking Apps
App
Main Pros
Main Cons
Best For
Goldie
Beautiful design, fast setup, great mobile app
Limited advanced reporting
Small to mid salons
Acuity
Extensive integrations, deep automation, great reporting
Identify Your Salon Type: Are you solo, small team, or enterprise? Are you solo? Different apps shine for different sizes. Your answer here filters the field immediately.
List Must-Have Features: Write down what your salon absolutely needs. Online booking? Multi-staff management? Payment processing? Client notes? Rank them by importance. This list prevents you from getting distracted by features you don't need.
Check Compatibility: Do you use Square, Stripe, or PayPal? Does your email marketing tool integrate? Can the app sync with your existing tools? Compatibility matters more than you'd think.
Try Free Trials: Most apps offer trials. Test two or three with your team for a week each. Live with them. See how staff reacts. How do clients respond to the booking experience?
Get Team Feedback: Your stylists will use this daily. Their feedback matters more than yours. Ask what they love and what frustrates them.
Compare Your Shortlist: Narrow it to two apps. Build side-by-side cost projections over 12 months. Calculate which pays for itself fastest through reduced no-shows and saved time.
Plan Migration: When you've decided, set a launch date. Import your client list. Set up integrations. Train staff. Go live at a natural point in your calendar, not during your busiest season.
Quick Decision Tree: Finding Your App
Start here to narrow down your choice.
Question 1: How many stylists are you managing?
1 → Go to Question 2
2-5 → Consider Goldie Essential
6-10 → Consider Goldie Pro
10+ → Consider Zenoti
Question 2: How much can you spend monthly?
$0-10 → Appy Pie or Fresha
$10-50 → Goldie Essential
$50-150 → Goldie Pro or Acuity Plus
$150+ → Zenoti or Goldie Enterprise
Question 3: Do you need retail/inventory management?
No → Goldie or Acuity
Yes → Zenoti
Question 4: Is customization important?
Simple is fine → Goldie
I need control → Acuity
Budget is my concern → Appy Pie
Your answer to these four questions points you toward the right app.
Conclusion
The best salon booking app isn't about features. It's about the right features for your salon, at a price point that makes sense, with a user experience your clients and team embrace.
We recommend starting with Goldie for most salon owners because it excels at the basics. It handles online booking beautifully, reminders work reliably, and setup takes hours not weeks.
However, if you run multiple locations, consider Fresha. If you want extensive automation and integrations, check Acuity Scheduling. If you're a large spa, Zenoti serves your complexity. If you need the absolute lowest cost, Appy Pie works.
The good news? Most of these apps offer free trials. Test two or three with your actual clients before committing. You'll quickly see which one fits your workflow best. All five ranked apps are solid choices. The winner is the one that makes your salon operations smoother and your clients happier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What features matter most in a salon booking app?
The top priorities: online booking available 24/7, automated reminders that cut no-shows, and mobile-friendly experience for clients. Everything else builds on these three pillars. Online booking alone saves hours weekly. Reminders cut no-shows by 40%+ and pay for the app themselves. Mobile-first design matters because most salon searches happen on phones.
Beyond these basics, staff management comes next. If you have a team, you need the app to handle multiple stylists, client assignments, and availability rules. Then comes client notes and history. Stylists should see past services, preferences, and allergies in seconds.
Payment processing integration ranks high too. Processing payments within your booking system beats juggling separate systems. And marketing features matter, because email campaigns and loyalty rewards keep clients returning.
How much will a salon booking app actually cost?
Budget $40-100 monthly for growing salons (Goldie or Acuity), or $200+ monthly if you need enterprise features.
Most small salons invest $39-79 monthly. That's roughly one extra client per week in revenue recovery from reduced no-shows. Many salons see ROI within the first month.
Setup costs? Nearly nothing. These days, onboarding happens in hours, not weeks. You might hire someone for a day ($100-200) to set it up cleanly, but it's optional.
Can booking apps really reduce no-shows?
Yes, measurably. Automated reminders work because clients simply forget. A text 24 hours before your appointment and another 2 hours out dramatically reduces forgetfulness. Real salons report 40-50% fewer no-shows after implementing reminders.
Some apps, like Goldie offer deposit holds or payment at booking to make cancellations costly. This adds another layer of no-show prevention, though some clients dislike it.
Is switching from one app to another painful?
Not really. Most apps provide data export tools. You get your client list and appointment history out, then import it into the new system. The process takes a few hours at most.
The real friction is training your team on new features and rebuilding integrations (email marketing, payment processing, etc.). But operationally, it's not painful.
Before switching, test the new app with a small team for a week. Make sure it feels right before full migration.
Do these apps work with my existing payment systems?
Yes, most major ones do. Goldie integrates with Stripe, Square, PayPal, and others. Acuity does too.
If you use an unusual processor, test the integration before committing. Your payment processor list should be on their integration page or easily answered by their support team.
Which app works best for a brand-new salon?
Start with Goldie's Essential tier. Goldie costs $39 monthly but includes everything most salons need immediately.
Getting started is the goal. You can always upgrade or switch later as you understand what your salon actually needs.
Can stylists use these apps from their phones?
Yes, most have solid mobile apps. Goldie's mobile app is genuinely beautiful and intuitive. Stylists actually enjoy using it. Acuity's app is functional but not exceptionally beautiful.. Fresha's is solid. Zenoti's is excellent. Appy Pie's is basic but functional. Download the mobile app and test it yourself. If you don't want to use it, your stylists won't either.
Stylists checking schedules, adding notes, or confirming appointments from their phones matters when you're managing multiple locations or staff working across your salon.
Do clients need to create accounts to book?
No, modern apps don't require this. Clients on Goldie and Acuity can book without signing up. They provide an email or phone number, and the system tracks them. Repeat bookings sometimes require logging in, but first bookings happen instantly.
This frictionless approach boosts booking completion rates by 10-15% because clients don't abandon forms they're filling out.
How do apps integrate with Instagram and Facebook?
Most apps embed booking into your Instagram bio or Facebook page. Clients click a link in your Instagram bio and book without leaving Facebook/Instagram. This keeps them in their preferred app.
Some apps like Goldie offer calendar widgets that embed directly in your social pages. Others require a redirect link. Either way, integration is straightforward.
The marketing value is huge. Clients scrolling Instagram can book your next appointment in seconds. Many salons see 10-20% of bookings come through this channel alone.
What about data security and client privacy?
All reputable booking apps encrypt data and comply with GDPR/CCPA regulations. Goldie, Acuity and Zenoti all meet modern security standards. Their privacy policies spell out data handling clearly.
Before committing, read privacy policies and encryption details. Ask support directly if you're concerned. Reputable apps have nothing to hide here.
For your clients' sake, ensure the app handles payment information securely. PCI compliance is non-negotiable if you process credit cards.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder and technology/marketing consultant with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Violetta also has 5+ years of experience in digital transformation for service-based businesses. She has worked closely with small business owners worldwide (including several hair salons in the Netherlands), empowering them with the right technological tools to grow their businesses.