A small salon should pay $30 to $150 a month for the booking software subscription itself. Card processing, texts, and add-ons push the real total higher, usually to $200 to $400 a month for a three-person salon.
I checked the published pricing of the three vendors small salons ask about most, Fresha, Vagaro, and Booksy, in November 2026. This guide adds up the subscription, processing fees, and marketplace commissions, so you can budget before you sign up.
For the full breakdown of every fee type, read our guide to the real cost of salon software. It covers the charges every vendor applies, not just the three named here.
What a small salon typically pays each month
Most small salons pay between $20 and $110 a month for the subscription alone. The exact figure depends on team size, because every vendor prices by chairs, calendars, or team members.
| Team size | Fresha | Vagaro | Booksy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | $19.95 | $30 ($23.99 intro) | $29.99 |
| 3 people | $44.85 | $50 | $69.99 |
| 5 people | $74.75 | $70 | $109.99 |
Fresha is the cheapest at every size here, because its Team plan charges $14.95 per bookable team member. Vagaro charges per bookable calendar, so three chairs cost $50 a month at the standard rate.
Booksy costs more as the team grows: $29.99 for the first person and $20 for each extra team member. A five-person team pays $109.99 a month, before tax or card fees.
These are subscription prices only. None include card processing, text messages, or marketplace commissions, which is where the bill grows. Our Vagaro pricing guide and Booksy pricing guide work out each vendor in full.
The add-on costs that push the bill up
Card processing is usually the biggest add-on, and it is charged on every sale. Booksy charges 2.49% plus $0.10 through its card reader, and Vagaro charges 2.6% plus $0.10 in person for smaller volumes.
Text messages are the next add-on to check. Vagaro charges $20 a month for text marketing, and reminders sit outside that charge on some plans. Count how many texts your salon actually sends before you pay for a bundle.
Single add-ons can cost more than the base plan. Vagaro charges $20 a month for its website builder, $10 for forms, and $100 a month for a branded client app. Payroll costs $34 a month plus $5 per employee.
Hardware is a one-off cost. Booksy sells its smaller card reader for $53.10 plus shipping, and the larger Stripe reader costs $299 plus shipping.
PandaCue takes a different approach on processing. Its paid plans charge 0% payment markup, so the card network rate is the only processing cost. Our payments and POS guide and the payments feature page list what is included.
Commission vs flat-fee: the math for a small salon
Marketplace commission is the charge most owners miss, because it only applies when the platform finds you a client. Fresha takes a one-time 20% commission on the first booking from a new marketplace client, with a $6 minimum in the US.
Booksy Boost works on the same idea at a higher rate. It is free to switch on, but each new client it brings costs a one-time 30% of that first visit, with a $10 minimum and a $100 cap in the US.
Take a salon with an $85 average ticket that gains ten new marketplace clients a month. Fresha takes $17 per client, or $170 a month. Boost takes $25.50 per client, or $255 a month.
A flat-fee platform charges $0 on those same clients. Vagaro takes nothing from marketplace bookings, and charges per bookable calendar instead. Our Fresha commission guide works out the 20% fee visit by visit.
The deciding question is where your clients come from. If most find you through your own marketing, commission stays small. If the marketplace brings most new clients, a flat monthly fee usually costs less.
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What a small salon should budget each month
Budget the subscription, processing, and commission together, not one at a time. The example below uses a three-person salon doing 100 appointments a month at an $85 average ticket, or $8,500 in revenue.
| Cost | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Subscription, 3 people (Booksy) | $69.99 |
| Card processing (2.49% + $0.10 x 100) | $221.65 |
| Boost (5 new clients, $85) | $127.50 |
| Total | $419.14 |
The monthly total is $419.14 with Boost on, or $291.64 with it off. Over a year, the difference is $1,530, which is why Boost belongs in the marketing budget rather than the software budget.
A solo operator can budget less. One calendar or one team member costs $19.95 to $30 a month, and card processing on $3,000 of revenue costs about $75 at a rate near 2.5%. A realistic solo total is $100 to $125.
PandaCue prices differently from the per-person vendors. Its Studio plan costs $197 a month and includes unlimited staff, unlimited bookings, 1,500 booking texts, and 1,000 message credits, with no setup fees.
How to tell if you are overpaying
Start with the intro rate. Vagaro lists $23.99 for a solo calendar, but that rate lasts six months, and the same calendar costs $30 from month seven. Check what your bill shows now, not at signup.
Then list the add-ons you actually use. A branded app at $100 a month is the most common waste, because few small salons need their own app. Question text marketing at $20 a month too if your clients mostly book online.
Compare your commission bill with a flat fee. Ten new marketplace clients a month at an $85 ticket costs $170 on Fresha or $255 on Booksy Boost. If most return, the fee is a fair acquisition cost.
If few return, a flat-fee platform costs less. That is the test: divide your commission by the new clients who came back a second time. If the cost per returning client beats your profit on their first visit, switch.
A free plan can also hide a cost. PandaCue has a $0 plan with one location, one staff member, 50 bookings a month, and 200 clients. It suits a solo professional starting out, but a growing salon outgrows it fast.
Our roundup of the best free salon booking software is honest about what free plans leave out.
Frequently asked questions
How much does salon booking software cost per month?
A small salon pays $30 to $150 a month for the subscription, before processing and commissions. A solo operator pays $19.95 to $30, and a three-person salon pays $44.85 to $69.99 for the subscription alone.
What is the cheapest salon software for a small salon?
On subscription price alone, Fresha is cheapest: $19.95 a month solo, or $14.95 per team member. But commission changes the answer, because ten new marketplace clients a month at an $85 ticket adds $170 in Fresha fees.
Is there a free plan for small salons?
Booksy offers a 14-day free trial, not a free plan. PandaCue has a $0 plan with one location, one staff member, and 50 bookings a month. Check what the free tier leaves out before you rely on it.
Prices here are published US rates, checked in November 2026. See the Fresha commission guide, the Vagaro pricing guide, and the Booksy pricing guide for the current figures.
See what your salon would actually pay.
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