Vagaro vs Booksy vs GlossGenius: StyleSeat costs less to start.
Vagaro is $23.99 then $30 a month plus $10 per extra staff calendar, Booksy $29.99 plus tax and $20 per extra user, GlossGenius $28 to $168. StyleSeat is one plan at $35 a month after trial, with $0 card fees for 21 days, 1.9% + 30¢ for six months and a new-client fee capped at $50.
No credit card · $35/mo after trial · 1.9% + 30¢ for six months · Cancel anytime
Low entry fees, then the bill grows with you.
What each platform advertises, and what a working pro actually pays once staff, add-ons and tiers are counted. Prices checked on each company's website in September 2026.
Three growth features. Vagaro, Booksy and GlossGenius don't have all three.
Booking, payments and client records are table stakes: everyone has them. The features that put money in your pocket are where the platforms split.
Prices checked on each company's website and help center in September 2026. StyleSeat text marketing starts with 500 free credits, then packs from $5 for 750 credits.
Booksy, GlossGenius and Square vs StyleSeat: your first year.
Solo pro, $6,000 a month in card sales, $120 average ticket, all in person: subscription plus card fees for year one, before New Client Connection fees. From year two, compare the ongoing subscription and standard card rates. Square’s free plan costs $1,962 a year in this model.
Weighing one in particular? Go deep.
Vagaro operates. StyleSeat multiplies.
An operations system with POS, payroll and a marketplace that charges 20% on new-client bookings. $23.99 for six months, then $30, plus $10 per extra staff calendar and paid add-ons.
Bundled marketing, capped upside.
Marketing is included, but there's no automatic peak pricing, seats cost $20 each, and the Boost fee can hit $100 per new client.
Their app lets you book clients. Ours delivers them.
Polished booking software at $28 to $168 a month. There's no GlossGenius marketplace, so new clients come from your own marketing and Google.
“I love waking up to new bookings overnight and when my gaps get filled without me having to do a thing. It's kept my books full even in this difficult economy.”
Jene Bethea, hairstylist · Trustpilot, July 2025“Being a Top Pro on StyleSeat has been extremely beneficial to my business. I've been connected to over 40 new clients since the beginning of the year.”
Yvette, hairstylist, Top Pro · Trustpilot, July 2025“Once I got on StyleSeat, clients could see my availability in real time and book themselves. It's helped me raise my prices confidently over time because clients see the value clearly.”
Susanna, hairstylist, 14 years in the industry · Trustpilot, July 2025Where they win, and who they're for.
StyleSeat is built for solo pros and small teams who want new clients found for them. If you run a large staff or a retail floor, one of these may fit better.
Questions pros ask before switching
What is the best booking app for hair stylists and barbers?
It depends on your business. For solo pros who want new clients, StyleSeat costs less to start: $35 a month after trial, $0 card fees for 21 days and 1.9% + 30¢ for six months, with marketing tools and a marketplace listing included. For small teams, our first-year model still comes in under Booksy and GlossGenius. Vagaro and GlossGenius suit larger teams that need payroll or POS.
What is New Client Connection, and what does it cost?
When StyleSeat's marketplace brings you a new client, you pay 30% of their first appointment, capped at $50, and $0 during your trial. Return visits from that client have no new-client fee. Booksy's Boost caps at $100; GlossGenius has no marketplace.
What is Smart Pricing?
Smart Pricing finds your high-demand slots and raises the price for those times. StyleSeat's fee is 5.5% of the full smart-priced appointment, and $0 during your trial, so you keep the price increase minus that fee. We found no demand pricing on Vagaro, Booksy or GlossGenius.
Is Vagaro's $23.99 the real price?
It's a six-month introductory rate. After that Vagaro is $30 a month, plus $10 for each extra staff calendar. Add-ons like Forms ($10), the Online Shopping Cart for deposits ($10) and text marketing (from $20) cost extra. StyleSeat is $35 a month after a 21-day free trial, with marketing, loyalty tools and a marketplace listing included.
Are Smart Pricing and New Client Connection mandatory?
They only charge when they bring you something: a smart-priced booking or a new client's first visit. To turn either off, ask our support team.
Start at $0 in fees. Grow for $35 a month.
Free 21-day trial with $0 card fees, then 1.9% + 30¢ for six months and $35 a month, with Smart Pricing, automated messages and marketing tools included.
Prices checked on each company's website in September 2026. First-year figures are a model, not a guarantee.