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Looking for a Boulevard alternative? Compare the best options in 2026
When a booking system is built to fit two chairs, it can feel tight at five, or when a second location opens. Add-ons will stack up on the monthly bill, and staff may want more from the phone app. Med spa services call for deeper charting, and the front desk cannot answer every call. If any of that sounds familiar, you are likely weighing a Boulevard alternative. The right choice depends on your business model, the number of locations, how complex your operations are, your budget, and how much you want to automate. This guide compares ten platforms on the same ten criteria, so you can see which one fits your salon, spa or med spa, and which ones to rule out early.
The table below compares all ten platforms side by side. Pricing is shown as a plain fact from each vendor’s own page.
| Alternative | Best for | Pricing | Key strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zenoti | Salons, spas and med spas, from one location to many | Quote-based | An AI workforce that stops revenue leaks, with agents that answer missed calls, recover abandoned bookings and draft chart notes, on one platform for booking, memberships, payments, payroll, EMR and franchise management |
| Mangomint | Salons and spas that want one flat plan | $120 a month per location plus $10 per user; phone, marketing and payroll add-ons | Core features included in one plan, with memberships, forms and charting |
| Vagaro | Independents and small teams | From $23.99 a month for one location (introductory rate), plus add-ons | Low entry price, consumer marketplace and payroll with tax filing |
| Phorest | Salons and med spas with three or more staff | Quote-based | Consultation tools and client care features |
| Fresha | Solo providers and small teams | $19.95 a month (Independent) or $14.95 per bookable team member (Team) [VERIFY] | Low per-seat subscription with a consumer marketplace |
| GlossGenius | Solo and small beauty businesses | From $24 a month billed annually | Branded booking site and a polished client experience |
| Mindbody | Wellness businesses that combine spa services with classes | Starter from $99 a month per location; higher tiers by quote | Consumer app with 3 million or more active users, per Mindbody |
| PatientNow | Aesthetic and medical practices that want a clinical-first system. | Quote-based | HIPAA-compliant EMR, photography and marketing automation |
| AestheticsPro | Medspas that want clinical tools at published prices | $160 (two users), $285 or $350 a month | Telemedicine, e-prescribe, 500+ forms and AP Photo |
| Booksy | Independents and beauty pros who want a marketplace | $29.99 a month plus $20 per extra user | One all-features plan and 24/7 live chat support |
Prices and features come from each vendor’s own website or help center, checked October 5 to 8, 2026. Where a detail is not published, the table says so. Items marked for verification are drawn from third-party summaries and need a check against the vendor’s page before publishing.
The criteria for evaluating Boulevard alternatives
The comparison of the software is based on ten criteria or pain points, listed in the order buyers most often raise them. Note that each platform’s features, capabilities, and pricing details were sourced from its own website and help center, with the date checked. Wherever a detail is not published, the table mentions so. Zenoti is on the list, so it is held to the same rules as every other platform.
| # | Pain point, as a criterion | Weight | What to look for and why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Total cost as you add locations and tools | 15% | Check how the bill grows with the addition of each new user and location. Compare the full stack rather than the first number. |
| 2 | Mobile apps for owners, staff and clients | 15% | Assess the capabilities of the app in real time, with real workflows. Do the clients get an app under your brand? |
| 3 | Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | 15% | Does it save time while charting, with options for injectables, before/after photos, consents, e-prescribing, AI note drafting, etc.? |
| 4 | Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | 10% | Quality of support – hours, channels, named contacts, assured uptime, weekends. |
| 5 | Memberships and packages that flex | 10% | Membership flexibility – recurring billing, on hold membership, skipped payments, redemption at multiple locations. |
| 6 | Reporting and analytics you can customize | 10% | Can reports be viewed, tailored, saved, and scheduled with ease, and by location, region, or brand? |
| 7 | AI front desk and marketing | 10% | Look for AI call handling and two-way texting capabilities, segmented campaigns, loyalty and referral programs, and review management. |
| 8 | Payments and checkout | 5% | Check payment links, cards on file that stay current, deposits, tipping, and clear reconciliation. |
| 9 | Multi-location and franchise control | 5% | Consolidated client profiles and appointment books across locations; unified management of gift cards, memberships, royalties. |
| 10 | Payroll inside the platform | 5% | Check if pay runs are calculated from appointments, including overtime, commissions, and tips; payroll tax filing, etc. |
Top 10 Boulevard competitors and alternatives: Features and pricing
This list covers salon and spa management, independent beauty businesses, multi-location operations, wellness practices, and medical aesthetics. Platforms are grouped by the kind of businesses they fit, and the order is not a ranking of overall quality. Zenoti is listed first because of how it maps to the weighted criteria above, including two of the three highest-weighted ones (mobile apps and clinical workflows, at 15% each), with data points such as more than 12,000 providers using the MyZen app and injectable records that track lot number and expiry date. To make a clear assessment, start with the table, then read the entries that match your business model.
1. Zenoti: AI-powered salon, spa and med spa management platform
As an all-in-one management platform for salons, spas, med spas and other beauty and wellness businesses, Zenoti covers booking, memberships, payments, staff operations, payroll, marketing and multi-location management in a single system. The platform suits businesses with higher operational complexity, like multiple locations, franchise structures, clinical services, and heavy call load. Having said that, Zenoti works equally well for single location businesses. The trade-offs are listed below.
Features
- Appointment scheduling and online booking, with waitlists and abandoned booking recovery
- Family, couples and group booking, with multi-provider and simultaneous services
- Memberships and packages
- POS, payment processing, payment links and buy-now-pay-later
- Client management, forms and charting
- Staff management, leave management, and payroll
- Marketing automation and loyalty
- Multi-location and franchise management
- Reporting and analytics
- Dynamic and peak pricing
- AI-powered tools, including AI Receptionist and AI Scribe
How Zenoti performs on the ten criteria
The purpose here is not a Zenoti vs Boulevard comparative study, but to assess each platform, including Zenoti across 10 criteria. These are discussed below in the same order. The information provided are all stated publicly.
1. Total cost as you add locations and tools
Zenoti does not publishes price list on its website. The pricing page requests visitors to ask for a quote. Hence, a comparison on pricing cannot be made here. However, its case is in consolidation. Zenoti offers payroll with tax filing, a phone system and a branded client app, all on a single platform, which means clients have fewer separate tools to pay for. Zenoti Payments uses fixed-rate pricing by card brand and swipe, “with no hidden fees or additional requirements,” on month-to-month agreements with no minimum volume (those terms cover Zenoti Payments, not the software subscription).
A Complete Platform for Efficiency and Growth
“Being able to manage operations, client communication, documentation, and marketing in one system saves me significant time and reduces operational costs, making the business more efficient overall.”
David O.General Manager, Medical Practice. April 18, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
In comparison, Vagaro charges $23.99 a month for one location, which is an introductory rate for the first six months. The platform also charges $10 a month per extra staff calendar, up to seven, and includes payroll, text marketing, a branded app, Vera AI Assistant, and forms. Some of these features are built-in, while others are sold as add-ons. Booksy publishes $29.99 a month plus $20 per extra user, with features like custom forms, and marketing and standard business tools included. The platform has a Boost Marketing feature that is commission-based and charges a one-time fee of 30% on a new client’s initial booking (both checked October 5, 2026).
2. Mobile apps for owners, staff and clients
MyZen, Zenoti’s mobile app for service providers, gives them their schedule, appointments, guest profiles and notes, along with clock-in and clock-out, tips, and commissions. Zenoti’s datasheet cites that more than 12,000 providers are using the app. According to the Zenoti datasheet, guests can also get a branded client app, which builds, maintains and updates info on where they book, fill in forms, check in, and pay, at no additional cost.
“Today, the business has become more mobile; we are witnessing more bookings from mobile devices than from walk-in customers.”
Carolyn Monaghan, Program Manager, MiniLuxe (Zenoti Consumer Mobile App datasheet)
Zenoti is at par with Vagaro and Booksy on staff and owner apps, and ahead of Booksy on a branded client app. Vagaro Pro lets owners book clients, accept payments and check reports from a phone, and Vagaro sells a branded client app for $100 a month plus a $100 development fee. Booksy Biz lets owners manage the calendar, clients, payments and marketing from the app. Clients can book through the Booksy profile, Instagram, Google or the Booksy consumer app; a branded app is not stated publicly. As with any platform, test the staff app on a phone and iPad against your own daily workflows.
3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes
For med spa services, Zenoti’s forms and charting capture injectable records with product, units per injection zone, lot number, expiry date and the administering provider. Laser and energy-device notes hold settings and pass counts, while before-and-after photos link to the visit and chart note. Forms go out as soon as an appointment is booked. AI Scribe drafts structured chart notes for the provider to review and approve – it is a paid add-on. Zenoti also covers e-prescribing to any Surescripts-connected pharmacy, a review dashboard for medical directors, and a signed BAA (see the medspa features page, checked October 5, 2026).
Great support team
“Very comprehensive and designed well for medical aesthetics.”
Tory C. M.Co-Founder and Managing Director, Medical Practice. February 27, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
Less charting, faster forms: results from med spa teams
“...providers save roughly 60 minutes a day in charting time”
Spa 35. July 30, 2026. Zenoti’s AI Scribe ROI article
“Now more than 70% of forms are completed from guest’s devices prior to their appointments.”
Zenoti is close to Vagaro on the basics, and ahead on lot and expiry tracking for injectables and on AI notes that are available now. Vagaro states SOAP notes, digital intake and consent forms, before-and-after photo storage, and HIPAA compliance with a signed BAA (March 11, 2026), plus e-prescribing that covers controlled substances and product placement on a client photo, with units counted per site (July 1, 2026). Vagaro does not state lot numbers, expiry dates and AI note drafting publicly. Booksy is not compared here because its features and pricing pages name barber, hair, nail, brow and lash, massage and spa businesses, not med spas.
4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up
Zenoti confirms “24/7 global support” for every customer. On AI Plus plans, “a dedicated Customer Success Manager and priority assistance backed by SLAs” are provided (pricing page, October 5, 2026). Its Payments datasheet states 99.99% uptime for payments and PCI DSS-secure transactions; that figure applies to payments, not the whole platform. Zenoti maintains SOC 1, SOC 2, and PCI DSS compliance programs, supports HIPAA compliance through a BAA, and addresses GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, and other privacy requirements through its Trust & Compliance Center. Refer Zenoti’s Trust and Compliance Center for details.
No comparison is made here. Vagaro offers free support by phone, email and chat with Vera, with an option to chat with a person. It also sells one-on-one training from $100 (updated September 23, 2026). Booksy offers 24/7 live chat and email support. Zenoti’s evidence is what its own reviewers say:
Seemless transition with Zenoti
“Every time we had a question it was answered immediately.”
Michelle L.Location Director of Operations, Health, Wellness and Fitness. July 22, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
Excellent Support and Smooth Zenoti Implementation Experience
“What we liked most about Zenoti is the excellent customer support, user-friendly system, and efficient appointment management.”
Emily T.Administrative Assistant, Health, Wellness and Fitness. May 21, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
Zenoti is the best EMR system on there!
“Zenoti support has been extremely helpful and responsive throughout our experience.”
Lisa F.Business Development Manager, Health, Wellness and Fitness. May 14, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
5. Memberships and packages that flex
Memberships offered via Zenoti are auto-recurring and can be paid in full or monthly. Guests can choose their own start date and freeze or skip payments; trial runs convert from introductory to regular memberships automatically; and benefits can be used by family and friends. Zenoti Membership datasheet states that renewal reminders, auto-renewal, center- or region-specific offers, and one program that can be redeemed across centers, are included.
Here, Zenoti is at par with Vagaro and ahead of Booksy. Vagaro lets customers share a membership with up to 10 family and friends, pause or redeem memberships, or use packages, gift cards and points across locations that share customers. Booksy offers unlimited-visit memberships at a price you set, plus service packages. Recurring billing, pausing, sharing and use at other locations are not stated publicly. Zenoti’s stated extras are skipping a payment and automatic trial-to-regular conversion, which do not appear on other platforms’ membership pages, checked October 5, 2026.
6. Reporting and analytics you can customize
Zenoti reports can be tailored by adding rearranging and removing columns with custom formula columns and saved views. Reports can be delivered by email on a schedule; viewed for the whole organization, a region or several locations; and run on accrual or cash accounting. Sensitive reports can be restricted, so they stay with the right people (Zenoti Reports datasheet).
Zenoti is ahead of other platforms on custom formula columns and scheduled delivery. Vagaro generates “live and historical reports” across sales, employees, customers, appointments, inventory, messaging and billing, with a custom dashboard. Custom formula columns and scheduled delivery are not stated publicly. Booksy lists “16 different detailed Revenue and Cash Flow reports,” plus sales and staff performance reports. It does state custom or scheduled reports publicly. Ask any vendor for a live walk-through of the reports you use most.
Excellent data, onboarding takes effort
“Zenoti has strong reporting and data analysis tools that make it easier to track performance, sales trends, and team/service metrics.”
Samantha C.Owner, Health, Wellness and Fitness. December 30, 2025. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
7. AI front desk and marketing
Any time the front desk staff is busy or unavailable, Zenoti’s AI Receptionist answers calls, be it rush hour, lunch, evenings, weekends or public holidays. It books single or multiple services with different providers on the call, accepts deposits and suggests add-ons, recalls up to five recent visits so a guest can rebook the usual, offers a reschedule when a guest calls to cancel, makes outbound confirmation calls, and transfers to a staff on request. Calls can be routed 24/7, after hours, on missed calls or by a percentage split between AI and staff. Zenoti AI Concierge (formerly HyperConnect) replaces the existing phone setup, joins phone, SMS and web chat to guest profiles, and texts back after a missed call. For marketing, Zenoti builds campaigns from guest and service form segments, runs tiered loyalty and automated referral programs, and gathers Google, Facebook and Zenoti reviews in one dashboard with AI-drafted replies that staff approve. Abandoned booking recovery follows up on bookings that guests start and do not finish. AI agents require the AI Plus package, and no AI price is published.
This primarily matters because of call volume: Zenoti’s AI Concierge (HyperConnect) data, across 3,500+ locations in 2026, shows that up to 35% of inbound calls to beauty and wellness businesses go unanswered. Across Zenoti accounts, the AI Receptionist has managed more than 250,000 calls, booked more than $2.3 million in revenue and captured more than 3,000 upsells. Med spa group, OVME, runs it live across 27 locations with after-hours coverage.
Zenoti is ahead of other platforms on AI capabilities and at par on campaigns. Vagaro’s Vera Receptionist is a chatbot that books, reschedules, and cancels through chat for $10 a month with an additional Text Marketing plan. It sends a booking link by text; but phone calls are not mentioned (August 28, 2026). Booksy’s AI Receptionist answers and books on the call in English and Spanish; however, it is still in beta, and current providers must request access. Both run campaigns and loyalty programs. Vagaro includes 1,000 free email credits and sells text marketing, starting from $20 a month, while Booksy includes email and SMS blasts and a stamp-card loyalty program. Vagaro also drafts review replies with AI, so that is not unique to Zenoti.
AI Receptionist in practice: a spa owner’s view
“The longer we are on AI Receptionist, the more customers like it.”
Warren DanforthOwner, Spa 35. October 30, 2025. Zenoti’s blog
Best customer support of anything we've ever used!
“The ease of use for our team, the online booking that has kept our appointment books full, and the AI features have all been amazing.”
Tarrah B.Owner, Consumer Services. August 26, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
8. Payments and checkout
Zenoti includes payment links, tap-to-pay, configurable tip prompts, and saved cards that can update automatically when they expire (availability varies by country). It also supports SMS payment links, deposits and no-show fees, and buy-now-pay-later applications that take about 30 seconds. Auto-reconciliation, built-in dispute management and deposit reports that forecast incoming funds are included, along with stated 99.99% uptime and PCI DSS-secure transactions (Payments datasheet).
Checkout is at par across the three platforms. Vagaro processes deposits and fees through Vagaro Merchant Services and charges cancellation and no-show fees automatically once set up. Booksy publishes its processing rates (2.49% plus $0.10 on its card reader) and offers 30-minute Fast Payouts for a 1.5% fee. Dispute handling is documented by Vagaro and Booksy as well.
“Scheduling is very user-friendly, and the checkout process is simple and efficient.”
Aubrey N.Office Manager, Health, Wellness and Fitness. July 3, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
9. Multi-location and franchise control
Zenoti keeps one guest profile across all centers and a centralized appointment book. Memberships, packages and gift cards can be redeemed from anywhere, and “secure cross-center settlements and royalty fee payments” are supported. Zenoti’s Multi-Center Management datasheet states that more than 400 multi-center brands use it.
Zenoti is ahead of other platforms on franchise tools and scale. Vagaro shares customers, memberships, packages, gift cards and points between grouped locations and syncs services, memberships, packages and prices from a flagship location. Its franchise royalties and settlements are not stated publicly. Booksy has businesses create separate accounts for each location, which support can merge into one login. A single-location salon or med spa runs on the same platform, so growing into a second location does not mean a second migration.
Wonderful migration to Zenoti
“Our business migrated over to Zenoti a couple of months ago and it has been a wonderful experience with all the great capabilities they offer especially for franchising.”
Jacinda P.VP of Store and Franchise Operations, Cosmetics. April 10, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
Memberships across 460+ locations: Hand and Stone
“...membership benefits, loyalty rewards and gift cards are honored by any spa location”
Hand and Stone case study, a franchise brand with “more than 460 locations across the USA and Canada Hand and Stone case study
10. Payroll inside the platform
Zenoti payroll syncs appointments, hours, commissions and tips, and then calculates hourly pay with overtime, salaries, all commission types, tips and bonuses in one run. It handles federal and state tax calculations, filings and payments across all 50 states in the U.S. and covers W-2s and 1099s. Providers get early access to their tips in MyZen, while leave management built into the same platform. Payroll is available in the U.S. only, and prices are not published (checked October 5, 2026).
Zenoti is at par with Vagaro and ahead of Booksy. Vagaro Payroll states automatic tax filing and is a $34-a-month add-on plus $5 per employee, U.S. only. Booksy sets commission rates and tips; payroll processing is not stated publicly.
Payroll at OC Waxing: 75% less processing time
“Payroll with Zenoti has completely changed my life.”
Kelsie HoveOperations Manager, OC Waxing OC Waxing case study
OC Waxing reports a 75% reduction in payroll processing time across five Orange County, California salons
Wonderful migration to Zenoti
“The Zenoti team also provided a great training for us how to utilize the system; and it is extremely easy to learn and navigate bookings, reporting, inventory, scheduling and payroll.”
Jacinda P.VP of Store and Franchise Operations, Cosmetics. April 10, 2026. Capterra
Capterra reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and do not represent the views of Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are verbatim; read each review in full on Capterra.
Pros
- AI agents that stop revenue leaks: AI Receptionist answers calls around the clock, including after hours and on missed calls, books services, takes deposits and suggests add-ons. AI Concierge (HyperConnect) texts guests back after a missed call and ties phone, SMS and web chat to guest profiles. AI Scribe drafts chart notes for providers to review and approve. Abandoned booking recovery follows up on bookings that guests start and do not finish.
- Booking, memberships, payments, payroll and marketing in one platform
- Built for salons, spas and med spas with injectable records that include lot number and expiry date
- Franchise settlements and royalties, and one guest profile across centers
- Runs a single location and scales to many on the same platform
Cons
- Pricing is quote-based, so there is no published price to compare
Pricing: Custom pricing; Zenoti requires businesses to request a quote (pricing page, checked October 5, 2026). Zenoti Payments terms are separate from the software subscription.
To see how the platform handles these ten criteria for your own setup, take a look at how it works.
2. Mangomint
Mangomint is a salon and spa software with a single plan that includes its core features, such as Express Booking, memberships, Virtual Waiting Room, forms and charting, and web chat. HIPAA compliance is available with a signed BAA. It suits single-location and growing salons and spas that want a flat, published price. Here is how the platform fairs on the 10 criteria discussed earlier.
| Evaluation criterion | Mangomint: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Mangomint charges $120/month per location and $10/month per user; Phone is $70/month per line, and Payroll is $50/month per payroll account plus $8/month per worker. Marketing is also an optional paid add-on. Per-user pricing can scale quickly for larger teams. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Mobile app available that allows business management from anywhere, on a phone or tablet. Enables payments from anywhere and facilitates communication with guests. The site does not state separate apps for clients. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | Mangomint includes HIPAA compliance, with a signed BAA, customizable intake/consent forms, SOAP notes, image markup, before/after photos, treatment plans, and form review/approval workflows. Its website confirms digital charting, not AI-generated clinical notes. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | The platform provides U.S.-based support via its website and in-app chat, seven days a week, with a stated response time of six minutes or less. A demo can be booked via the official website or interested parties can take up a free trial. Mangomint also states free data trial, with a dedicated manager. There is no platform uptime percentage published on its site. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | Memberships, packages, gift cards, and recurring billing are included in the core plan. Memberships support automatic billing and recurring appointments; packages can be sold and redeemed through the platform. No separate membership add-on is required. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Reporting and analytics are included in the core platform, covering bookings, revenue, staff performance, retail, and multi-location operations. However, Mangomint’s public pages emphasize standard reporting rather than the deeper customizable BI, AI-driven insights, and cross-location analytics. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | Mangomint offers Phone for unlimited calls and texts, plus a Marketing add-on for automated campaigns. While the platform provides the benefits of automated flows, there is no published info on an AI workforce. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Mangomint Pay supports in-person and online payments, cards on file, deposits/full payment at booking, SMS checkout, and automatic routing of renter payments to bank accounts. Published rates are 2.45% + 15¢ in person and 2.90% + 30¢ online. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | It supports multiple locations in one account, location-specific booking links, separate service menus and pricing by location, and location switching in the calendar. However, its public site emphasizes multi-location operations more than enterprise franchise governance, centralized brand control, or large-network reporting. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Mangomint offers full-service payroll as an add-on: $50/month per payroll account plus $8/month per worker. It includes unlimited payroll runs, W-2s, and 1099s, automatic tax calculations, filings, and payments for local, state, and federal taxes, direct deposit, pay stubs, deductions, reimbursements, and QuickBooks Online sync. It supports multi-location payroll through separate legal entity accounts but does not publicly state coverage across all 50 U.S. states. |
Strengths
- Core features sit in one plan, with integrations and forms and charting included
- Intelligent waitlist, automated flows and email or text campaigns
- Full-service payroll processing available as an add-on
Limits to weigh
- Phone, marketing and payroll are paid add-ons, and two-way texting needs the Phone add-on
- HIPAA compliance requires signing a BAA
- AI features and injectable lot or expiry tracking are not stated publicly on the pages reviewed
Pricing: $120 a month per location plus $10 a month per user. Add-ons: phone at $70 a month per line, marketing from $30 a month, and payroll at $50 a month per payroll account plus $8 per worker (effective August 1, 2026; checked October 8, 2026).
3. Vagaro
Vagaro is a salon, spa and wellness platform known for its low entry price and a consumer marketplace that lists businesses with “$0 booking fees”. The help center and product pages state HIPAA compliance with a signed BAA, SOAP notes, intake and consent forms, before-and-after photo storage and e-prescribing that covers controlled substances. It fairs as follows in the 10 criteria:
| Evaluation criterion | Vagaro: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Vagaro uses an à-la-carte model: the published base rate is $30/month in the U.S., currently promoted at $23.99/month for the first six months. Each additional employee's calendar is $15/month, up to seven licenses; additional employees come at no extra calendar cost. Multi-location pricing is not stated publicly. Premium features like APIs/webhooks, Connect AI, and advanced reporting are extra. While the starting prices and modular add-ons are transparent, costs can accumulate through calendars, and additional tools. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | The platform provides the Vagaro Pro App for businesses/providers and a consumer app to book and manage appointments. Its base plan includes online booking across Vagaro, Instagram, Facebook, and Apple Maps. Mobile access is core on the platform, not an add-on. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | Vagaro includes SOAP notes, patient record management, e-forms and consent, paperless prescriptions, HIPAA compliant charting, and before/after photos. However, it does not have a Zenoti AI Scribe-equivalent. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | Vagaro claims to offer 24/7 support over call, in addition to help center resources, webinars, demos, and training. The platform does not publicly state a specific uptime figure. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | The platform includes memberships with its base plan, allowing businesses to create memberships with discounts, visit limits, auto-renewal, and family/friends sharing. Membership tracking through reporting, streamlined check-ins, and multi-location access are other stated features. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Vagaro includes a customizable real-time dashboard and reports covering sales, appointments, providers, clients, booking channels, marketing performance, payroll inputs, and taxes. It helps identify top performers, retention and spending patterns, revenue drivers, and effective campaigns, but is not positioned as AI-powered BI. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | Vera, an AI chatbot in Connect by Vagaro, answers customer messages 24/7 or on a schedule, checks availability, sends booking/reschedule/cancel links, handles service/product questions, and escalates to staff. It is not a voice-call feature like Zenoti’s AI Receptionist. Vera also supports marketing automation, filling open slots, and creating descriptions. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Vagaro includes payments, accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, and major cards. It supports stored cards, auto-renewing memberships/packages, invoices, and checkouts. Instant payouts and no-show and late cancellation charges are other features. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | The platform supports multiple locations under a Flagship account, with customer, points, gift-card, form-response, membership, package, employee, and settings sharing within location groups. It supports multi-location reporting and payroll across locations. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Vagaro offers payroll for $34/month + $5 per employee, supporting both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors in one system. It syncs time logs, supports flexible pay rates and commissions, automates tax filing and compliance, and lets staff access paystubs and request time off. |
Strengths
- Low entry price, payroll with automatic tax filing and a free White Glove migration
- Membership sharing with up to 10 family and friends, and redemption across locations that share customers
- Free support by phone, email and chat with Vera
Limits to weigh
- Payroll, text marketing, a branded app, Vera and forms are paid add-ons
- Vera sends a booking link by text because it cannot yet schedule by SMS, and phone calls are not mentioned
- Lot numbers, expiry dates, AI note drafting and franchise royalties are not stated publicly
Pricing: $23.99 a month for one location (an introductory rate for the first six months), plus $10 a month per extra staff calendar up to seven (checked October 5, 2026).
4. Phorest
Phorest is a premium all-in-one platform for salons, spas and med spas, and its U.S. pages describe it as a fit for growing businesses with three or more staff. It connects booking, consultation forms, payments, marketing, loyalty and reporting, and its med spa page states digital consent forms, face mapping with markup tools and before-and-after image storage. Here is a look at the platform’s capabilities against the 10 criteria:
| Evaluation criterion | Phorest: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Phorest uses custom quotes based on business size, locations, and features; its U.S. pricing page lists different plans, with unlimited devices and unlimited staff included. The platform does not charge per-staff fee or booking commission. However, there is no published pricing of the platform to make a comparison. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Includes PhorestGo for managers and staff, a custom-branded client booking app built for each business. Clients can book, rebook, edit appointments, view loyalty points, and receive marketing through the branded app. PhorestGuest is a check-in app for clients. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | Phorest supports digital consent and consultation forms, face-mapping, markup, before/after images, clinic notes, and GDPR/HIPAA compliance. Cheat Sheet AI helps personalize appointments but does not do what Zenoti AI Scribe achieves. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | Phorest says every plan includes tailored setup, free migration, onboarding training, ongoing training, local human support, and a dedicated advisor. There is no published uptime percentage or support SLA. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | No third-party tools required to build service-based or credit-based memberships directly in the platform. Businesses can choose preferred billing timeline, set indefinite or fixed-term plans, offer targeted discounts and custom perks, and track sign-ups, active plans, and revenue. Clients can join and manage memberships online or through the business’s branded app, view remaining credits, and book their next visit. Strong native membership flexibility and self-service. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Phorest offers visual reporting, alerts, staff/branch/date breakdowns, and cross-location reporting. Provides bespoke reports, integrates with Quickbooks and Xero, and optimizes loyalty programs. AI Insights feature is expected later this year. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | Front Desk AI for client conversations and bookings 24/7, plus AI-powered Facebook/Instagram Ads Manager, rebooking predictions, smart KPI insights, and stock alerts. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Phorest POS supports chair-side checkout from tablet or phone, Offers PhorestPay terminals and cardless payments, deposits, vouchers, loyalty points, part payments, account payments, and Buy Now, Pay Later. It also links checkout to appointments, retail, inventory, loyalty, and commission tracking. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | Explicitly multi-location compatible: owners can toggle between locations, share resources, compare performance, and run group-wide memberships/packages redeemable at any site. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Supports commission and wage calculation: salary, hourly, rostered hours, or clock-in time, and can run weekly or monthly payroll reports. Information on payroll reporting/calculation only; no public statement on service payroll with tax filing, W-2s, 1099s, direct deposit, or state coverage. |
Strengths
- Consultation tools built around premium client care, plus AI tools stated on its US site
- Monthly subscription with no commission on bookings, per its hair salon page
- Free Phorest Academy training for the whole team
Limits to weigh
- Pricing is by quote, and buyers are directed to book a demo or request a quote
- A three-staff-plus positioning can leave solo providers a lighter fit elsewhere
- Payroll, franchise settlements and lot tracking are not stated on the pages reviewed
Pricing: Quote-based; Phorest publishes no price list on its US pages (checked October 8, 2026).
5. Fresha
Fresha is a booking and business platform with a consumer marketplace, aimed mainly at solo providers and small teams. It now runs on paid subscriptions, charges a one-time fee on new clients acquired through its marketplace, and adds card processing fees.
| Evaluation criterion | Fresha: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Fresha charges $19.95/month for Independent (one bookable team member) or $14.95/month per bookable team member for Team. Enterprise is custom-priced for high-volume businesses with more than 20 team members. Positive: transparent subscription pricing, no long-term contract, and no per-appointment booking fee. Negative: costs scale by bookable team member, and several capabilities are paid add-ons: AI Concierge $99.95/location/month, Client Loyalty $59.95/location/month, Insights $9.95/team member/month, Smart Website $15.95/month, and Data Connector $295/location/month. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Fresha offers a client booking app and a business app for professionals – both apps are included. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | The platform includes consultation forms, client records, client ratings/reviews, and two-way client messaging through Client Connect. It also lists HIPAA compliance and ISO 27001. The site does not claim AI-generated clinical notes, SOAP notes, treatment charting, image markup, or an AI Scribe. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | Independent includes email and chat support; Team adds phone support. Fresha states email typically responds in two days, chat in two minutes, and phone support provides “instant” help for Team plan. Fresha offers migration support and can help import core data such as client details, appointment history, service records, and product inventory. Standard onboarding is available, while advanced or larger-scale data migration may require a paid support package. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | Memberships are included in the core platform, with no separate add-on. Businesses can create memberships combining services, products, and discounts; Members can manage their memberships through client wallet. Fresha’s public pages do not detail cross-location redemption or franchise-level membership governance |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Fresha includes business, sales, finance, client, and team reports, covering revenue, retention, occupancy, commissions, and KPIs. Its paid Insights add-on adds advanced filters and customizable shareable reports; Data Connector sends data to external systems. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | Fresha offers AI Concierge as an optional add-on. It answers both client calls and messages. Marketing tools, campaigns, client referrals, and promotional discounts are included, in addition to some free marketing emails per team member/month. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Payments are optional on Fresha; businesses can use it without Fresha processing. Processing fees are separate from the subscription, and terminal hardware costs extra. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | Multi-location is available without a separate location fee on Team. Fresha’s public pricing page does not detail franchise governance, centralized brand control, or enterprise reporting workflows. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Requires Fresha Payments enabled for paying staff through Fresha. Includes pay runs that calculate wages, commissions, and tips from timesheets and pay staff to a Fresha Wallet or bank account. It supports hourly pay, salaries, adjustments, deductions, and fee pass-through, but does not claim tax filing, W-2s, 1099s, or all-50-state coverage. |
Strengths
- Low per-seat subscription that suits small teams
- A marketplace that can bring new clients
- Team plan supports unlimited team members and locations
Limits to weigh
- The bill tracks headcount, and add-ons such as Client Loyalty ($59.95 a month per location) and Insights ($9.95 a month per team member) cost extra
- A 20% new-client marketplace fee and processing rates (2.19% plus $0.20 in person) apply on top
- Medspa charting, franchise settlements and payroll with tax filing are not stated publicly in the sources reviewed
Pricing: Independent $19.95 a month for one bookable team member; Team $14.95 a month per bookable team member; Enterprise priced on request for 20 or more team members.
6. GlossGenius
GlossGenius is a mobile-first platform for solo and small beauty businesses, known for a branded booking site and a polished client experience. Plans scale by team size, with feature tiers that unlock forms, waitlists and larger teams.
| Evaluation criterion | GlossGenius: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | GlossGenius uses tiered subscriptions: Standard starts at $24/month annually, Gold at $48/month, and Platinum at $148/month; each additional location is billed at the plan price with a 15% discount. Payroll is $40/month plus $6 per active payroll seat, Reception is $50/month, and instant payouts add 1.8%. Transparent published pricing and no long-term commitment. But costs rise materially with locations, payroll seats, AI Reception, instant payouts, and higher-tier features. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Owners and staff can manage calendars, client notes, booking, checkout, sales history, permissions, and support from the mobile app or web browser. Clients book through a login-free booking site with no app download required. Strong owner/staff mobile operations and frictionless client booking. The official pages emphasize a mobile-friendly client booking experience rather than a dedicated client-facing mobile app. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | GlossGenius includes HIPAA-compliant charting with SOAP notes, before/after photo markup, treatment and product tracking, e-signatures, consent workflows, and medical-director digital sign-off with an audit trail. Charting is included with Medspa plans at no add-on fee or per-provider charge. Clinical documentation is native and connected to booking, payments, and client history. No official statement on AI-powered clinical notes; describes freeform notes and structured charting instead. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | Support is available by phone or text, with limited hours stated on the website. The Help Center and in-app Genius Support Bot are available 24/7, with the bot creating a ticket for human follow-up when needed. While multiple human support channels plus 24/7 self-service is available, live human support is not 24/7, and Sunday coverage is limited. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | Businesses can sell prepaid packages and recurring memberships in person or online, with automated redemptions, renewals, expirations, and marketing templates. Memberships and packages are listed as a Standard-plan feature. Flexible recurring-revenue tools are included rather than reserved for the top tier. The official page does not detail advanced rules such as family sharing, complex rollover logic, or multi-location membership pooling. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Offers real-time reports on sales, staff performance, retention, utilization, inventory, and expenses. AI Growth Analyst can create custom reports from a natural-language request specifying clients, metrics, and time frames. Includes AI-built reports, staff/client insights, goals, and multi-device access, but does not state whether custom reports can be saved as reusable templates or broadly exported/shared. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | GlossGenius Reception is a 24/7 AI front desk that answers calls and texts, books appointments according to business policies, and routes complex conversations to staff. Marketing Assistant writes and sends email or text campaigns. Growth Analyst monitors sales and client patterns and surfaces recommendations. AI is embedded across front desk, marketing, and business analysis. Reception is currently free but will become a paid add later this year. Growth Analyst usage is tightly limited on Standard. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | GlossGenius Payments combines card readers, Tap to Pay, POS, invoices, gift cards, memberships, packages, tips, and deposits in one checkout flow. It offers Buy Now, Pay Later with upfront business payment, free same-business-day transfers, instant payouts, and an industry-leading 2.4% + $0.15 processing rate with no hidden fees. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | GlossGenius supports multiple locations with unified client history, location-specific menus, cross-location scheduling and permissions, location selection in booking, and business-wide plus per-location reporting. Real operational multi-location support rather than separate disconnected accounts. However, each added location incurs its own plan cost at a 15% discount, and the official pages do not position GlossGenius as a full franchise-management system with franchise-level royalty or compliance tooling. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | GlossGenius Payroll automatically syncs appointments, tips, commissions, and timesheets to pay W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, with custom pay structures, multi-location support, digital paystubs, and automated federal, state, and local tax filing in all 50 states. It costs $40/month plus $6 per paid team member, in addition to the base subscription. |
Strengths
- Branded booking site, online booking, point of sale and client management on every plan
- Gold adds digital intake forms, waivers and waitlist tools
- Platinum adds unlimited team members, Google marketing analytics and premium support
Limits to weigh
- Features are gated by plan, so growing teams move up tiers
- Text marketing allowances vary by plan
- Injectable charting, franchise tools and payroll with tax filing are not stated publicly in the sources reviewed
Pricing: Standard $24 a month billed annually ($28 billed monthly), Gold $48 and Platinum $148 a month billed annually.
7. Mindbody
Mindbody is a long-established platform for fitness, wellness and beauty businesses, with a consumer app that Mindbody says has more than 3 million active users and free listings for customers. It suits wellness facilities that combine spa services with classes.
| Evaluation criterion | Mindbody: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Mindbody prices its software per location, starting at $79/month per location in the U.S. It includes unlimited staff users, but Accelerate and Ultimate plans are quote-based, and payment processing adds a per-transaction rate plus a $0.10–$0.30 fixed fee in North America and Asia. Transparent entry price, unlimited staff logins, and no requirement to use Mindbody Payments. However, total cost rises with every location, higher tiers require sales quotes, and add-ons plus processing fees can increase the bill. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Offers a consumer Mindbody app and web app for client booking, purchases, schedules, and family/dependent booking; businesses can also have branded apps. Strong client-side ecosystem, including a large consumer app and marketplace. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | Mindbody’s official plan and feature materials focus on fitness, wellness, and beauty operations, not medical charting, SOAP notes, consent forms, photo markup, medical-director sign-off, or AI clinical notes are not stated. The platform can support appointment-based wellness services, but businesses should not assume it provides med-spa EMR/EHR functionality or AI-generated clinical documentation. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | Provides a large official Support Center with articles for account management, payments, scheduling, reporting, and payroll, plus a status page for system availability. Extensive self-service documentation and a dedicated status page, but the official pages do not publish guaranteed response times, 24/7 live-support availability, or an uptime SLA. Support depth may vary by plan. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | Mindbody supports memberships, class packs, intro offers, packages, contracts, and autopay. Memberships can include discounts, restrictions, priority booking, and member tracking; packages can bundle services, products, gift cards, and account credits. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Starter includes basic reporting, while higher plans have more powerful analytics and reporting. Mindbody also provides filterable operational reports. Reporting scales meaningfully by tier and includes staff/payroll reporting. Advanced analytics are reserved for higher plans. Mindbody does not publicly state a natural-language AI report builder. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | AI Concierge provides 24/7 SMS and web-chat support, answers client questions, follows up on missed calls, and books, reschedules, or cancels appointments using live Mindbody data. It is customizable to the brand voice, monitored in a unified inbox, and included in the Ultimate plan; Mindbody estimates it saves users about 25 hours per month. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Payments are embedded in the core platform, with flexible processor choice. It includes integrated payments and POS across plans, with no monthly payment fees or minimums. Processing uses a rate plus a $0.10–$0.30 fixed fee per transaction in North America and Asia. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | The platform is built for multi-site fitness and wellness businesses and offers enterprise/custom arrangements. Per-location subscriptions and enterprise options available. Higher tiers add operational controls and deeper insights. Franchisee onboarding, royalty collection, brand audits, or franchise compliance are not confirmed. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Provides a native Payroll report, which tracks staff pay from class, course, appointment, and hourly pay rates, including services provided, hourly pay, and tips. Automated tax filing, direct deposit, W-2/1099 processing, or multi-state tax compliance are not confirmed. |
Strengths
- Consumer app for client discovery, with free listings for all customers
- Three tiers: Starter for essentials, Accelerate for reporting and controls, Ultimate for marketing automation and analytics
- Technical Account Management services for setup
Limits to weigh
- Only Starter is priced on its U.S. pages; Accelerate and Ultimate require contacting Mindbody
- A branded mobile app and Attentive SMS and email are add-ons on some plans
- Medspa charting and AI features are not stated on the pages reviewed
Pricing: Starter from $99 ($79 is offer price) a month per location; Accelerate and Ultimate by quote (checked October 8, 2026).
8. PatientNow
PatientNow is a HIPAA-compliant EMR and practice management platform built for aesthetic practices, including med spas, plastic surgery, dermatology and wellness clinics. Its site states SOC 2 Type 2 certification, e-prescribing, before-and-after photography, automated reminders, waitlists, marketing campaigns and multi-location scheduling. It suits practices where clinical charting is the center of the workflow.
| Evaluation criterion | PatientNow: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Pricing is fully custom/quote-based around practice size, locations, and features; no public base rates. Three tiers scale capacity and marketing limits. Add-ons like Recura AI, eRx, telehealth are extra and availability varies by plan. No published pricing; costs rise with locations and optional tools. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Staff can manage/edit schedules from a mobile app. Patients use mobile-friendly MyPatientNow portal and online booking. iPad checkout supported. Anywhere access for schedules and payments. Limited public detail on full owner/staff native apps beyond scheduling and portal. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | Full EMR with aesthetic charting, intake, photos, consents, treatment plans. AI Scribe generates editable SOAP notes from conversations, built-in and HIPAA-compliant. Purpose-built for injectables/devices; notes finish in-room. However, advanced clinical tools (eRx, labs) are plan/add-on dependent. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | Ticket submission plus product-specific email support available. Training center with on-demand courses. System Status page tracks uptime/maintenance. Multiple contact channels and training, but no published phone/chat SLAs or uptime guarantees stated. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | Loyalty and memberships included in Standard+ plans; recurring billing, packages, and automated invoices supported. Flexible benefits and recurring revenue workflows. Built-in recurring billing and retention tools, but specific flexibility details require demo. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Insights Hub plus KPI dashboard for revenue, retention, memberships, schedules, inventory. Role-based views, scheduled reports, AI analyst for plain-English queries and predictive insights. Real-time, drill-down by location/provider. Advanced AI analytics more prominent on higher tiers. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | Recura AI answers calls/texts/chats/forms 24/7, books into calendar, follows up leads, voice cloning. Email/SMS marketing, drip campaigns, lead management included/scaled by plan. Instant response and calendar fill. Recura is listed as add-on. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Integrated payments: card-on-file, text-to-pay, contactless, deposits, next-day funding, chart-to-checkout. Memberships/packages recurring billing. Seamless from visit to receipt; no-show fee automation. Processing details and non-use fees in terms. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | Centralized platform: open locations from existing setup, role-based access, inventory/policies across sites, location performance reports, patient booking across clinics, local marketing. Allows fast scaling without rebuild, but pricing scales with locations. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Info on wages, timesheets, tax filing, pay runs not stated on official website. Commission allocation supported. No native end-to-end payroll; external tools likely needed. |
Strengths
- Clinical depth: charting, injection tracking and photo management
- AI-powered patient engagement and marketing automation, as stated on its site
- Multi-location and asset scheduling
Limits to weigh
- Pricing is not published and is customized by practice
- Built around aesthetic and medical practices, so businesses that mix salon and medspa services should confirm fit
- Payroll and franchise settlements are not stated on the pages reviewed
Pricing: Custom pricing; no price list found on PatientNow’s public pages (checked October 8, 2026).
9. AestheticsPro
AestheticsPro is med spa software with published pricing. Its pricing page lists a mobile app, a client portal with online booking, telemedicine, an EMR form library of 500 or more customizable forms, e-prescribing, text and email marketing, and AP Photo for aligned treatment photos and side-by-side comparisons.
| Evaluation criterion | AestheticsPro: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Pro-Plus $160/mo (two users + $85/extra, up to 3); Executive $285/mo (unlimited users + multi-location); Enterprise $350/mo. Annual prepay savings available. Some features (eRx, texting, marketing) incur extra fees. Add-ons and higher tiers raise total cost |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Mobile app included across plans for access on the go; AP Photo integrated in the app. Client Portal with online booking for patients. Staff/owner mobile access plus patient self-service. Limited public detail on full native feature parity vs. desktop. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI notes | HIPAA-compliant EMR/E-Records with 500+ customizable forms, photo management, telemedicine, e-Prescribe. Kai AI Suite generates notes, forms, and documentation. Purpose-built aesthetic charting plus AI assistance. Advanced clinical tools (eRx) may cost extra. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | U.S.-based live support via in-software ticketing; 99.9% platform uptime claimed. Responsive, award-winning team plus high uptime. But support not 24/7; limited weekend hours. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | Loyalty programs, gift cards, packages, and recurring membership billing supported; automated tracking and redemptions. Built-in recurring revenue tools. Specific flexibility depth not known. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | Reporting & Insights with demographics, ledgers, filters, location-based views, Excel export; advanced/custom reporting on higher tiers. Custom comprehensive reports tied to Enterprise. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | Kai AI Suite includes Phone/Text/Website Concierge Agents (24/7 booking help); AI-assisted content creation. AP Marketing Suite for AI campaigns, email/SMS, social, automation. Built-in AI front desk and marketing. Marketing solutions may incur extra fees. |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Integrated AP Payments plus POS: electronic invoices, gift cards, credit card integration, card-on-file, recurring membership billing. Seamless in-platform checkout and automated billing. Competitive rates claimed but exact fees not fully public. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | Multi-location support starts at Executive tier (unlimited users/roles, location-aware reporting). Centralized management for scaling. Explicit multi-site capability, but not available on base Pro-Plus plan. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Staff Management includes Time Clock & Time Card, and Customizable Commission tracking. Built-in time tracking and commissions. No full end-to-end payroll (tax filing, direct deposit, pay runs) described on official pages. |
Strengths
- Published edition prices, with savings on annual prepay
- Clinical tools such as telemedicine, e-prescribe and photo markup
- Executive and Enterprise editions support multiple locations with unlimited users
Limits to weigh
- E-prescribe, AP Texting and AP Marketing Solutions may carry an additional fee
- Pro-Plus covers up to three users
- AI features and payroll with tax filing are not stated on the pricing page
Pricing: Pro-Plus $160 a month for two users plus $85 for each additional user (up to three); Executive $285 a month and Enterprise $350 a month, both with unlimited users (checked October 8, 2026).
10. Booksy
Booksy is a booking and marketplace platform for barbers, hair, nail, brow and lash, massage and spa businesses. It runs on one plan with all features included, and clients can book through the Booksy profile, Instagram, Google or the Booksy consumer app, which Booksy says reaches 44 million clients worldwide.
| Evaluation criterion | Booksy: Features and pricing |
|---|---|
| 1. Total cost as you add locations and tools | Flat $29.99/month (all features included) and $20/month per additional staff member. No feature tiers or hidden add-ons for core tools. Payment processing and hardware extra. Per-staff fees add up for larger teams; marketplace Boost can charge 30% on first visits. |
| 2. Mobile apps for owners, staff, and clients | Full Booksy Biz mobile app for owners/staff: calendar, clients, checkout, marketing. Separate Booksy for Customers app. Web and tablet also supported. Strong mobile-first design for on-the-go management. Apps are core to the platform. |
| 3. Clinical workflows for med spa services, including AI | Custom forms, client notes, and photos supported. No dedicated EMR, clinical charting, or AI-generated medical notes. AI Receptionist handles phone booking only. Basic intake forms available. Not built for clinical med-spa documentation or AI clinical notes. |
| 4. Support you can reach, and a system that stays up | Live customer support available; 99.9% platform uptime claimed. Help Center and in-app resources. High uptime and accessible support. Specific hours/SLAs not detailed on main pages. |
| 5. Memberships and packages that flex | Memberships (unlimited visits), service packages, gift cards, and digital loyalty stamp cards included. Flexible recurring options to drive loyalty. Limited advanced customization details. |
| 6. Reporting and analytics you can customize | 16+ detailed revenue/cash-flow reports, staff performance, sales trends, inventory, tax-ready docs. Search/filters and Excel-friendly. Comprehensive built-in insights. Customization depth not extensively detailed. |
| 7. AI front desk and marketing | AI Receptionist (automated phone booking). built-in email/SMS blasts, automated campaigns, social tools, Marketplace, Boost, promotions. All marketing included. AI booking and full marketing suite at no extra cost. AI limited to phone receptionist (no full front-desk agent suite). |
| 8. Payments and checkout | Fully integrated Booksy Payments: Tap to Pay, card reader, mobile/online, deposits, cancellation fees, tips, next-day or fast payouts. Seamless checkout plus no-show protection. Processing fees apply. |
| 9. Multi-location and franchise control | Shared Location feature for booth/salon-suite setups (join/leave freely). Staff permissions and shifts. No deep multi-location/franchise dashboards or centralized franchise tools described. Flexible for shared spaces. Not designed for full multi-site franchise control. |
| 10. Payroll inside the platform | Commissions (customizable by staff/sale type) and tips tracked automatically at checkout. Staff shifts and performance reports. Automatic commission/tip calculation. No full payroll details stated (wages, timesheets, tax filing, or pay runs). |
Strengths
- One plan with all features included, plus 24/7 live chat and email support
- Published processing rates and 30-minute Fast Payouts for a 1.5% fee
- Automatic review collection, email and SMS blasts and a stamp-card loyalty program
Limits to weigh
- Extra users cost $20 each, and Boost marketplace promotion costs 30% of a new client’s first visit, up to $100
- Its AI Receptionist is in beta, and appointments with No-Show Protection are not supported in the first version
- Each location uses a separate account, and its pages do not name medspas
Pricing: $29.99 a month plus $20 per extra user (checked October 5, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Boulevard?
Platforms like Zenoti, Mangomint, Vagaro and Booksy are the closest matches for most salons, spas and med spas, and the best fit depends on the size of your business and the services it offers. Zenoti suits one location to many, including clinical med spas, Mangomint suits one flat plan, and PatientNow and AestheticsPro suit practices built around a dedicated EMR. For a direct two-way view, see Zenoti vs Boulevard.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Boulevard?
Yes, several platforms publish entry prices under $30 a month, including Vagaro at $23.99, GlossGenius at $24 billed annually, Fresha at $19.95 and Booksy at $29.99. Add-ons, extra users and processing fees change the real total. Zenoti and Phorest are quote-based, so compare the full stack of tools you need, not only the first number.
What features should I look for in a salon and spa management software alternative?
Compare ten areas: total cost as you grow, mobile apps, med spa charting, support, memberships, reporting, AI front desk and marketing, payments, multi-location control, and payroll. Weigh them against your own business, because a single-location salon and a franchise need different things. Platforms like Zenoti cover all ten in one system, while others cover some through add-ons.
How difficult is it to migrate from Boulevard to an alternative?
Difficulty depends on data volume and how many locations you run. Zenoti states that a switch typically takes four to six weeks for a single-location business, with its migration team handling guest data import, service menu setup and staff configuration. Stored cards on file often set the schedule; so start that request early. The switching guide walks through the steps.
Can I migrate my salon data from Boulevard to another platform?
In most cases, yes. Guest profiles, appointment history, memberships and gift card balances are the usual scope, and each vendor sets its own limits. Zenoti’s implementation scope states that past appointments, sales and collections are loaded after go-live as contracted. Ask any vendor for its written migration scope before you sign.
What Boulevard alternatives work for multi-location businesses?
Zenoti, Vagaro, AestheticsPro, and PatientNow all support multiple locations, in different ways. Zenoti states one guest profile across centers, cross-center memberships and gift cards, and franchise settlements and royalties, with more than 400 multi-center brands. Vagaro shares customers, memberships and gift cards between grouped locations, while Booksy uses a separate account for each location.
Which Boulevard alternatives are best for client retention?
Retention comes from memberships, loyalty and follow-up. Zenoti offers auto-recurring memberships, tiered loyalty, automated referrals and segmented campaigns. Vagaro offers loyalty points, membership sharing and text marketing from $20 a month. Booksy offers email and SMS blasts and stamp-card loyalty, and Mindbody offers marketing automation on its Ultimate plan. Match the tool to how your clients rebook.
Is there a Boulevard alternative for a single-location salon?
Yes. A single-location salon, a two-provider med spa or an independent stylist can run on Zenoti, Mangomint, Vagaro, Booksy, Fresha or GlossGenius, depending on budget and services. Zenoti runs a single location on the same platform that scales to many, so adding a second location later does not require a second migration.
Which Boulevard alternative is best for a med spa?
Med spas should compare charting depth, photos, consents, e-prescribing and AI notes. Zenoti records injectable product, units, lot number and expiry date, drafts chart notes with AI Scribe (a paid add-on) and signs a BAA. Vagaro, Phorest, PatientNow and AestheticsPro also state clinical tools. Ask each vendor to demo your own treatment workflow.
Written by
Cheryl Cole, Managing Editor
Cheryl uses her background in journalism to help brands bring their unique stories to life. Passionate about content strategy, she has extensive experience leading both print and digital publications. As managing editor of The Check-In, Cheryl is committed to providing wellness professionals with high-quality, tailored content designed to help grow their brands.
Learn more about Cheryl Cole