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Alternatives

Salon software alternatives, compared honestly

Avana, by Sweeber Technologies, is salon booking software for the UK with no commission; Business costs £15.99 a month with VAT included. Here it is compared with the systems salons in the UK use most, with competitor prices checked in October 2026.

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Where are you coming from?

You pay a marketplaceA platform keeps part of a new client's first booking.Go to marketplaces You already have salon softwareYou pay a fixed fee, but it has grown or no longer fits.Go to salon software You book by messageClients reach you by message and you keep a calendar by hand.Go to other ways

Every system in one table

What each system is, what it costs and where your client books. Where a provider does not publish a price, we say so.

SystemWhat it isWhat you payWhere clients book
AvanaBooking system with your own pageFrom £15.99 a month, VAT included, no commissionOn your own page, under your name
TreatwellMarketplaceSubscription quoted per salon; 35% + VAT on a new marketplace client's first bookingIn the Treatwell app, among other salons
FreshaSalon software with a marketplace£14.95 a month per calendar or £9.95 per team member, plus VAT; 20% on a new marketplace client's first bookingIn the Fresha app, among other salons
BooksyBooking app with a marketplace£40 a month plus £5 per extra team member, plus VAT; Boost 30% of a first visitIn the Booksy app, among other businesses
TimelySalon softwarePer bookable staff member, roughly £22 to £39 a person according to comparison sitesOn your Timely booking page
PhorestSalon softwareQuote after a demo; not publishedOn your Phorest booking page
SalonIQSalon softwareFrom £47 a month, £10 per extra team member, setup from £175 + VATOn your SalonIQ booking page

Figures from each provider's own pricing pages and, where marked, from comparison sites, checked in October 2026. Prices change; always check with the provider.

Coming from a marketplace

You pay a share of a new client's first visit, and your profile sits next to other businesses.

TreatwellCommission on new marketplace clients, against your own page.See the comparison FreshaA new-client fee and a price per calendar.See the comparison BooksyBoost fees and a charge per team member.See the comparison

Coming from other salon software

No commission, but the price, the contract or the setup no longer suits you.

TimelyA plan price in place of a price per staff member.See the comparison PhorestA published price and no long contract.See the comparison SalonIQNo setup fee and no 90-day notice.See the comparison

Coming from messages and a calendar

You take bookings by hand today and want clients to book themselves.

WhatsAppStop arranging every booking by message.Read more Google CalendarWhere a free calendar stops and a booking system starts.Read more InstagramFrom a post someone loved to a time in your calendar.Read more

Selling courses

You teach your craft and want a course platform that knows about your calendar.

KajabiCourses next to your bookings, at a salon price.See the comparison TeachableA practice day in your calendar and no fee per sale.See the comparison ThinkificCertificates on every plan.See the comparison

Switching is less work than it looks

Export your client list as a CSV or Excel file, upload it in Avana and share your new link. Most salons run both systems for a few weeks.

How switching worksSee pricing

Choosing salon software

How to compare salon booking systems

There is no single best salon booking software. A marketplace can fill an empty column for a new salon; a booking system of your own costs less once you have regulars. This page puts the options UK salons ask about most next to each other, with the numbers each provider publishes.

Three questions that decide it

  • Who pays when a new client books? Marketplaces charge per new client; booking systems do not.
  • Is VAT in the price? Many providers quote without it. Avana's prices include it.
  • How do you leave? Look for a monthly plan, a clear notice period and an export of your clients.

Where Avana fits

Avana is built for owners who work alone or with a few others. You get a booking page in your name, deposits, reminders and Avana Connect for Instagram, from £15.99 a month with VAT included. What Avana does not do is send you new clients through a marketplace.

Teaching too? The Avana Academy compares with Kajabi, Teachable and Thinkific.

Questions about salon software alternatives

What is the cheapest salon booking software?

Several systems have a free plan with fees per payment or per new client, so the cheapest depends on how you work. Avana costs £15.99 a month with VAT included and charges no commission or new-client fee, which keeps the total predictable.

What is the difference between a marketplace and a booking system?

A marketplace lists your salon next to others and charges when it brings you a new client. A booking system gives you your own page and charges a fixed monthly price. Many salons use a marketplace to start and move to their own system once they have regulars.

Can I move my clients to Avana from another system?

Yes, if the other system lets you export a client list as a CSV or Excel file. Avana's import screen reads the columns and asks about anything it is unsure of. Marketplace clients, such as those from Treatwell, often cannot be exported.

How current are the prices on this page?

They were checked against each provider's own pages in October 2026. Where a provider does not publish a price, we say so or quote comparison sites. Always check the provider's site before deciding.