You know running a successful beauty salon requires much more than just providing fantastic treatments. Your business needs a smooth flow of clients, organized staff, and an efficient way to manage all the administrative tasks behind the scenes. That is exactly why having the right salon booking system is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for your operations. Modern systems streamline your appointment scheduling, help reduce no-shows, and improve the overall experience for your clients.
Choosing the right system for your UK salon
Selecting the perfect software for your salon or spa requires careful thought, especially when considering the unique needs of UK businesses. We evaluated these top systems based on several crucial criteria:
- Ease of Use and Design: The system needs to feel intuitive, not only for you and your staff but also for your clients who are booking online. A seamless design enhances your brand’s professionalism.
- Pricing Structure: Costs vary greatly, ranging from free basic tiers to expensive enterprise solutions. We looked at whether pricing is fixed monthly, per staff member, or commission-based.
- Core Features and Functionality: Every platform must handle online booking, calendar management, and POS (Point of Sale). Advanced features like marketing automation, loyalty programs, and inventory tracking are also vital for growth.
- UK Availability and Support: Since things like payroll, tax, and payments are managed differently across countries, local support and proven UK availability are essential.
It is important to remember that comparing professional services requires looking beyond the sticker price, whether you are evaluating salon software or searching for the best azure consulting companies in Europe for backend IT solutions. The functionality must fit your specific business size and goals.
Here is a quick overview of the top choices we recommend for 2026.
Quick comparison table
| Rank | Software | Best For | Overall Score | Avg. Price (Est.) | UK Availability |
| 1 | Booksy Biz | All-in-one business management & client attraction | 4.6/5 | £40.00/month | High (UK reviews available) |
| 2 | Fresha | Cost-conscious salons using a client marketplace | 4.5/5 | £130/month | Worldwide |
| 3 | Vagaro | Feature-rich functionality at an affordable price | 4.6/5 | £120/month | U.S., Canada, Australia, and the UK |
| 4 | Square Appointments | Seamless POS integration and robust management | 4.5/5 | £45/month | U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, the UK |
| 5 | Phorest | Highly customizable marketing and loyalty programs | 4.8/5 | £99/month | UK focused |
| 6 | Timely | Advanced automation and deep client insights | 4.7/5 | £21/month | UK focused |
| 7 | SimplyBook.me | Custom branding and high-volume booking flexibility | 4.6/5 | £6.40/month | Available in over 200 countries worldwide |
In-depth reviews of the top online booking systems
1. Booksy Biz
Booksy is widely regarded as one of the top salon management software around – the go-to tool for hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and all sorts of other beauty businesses. And for good reason, it’s often cited as a top online booking system for beauty salons in the UK in 2026.
The platform does its job by streamlining all sorts of daily tasks for you, starting with online booking that lets clients book appointments at a time that suits them – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, either on your website or through the client app which is pretty popular.
Booksy
The tools Booksy gives you for running a salon cover all the essentials – think automated systems that stop clients showing up and not paying, secure ways to process credit cards, detailed profiles for each client and some really useful marketing features that’ll help you get in new customers and keep the old ones coming back. You can even see your diary in a calendar view and take payments on the go.
Clients really like Booksy because it’s dead easy to use and they can see when your team is free and book an appointment at a time that suits them. For businesses, Booksy also gives you some pretty handy reporting tools that let you see when you’re busiest and plan accordingly – making sure you’ve got enough staff on and the right resources.
Learn more about Booksy: https://biz.booksy.com/en-gb
Rating: 4.6/5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/booksy/?originalSubdomain=uk
2. Fresha
Fresha, previously known as Shedul, has become one of the industry’s leading platforms, trusted by over 450,000 professionals worldwide. This system is a complete solution for salons with an easy to use appointment calendar. Fresha is a good option for individual stylists or new salons needing to keep fixed costs low. Fresha used to be 100% subscription-free, but its pricing structure has changed as of early 2025. Under the new pricing model, Fresha charges £9.95 per month per staff calendar starting April 2025.
A significant difference with Fresha is that it offers a salon client marketplace, which helps you attract clients online. The company charges a 20% commission on the first appointment if the new client books through the Fresha marketplace.
Fresha
Apart from robust scheduling, Fresha features a point-of-sale system, staff scheduling, product management, payment processing, and a range of marketing tools. You get a lot of advanced features, such as free SMS, built-in no-show protection, and marketing automation (like client birthday emails). Fresha is available in over 120 countries worldwide. The estimated average price for a mid-size team is about £130 per month.
Rating: 4.5/5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/heyfresha/?originalSubdomain=uk
3. Vagaro
Vagaro continues to impress with its comprehensive approach to salon software. Many consider it a Swiss army knife because it packs an incredible number of features into an affordable package. The software offers everything from integrated payments and payroll to inventory management and marketing tools, all without requiring a long-term contract.
This platform stands out for its sophisticated website integration capabilities. Unlike competitors that redirect clients externally, Vagaro’s widget lets customers book appointments, select specific staff, and even purchase gift cards directly on your website. Vagaro supports the UK market.
Vagaro
The starting price for one calendar is £30 per month, with an estimated average price for a mid-size team around £120 per month. Users should note that the interface can sometimes feel slower and clunkier than premium competitors.
Rating: 4.6/5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vagaro/
4. Square Appointments
Square Appointments is an excellent choice for salons in the UK that need unlimited staff calendars without extra charges on the basic plan. It is beautifully designed and super easy to use, making it a go-to solution for many local businesses. The free plan is available for individuals to start using. Square is supported in the UK.
When you join Square, you gain access to much more than “just” Square Appointments; you can easily integrate their credit card payment tools, POS system, marketing features, online store, payroll, and team management when you need it. Square offers a full menu of hardware that you can purchase to streamline your checkout process, and many users consider Square’s POS hardware to be the best-looking and most modern in the industry. Square also supports rich notification and reminders for both clients and employees. The estimated average monthly price for a mid-size team is about £45 per month.
Rating: 4.5/5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joinsquare/?originalSubdomain=uk
5. Phorest
Phorest is a salon software solution designed to enhance customer experience through easy booking, extensive marketing, and management tools. It is recognized in the UK market. Features include appointment scheduling, online booking, a POS system, inventory management, staff management, and payroll.
Phorest stands out because of its extensive marketing and customer loyalty programs. It supports SMS and email campaigns to encourage customers to return. The system is highly customizable, and the company is known for providing excellent customer support and training. However, Phorest can be expensive, particularly for smaller salons, and the setup process may be complex.
Rating: 4.8/5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phorest/?originalSubdomain=uk
6. Timely
Timely is a powerful, feature-rich booking system designed for salons that need advanced automation, detailed client records, and deep business insights. This platform offers comprehensive salon management tools and provides a sleek and intuitive booking system tailored for beauty salons.
Timely operates on a tiered pricing model. The starting price is £21 per month per calendar. Although Timely lacks a built-in client marketplace like Fresha, it offers advanced reporting, customizable appointment reminders, staff performance tracking, and marketing automation. Timely integrates well with other software like Xero and QuickBooks, which is a major advantage for accounting needs.
Rating: 4.7/5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/memory-ai/
7. SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is an affordable, flexible booking application suitable for smaller service-based businesses and enterprises with multiple locations. The platform is designed for custom branding and advanced automation tools. It allows salons to create a fully branded booking experience with website integrations, social media booking, and custom client intake forms.
The flexible pricing model is a major advantage, offering a free plan that includes 50 free appointments per month. Paid tiers are based on booking volume and providers, starting at around £6.40 per month for 100 bookings. SimplyBook.me supports multi-platform booking, including integration with Instagram, Facebook, and Google. SimplyBook.me is available worldwide.
Rating: 4.6/5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simplybook.me/
Conclusion: Finding the perfect salon software fit for 2026
You’ve seen that the UK salon software market is pretty cool, with loads of really sophisticated options. Each one has its own approach to running your business, and what you should go for will depend on your specific needs – is it getting loads of new clients, keeping costs down or building those long-term customer relationships that really matter?
If budget is a top priority, platforms like Square Appointments are a good option – they’ve got a free tier for individuals which is pretty generous. If getting new clients is the top goal, then Fresha’s got this clever marketplace side that can help bring in new business, although the commission they take does need some careful consideration. And then there’s Treatwell – that’s another marketplace option which focuses on getting new clients in the door.
If you’re running a bigger salon or you really want to be able to manage all the moving parts of your business, then Vagaro is worth a look, it’s got loads of features at a reasonable price, and Phorest offers loads of control over marketing and loyalty.
Investing in a proper booking system is often the sensible financial choice because it makes things run so much more smoothly and you can actually save long-term – and that’s what it’s all about.
Take advantage of any free trials or demos and test out the interface to make sure the features line up with your salon’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is having a salon booking system so important?
To be honest, having a decent booking system is vital – it automates all the day-to-day stuff, which means you can keep all your customer info safe and secure, reduce errors and wasted time and let clients book whenever they like, 24/7. It also helps reduce those dreaded no-shows by sending automated reminders via SMS and email, which also helps free up staff time to do more important stuff, like doing a great job.
2. Can I really find a free booking system that will actually work for my salon?
Yes, some systems offer free plans or “freemium” models. For example, Square Appointments has a free tier for individuals, and SimplyBook.me has a free plan that supports 50 bookings per month. But if you’re running a real business with a team, you can’t rely on a free system – they often charge later on in some other way – maybe through transaction fees or limited features.
3. What is the biggest hidden cost I should keep an eye out for?
The major costs are often hidden, but they usually come in the form of transaction fees for credit card processing or commission fees if you use a platform to get new clients. Platforms like Fresha can charge 20% for new clients booked through their marketplace, while Treatwell charges an even higher commission starting at 35% for new clients. Some systems might also charge extra for advanced features, like detailed marketing tools or payroll integration.
4. Is it better to choose a system with a marketplace or one that lets me focus on my own branding?
That depends on what you’re trying to achieve. Marketplaces like Fresha and Treatwell can be great for getting new clients because they put you in front of a massive audience, but they often involve commission costs and might limit your ability to customize your branding. If you’re more focused on building a premium brand and keeping customers loyal, solutions like GlossGenius give you loads of control and allow you to build your own custom-branded booking pages – without the commission fees.
5. How does salon software help reduce no-shows?
Salon software helps get rid of no-shows by automating communication with clients. All the systems we recommend can send automated reminders via SMS, email or app notifications and you can even customize when these reminders go out. Some platforms like Acuity Scheduling are known for having strong cancellation policies and letting salons charge clients for missed appointments – or even require deposits upfront.
