Software advice
Best AI Salon Software in 2026
AI salon software is a booking and business management system for hair, beauty, nail and spa businesses that adds AI features such as a receptionist answering calls and texts, client summaries, campaign drafting or business Q and A. It is not a consumer booking marketplace, a standalone chatbot or a payroll package, although several products bundle those.
Quick answer
Fresha ranks first for printed prices and a stated no-training position on its AI Concierge. Mangomint fits salons that want a computable per-location price with an AI receptionist. SimplyBook.me fits budget buyers who want a free plan.
A salon owner weighing these products faces three practical questions: what the monthly bill really is, whether the AI answers calls without losing bookings, and what happens to client records afterward. Marketing pages blur all three. Some vendors print every price while others hide behind a quote form, and AI features range from a voice receptionist to a lightly described marketing add-on. This ranking weighs printed prices, named AI features, data statements and fit for salons rather than studios. We read vendor pages in November 2026 and did not run the tools, so any speed or accuracy claim remains the vendor's own.
The 11 best AI salon software in 2026, ranked
There is no score. Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. How we rank.
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Entry price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresha | Solo stylists and small teams who want printed prices and an optional AI front desk. | Trial | €14.95 per month (Independent, 7 day trial) |
| 2 | Mangomint | Salons and spas that want a published location price and an AI receptionist for calls and texts. | Trial | $120 per month per location, plus $10 per user |
| 3 | GlossGenius | Independent beauty professionals who want a tiered plan ladder with AI tools on the upper tiers. | Trial | $28 per month billed monthly ($24 billed annually) |
| 4 | SimplyBook.me | Budget-minded salons that value a free tier and a certified security program over salon specific tools. | Yes | €0 per month (Free plan, 50 included bookings) |
| 5 | Phorest | Salons with three or more staff that want hands-on onboarding and AI client prep. | No | Quoted |
| 6 | Boulevard | Upscale salons and spas that want an AI receptionist and compliance badges in one platform. | No | $143 per month for one location (Essentials) |
| 7 | Zenoti | Multi-location spas and medspas that want AI agents across front desk, notes and back office. | No | Quoted |
| 8 | SalonIQ | UK salons that want per-staff pricing with no long-term contract and an AI receptionist. | No | £47 per month on the homepage; £67 for Solo on the pricing page |
| 9 | Vagaro | Multi-chair businesses that want marketplace exposure, deals and data connectors to BI tools. | Trial | £20 per month for one location (page also shows £30) |
| 10 | Mindbody | Wellness businesses that want consumer app discovery and a house AI front desk assistant. | No | Quoted |
| 11 | Kitomba | Salons on Xero that want a questionnaire based quote and AI marketing on the Pro tier. | No | Quoted |
- 1
Fresha takes first place because almost everything a buyer needs to budget is printed: a solo price, a per-member price, and two AI Concierge tiers with the call minutes spelled out. Its privacy notice also says AI Concierge content is not used to train models. The cost is metered extras such as texts and terminals, so the total grows with volume.
Strong on
- Both AI Concierge add-on tiers are priced per location, with 200 call minutes stated for the larger one.
- Privacy notice says AI Concierge content is not used for model training by Fresha or its providers.
- Per-member pricing lets a growing team add a chair without renegotiating a contract.
Weak on
- Text messages beyond the 20 free each month cost €0.15 each, which adds up for busy books.
- Retention periods and hosting region were not found on the pages we read.
Skip it if: Large multi-site groups that need a custom rollout, since the Enterprise tier is only described as custom rates. Covers one calendar column; team members cost €9.95 each monthly, and the AI Concierge add-on is billed separately per location.
- 2
Mangomint ranks second because its price structure is simple to compute: $120 per location plus $10 per profile, with add-ons listed beside it. Mira, the AI receptionist, books and reschedules by phone and text. It sits below Fresha because the data practices page says little about AI training, and a four person salon already pays more than on Fresha.
Strong on
- Pricing page lists location, user, phone, marketing and payroll fees, so a quote can be built without a call.
- Mira handles calls and texts, and can book, reschedule and cancel appointments.
- Online booking on the business site takes no fee on appointments booked there.
Weak on
- Every profile counts as a user, including front desk staff, so headcount drives the bill.
- The privacy policy read did not state a hosting region or an AI training position.
Skip it if: Solo practitioners who want a price under $30 a month, since the base is $120 per location. Locations and users are priced separately; phone, marketing and payroll are optional add-ons billed on top.
- 3
GlossGenius sits third. Its five tiers are fully priced, from Standard to a medspa Practice Advanced plan, and it names three AI tools: Reception, Growth Analyst and Marketing Assistant. The privacy policy says submitted inputs and outputs may train its AI systems, which keeps it below the two tools above for buyers who handle sensitive client notes.
Strong on
- Five plans are priced with monthly and annual rates, so the upgrade path is visible.
- Three named AI tools cover calls, business questions and campaign drafting.
- Medspa tiers add EMR tools, and a Business Associate Agreement is offered for HIPAA covered work.
Weak on
- Privacy policy says inputs and outputs may be used to train its AI, unless a BAA applies.
- Reception is a $50 monthly add-on, and instant payouts carry an extra 1.8% fee.
Skip it if: Owners who need written assurance that client text is never used for AI training. Standard is the entry tier; Reception costs $50 a month extra and payroll is another add-on.
- 4
SimplyBook.me ranks fourth because it is the only tool here with a real free plan, and its security page cites an ISO 27001:2022 certification. Ask Simply configures the admin on request, and AI Voice Booking is named. It is a general booking system, not a salon suite, so retail, commissions and stock are thinner than at the specialist tools above it.
Strong on
- A free tier with 50 bookings and one provider, then four priced plans up to 30 providers.
- Security page names an ISO 27001:2022 certificate issued under an NQA audited program.
- Integrations include Zapier, QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Mailchimp and Slack.
Weak on
- Beauty is one of several industries served, so salon workflows are less specific than at Phorest or Mangomint.
- Included bookings are capped from 50 to 2,000 a month depending on the plan.
Skip it if: Salons that need built in staff commissions, deep retail stock control or a branded consumer marketplace. Paid plans run from €11.9 to €49.9 monthly when billed annually; bookings and providers are capped per plan.
- 5
Phorest lands fifth. Its AI is concrete: Cheat Sheet AI summarizes a client before the visit and Front Desk AI answers SMS and WhatsApp requests. Set-up and training come with every plan. Against that, no price is published for any of the four tiers, there is no free trial, and the vendor's AI training position was not stated.
Strong on
- Cheat Sheet AI and Front Desk AI are described in detail on the vendor's AI features page.
- Set-up and training are included in all plans, which helps teams moving off paper or an old system.
- Security page names GDPR compliance and AES-256 encrypted backups.
Weak on
- No plan price is published and there is no free trial, so budgeting needs a sales call.
- Starter is aimed at salons and clinics with three or more staff.
Skip it if: Solo operators and anyone who wants to try the software before talking to sales. Every plan is a quote; no free trial, with set-up and training included in all four tiers.
- 6
Boulevard takes sixth. It publishes three prices and lists SOC 2, HIPAA and PCI Level 1 badges, and its AI Receptionist answers calls and captures leads around the clock. It ranks lower because the entry price is higher than the tools above, Essentials covers only one location, and the open API is reserved for the Enterprise tier.
Strong on
- Essentials, Premier and Prestige carry printed monthly prices, with a custom Enterprise tier above them.
- Data security page lists SOC 2, HIPAA and PCI Level 1 compliance.
- AI Receptionist answers every call, helps clients book and captures leads around the clock.
Weak on
- Open APIs are limited to Enterprise, so smaller plans cannot build custom connections.
- No third party integrations were named on the pages we read.
Skip it if: Small shops with a tight budget, since the lowest published plan starts at $143 monthly. Premier and Prestige are priced per location and show a normally price beside a limited offer for new customers.
- 7
Zenoti ranks seventh. It has the widest AI list of any tool in this ranking: a voice receptionist, the Zeenie assistant, an AI Scribe for medspa notes and a dispute manager for chargebacks. Nothing is priced, the maker is not named on the pages read, and the scale and sales led buying process suit large operators more than a four chair salon.
Strong on
- AI Workforce agents span reception, scribing and chargeback evidence, beyond booking alone.
- Pricing page FAQ states GDPR compliance and white glove migration of client records.
- Payroll, tipping and a provider app sit in the same operating system.
Weak on
- No monthly figure appears anywhere on the pricing page, so every plan needs a quote.
- Maker, hosting region and AI training position were not stated on the pages read.
Skip it if: Independent stylists and small salons that need a price before a demo. Every product plan says Get a Quote; AI Workforce agents are sold as a set that can be added.
- 8
SalonIQ comes eighth. The AI Receptionist handles missed calls and enquiries around the clock, and prices rise by staff count in fixed steps, which is easy to forecast for a small team that stays small. The homepage says from £47 while the pricing page shows £67 for Solo, and eight or more bookable staff is quote only.
Strong on
- Pricing climbs by a fixed step per bookable staff member, up to seven.
- AI Receptionist books appointments and captures new clients from missed calls.
- Homepage states plans come with no long-term contracts for new customers.
Weak on
- The two published starting prices conflict, so confirm the figure in writing.
- The privacy policy read gives no retention period or AI training position.
Skip it if: Salons outside the UK or with eight or more bookable staff, who must request a quote. The homepage and the pricing page disagree on the starting price; cost then rises per bookable staff member.
- 9
Vagaro is ninth. Vera helps fill empty slots, write service descriptions and message clients, and the vendor names Power BI, Salesforce and HubSpot connectors for reporting and customer data. Two prices show unlabeled on the UK page, and the privacy policy says information may be used to train and improve the models behind its AI features, which matters for client notes.
Strong on
- Vera drafts marketing, fills slots and writes service text for the business.
- Named data connectors include Power BI, Sage, HubSpot, Salesforce, Tableau and NetSuite.
- Free trial and unlimited reminders are stated for every plan.
Weak on
- Privacy policy says information may be used to train its AI features.
- The pricing page does not label which of its two figures belongs to which option.
Skip it if: Owners who must keep client conversations out of model training. The UK pricing page shows two figures side by side without labeling them clearly, so confirm which applies.
- 10
Mindbody ranks tenth for salons specifically. Its AI Concierge is a 24/7 front desk assistant, included on Ultimate and an add-on on Accelerate, and the app listing can bring new clients. Prices are not published, two starting figures conflict, and the product leans toward fitness and wellness studios rather than hair or nail salons, which makes it a looser fit here.
Strong on
- Every Starter plan includes a listing in the Mindbody consumer app for discovery.
- Accelerate adds room and resource management for treatment rooms or equipment.
Weak on
- Header and FAQ show different starting prices, €99 and $79, so the real number needs confirming.
- Salon specific features such as stock and commissions were not the focus of the pages we read.
Skip it if: Hair and nail salons that want published pricing and a salon first workflow. Starter, Accelerate and Ultimate say Let's talk; the page shows two conflicting starting prices, €99 and $79.
- 11
Kitomba closes the list. Four named tiers from Lite to Enterprise are described, and the Pro tier names AI marketing with Xero and Google analytics. The details page for that AI feature did not load, no prices are shown, and no privacy statement could be read, so its claims are the weakest documented of the eleven.
Strong on
- Four named tiers scale from a single location to multiple sites with one financial view.
- Kitomba Pay is shown saving 20% on the plan price when used.
Weak on
- No prices, hosting region or AI training position could be confirmed on the pages read.
- AI marketing appears only on the Pro tier and its feature page did not load.
Skip it if: Buyers who need verified AI details and printed prices before contacting a vendor. No plan prices are published; a short questionnaire produces a quote, and a free demo is offered.
How these AI salon software were judged
How much real AI do salon platforms include?
Most of them name something concrete, though depth varies. Mangomint's Mira, Boulevard's AI Receptionist, SalonIQ's AI Receptionist, Fresha's AI Concierge and Zenoti's voice agent all answer calls or texts and book appointments. Phorest adds Cheat Sheet AI for client history, GlossGenius has a Growth Analyst and Marketing Assistant, and Vagaro describes Vera for filling empty slots. SimplyBook.me offers Ask Simply for admin changes. Kitomba mentions AI marketing on one tier without detail we could open. Ask any vendor to show a missed call turning into a booking, and ask what happens when the assistant cannot answer.
What does salon software cost per month?
As of November 2026, SimplyBook.me starts free and Fresha Independent is €14.95 monthly. GlossGenius Standard is $28, Mangomint is $120 per location plus $10 per user, and Boulevard Essentials is $143. SalonIQ shows both £47 and £67 as starting prices. Vagaro shows £30 and £20 without clear labels. Phorest, Zenoti, Kitomba and Mindbody publish no usable monthly figure. AI is often extra: Fresha Concierge costs €28.95 to €94.95 per location, and GlossGenius Reception costs $50. Count staff, locations, texts and payment fees before comparing.
What happens to client data in salon software?
Client cards hold phone numbers, photos and sometimes health notes, so the vendor's wording matters. Fresha states AI Concierge content is not used to train models by it or its model providers. GlossGenius and Vagaro say submitted content may train their AI. Boulevard lists SOC 2, HIPAA and PCI badges, SimplyBook.me cites an ISO 27001:2022 certificate and Phorest names GDPR and AES-256 backups. Mangomint, Zenoti, SalonIQ, Mindbody and Kitomba stated no training position on the pages we read. Hosting regions were rarely named, so ask in writing where records live and what is deleted on cancellation.
How hard is it to leave a salon software vendor?
Switching costs sit in client history, memberships, gift card balances and card-on-file tokens. Mangomint's pricing page says customers can take their data with them when they cancel. Zenoti describes white glove migration into its own system. Boulevard limits open APIs to Enterprise, while Vagaro names Power BI, Salesforce and HubSpot connectors. Phorest includes set-up with every plan, which also ties onboarding to its team. Month to month terms are stated by SalonIQ, but most others did not state a contract length. Before committing, export client lists and booking history, and ask how stored cards can move to a new processor.
Which salon software fits which kind of business?
Match the tool to team size and service mix. Solo stylists look at Fresha Independent, GlossGenius Standard or the SimplyBook.me free plan. Salons of three to ten chairs weigh Mangomint, Phorest and SalonIQ. Upscale spas that want compliance badges look at Boulevard. Medspas and multi-site groups look at Zenoti or the higher GlossGenius tiers. Wellness studios selling classes alongside treatments can consider Mindbody, and Vagaro suits owners who want marketplace deals plus BI connectors. Kitomba fits Xero users who are willing to request a quote. Count bookable staff and locations first, then request quotes only from tools that survive.
How to choose an AI salon software in three steps
- Price your real team before any demo. List bookable staff, front desk users, locations and monthly text volume. Then run those numbers through each pricing page: Mangomint counts every profile, SalonIQ steps by bookable staff, Fresha charges per team member and per message, and Boulevard sets prices by location tier. Add the AI add-ons separately, because receptionist tiers are often billed on top. Where a page shows conflicting figures or no figure, ask for a written quote that names the plan, the contract length and the payment processing rate, and discard vendors that will not put it in writing.
- Test the AI on your own missed calls. Ask each shortlisted vendor to demonstrate its receptionist or concierge on a script that matches your salon: a color consultation, a late cancellation, a request for a stylist who is off. Note whether bookings land in the calendar without manual correction and how the assistant hands over to a person. Also ask which parts use an outside model provider, since Fresha names two. If a vendor only shows slides, treat the claim as unproven and judge the tool on booking, payments and reports instead.
- Check data terms and the exit route. Read the privacy policy for AI training language, retention and hosting region, then ask each vendor to confirm the answers by email. Request an export of clients, appointments, memberships and gift card balances in a trial account and open the file. Ask how stored cards move to another processor and whether the plan can be canceled monthly. A tool that cannot show an export today will be hard to leave later, whatever its feature list says. Keep the test export, since it shows which fields a new system would have to import.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI salon software in 2026?
Fresha ranks first here because its plan prices, AI Concierge tiers and call minutes are printed, and its privacy notice says AI Concierge content is not used for model training. Mangomint is the pick for a computable per-location price with an AI receptionist, and SimplyBook.me suits buyers who want a free plan.
Which salon platforms name an AI receptionist?
Mangomint (Mira), Boulevard, SalonIQ, Fresha (AI Concierge), Zenoti, GlossGenius (Reception) and Mindbody (AI Concierge) describe assistants for calls or texts. Phorest names Front Desk AI for SMS and WhatsApp, and SimplyBook.me names AI Voice Booking. Vagaro describes Vera and a chatbot option. Features differ in depth, so ask for a live example.
Is there free AI salon software?
SimplyBook.me has a Free plan at €0 with 50 included bookings and one provider. Fresha, Mangomint, GlossGenius and Vagaro offer trials rather than free plans, and Phorest says it offers no free trial. AI features are mostly on paid tiers or add-ons, so the free plan covers booking, not an AI front desk.
How much does an AI receptionist add to the bill?
Fresha lists €28.95 per location monthly for messaging only and €94.95 for calls and messaging with 200 minutes, then €0.57 a minute. GlossGenius lists Reception at $50 monthly. Mangomint charges $70 per phone line. Boulevard, Zenoti, Phorest and SalonIQ did not print a separate receptionist price on the pages we read.
Do salon platforms train AI on client data?
It varies. Fresha says it does not use AI Concierge content for training, and neither may its model providers. GlossGenius and Vagaro say content may be used to train or improve their AI systems. Most other vendors did not state a position on the pages we read, so ask in writing before uploading client notes or photos.
Which salon software suits a single stylist?
Fresha Independent costs €14.95 a month for one calendar column, GlossGenius Standard is $28 monthly, and SimplyBook.me has a free plan with one provider. SalonIQ Solo is £67 on its pricing page, and Mangomint starts at $120 per location, which is heavy for one chair.
Can salon software handle medspa treatments and notes?
Zenoti describes an AI Scribe for SOAP notes, and GlossGenius sells Practice Essentials and Practice Advanced plans for aesthetics with EMR tools. GlossGenius offers a Business Associate Agreement, and Boulevard lists HIPAA compliance. Check clinical record requirements with a compliance adviser, since we only read vendor pages.
Why does Mindbody rank low for hair salons?
Mindbody's pages and our earlier read focus on fitness and wellness studios, its plans show Let's talk rather than prices, and two starting figures conflict, €99 and $79. Its consumer app listing and AI Concierge are real strengths, but a hair or nail salon gets clearer pricing from several tools above it.