{"question": "best salon booking software for salons", "category": "salon-booking-software", "category_name": "salon booking software", "audience": "salons", "audience_name": "salons", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-28T01:56:57Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/salon-booking-software-salons-2026-10-28", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/salon-booking-software/salons", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Fresha", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Vagaro", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Boulevard", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Mangomint", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "GlossGenius", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Phorest", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Choose", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "UK", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Square", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Square Appointments", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Booksy", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Zenoti", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://zenoti.com/thecheckin/salon-booking-software-guide", "domain": "zenoti.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.joinblvd.com/compare/boulevard-vs-vagaro", "domain": "joinblvd.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://agentzap.ai/blog/vagaro-vs-fresha-vs-boulevard-salon-software-2026", "domain": "agentzap.ai", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://capterra.co.uk/software/187593/mangomint", "domain": "capterra.co.uk", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/software/salon-spa/mangomint/", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://schedulingkit.com/pricing-guides/glossgenius-pricing", "domain": "schedulingkit.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.capterra.com.au/alternatives/174830/glossgenius", "domain": "capterra.com.au", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/alternatives/60919/phorest", "domain": "softwareadvice.com.au", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.capterra.com/resources/salon-booking-software-reviews-analysis/", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}], "answer_text": "## My shortlist, in the order I'd actually recommend them\n\n**1. Fresha** - Where I'd start for most independent salons. The core software (calendar, client records, online booking, reminders) is genuinely free; you pay 1.29% + $0.24 on card transactions and $0.12/text after 20 free monthly texts. It also has a consumer marketplace that sends you new clients - but watch the 20% commission on new-client marketplace bookings ($3.45 minimum), which is the real cost of the \"free\" model. Turn that channel off if you don't want it.\n\n**2. Vagaro** - The best all-rounder for a small-to-mid salon with a few chairs. $25/month base plus $10 per staff member, no mandatory contract, and more included at the base tier than most competitors (payroll, inventory, marketing, a bookable listing). Less polished than Boulevard or Mangomint, but hard to beat on value.\n\n**3. Mangomint** - My pick if you have 3+ staff and want the nicest product. Highest-rated of the bunch (4.9/5 across ~331 Capterra reviews) with a genuinely modern interface and strong automations - the thing people actually stick with instead of abandoning. It's premium: $165/mo Essentials, $245 Standard, $375 Unlimited.\n\n**4. Boulevard*", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}