Booksy vs Square Appointments
Which nail and beauty salon software is right for your firm?
Quick Answer
Booksy is better for salons that want marketplace exposure to grow their client base — its 35M+ consumer base drives real new client discovery. Square Appointments is better for solos (free plan) or businesses already using Square's ecosystem. For pure booking needs, Square's free solo plan is hard to beat on cost.
At a Glance
| Booksy | Square Appointments | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $29.99–$79.99+/mo | Free (solo) / $29–$69/mo |
| Best For | Salons needing client discovery through a large marketplace | Businesses embedded in the Square ecosystem |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Booksy | Square Appointments |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Solo only | |
| Consumer Marketplace Size | 35M+ users | None |
| Online Booking | ||
| POS & Payments | ||
| No-Show Protection | ||
| Staff Management | ||
| Marketing Campaigns | Basic | |
| Payroll | Square Payroll add-on | |
| Instagram Booking | ||
| Google Booking | ||
| Inventory Management | Basic | |
| Third-Party Integrations | Limited | Extensive |
Pricing Comparison
Booksy Pricing
- Unlimited bookings
- Client management
- Calendar
- Basic marketing
- No-show protection
- Advanced marketing
- Staff management
- Reviews
- Multi-location
- Advanced analytics
- Priority support
Square Appointments Pricing
- 1 provider
- Online booking
- Basic scheduling
- Square integration
- 5 staff max
- Resource management
- Custom availability
- Reports
- Unlimited staff
- All features
- Priority support
Who Should Choose What?
✅ Choose Booksy if...
- You want access to Booksy's 35M+ consumer marketplace for client discovery
- You're in a competitive market where being found by new clients matters
- You want robust no-show protection with credit card holds from day one
- You want advanced marketing campaigns optimized for beauty businesses
- Your salon is in an urban area with high competition for new clients
✅ Choose Square Appointments if...
- You're a solo provider and want a completely free solution
- You already use Square for POS, payments, or payroll
- You want the most affordable entry point for multi-staff teams ($29/mo vs $49.99/mo)
- You need Square Capital for business financing
- Deep inventory management is a priority for your retail products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Booksy worth the monthly fee vs. free Square Appointments?
For a solo provider, Square's free plan is hard to argue against. For a salon actively trying to grow its client base in a competitive area, Booksy's marketplace drives real value — even 1–2 new clients per month from Booksy discovery can more than cover the $29.99 subscription cost.
Does Square Appointments have a marketplace?
No. Square Appointments does not have a consumer marketplace where clients browse for salons. Clients book through your website, social media, or Google. Booksy has a dedicated app and website where 35M+ consumers actively search for nearby salons — a meaningful client acquisition channel.
Which has better no-show protection?
Booksy has strong no-show protection built into Boost+ ($49.99/mo) with automated deposit collection and card holds. Square Appointments also supports no-show fees and card requirements. Booksy's no-show tools are slightly more polished and have a better client-facing UX for collecting deposits at booking time.
Can I use Square Appointments without Square POS?
Yes. Square Appointments works as a standalone booking tool even if you don't use Square POS. You can use it purely for scheduling while using any payment hardware. However, the platform is most valuable when integrated with Square's payment ecosystem — that's where the real efficiency gains come from.
Which is better for a barbershop — Booksy or Square?
Booksy is very popular in the barbershop space and has the stronger barbershop-specific community on its marketplace. Many clients specifically use Booksy to find barbershops. Square Appointments works well for barbershops already using Square hardware. For new barbershops trying to build a clientele, Booksy's marketplace discovery advantage is significant.
The Verdict
Booksy wins when client acquisition is a priority. The 35M+ consumer marketplace is a genuine growth tool, and no-show protection is excellent. At $29.99–49.99/mo, it's well priced for what you get. Square Appointments wins on cost for solos (free!) and for businesses already in the Square ecosystem. If you don't need a marketplace and are already using Square POS, staying with Square Appointments makes total sense.