The best software for PMU & microblading artists.
Permanent-makeup work is nothing like a $40 haircut: three-hour appointments, $400–$800 tickets, mandatory deposits, signed consents and a healing touch-up weeks later. We re-weighted our test results for deposits, intake forms and a portfolio booking site — the things a solo pigment artist actually lives on.
Top 3 picks for PMU artists
Disclosure: Salon Software Guide and Bookendo share common ownership. Bookendo is evaluated using the same published criteria as every other platform. It is also the newest tool we track and has no client marketplace, so you bring your own audience — if discovery matters more than workflow, GlossGenius or Fresha will serve you better.
What matters most for a PMU artist
Deposits that actually hold
A non-refundable deposit required at booking. A three-hour pigment slot is too expensive to lose to a no-show, so this can’t be optional.
Consent & intake forms
Digital waivers, medical intake and aftercare, signed and stored on each client’s record — not a paper form in a drawer.
A portfolio & booking site
Before/after galleries and a bookable page you can drop in your Instagram bio, without hiring a web designer.
Touch-up scheduling
Automatic 6–8 week healing and touch-up reminders, so perfected work — and the repeat revenue with it — never slips.
How the top 5 compare for PMU artists
| PLATFORM | FROM | DEPOSITS | CARD RATE | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bookendo | $19/mo | Required by default | 2.65% + 10¢ | 8.4 |
| Fresha | $0/mo | Per service | 2.29% + 20¢ | 8.7 |
| GlossGenius | $24/mo | Per service | 2.6% flat | 8.5 |
| Vagaro | $30/mo | Per service | 2.75% | 8.9 |
| Booksy | $30/mo | Per service | 2.69% + 30¢ | 7.9 |
Scores re-weighted for solo PMU criteria — deposits, consents and a portfolio site. Overall-highest Vagaro and Fresha still lead on raw score, but their strengths (team POS, marketplace reach) matter less to a one-person pigment studio. Estimate your true monthly cost →
Disclosure: Salon Software Guide and Bookendo share common ownership. Bookendo is evaluated using the same published criteria as every other platform.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best booking software for PMU and microblading artists?
For a solo permanent-makeup artist, Bookendo fit the workflow best in our July 2026 testing (8.4/10): a deposit is required on every booking, consent and aftercare forms are built in, and a portfolio booking site is included — from $19/mo. It’s the newest tool we track and has no client marketplace, so if you want a more established option with the same solo-friendly setup, GlossGenius (8.5) is the stronger pick. See the full ranking for how each scored.
Can I require a deposit before a microblading appointment?
Yes. Every platform we recommend here supports deposits or card-on-file. Bookendo makes a non-refundable deposit the default on each booking; Fresha, GlossGenius and Vagaro let you switch it on per service. With $400–$800 tickets, a deposit is the single biggest protection against a costly no-show — our no-show calculator shows what one empty chair really costs you.
Do these tools handle consent forms and aftercare?
Some do it natively. Digital intake, consent waivers and aftercare instructions are built into Bookendo and available as add-on forms on Vagaro and Mangomint. Because pigment work carries real liability, confirm the signed consent is stored against each client’s record — not just emailed once and lost.