Free and Cheap Salon Booking Software With No Commission
Free salon booking software with no commission and no client fees does exist, but almost always with a catch: it covers one person only, it limits features, or it makes its money on card processing and paid add-ons. For a solo stylist or barber, a free plan can be enough. Once you have two or three chairs, a cheap flat subscription with no commission usually ends up costing less than a "free" tool that charges you on every new client.
Four questions to ask any free plan
- Who is it free for?
- Many free plans are for a single provider. Square Appointments, for example, is free for one person, but a team needs a paid plan priced per location.
- Who pays when a new client books?
- Marketplace apps such as Booksy and StyleSeat can take a cut of bookings from new clients who find you through their app. Booksy's optional Boost, for instance, charges around 30% of a new client's first visit.
- Does the client pay anything?
- Some tools add a booking or service fee at checkout. Clients notice, and it lands on your reputation, not the software's.
- What happens when you leave?
- A free plan that won't export your full client list is the most expensive kind. Check the export before you put a single client into it.
What a three-chair shop really pays per month
To compare fairly, take a shop with three barbers or stylists who all take bookings, most clients coming from regulars and Instagram rather than a marketplace. List prices as published by each vendor; card processing and text-message bundles come on top for most of them.
| Tool | How it's priced | Monthly cost for 3 providers | Commission on new clients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Appointments | Free for one person; Plus plan per location | $29 (Plus, one location) | None |
| GlossGenius | $24 plan, $10 per additional provider | About $44 | None |
| Vagaro | $30 for one calendar, $10 per extra calendar | About $50 | None |
| Booksy | $29.99 per provider plan, $20 per additional staff | About $70 | Optional Boost, around 30% of a new client's first visit |
| Boona | $2 plus $1 per additional seat | $4 | None, and no client fees |
Prices change and depend on the plan, so check each pricing page before you sign. The point of the comparison is the spread: the same three chairs can cost $4 or $70 a month before a single add-on.
When a free plan is the right call
- You work alone and most clients rebook at the chair.
- You already take card payments through the same company, so the booking tool is a bonus.
- You need a marketplace to find clients, and you accept that the commission is your marketing budget.
When a cheap subscription wins
If your clients already find you through Instagram, Google Maps and word of mouth, paying a marketplace for "new" clients often means paying for people who would have come anyway. A low flat fee with no commission keeps the cost fixed as the shop grows. Boona sits at the bottom of that range: $2 a month plus $1 per additional seat, no commission and no client fees, with the first three months free. It covers online booking through your own link, a calendar per provider, client records, reminders by email and push, a waitlist and per-provider revenue reports. It doesn't process card payments, take deposits or send text messages, so shops that rely on those will need a different tool or a separate card reader.
How reminders affect no-shows is covered in automated appointment reminders for salons and barbershops, and the overview of pricing models is in Salon and Barbershop Software.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there salon software that is completely free with no catch?
- Rarely for a team. Free plans usually make money through card processing, add-ons or marketplace fees, or they're limited to one person. That can still be a good deal if it matches how you work.
- Why do some apps charge commission on new clients?
- Because they advertise your shop in their consumer app and charge you when that advertising brings a new client. Bookings through your own link are usually not charged.
- Can I switch later without losing clients?
- Yes, if the tool lets you export your client list. Some providers also import your data for you when you move.