Vagaro vs GlossGenius
Which nail and beauty salon software is right for your firm?
Quick Answer
GlossGenius wins for solo nail techs and independent stylists who want a beautiful, simple platform with no hidden fees and a built-in card reader. Vagaro wins for salons with multiple staff who need payroll, advanced reporting, and a larger consumer marketplace. GlossGenius is often 40–60% cheaper for a solo operator.
At a Glance
| Vagaro | GlossGenius | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $30–$90/mo | $24–$48/mo |
| Best For | Multi-staff salons needing payroll and full management | Solo nail techs and small beauty businesses |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Vagaro | GlossGenius |
|---|---|---|
| Online Booking | ||
| POS & Card Reader Included | Add-on | |
| Client Management | ||
| Staff Payroll | ||
| Marketing & Email | ||
| No Transaction Fees (Gold) | ||
| Website Builder | ||
| Inventory Management | Basic | |
| Custom Forms & Waivers | Add-on | |
| Loyalty Programs | ||
| Consumer Marketplace | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Vagaro Pricing
- Booking
- POS
- Client management
- Basic marketing
- Multi-staff
- Payroll
- Inventory
- Reports
- Full payroll
- Advanced analytics
- Priority support
GlossGenius Pricing
- Unlimited bookings
- POS with card reader
- Client management
- Basic marketing
- Website
- Everything in Standard
- 0% payment processing upgrade
- Advanced marketing
- Smart Pricing
- Custom forms & waivers
- Priority support
Who Should Choose What?
✅ Choose Vagaro if...
- You have 2+ service providers and need payroll and commission tracking
- You want access to Vagaro's consumer marketplace for client discovery
- You need advanced retail inventory management
- You want built-in loyalty programs to reward repeat clients
- You need robust reporting for multi-staff performance tracking
✅ Choose GlossGenius if...
- You're a solo nail tech or independent stylist — GlossGenius is designed for you
- You want a beautiful, Instagram-worthy booking page without design work
- You want a physical card reader included without extra fees
- On Gold plan, 0% payment processing fees save $50–200/month vs. Vagaro's 2.75% rate
- You want custom intake forms and waivers built-in (no add-on needed)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GlossGenius or Vagaro better for a solo nail tech?
GlossGenius is clearly better for solo nail techs. At $24/month, it includes everything a solo operator needs: booking, POS, card reader, client management, and marketing. The Gold plan at $48/mo eliminates payment processing fees entirely, which can save solo techs $100–300/month on transaction fees compared to Vagaro's 2.75% processing rate.
Does GlossGenius work for a salon with employees?
GlossGenius is primarily designed for solo operators and small teams. It lacks payroll processing and has limited multi-staff management features. If you have W-2 employees, Vagaro is a much better fit. GlossGenius can work for independent contractors who each manage their own accounts.
How does GlossGenius's Gold plan 0% processing work?
On GlossGenius Gold ($48/mo), you can upgrade to 0% payment processing — meaning GlossGenius doesn't charge you a percentage on card transactions. You still pay card network interchange fees (typically 1.5–2% depending on card type), but GlossGenius's platform fee is zero. For a solo tech processing $5,000/month, this can save $100–150/month versus the standard processing model.
Which has better client communication tools?
Both offer automated appointment reminders, follow-up messages, and marketing campaigns. GlossGenius has a polished, modern interface for client communications that many beauty professionals prefer. Vagaro has more advanced automation capabilities and two-way texting built in. For a solo operator, GlossGenius's communication tools are more than sufficient.
Can GlossGenius replace a website?
Yes. GlossGenius includes a free booking website with your custom URL (yourname.glossgenius.com or a custom domain). The sites are mobile-optimized, visually attractive, and designed to convert visitors to bookings. For most solo beauty professionals, it replaces the need for a separate website entirely.
The Verdict
GlossGenius is the clear winner for solo nail techs, independent stylists, and small beauty businesses. At $24–48/month with a built-in card reader and optional 0% processing, it's purpose-built for independent beauty professionals and typically saves $50–200/month versus Vagaro. Vagaro is the better choice once you have multiple staff, need payroll, or want a consumer marketplace to drive new client discovery. It's a more complete business platform for established salons.