Choosing your software.

Honest looks at booking software - what things cost, how they compare, and what actually fits your business.

Choosing your softwareAugust 28, 20266 min read

StyleSeat pricing and fees, explained for 2026

What StyleSeat costs the pro, what it charges your clients, and the new-client commission - laid out with a worked example, checked August 2026.

Choosing your softwareAugust 26, 202610 min read

The best booking apps for lash techs in 2026

Six booking apps for lash artists compared: fill cadences, mandatory deposits, Instagram booking links, and real August 2026 prices - with a one-line verdict for each.

Choosing your softwareAugust 24, 20268 min read

6 GlossGenius alternatives worth a look in 2026

GlossGenius is polished, but it is not for everyone: payments are US-only and the best features sit in higher tiers. Six alternatives compared with real prices and honest verdicts.

Choosing your softwareAugust 22, 202610 min read

The best barber booking apps in 2026

Six booking apps for barbers and barber shops - Booksy, Squire, theCut, and more - compared on real prices, per-chair costs, and client fees, with a one-line verdict for each.

Choosing your softwareAugust 20, 20266 min read

Fresha pricing in 2026: what it really costs now

Fresha dropped its free plan in July 2026. Here is the full current price list - subscription, per-team-member cost, and the new-client fee - with a worked example of what a $60 appointment actually costs.

Choosing your softwareAugust 19, 202610 min read

The best nail salon booking apps in 2026

Seven booking apps for nail techs and nail salons, compared honestly: real prices, per-tech costs, marketplace fees, and a one-line verdict for each - including our own.

Choosing your softwareJuly 26, 20267 min read

Vagaro vs GlossGenius: an honest comparison for 2026

Two of the biggest names in beauty booking, priced side by side. Where Vagaro's per-calendar math beats GlossGenius's tier jumps, where it doesn't, and who each one actually fits.

Choosing your softwareJuly 25, 20267 min read

Fresha vs Booksy: which one fits your business in 2026?

Fresha and Booksy look alike from a distance - both polished, both marketplaces, both take a cut of a new client's first visit. Here is where they actually differ.

Choosing your softwareJuly 25, 20267 min read

Vagaro vs Square Appointments: which should you pick in 2026?

Square gives solos free scheduling with payments built in; Vagaro brings beauty-specific depth and a marketplace. Here is how the two really compare on price and fit.

Choosing your softwareJuly 24, 20267 min read

Booksy vs Vagaro: which one fits your salon in 2026?

Booksy and Vagaro top most salon software lists, and they win in different ways. Here is the pricing math, the trade-offs, and a fair verdict.

Choosing your softwareJuly 24, 20266 min read

Square Appointments pricing: what you actually pay in 2026

Square Appointments has one of the few genuinely free plans in booking software - until your team grows. Here is what each plan costs, and where the bill jumps.

Choosing your softwareJuly 23, 20267 min read

Booksy alternatives that keep pricing simple in 2026

Booksy's marketplace brings real clients, but per-staff pricing and the 30% Boost fee add up. Here are five alternatives compared honestly - ours included.

Choosing your softwareJuly 23, 20266 min read

Booksy pricing in 2026: what it really costs

Booksy starts at $29.99 a month, but per-staff fees and the 30% Boost commission change the math fast. Here is the real bill for a solo barber and a four-person shop.

Choosing your softwareJuly 22, 20266 min read

Vagaro pricing in 2026: what you'll really pay per month

Vagaro starts at $30 a month, but calendars, add-ons, and processing change the picture. Here is the full math, with a realistic bill for a solo and a three-chair shop.

Choosing your softwareJuly 22, 20269 min read

The best salon booking apps and systems in 2026

Seven salon booking systems, one honest comparison: real prices, per-staff costs, marketplace fees, and a one-line verdict for each - including our own.

Choosing your softwareJuly 21, 20267 min read

Fresha alternatives: 6 honest options for 2026

Fresha is not free anymore, and the 20% new-client fee changes the math. Here are six honest alternatives - what they cost, what they do well, and who each one fits.

Choosing your softwareJuly 21, 20267 min read

6 Vagaro alternatives for salons and solo pros (2026)

Per-calendar fees, add-on creep, and a marketplace that lists you beside competitors - if Vagaro stopped fitting, here are six alternatives compared honestly, prices included.

Choosing your softwareJuly 20, 20266 min read

GlossGenius pricing: what each plan really costs in 2026

GlossGenius runs $28 to $168 a month before card processing. Here is what each plan includes, which fees show up later, and what a real monthly bill looks like.