Beauty salon software isn’t one-size-fits-all. However, using the right platform can transform your day-to-day operations, whether you need better client follow-up or smoother team scheduling.
The right choice can be the difference between missed opportunities and a consistently booked calendar.
In this post, you’ll learn how to select a software solution to streamline your day-to-day operations, make more money or create a better customer experience (CX).
1. Pipedrive: best for growing revenue and client management
Pipedrive is a visual CRM (customer relationship management) tool for beauty salons focused on driving revenue growth.
The platform helps you track client interactions, follow up at the right time and build loyalty through consistent communication.
Unlike generic salon software that only lists contacts, Pipedrive helps you see where each client is in their journey (e.g., when they’ve booked a first appointment or haven’t visited in months).
Custom pipelines help you track past conversations and segment clients for promos or referrals:
Let’s say the front desk team of your nail salon wants to re-engage VIP clients who haven’t booked in 90+ days.
With Pipedrive, you can build automated workflows (step-by-step processes that run based on specific triggers you set) that:
Automatically tags these clients as “At-risk”
Sends them a personalized check-in email
Reminds your team to follow up if they don’t respond in three days
Offers a loyalty discount to bring them back
This kind of automation means fewer missed opportunities and more repeat visits without extra work for busy salons without a full-time sales team.
Pipedrive’s key features for the beauty industry include:
Custom client pipelines. Create stages like “First visit”, “No-show”, “Ready for upsell” or “Needs a touch-up” so your team always knows where each customer stands.
Automated appointment reminders. Set up workflows to remind clients to rebook every 6–8 weeks (perfect for hair color, nails or skincare services).
Client profiles and history tracking. Keep a record of services, product purchases, allergies and preferences so every visit feels personal.
Email marketing campaigns. Send personalized check-ins, birthday offers or product promotions via Campaigns to build stronger client relationships.
Team task assignments. Assign follow-up tasks to receptionists or stylists so no customer falls through the cracks.
Reporting dashboard. Track re-booking patterns, conversion rates and upsell effectiveness to see which sales tactics work.
According to one small business owner’s review:
Pipedrive’s CRM system and sales reports are perfect for salons that want to stay organized, close more bookings and keep clients coming back.
2. Fresha: best for scheduling and online booking
Fresha’s beauty salon booking software handles everything from online appointments to payments without the complexity of bigger systems.
The calendar view makes it easy for customers to book online 24/7, while helping you manage no-shows and staff availability:
It’s handy for salons without a receptionist or solo stylists who want to stay focused on clients rather than admin.
Consider a busy hairstylist managing booking requests across multiple channels: DMs, text messages and phone calls.
With Fresha, you don’t even need a website to manage your schedule. Clients can book through social media, Google or SMS links with confirmation messages and reminders.
As bookings automatically sync to your calendar, you can free up hours of weekly admin and create a more professional online experience.
Fresha’s beauty salon appointment software includes key features like:
Automated confirmations and reminders. Cut down booking gaps with email and SMS notifications before every appointment.
Smart calendar management. Block time for lunch or days off, and easily adjust working hours for yourself or your staff.
Built-in no-show protection. Require debit or credit cards on file to reduce last-minute cancellations and lost income.
Client history and notes. Keep track of visit history, preferences and notes tied to each booking.
Integrated payments and POS system. Accept payments and manage tips from one place.
According to one user review:
Fresha’s salon management software takes the chaos out of appointment scheduling for business owners, clients and stylists.
3. Vagaro: best for marketing automation
Vagaro is a beauty salon platform that helps you get discovered (without more admin work) and streamline your CX from first search to repeat visits.
For example, the AI-powered marketing tool helps you write effective reminder emails or promo texts in seconds.
At the same time, list your services in the Vagaro Marketplace and get new customers on autopilot:
You can also personalize your booking flow with custom forms and reward loyal clients with redeemable points.
Take a skin clinic that offers consultations, facial packages and product recommendations. New clients sign up through the Marketplace, complete custom intake forms beforehand and even receive automated reminders before their appointment.
The clinic also sends digital gift cards for frequent visits and uses livestreams to host Q&As that turn viewers into buyers.
It’s a more straightforward way to impress new customers from the first interaction and keep them returning.
Vagaro’s key features for beauty salons include:
Marketplace listing. Get discovered by thousands of local people actively searching for salon service providers.
Custom digital forms. Send intake, consultation or waiver forms ahead of time to streamline in-person visits.
Automated rewards system. Create loyalty programs and automatically let clients earn points or perks based on spending, visits or referrals.
Livestream classes and consultations. Host events, group classes or one-on-one appointments virtually.
Branded booking page. Create a polished appointment booking experience that matches your salon’s visual identity.
According to one user review from a wellness business:
Vagaro’s suite of tools helps growth-focused salons look polished, get discovered and stay top-of-mind.
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4. Square Appointments: best budget option for new salons
Square Appointments is a booking system for service-based businesses. It’s ideal for new beauty professionals who want something professional without the steep learning curve or price tag.
Individual beauty professionals need essential booking functionality rather than comprehensive salon management systems.
Square Appointments provides core features: client booking, payment processing and automated reminders. It also has a user-friendly setup, dashboards and customer-facing pages.
Here’s the straightforward checkout page of the beauty salon management software:
For example, you may be a newly licensed nail tech who’s just started renting a chair at a local salon.
Scheduling appointments over email is becoming messy, so you set up a free booking page that links directly from your Instagram bio.
Clients see your real-time availability, choose a service and get instant confirmation. The system automatically sends reminders, and you can take payments from your phone using Square’s card reader.
Square Appointments’ key features for new beauty professionals include:
Free plan for individuals. Get booking and payment processing tools with no monthly fee.
Online booking site. Customize an appointment page that fits your style.
Automated reminders. Reduce no-shows with texts, emails and waitlists before salon appointments.
Point-of-sale integration. Accept payments and tips via card reader or tap-to-pay.
Basic client notes. Track service history or preferences for repeat clients.
Google Calendar sync. Manage your personal and salon business schedules in one place.
According to one user review:
Square Appointments is the beauty, wellness and hair salon management software that helps you run lean but show up like a pro.
5. Mangomint: best for team and staff management
Mangomint is salon business management software that makes staff scheduling, permissions and payments easy and intuitive.
It’s especially popular with multi-location salons that want smooth operations behind the scenes and a luxury client experience up front.
Let’s say you manage a barbershop with eight stylists. Each has different schedules, specialties and commission rates. With Mangomint, staff view and manage their schedules.
You can also customize access and permission levels, so each team member sees only what they need to. Here, you can set each stylist’s service durations and prices:
Mangomint also automatically splits tips based on service time or team involvement while tracking hours and breaks for accurate payroll. It handles the details that keep your team happy and days running smoothly.
Mangomint’s key features for larger salons include:
Smart employee management. Set up shifts, working hours, breaks and blackout dates across teams.
Custom user permissions. Control what each team member can see or do in the system.
Automated tip and commission handling. Ensure fair, consistent payouts with zero manual math.
Integrated time tracking. Record clock-ins/outs and sync data with payroll processing.
Stylist profile linking. Let clients book specific team members based on skills or reviews.
Mobile app access. Staff can check their schedule or update availability from their phone.
According to one nail salon owner’s review:
Mangomint’s beauty salon scheduling software takes the stress out of managing your team so you can focus on running a premium business.
How to choose the best salon software for you
Before picking a tool, it’s essential to understand that not all salon software is built the same.
Choosing the right one depends on the functionalities you need to achieve your goals, budget and current team setup.
For example, some platforms help solo owners manage their bookings, while others work best for multi-location businesses or studios focused on automated marketing.
Before you commit to a salon software, consider these five essential questions:
Question | What to look for |
What’s your most significant pain point? | Select a platform based on the category that solves your top challenge today (e.g., missing treatment requests in your DMs = beauty salon appointment scheduling software). |
Are you a solo stylist or managing a team? | Consider tools that offer scheduling, permissions and payroll if you have multiple staff. |
Are you planning to grow or expand your business? | Look for beauty and spa software that scales well (e.g., offers multi-location support) and isn’t only intended for individual use. |
How tech-savvy is your team? | Choose platforms with easy templates, great support and seamless onboarding so everyone feels confident using them. |
What’s your budget and flexibility for fees? | Consider whether you can afford a monthly subscription or a platform that takes a cut of each booking. |
Even the best software will sit unused if it doesn’t fit your goals or current workflows. Instead of opting for flashy technology, think of it like hiring a team member.
Pick a tool that fills the gap you need help with most. As your business grows, you can always add more features or integrations.
Final thoughts
The right beauty salon software depends on the job you need to do better, such as attracting new clients, managing your team or streamlining rebookings.
The system most salons overlook – but later recognize as essential – is a comprehensive CRM platform.
Try Pipedrive free for 14 days to build stronger client relationships, follow up at the right time and drive more repeat business.
