Square Appointments Review 2026
Free booking software for solos — powerful when combined with Square's ecosystem
Quick Verdict
Square Appointments is the best free option for solo nail techs and beauty professionals who don't need a consumer marketplace. The free solo plan has no monthly fee and charges only standard payment processing (2.6% + $0.10). It's most valuable when combined with Square's broader ecosystem — POS hardware, payroll, inventory, and Square Capital financing. The main weakness is that it lacks a beauty-industry marketplace and has fewer salon-specific features than purpose-built platforms.
Square Appointments Pricing (2026)
Processing fee: 2.6% + $0.10 for card-present transactions. Square Payroll is available as a separate add-on ($35/mo base + $5/employee). No setup fees.
Free (Individual)
$0/mo
Perfect for solo operators
- 1 provider
- Online booking
- Basic calendar management
- Automated reminders
- Square POS integration
- Instagram & Google booking
Plus
$29/mo per location
For teams of up to 5 staff
- Up to 5 staff
- Resource management
- Custom staff availability
- Advanced reporting
- Multiple calendars
Premium
$69/mo per location
For larger teams
- Unlimited staff
- Everything in Plus
- Priority support
- Custom permissions
Complete Feature Breakdown
Booking
| Online Booking | |
| Instagram Booking | |
| Google Booking | |
| Consumer Marketplace | |
| Multi-Staff Calendar | Plus+ |
| Waitlist Management | Plus+ |
Square Ecosystem
| Square POS Integration | |
| Square Payroll Integration | Add-on |
| Square Inventory | |
| Square Capital (Business Loans) | |
| Square Marketing | Add-on |
| Square Online Store |
Payments
| Credit Card Processing(2.6% + $0.10 card present) | |
| Contactless/Tap Payments | |
| Tip Prompting | |
| Split Payments | |
| Gift Cards | |
| No-Show Fee Collection | Plus+ |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free for solo providers — no monthly fee
- Best hardware ecosystem — Square readers, terminals, and stands
- Square Capital financing based on payment processing history
- Square Payroll integration for multi-employee shops
- Instagram and Google booking buttons included
- Backed by Square/Block Inc. — reliable, well-funded
Cons
- No beauty industry consumer marketplace
- Not salon-specific — lacks beauty-industry features
- Card reader must be purchased separately (from $49)
- Marketing requires Square Marketing add-on
- No-show protection only on Plus plan and above
Who Is Square Appointments Best For?
✅ Square Appointments is a great fit if...
- Solo beauty professionals wanting truly free booking software
- Salons already using Square hardware, payroll, or inventory
- Businesses wanting access to Square Capital financing
- New salons wanting a free start with room to grow in the Square ecosystem
⚠️ You may want to look elsewhere if...
- Salons needing a beauty marketplace for client discovery
- Salons wanting a platform purpose-built for beauty businesses
- Operations needing no-show protection without paying for Plus plan
See How Square Appointments Compares
Read our side-by-side comparisons featuring Square Appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Square Appointments
Is Square Appointments really free?
Yes — Square Appointments is completely free for individual (solo) providers, with no monthly fee and no new-client transaction fees. You pay only Square's card processing rate (2.6% + $0.10 for card-present transactions). Teams need the Plus plan at $29/mo per location.
Does Square Appointments work for nail salons?
Yes, it works for nail salons. The booking system handles service scheduling, staff management, and payment processing effectively. It lacks beauty-industry-specific features (no marketplace, no color formula notes by default) but covers all essential booking and payment needs.
What Square hardware do nail salons use?
Most nail salons on Square use the Square Reader ($49, attaches to iPad) or Square Terminal ($299, standalone device). The Square Stand ($149, iPad stand with integrated reader) is popular for front-desk setups. Square hardware is reliable, widely available, and integrates seamlessly with Square Appointments.
Can I get a business loan through Square?
Yes. Square Capital provides flexible business loans to Square users based on your payment processing history. Loans range from $300 to $250,000+ and are repaid as a percentage of daily Square sales. Eligibility and loan amounts depend on your processing volume and history.
How does Square Appointments compare to Vagaro?
Square Appointments is free for solos (vs. Vagaro's $30/mo) and has better hardware. Vagaro is better for multi-staff salons needing payroll, has a consumer marketplace, and is more complete for salon operations. If you have multiple staff and need payroll, Vagaro wins. If you're solo and already use Square hardware, Square Appointments is the smarter choice.
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