salonMonster

salonMonster handles salon booking, payments, client records, and reporting for salons and independent stylists, including hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, and spas. Clients can book online 24/7, while salon teams control which services and clients can book, lead time, cancellations, and approvals. Client records can include service and colour history, no-shows, communication history, and work photos. Plans include email and SMS reminders and confirmations, plus bulk email marketing. Inventory features cover counts, backbar tracking, automatic reordering, and point-of-sale tracking. The integrated payment system works with salonMonster accounts, has no monthly processing fee, and lists Stripe-powered processing. Records for clients, bookings, sales, services, products, and staff can be exported to CSV at no charge. The company offers free migration of client data and says it can import colour formulas and appointment history. The service includes a web application, mobile apps, hosted booking pages, and APIs. Pricing starts at $30/mo, with a 14-day trial; a free plan is also listed. Beauty students and schools can contact the company about a free education account.

salonMonster brings booking, client communication, payment, and inventory functions into a salon-focused service. Its trial, data migration, and export options may help teams assess a move, while staff count affects the monthly price.

It suits salons and independent stylists looking to manage appointments, client records, payments, and stock. Beauty students and schools can also ask about an education account.

salonMonster is an all-in-one salon service for businesses that need more than a booking calendar. It is best suited to salons and independent stylists who want booking, client management, payments, and stock functions together. Its main trade-off is a monthly bill that rises with staff count.

Overview

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, salonMonster serves hair salons, barbershops, nail salons, spas, and independent stylists. Its scope includes appointments, client records, payments, reporting, marketing, and inventory, giving teams a way to manage several routine salon operations in one service. That breadth matters most to businesses that will use more than scheduling; a calendar-only operation may not need the additional tools.

Online booking is open 24/7, but salons can set which clients and services are bookable, how far ahead appointments may be made, and how cancellations and approvals work. Those controls help businesses balance client access with their own appointment policies. Client files can preserve colour and service history, no-shows, communication history, and photos of work, which is particularly useful for repeat services where context from past visits matters.

Key features

Appointments and client communication

Email and SMS reminders and confirmations are included in plans, alongside bulk email marketing. Together with online booking and client records, these tools support routine appointment communication and follow-up. Bulk marketing is email-based; salons that need SMS marketing should not assume that appointment texts also cover campaigns.

Payments, inventory, and records

The point-of-sale system tracks sales, while inventory tools cover counts, backbar stock, and automatic reordering. This combination can help salons connect product use and sales with day-to-day operations rather than managing stock separately. The integrated payment system works with salonMonster accounts, is powered by Stripe, and has no monthly processing fee. salonMonster says the system is PCI compliant and designed to secure client card information.

Account data can be exported to CSV at no charge, including clients, bookings, sales, services, products, and staff records. Free client migration is offered from an existing system; the company also says it can import colour formulas and appointment history. Those options reduce the friction of moving systems and make it easier to retain a usable copy of operational records.

Support and education

Phone and email support are offered at 1-800-901-1001. Beauty students and schools can contact salonMonster for a free education account, a useful route for training settings that need access without a standard subscription.

Pricing

The salonMonster subscription starts at $30 a month, billed monthly, and includes one staff member. Each additional staff member costs $15/mo: two staff are $45/mo, three are $60/mo, four are $75/mo, five are $90/mo, and six are $105/mo. Seven or more staff costs $120/mo. Annual plans are available by contacting salonMonster at a lower monthly rate. A 14-day trial lets a business assess the service before committing.

The per-seat structure is straightforward for a solo operator or small team, but the monthly cost scales with staffing and reaches a fixed $120/mo tier at seven or more staff. Free plan access is also offered, though its limits and terms are not established here, so businesses should confirm what it covers before relying on it as a long-term option. The paid plan includes staff calendars, POS and payments, reminders, and inventory tracking; annual pricing requires a conversation with the company.

Platforms

salonMonster supports Android, iOS, and web, and its service includes hosted online booking pages and APIs. The mobile apps can extend access beyond a desktop workflow, while the web application and booking pages serve staff and clients through a browser.

Who it's for

Salons and independent stylists that want booking controls, detailed client histories, payment processing, and inventory in one service are the clearest fit. Businesses moving from another salon system may also value free client migration, import support for colour formulas and appointment history, and no-charge CSV exports. A solo stylist can start at the lowest monthly tier; larger teams should account for the per-staff price. It is less compelling for a business that needs only a simple appointment calendar or has no use for its inventory and POS tools.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Booking rules cover service and client eligibility, lead time, cancellations, and approvals, giving salons meaningful control over 24/7 online access.
• Pros: Client records can include service and colour history, no-shows, communications, and work photos, supporting continuity for repeat appointments.
• Pros: Inventory tracking, backbar management, automatic reordering, and POS are included alongside reminders and marketing.
• Pros: Free client migration and no-charge CSV export make it easier to move in and preserve records.
• Cons: The monthly price rises with staff count, so growing teams must budget for added seats.
• Cons: Bulk email marketing is included, but SMS is described for appointment reminders and confirmations rather than campaigns.
• Cons: The free plan's scope is unclear, and annual pricing requires contacting salonMonster.

Alternatives

Compare salon software if you want to survey the category before choosing a specific system.

• Salonist is worth considering if a free tier is a priority: its Market Place Listing plan allows 50 appointments per month with online booking and calendar scheduling.
• ReSpark may suit businesses seeking a quote based on their size, outlets, and required features rather than a published fixed price.
• Boulevard is an option for teams that need a plan with defined professional, messaging, email-blast, and storage allowances.
• DaySmart Salon offers a $29 a month Basic plan for one user, with online booking, appointment confirmations, and social booking through Instagram and Facebook.
• GlossGenius is an alternative with a $28 a month Standard plan that includes a custom booking website, unlimited client notifications, email and text marketing, and inventory and retail tools.
• Insight Salon Software may fit businesses comparing a single-employee cloud plan at $25 a month or a partner plan at $50 a month.
• Kitomba is another paid salon platform, with Lite and Grow plans.
• Meevo is another paid option for salon and spa businesses.

Verdict

Choose salonMonster if your salon or independent practice will use its booking controls, client histories, payments, and inventory together. Free migration and CSV exports make a switch easier to manage, while the 14-day trial provides a window to assess the fit. Look elsewhere if you need only a calendar, want a clearly bounded free plan, or need a per-seat cost that will not climb as your team grows.