Every booking app advertises a small, friendly number. None of them is what hits your bank account. We pulled the current prices from all four official websites and broke down what a real salon actually pays — point by point.
- Square — free to start, but no-show fees, waitlists, and email marketing all need the $49/month Plus plan.
- Fresha — cheapest paid plan ($19.95) and lowest card fees (2.29% + 20¢), but it's no longer free and takes a 20% one-time cut on new clients from its app.
- GlossGenius — $24 flat with email + text marketing included, which everyone else charges extra for.
- Vagaro — most generous base plan at $23.99, but add-ons ($10–$20 each) stack up fast.
- The real cost is card fees — at $8,000/month in card sales, you pay $200+ in processing no matter which app you pick. That's 2–5× your subscription.
01 · Prices side by sideVerified 2026 pricing for one stylist
| App | Per month | Payroll | Email marketing | Card fee (in person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square | $0 (Plus $49) | +$41 ($35 + $6) | Needs $49 Plus plan | 2.6% + 15¢ |
| Fresha | $19.95 | None built in — outside app ~$55 | 50 free, then 2¢ each | 2.29% + 20¢ |
| Vagaro | $23.99 (std. $30) | +$39 ($34 + $5) | 1,000 free/month | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| GlossGenius | $24 | +$46 ($40 + $6) | Included | 2.6% flat |
- Fresha is not free anymore — $19.95/month solo, $14.95 per stylist for teams.
- Square's paid plans are now $49 and $149 per location. Blogs still quoting $29/$69 are outdated.
02 · The fee nobody talks aboutCard processing is your real bill
- Every app takes a slice of every card payment — around 2.3–2.6% plus a few cents.
- At $8,000/month in card sales, that's roughly $205–$225 every month — about $2,500 a year.
- Your $20-something subscription is pocket change next to that.
- Rule of thumb: compare card fees first, sticker prices second.
03 · The honest breakdownWhere each app quietly gets expensive
Square Appointments $0 – $49
- Free plan is genuinely useful: unlimited calendars, booking page, reminders.
- But no-show fees, waitlists, and all email marketing need the $49 Plus plan.
- Charging a saved card for a no-show costs the top rate: 3.5% + 15¢.
- Cheapest real payroll of the four ($35 + $6/person).
Fresha $19.95
- Cheapest paid plan and the lowest card fee (2.29% + 20¢).
- Takes a one-time 20% cut (min $6) when a new client finds you via the Fresha app.
- Upload your client list on day one — or regulars get counted as "new."
- Marketing is pay-per-use: 50 free emails, then 2¢ each; texts 8¢ each.
- No tax-filing payroll — you'd need a second app (~$55/month).
Vagaro $23.99
- Generous base: marketplace listing with zero booking commission + 1,000 free emails/month.
- Add-ons stack: Forms $10, texting $20+, website $20, storage $10 — a $23.99 plan quietly becomes $95+.
- Each extra stylist calendar is $10/month; after seven, additional staff are free.
- Cancelled add-ons still bill through the end of the cycle.
GlossGenius $24
- One flat price covers booking, a website, and unlimited email + text marketing.
- Flat 2.6% card fee — no extra cents per swipe.
- The $24 plan caps at 2 users; teams move to the $48 Gold plan.
- Payroll add-on is $40 + $6/person, taxes filed for you.
What's YOUR real number?
Enter your chairs, card sales, and payroll needs — our free calculator ranks all four apps for your exact salon, with a cost heat map as you grow.
Try the free Salon Cost Calculator →04 · Real exampleOne stylist, $8,000/month in cards, payroll on
- Vagaro: ~$277/month all-in
- GlossGenius: ~$278/month all-in
- Fresha: ~$299 with outside payroll (~$244 without)
- Square: ~$306/month all-in (Plus plan + payroll)
- The takeaway: at real volume, all four land within ~$30 of each other. Pick the app whose included features replace things you'd buy separately.
05 · Quick picksWhich one should you choose?
- Just starting, tight budget → Square Free
- Solo + serious about marketing → GlossGenius
- High card volume, lowest fees → Fresha (upload that client list!)
- Growing team, 3–7 chairs → Vagaro
- Need painless payroll → Square or GlossGenius
06 · Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fresha still free?
No. It's $19.95/month for one stylist ($14.95 per stylist for teams), plus a one-time 20% cut on new clients from the Fresha app. Clients from your own website, Google, or Instagram are never charged.
Did Square raise its prices?
Yes — it's now Free, $49 (Plus), and $149 (Premium) per location. The $29/$69 numbers around the web are from the old pricing.
Which app has the lowest card fees?
Fresha, at 2.29% + 20¢ in person. Vagaro matches 2.29% once you pass $4,000/month in card sales (with a $10 monthly fee added).
How much does Vagaro really cost?
$23.99–$30 for one calendar, plus $10 per extra stylist and add-ons on top. Most working salons land between $34 and $100+ before card fees.
Why is my bill higher than the advertised price?
Card fees, add-ons, and forced plan upgrades. For most stylists, card fees alone are 2–5× the subscription.
How we checked: Every price came from the official pricing pages in July 2026 — glossgenius.com/pricing, Vagaro's support pricing page (updated July 1, 2026), squareup.com/appointments/pricing, and fresha.com/pricing — then cross-checked against independent 2026 sources. US pricing, before sales tax, hardware not included. Promos change often; confirm before you buy. No affiliate links.
