Choosing salon software: the buyer's guide
An independent checklist for choosing the right salon software. Eight criteria, a fair comparison and no sales talk. Download this guide as a PDF and bring it into your decision.
Why a buyer's guide?
Salon software is an investment that lasts for years. The wrong choice costs you time, money and frustration - the right one makes your salon run smoother and grow.
This guide helps you compare objectively. We lay out what to look for, the questions to ask every vendor and how Salonnare compares to typical alternatives.
Eight things to look for
Online booking calendar
24/7 bookable, mobile-friendly, with buffers, double-booking prevention and staff selection. Ask: can the widget go in your Instagram bio?
Point of sale (POS)
VAT split, paper and email receipts, iDEAL and card payments, gift cards. Ask: do you connect your own Stripe/Mollie or must it go through the vendor?
Client record (CRM)
History, notes, allergies, birthday, tags, consent log and GDPR export. Ask: can you merge duplicate clients?
Inventory management
Purchase and sale prices with margin, automatic deduction on sale and low-stock alerts. Ask: does inventory sync across locations?
Marketing automation
Email, SMS and WhatsApp, reminders, birthday mails and Google review requests. Ask: can you build your own templates?
Privacy and data location
GDPR-compliant, servers in Europe, and a separate secure place for health data (Art. 9). Ask: where is my data physically stored?
Price and fair terms
Transparent monthly price, no hidden transaction fees and no lock-in. Ask: can I export my data if I leave?
Support in your language
Reachable, personal support with knowledge of the local market. Ask: do I talk to a human or a chatbot?
Salonnare vs a typical alternative
A fair overview based on the eight criteria above.
| Feature | Salonnare | Typical alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Embeddable booking widget | Sometimes | |
| Connect your own Stripe/Mollie | Often forced via provider | |
| Free starter plan | ||
| Servers in Europe (GDPR) | Varies | |
| Separate vault for health data (Art. 9) | ||
| Five languages | Sometimes | |
| Data export on cancellation | Not always | |
| Personal native-language support | Varies |
Compare salon software: pricing per provider
Indicative monthly prices and how each provider makes money, so you compare like for like. Salonnare charges a flat monthly fee with no commission or transaction margin.
| Provider | Price per month | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Salonnare | €0 / €29 / €59 | Flat monthly fee, no commission, your own payment account (Stripe/Mollie) |
| Salonized | ca. €30+ | Flat monthly fee, no free plan |
| Treatwell | ca. €50+ | + approx. €2.50-3.50 commission per booking |
| Fresha | €0 | + approx. 1.19% + €0.20 per online payment |
| Booksy | ca. $29,99 | Freemium + Boost commission on marketplace bookings |
| Da Vinci | ca. €27,95 | Flat monthly fee |
| Mindbody | ca. €130+ | Flat monthly fee, often annual contract |
| Essalon | ca. €15,95 | Flat monthly fee |
Prices are indicative ("approx.") and can change - always check current rates with the provider.
What makes Salonnare unique
Fair pricing
A transparent monthly rate, a free starter plan and no hidden transaction fees on your payments.
Your data stays yours
Servers in Europe, full GDPR compliance and an export whenever you want. No lock-in.
Everything in one platform
Booking, POS, CRM, inventory and marketing in one system - no separate tools to stitch together.
Built in the Netherlands
Developed for the Dutch market, with native support and knowledge of iDEAL, VAT and business registration.
Frequently asked questions about comparing salon software
What is the best salon software?
It depends on your salon, but for booking-led businesses the key factors are: payments to your own account, automatic VAT handling, a free starter plan and no per-booking commission. Salonnare offers this as a flat monthly fee (Free €0, Starter €29, Pro €59); marketplaces like Treatwell charge a commission per booking and Fresha a transaction fee per online payment.
How much does salon software cost per month?
Most packages for small to mid-size salons range from €0 to €60 per month. Salonnare: Free €0, Starter €29, Pro €59. With commission or transaction models (Treatwell, Fresha, Booksy) always run your own booking and payment volume - it can exceed a flat monthly fee when you are busy.
What should I look for when comparing salon booking systems?
Look at: an embeddable booking widget for your own site, whether you can connect your own Stripe/Mollie, VAT handling, EU data location, and whether commission or transaction fees apply. The eight-criteria checklist above helps you compare systematically.
Does Salonnare have a free plan?
Yes. The Free plan is €0 per month for 1 staff member and 50 bookings per month, no credit card. You only upgrade to Starter (€29) or Pro (€59) as your salon grows.
Ready to try Salonnare?
Start for free and experience how simple salon software can be.