UK hair salons can choose booking software based on needs: marketplace exposure, automation, reporting, or marketing tools.
Platforms vary in focus: some prioritize internal scheduling and payments, others add loyalty programs, POS, or analytics.
Pricing ranges widely, often scaling per staff member or including marketplace commissions.
Booksy is the best hair salon booking software for UK companies it combines appointment management, payments, client management, and marketplace exposure in one platform.
It suits salons seeking both operational control and consistent client demand without using multiple systems.
You need the right booking software to streamline your salon operations, manage appointments, and improve your overall customer experience. After evaluating the leading platforms available, Booksy Biz is the best hair salon booking software for UK companies, offering the most comprehensive feature set combined with a consumer marketplace for client acquisition. However, several other platforms provide alternatives depending on your salon’s specific needs and budget. In this article, we’ll explore Booksy Biz and four other booking platforms for UK hair salons.
Our Evaluation Criteria
Our team evaluated salon booking software based on comprehensive research conducted over several months in 2025 and early 2026. We analyzed pricing structures, feature sets, user ratings, integration capabilities, and marketplace offerings across platforms serving the UK market. Our methodology prioritized platforms with verified user reviews from publicly available sources including Capterra, Trustpilot, and G2, alongside transparent pricing and documented feature lists. We assessed each solution based on appointment scheduling capabilities, payment processing, client management tools, reporting functionality, and scalability for growing businesses. The ranking reflects both objective criteria like pricing and publicly available ratings, and qualitative factors including user experience and feature comprehensiveness.
Booksy Biz online booking system is the best hair salon booking software for UK companies because it delivers the most comprehensive all in one solution that combines robust operational features with marketplace driven client acquisition. Booksy Biz stands out for its ability to handle every aspect of salon management within a single system, from appointment scheduling to payment processing to new customer discovery. With a 4.8/5 user rating based on publicly available reviews, Booksy Biz demonstrates consistently high satisfaction among UK salons. The platform was specifically designed to address the complete operational needs of beauty and wellness businesses, making it particularly valuable for salons at any growth stage. For your salon seeking a complete platform that handles scheduling, payments, client management, and new customer discovery, Booksy Biz outperforms all other options in this list.
Key Features
Appointment Scheduling: Your clients can book, reschedule, and cancel appointments online, 24/7.
Client Marketplace Exposure: You gain access to Booksy’s consumer marketplace to help acquire new clients, with a 40% one time commission on the first booking from new marketplace clients.
Customizable Service Menus: You can tailor your service offerings to suit the specific needs of your clients.
Integrated Payments: You can accept payments directly through the platform with built in invoicing. Payment processing fees are approximately 1.29% + 20p + VAT per mobile transaction.
Customer Management: You can maintain detailed client profiles to offer personalized services and track preferences.
No Show Protection: Built in features help you reduce missed appointments.
Mobile Applications: Strong mobile apps for both your business and your clients ensure seamless booking experiences.
Fresha operates as a booking and payment management platform backed by a consumer marketplace. The platform was established to serve UK hair salons with scheduling functionality alongside marketplace access. It positions itself around marketplace client acquisition combined with standard booking features. The platform includes essential scheduling tools and payment processing capabilities. For salons exploring marketplace options, It provides an alternative approach with its Independent plan at approximately £14.95/month and Team plan at approximately £9.95/month per staff member.
Key Features
Client Marketplace: Access to a consumer marketplace with a 20% one time commission on marketplace bookings.
Online Booking: Clients can book appointments at any time.
Payment Integration: Accept payments through integrated processing.
Loyalty Programs: Set up reward schemes to encourage repeat visits.
Automated Reminders: Unlimited SMS and email reminders included.
Timely operates as a scheduling platform with reporting and accounting features. The software was developed for businesses that prioritize operational data and financial integrations. It includes scheduling, reminders, and reporting capabilities with connections to accounting software. The platform focuses on data visibility and automation. Pricing ranges from approximately £22 to £39 per staff member per month depending on the tier selected.
Key Features
Simple Scheduling: Drag and drop functionality for appointment management.
Automated Reminders: Automated notifications for appointments.
Advanced Reporting: Insights into performance and client retention.
Payment Integration: Process payments through TimelyPay at approximately 1.95% + 20p for UK cards.
Accounting Integrations: Integrations with accounting tools.
Staff Performance Tracking: Monitor team productivity and service delivery.
Vagaro serves various beauty and wellness businesses including hair salons. The platform includes booking, payments, and client communication capabilities alongside POS functionality. The software offers customization options for booking interfaces and website integration. The software covers scheduling, POS, payroll, marketing, and loyalty programs within its feature set. It does not charge marketplace commissions, instead emphasizing direct website booking. Starting at approximately £20/month for one location, the platform targets operations seeking broad feature coverage.
Key Features
Mobile App: Manage appointments and payments on mobile devices.
Customizable Booking Pages: Personalize booking interface to match salon branding.
Client Communication: Send reminders, confirmations, and promotional messages.
Integrated POS System: Point of sale features for transactions.
Website Integration: Website booking widgets for direct client acquisition.
Payroll and Inventory: Additional tools for business management.
Phorest operates as a booking system with marketing automation capabilities. The platform includes customizable booking alongside marketing tools, loyalty programs, and reporting features. The software provides branded booking applications and client engagement tools. The software includes SMS campaigns, email marketing, and promotional capabilities. With entry pricing starting at approximately £99/month for one staff member plus per booking fees ranging from £0.60 to £1.50 based on booking value, It represents a higher investment level targeting established operations focused on marketing automation.
Key Features
Branded Booking App: Personalized booking experience for clients through branded application.
Marketing Automation Tools: SMS campaigns, email marketing, and promotional tools.
Loyalty Program: Built in loyalty features that integrate with the booking system.
Advanced Reporting: Track metrics like client retention, service performance, and sales analytics.
High Touch Onboarding: Training and support included with the platform.
Conclusion
The best hair salon booking software depends on how a salon manages bookings, payments, and client growth. Some platforms focus on internal operations, while others prioritise online visibility or advanced reporting.
Booksy Biz is the best hair salon booking software in the UK because it combines core booking and management tools with marketplace exposure in one system. This makes it suitable for UK salons that want both operational control and consistent demand support. For businesses looking for a single platform that balances efficiency and growth, Booksy Biz offers the best overall value in this category.
FAQ
1. How does marketplace based pricing compare to traditional subscription models?
Marketplace driven platforms combine monthly fees with commission on bookings generated through their marketplace. Direct or repeat bookings often carry no commission. This structure suits salons that want to offset software costs with client acquisition, unlike higher priced platforms focused only on internal tools.
2. Are automation focused platforms suitable for large salons or businesses?
Automation focused platforms offer reporting, accounting integrations, and staff performance tracking suited to growing or large salons. They focus on operational visibility rather than client discovery. Pricing usually scales per staff member, making them better suited to businesses prioritizing financial oversight and internal management.
3. Can booking software be used for businesses beyond hair salons?
Many booking platforms support a range of beauty and wellness businesses, including spas, nail salons, and fitness studios. Features like customizable booking pages, POS integrations, and client management tools make them suitable beyond hair services. Some platforms focus on direct website bookings rather than marketplace exposure.
4. How do loyalty programs benefit salon businesses?
Loyalty programs support repeat visits by rewarding returning clients. When integrated with booking systems, rewards can be automated based on visits or purchases. Some platforms extend this with SMS, email campaigns, and promotional tools, though access to these features often comes with higher monthly pricing.
Jacky Burckhard, an author for gigwise.com, comes from a fashion-savvy family. His mother worked as a fashion stylist, and his father was a designer for a major clothing brand. With this rich background, Jacky offers practical fashion advice and shopping tips on his blog, drawing from his family’s experience to help readers enhance their style.
Jacky Burckhard, an author for gigwise.com, comes from a fashion-savvy family. His mother worked as a fashion stylist, and his father was a designer for a major clothing brand. With this rich background, Jacky offers practical fashion advice and shopping tips on his blog, drawing from his family’s experience to help readers enhance their style.
