Booksy vs Vagaro (2026): which fits your salon?
We ran both platforms through the same 11 tasks and audited every fee. The short answer: it depends on whether you need new clients or a tighter operation.
What would each cost your business?
Software + card processing, per monthAt a glance
| Feature | BOOKSY | VAGARO |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 7.9/10 | 8.9/10 ✓ |
| Starting price | $30/mo | $30/mo |
| Each extra staff | +$20/mo | +$10/mo ✓ |
| Card processing | 2.69% + 30¢/txn | 2.75%, no per-txn fee |
| Client marketplace | Strong ✓ | Growing |
| Built-in payroll | No | Yes ✓ |
| Free trial | 7 days | 30 days ✓ |
On card fees, the winner depends on your average ticket — Booksy’s lower rate is offset by its 30¢ per-transaction fee below roughly a $500 ticket. Use the calculator above.
Software cost as your team grows
The headline prices match — the per-staff math doesn’t. Booksy charges $20 per extra professional, Vagaro $10.
| SOFTWARE ONLY | SOLO | 3 STAFF | 6 STAFF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booksy | $30 | $70 | $130 |
| Vagaro | $30 | $50 ✓ | $80 ✓ |
| Vagaro saves | — | $240/yr | $600/yr |
Score by criterion
| CRITERION (WEIGHT) | BOOKSY | VAGARO | EDGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking & client experience (15) | 13 | 14 | VAGARO |
| Pricing & transparency (15) | 11 | 13 | VAGARO |
| Payments & true cost (15) | 12 | 13 | VAGARO |
| Business management (15) | 11 | 14 | VAGARO |
| Marketing & retention (10) | 9 | 9 | TIE |
| Staff & scalability (10) | 7 | 9 | VAGARO |
| Ease of use & onboarding (10) | 9 | 9 | TIE |
| Support & reliability (5) | 4 | 4 | TIE |
| Integrations & data export (5) | 3 | 4 | VAGARO |
| Total | 79 | 89 | VAGARO +10 |
Full scoring notes per criterion are in each platform’s review. How points are earned →
Where each one actually wins
Getting new clients
BOOKSY WINSBooksy’s consumer app is a real acquisition channel: our demo barber profile started appearing in local searches within days. Vagaro’s marketplace exists but generated no comparable traffic in our test window. If empty chairs are your problem, this single row can outweigh everything else.
Card fees, in real dollars
VAGARO WINSBooksy advertises the lower rate (2.69% vs 2.75%) — but adds 30¢ per transaction. On a typical $75 ticket that’s an effective 3.09%. At $6,000/mo in cards, Booksy costs ~$185 in processing to Vagaro’s ~$165. The “cheaper” headline rate loses.
Running a team
VAGARO WINSCommissions, payroll export, inventory and per-employee reports are built into Vagaro. On Booksy we had to track commissions in a spreadsheet — and each stylist costs twice as much to add. From 3 staff up, the gap widens every month.
Day-to-day usability
TIEBoth passed our 11 tasks without blockers. Booksy’s mobile app is simpler for a solo pro on the move; Vagaro packs more onto each screen but rewards the front desk with fewer taps per checkout. Pick by where you’ll work: phone → Booksy, desk → Vagaro.
Switching from Booksy to Vagaro
We migrated our demo business in an afternoon. The 30-day trial gives you a full month to run both in parallel.
Export your clients
Booksy exports clients to CSV from the web dashboard (appointment history stays behind — screenshot what you need).
Import into Vagaro
Vagaro’s importer maps the CSV columns; support did it for us in under an hour on chat.
Rebuild services & deposits
Recreate your menu, then turn on card-on-file and deposit rules before your first booking goes live.
Redirect your booking links
Update Instagram bio, Google Business profile and your site. Keep the Booksy profile live until reviews migrate by word of mouth.
- Filling your chair is priority #1 — its marketplace is the strongest we tested
- You’re a solo barber or stylist in a dense city market
- You live on your phone, not at a front desk
- You run a team — extra staff cost half as much as on Booksy
- You want POS, payroll and inventory without extra tools
- Your average ticket is under ~$500, where Vagaro’s fee structure wins
Frequently asked
Is Booksy or Vagaro cheaper?
For a solo pro they’re nearly identical (~$30/mo). From 2+ staff, Vagaro pulls ahead: each extra professional costs $10 vs Booksy’s $20, and on typical ticket sizes Vagaro’s processing is cheaper too. A 3-stylist salon saves roughly $240–$480 a year.
Can I keep my Booksy profile while using Vagaro?
Technically yes, but you’ll manage two calendars and risk double-bookings — neither syncs with the other. If you switch, redirect your links and treat Booksy as a listing, not a booking channel.
Do my Booksy reviews transfer to Vagaro?
No — reviews are locked to each marketplace. Ask regulars for fresh reviews on Google Business instead; those follow you regardless of software.