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Vagaro vs Phorest Salon Software Comparison

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Vagaro

4.3(2,563 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

Vagaro is a spa, salon and beauty management software designed exclusively for salons, spas and medical aesthetic centers. A cloud-based platform with integrated mobile services, the software enables businesses to be mor…

Phorest Salon Software

4.6(393 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Medium Business
  • Large Enterprises

Phorest Salon Software is an all-in-one solution used by over 155,000 hair, beauty, and clinic professionals worldwide. Phorest believes in the human touch at the heart of the salon community. Known globally for providin…

Phorest Salon Software leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 393 reviews.

SpotSaaS Analysis

VagaroPhorest Salon Software

The core difference between Vagaro and Phorest Salon Software lies in their target audience, with Vagaro catering to small to medium salons and spas, while Phorest is designed for mid-to-large establishments. Ideal buyers for Vagaro are freelancers and small business owners seeking an all-in-one management solution, whereas Phorest is suited for larger salons focused on advanced marketing and booking capabilities.

- Best for small to medium salons and spas - Offers all-in-one management features - Streamlined appointment booking - Integrated platform for scheduling and payments - Suitable for freelancers and small businesses - Focuses on ease of use

- Best for mid-to-large salons - Emphasizes integrated marketing tools - Tailored for salons with 51+ employees - Industry-leading client retention features - Advanced booking capabilities - Designed for larger business operations

Vagaro vs Phorest Salon Software — at a glance

FeatureVagaroPhorest Salon Software
Rating4.3 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews2,563393
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessMedium Business, Large Enterprises
CategorySpa and Salon Management SoftwareSpa and Salon Management Software
Integrations2+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
API
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineBusiness Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyGlobalGlobal

Key differences between Vagaro and Phorest Salon Software

  • Free trial: Vagaro offers a free trial; Phorest Salon Software does not.
  • Target audience: Vagaro is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Phorest Salon Software targets Medium Business and Large Enterprises.
  • User satisfaction: Phorest Salon Software scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: Vagaro supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Phorest Salon Software supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

Vagaro vs Phorest Salon Software — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Spa and Salon Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Vagaro
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Vagaro

Best for small to medium salons and spas needing easy, all-in-one management.

Choose if
  • You run a salon, spa, or medical aesthetic center seeking streamlined appointment booking.
  • You want an integrated platform combining scheduling, payments, inventory, and marketing tools.
  • You prefer a user-friendly, low-complexity system suitable for small business owners and front-desk staff.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business requires highly customizable reporting and advanced client profile management.
  • You need enterprise-grade data accuracy and sophisticated client merging capabilities.

Phorest Salon Software

Best for mid-to-large salons needing integrated marketing and booking tools.

Choose if
  • You operate a hair salon, beauty clinic, or spa with 51+ employees.
  • You want industry-leading marketing features tailored to salon client retention.
  • You need a user-friendly cloud system with strong customer support and training.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require highly customizable reporting and advanced data analytics.
  • You are a small or solo salon seeking a low-cost, simple booking solution.

Vagaro: Best for small to medium salons and spas needing easy, all-in-one management. Phorest Salon Software: Best for mid-to-large salons needing integrated marketing and booking tools.

Description

Vagaro is a spa, salon and beauty management software designed exclusively for salons, spas and medical aesthetic centers. A cloud-based platform with integrated mobile services, the ... Read More about Vagaro

Phorest Salon Software is an all-in-one solution used by over 155,000 hair, beauty, and clinic professionals worldwide. Phorest believes in the human touch at the heart of the salon ... Read More about Phorest Salon Software

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.4/10

9.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

Best Company Size

FreelancersSmall to medium businesses
51-500 employees501+ employees
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Software Demo

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How do Vagaro and Phorest Salon Software Compare on Features?

Total Features

11 Features

23 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Vagaro and Phorest Salon Software on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Other Details

Organization Types supported

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business
  • Small Business
  • Individuals
  • Freelancers
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business
  • Small Business

Platforms Supported

  • Browser Based (Cloud)
  • Mobile - Android
  • Mobile - iOS
  • Installed - Windows
  • Installed - Mac
  • Browser Based (Cloud)
  • Browser Based (Cloud)
  • Mobile - Android
  • Mobile - iOS
  • Installed - Windows
  • Installed - Mac
  • Browser Based (Cloud)

Modes of support

  • 24/7 (Live rep)
  • Business Hours
  • Online
  • 24/7 (Live rep)
  • Business Hours
  • Online

API Support

  • Not Available
  • Not Available
Get help choosing
Get help choosing

Security & Compliance

Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

HIPAA

✗ No
✗ No

GDPR

✓ Yes

Data Encryption

✓ Yes

Data Residency

🌐 Global
🌐 Global

Vagaro User Reviews & Rating Comparison

User Ratings

Rating Distribution

32

21

3

0

3

29

11

0

0

0

Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

Buyer sentiment

Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use and comprehensive features, tempered by concerns about portal glitches and limited customization.

What buyers like

  • Ease of use
  • Comprehensive functionality
  • Efficient appointment management

Common complaints

  • Portal performance issues
  • Limited customization options

Buyer sentiment

Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use, strong customer support, and comprehensive salon management features, with some concerns about customization and app intuitiveness.

What buyers like

  • Ease of use
  • Customer support
  • Integrated marketing and booking features

Common complaints

  • Limited customization
  • Time format and appointment detail complexities

Pros and Cons

  • Streamlined online booking process for clients and providers

  • Comprehensive all-in-one platform including scheduling, payments, and reporting

  • User-friendly interface with intuitive controls and appointment tracking

  • Lag time and occasional glitches in the client web portal

  • Limited customization options for reports and rewards program

  • Excellent training and customer support

  • Comprehensive features including online booking, marketing tools, and integrated credit card processing

  • User-friendly cloud-based system with mobile app access

  • Lack of custom report generation

  • Limited customizability in online booking features

Positive Reviews

No reviews available for the product

No reviews available for the product

Negative Reviews

No reviews available for the product

No reviews available for the product

Integrations

Integration with other apps

No Integration information available.

Media and Screenshots

Screenshots

No screenshots available.

Phorest Salon Software

4 Screenshots

Videos

video-0

5 Videos

video-0

3 Videos

Top Alternatives to Vagaro and Phorest Salon Software in 2026

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Related Blogs and Articles for Spa And Salon Management Software

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

Frequently asked questions

Which is better, Vagaro or Phorest Salon Software?
Phorest Salon Software edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.3). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
Do Vagaro and Phorest Salon Software offer a free trial?
Vagaro offers a free trial. Phorest Salon Software does not.
What is the starting price of Vagaro vs Phorest Salon Software?
Vagaro starts at Contact for pricing. Phorest Salon Software starts at Contact for pricing.
What are the top alternatives to Vagaro?
Top alternatives to Vagaro include Rosy Salon Software, Wisor, Salonized, Bodytude, Versum.
What are the top alternatives to Phorest Salon Software?
Top alternatives to Phorest Salon Software include SalonBiz, Orchid Spa Software, STX Cloud, Treatwell, SalonTarget.

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