Tool profile
Phorest: cost, fit and limits
Phorest is a salon management platform made by Phorest, headquartered in Ireland, that combines booking, point of sale, client records, marketing and staff rostering software with AI tools for client preparation and front desk messaging.
What to know first
Phorest sells four tiers, Starter, Grow, Ultimate and Elite, and prints a quote request on every one instead of a price. The pricing page says there is no free trial and that set-up and training are included in all plans. AI shows up as Cheat Sheet AI, a pre-appointment client summary, and Front Desk AI, which answers scheduling questions over SMS and WhatsApp.
Phorest at a glance
| Maker | Phorest, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Salon Software in 2026, rank 5 of 11 |
| Website | phorest.com |
Who Phorest is best for
Salons that want guided onboarding
Set-up and training come with all plans, and the vendor expects new customers to work through set-up with its team, which suits owners moving off paper or an older system who want a person to guide the first weeks.
Teams that upsell at the chair
Cheat Sheet AI summarizes client history, preferences and upsell suggestions in the PhorestGo app before each visit, which helps junior staff recommend products the client already uses.
Salons with a branded app goal
Ultimate adds a branded booking app for iOS and Android, a digital loyalty programme, client referrals and Reserve with Google integration for clients who search for salons.
Phorest plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Request a quote | Scheduling, online bookings with deposits, email and SMS reminders, client cards, video consultations, loyalty, rostering, point of sale and stock. |
| Grow | Request a quote | Everything in Starter plus free Reconnect SMS, online reputation manager, digital consultation forms, online store and vouchers, and Shopify integration. |
| Ultimate | Request a quote | Everything in Grow plus a branded booking app for iOS and Android, digital loyalty, client referrals, gamified staff goals and Reserve with Google. |
| Elite | Request a quote | Everything in Ultimate plus 2-way SMS, Phorest Ads Manager, lead management, memberships and premium consultations. |
Checked November 2026.
What Phorest does
- Cheat Sheet AI
- Writes a summary of client history, preferences and upsell suggestions on the PhorestGo app before the appointment, so the stylist walks in prepared and does not rely on memory or scrolled notes.
- Front Desk AI
- Answers scheduling requests and common questions over SMS and WhatsApp, including booking, rescheduling and rebooking, which keeps requests moving when the front desk is busy with a client at the till.
- Client Reconnect
- Learns each client's booking routine and tracks clients who have not booked again, which feeds win-back messages sent to clients whose usual rebooking window has passed without a new appointment.
- Video consultations
- Consultations can run by video with PIN authentication, and photos are stored on the client card so the stylist can compare before and after at the next visit.
- Reminders and deposits
- Automated email and SMS reminders pair with online bookings that can take deposits, reducing no-shows, since a deposit gives the client a financial reason to keep or move the slot.
- Smart point of sale
- Cardless checkout uses stored cards and SMS or email payment links, so clients can pay without a terminal tap, which helps when a client leaves before checkout.
How Phorest handles your data
Phorest's security page names GDPR compliance, says it is HIPAA compliant, and says backups use AES-256 encryption on AWS cloud infrastructure; no region is named. It says data is kept for the shortest time needed for regulatory and regional standards. The privacy policy says personal data is kept for at least seven years where tax law requires it. Neither page we read stated whether customer data trains AI features.
Where Phorest falls short in practice
- Pricing needs a call. Every tier shows request a quote, so owners cannot compare cost per chair against other tools without a sales conversation, and there is no trial to test the software first.
- Aimed at larger teams. The Starter plan is described as aimed at salons and clinics with three or more staff, so solo stylists are not the target buyer, and tiny shops may find the plan structure oversized.
- API not documented. The pages read named Shopify, Reserve with Google and Phorest's own add-ons, but no public API documentation, so custom connections and reporting exports are unconfirmed and worth asking about before signing.
Works with
Alternatives to Phorest
Phorest: common questions
Does Phorest publish its prices?
No. Each of the four plans, Starter, Grow, Ultimate and Elite, shows Request a quote on the pricing page. The page also says Phorest offers no free trial and that set-up and training are included in every plan, so any budget figure has to come from sales.
What does Cheat Sheet AI do?
Cheat Sheet AI gives service providers a summary of the client's history, preferences and upsell suggestions in the PhorestGo app before the appointment. It is described as a preparation aid for the stylist, so the client does not see it, and the pages do not say which plans include it.
Can Phorest answer client texts automatically?
Front Desk AI answers scheduling requests and FAQs over SMS and WhatsApp, including booking, rescheduling and rebooking. The Elite tier adds 2-way SMS. The pages we read did not say which plans include Front Desk AI, so confirm that with the vendor.
Which Phorest plan includes a branded app?
Ultimate adds a branded booking app for iOS and Android, along with digital loyalty, client referrals, gamified staff goals and Reserve with Google. Elite includes everything in Ultimate, so both tiers get the app, while Starter and Grow do not list it. The vendor page does not say whether the app carries an extra charge.
What security claims does Phorest make?
The security page names GDPR compliance and HIPAA compliance, and states AES-256 encryption for backups on AWS. It does not name a hosting region or state whether customer data is used for AI training, so ask both questions before signing.