Nail salon software is booking, scheduling, payments, and client records in one system. It is built for manicures, pedicures, acrylics, gel sets, and fills, not for general appointments.
A nail chair runs on timing. A gel set, a fill, and a pedicure take different lengths and leave different gaps when a client cancels.
I work with beauty pros on their booking setups, and I test these tools as a client would. A pretty booking page hides weak deposits, messy chair scheduling, and missing nail notes.
What nail salon software must do
First, it must handle nail services by time and tech. A full set, a two week fill, and a soak off need different times, prices, and notes, and the chair plan must keep them apart.
Second, it must protect chairs with deposits and reminders. Nail clients book weeks ahead, so a no show leaves a long gap that is hard to refill at short notice.
Third, it must keep nail notes in one place. Polish shade, gel or acrylic type, nail shape, and any allergy or reaction should travel with the client record.
Fourth, it must make rebooking simple. Clients who can book their next fill before they leave the chair stay on schedule, and the salon keeps a steadier book.
Run each finalist against our 12 features checklist before you commit. If you are new to this kind of software, our guide to what salon management software is and how salon booking software works explains the basics.
The 7 best nail salon software at a glance
- PandaCue, best all-in-one option.
- Vagaro, best low monthly cost.
- Fresha, best free start.
- Booksy, best marketplace reach.
- GlossGenius, best simple solo setup.
- Square Appointments, best payments pairing.
- Mangomint, best multi-chair scheduling.
Pricing figures below were last verified in October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm the current plan page before you sign up.
How we ranked: nail service scheduling, deposits and reminders, client notes, payments, and price clarity. PandaCue ranks first for all-in-one salons; other rankings reflect fit, not quality alone.
The 7 best nail salon software in detail
1. PandaCue
PandaCue is the all-in-one option built for beauty and wellness businesses. Online booking, scheduling, payments, client records, and automated reminders live in one system, so fills, deposits, and nail notes stay linked.
For a nail salon, that single system matters because a fill is never a one off booking. The record holds the last set, the next fill date, and the deposit.
2. Vagaro
Vagaro is a strong low cost option for nail salons with several chairs. It covers booking, scheduling, and payments, and many nail clients already know how to find salons on it.
Pricing starts at about $23.99 per bookable calendar, based on our October 2026 check. That per calendar model suits a salon that wants to add chairs one at a time.
Watch add on costs as you grow. Price the full setup, not the first plan alone.
3. Fresha
Fresha is the best free start for a new nail salon. Its core booking, scheduling, and payments tools carry no monthly fee, which helps a salon that is still building its book.
The cost sits in the marketplace. Fresha charges 20 percent on new clients booked through its marketplace, based on our October 2026 check, while direct bookings avoid that fee.
That split works well if most clients come direct. If most find you through Fresha, the commission can cost more than a flat plan.
Online booking, POS, client records, and marketing in one place, with no add-on stack.
4. Booksy
Booksy is the best marketplace reach for nail salons. Clients search for nail services in the app, so a salon can pick up new bookings without running its own ads.
Pricing is about $29.99 per month for a solo pro, plus about $20 per extra team member, based on our October 2026 check. Boost bookings add 30 percent on a first visit.
Booksy suits salons that want discovery first. If your book is already full, a flat plan may cost less over a year.
5. GlossGenius
GlossGenius is the best simple solo setup for a single nail tech. Booking, payments, and a clean client facing page come in one tidy package, with little setup time.
Standard pricing is $24 per month billed yearly, or $28 per month billed monthly, based on our October 2026 check. That clarity makes it easy to compare with per chair plans.
It is less suited to a large multi chair salon, which may need deeper scheduling and staff tools.
6. Square Appointments
Square Appointments is the best payments pairing for nail salons that already use Square. Booking and card payments share one system, so checkout and tips stay simple.
The solo plan is free, based on our October 2026 check, which makes it a low risk way to test online booking. Paid team plans add staff scheduling and deeper tools.
Check the limits before you rely on it alone. A busy salon may still need stronger reminders and deposits than the free plan gives.
7. Mangomint
Mangomint is the best multi-chair scheduling option in this list. It is built for salons with several techs, where chair plans, service times, and client records must stay in sync.
Pricing is custom and quoted on request, based on our October 2026 check. Ask for a quote that covers every chair and every tool you plan to use.
Mangomint suits a growing salon that has outgrown a solo tool. A single tech may find it more than the chair needs.
Comparison table: all 7 nail salon tools
| Software | Best for | Key strength | Pricing hint |
|---|---|---|---|
| PandaCue | All-in-one salons | Booking, payments, and client notes in one system | Flat plan, no per chair add on stack |
| Vagaro | Low monthly cost | Per calendar pricing for growing chairs | From about $23.99 per bookable calendar |
| Fresha | Free start | Core tools free, large marketplace | Free core, 20 percent new client marketplace fee |
| Booksy | Marketplace reach | Client discovery in the app | About $29.99 solo, plus about $20 per extra member |
| GlossGenius | Simple solo setup | Clean booking and payments page | $24 yearly billing, $28 monthly billing |
| Square Appointments | Payments pairing | Square checkout and tips in one place | Free solo plan |
| Mangomint | Multi-chair scheduling | Deep scheduling for larger teams | Custom quote on request |
Pricing in this table was last verified in October 2026. Confirm the current plan page before you sign up, since vendors change plans often.
How to choose for your nail salon
Start with your chair count. A solo tech needs a simple page and payments, while a six chair salon needs chair plans, deposits, and staff views.
Next, check where your clients come from. A marketplace helps a new salon, while a full salon may save money on a flat plan with direct bookings.
Finally, test the fill flow as a client. Book a fill, change it, and pay a deposit, then check the notes and reminder still match.
For related picks, see our guides to the best salon booking software, the best spa scheduling software, the best barbershop booking app, and the best booking apps for lash techs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best software for a nail salon?
PandaCue is the best all-in-one pick here, because booking, payments, and client notes live in one system. The right pick still depends on chair count and budget.
Is there free nail salon software?
Yes, Fresha offers core booking tools free, and Square Appointments offers a free solo plan. Both have limits, so check deposits, reminders, and team tools before you commit.
How much does nail salon software cost?
Costs range from free solo plans to about $30 per month for a solo pro, plus per chair or per member fees. Marketplace tools may add a commission on new clients, so compare the full monthly cost.
Can I switch nail salon software without losing clients?
In most cases, yes, if you export your client list and future bookings before you move. Keep your old system open until every future booking and deposit is confirmed in the new one.
The bottom line
A nail salon needs software that respects service times, protects chairs, and keeps nail notes with the client. The cheapest plan is not the best pick if it leaves gaps in that flow.
Start with PandaCue if you want one system for booking, payments, and client records. Test your top two finalists as a client first.
Run your nail salon on one system: booking, chairs, payments, and client notes together.