Vagaro vs Mindbody
Which nail and beauty salon software is right for your firm?
Quick Answer
Vagaro is the better choice for nail salons, hair salons, and beauty-focused businesses. Mindbody is primarily built for fitness studios and wellness centers — it includes class scheduling and membership tools that beauty salons don't need, and costs 3–4x more than Vagaro. For pure salon use, Vagaro delivers more value at lower cost.
At a Glance
| Vagaro | Mindbody | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $30–$90/mo | $129–$349+/mo |
| Best For | Salons and spas wanting affordable all-in-one management | Fitness studios, yoga centers, and wellness businesses |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Vagaro | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $30/mo | $129/mo |
| Salon-Specific Features | Excellent | Moderate |
| Fitness/Class Scheduling | Basic | Best-in-class |
| Consumer Marketplace | ||
| POS & Retail | ||
| Staff Payroll | Higher tiers | |
| Marketing Automation | ||
| Memberships | ||
| Online Booking | ||
| Inventory Management | Limited | |
| Mobile App (Client) | ||
| Free Trial |
Pricing Comparison
Vagaro Pricing
- Full booking suite
- POS
- Client management
- Basic reporting
- Multi-staff
- Payroll
- Inventory
- Advanced reports
- Everything
- Priority support
- Advanced analytics
Mindbody Pricing
- Booking
- Scheduling
- Client management
- Basic marketing
- Automated marketing
- Advanced analytics
- Branded app features
- Full suite
- Custom branding
- Priority support
- All features
- Enterprise features
- Multiple locations
- Advanced API
Who Should Choose What?
✅ Choose Vagaro if...
- Your primary business is a nail salon, hair salon, or beauty spa
- Budget is important — Vagaro is 4–10x less expensive than Mindbody
- You need payroll built in at a reasonable price point
- Inventory management for retail products is important
- You want a platform purpose-built for beauty industry workflows
✅ Choose Mindbody if...
- You run a yoga studio, fitness center, or hybrid wellness/beauty space
- Class scheduling with multiple slots, waitlists, and recurring memberships is core
- Your clients use the Mindbody consumer app to discover and book
- You need advanced membership management for monthly subscription services
- You run both fitness and beauty services and need one platform
Frequently Asked Questions
Should a nail salon use Mindbody?
Generally no. Mindbody was built for fitness studios and wellness centers. Its pricing starts at $129/mo — 4x more than Vagaro. The features nail salons need (service-based booking, POS, retail inventory) are available on both, but Vagaro does them better at a fraction of the cost. Mindbody makes sense only if you also run fitness classes or wellness programs alongside beauty services.
Is Vagaro cheaper than Mindbody?
Significantly cheaper. Vagaro starts at $30/mo vs. Mindbody's $129/mo. For a 3-staff salon, Vagaro is $50/mo versus Mindbody's minimum $129/mo — a $948/year savings. For most beauty businesses, that price difference isn't justified unless you need Mindbody's fitness-specific features.
Does Vagaro have a consumer marketplace like Mindbody?
Yes. Vagaro has its own consumer marketplace app where clients can discover and book nearby salons and spas. Mindbody's marketplace is larger (particularly for fitness), but Vagaro's marketplace is well-established for beauty businesses. Both offer consumer-facing discovery tools.
Can I use Mindbody for a nail salon?
You can, but it's not ideal. Mindbody works technically for appointment-based services, but it's over-engineered and overpriced for a pure nail salon. You'd be paying for class scheduling, series passes, and other features irrelevant to your business. Vagaro, Fresha, GlossGenius, or Mangomint are better-suited choices.
Which has a better mobile app?
Mindbody's client-facing app has a larger user base, especially for fitness discovery. Vagaro's app is highly rated for salon clients (4.8+ App Store). For staff management, both have capable apps. For a nail salon focused on beauty clients, Vagaro's app ecosystem is more relevant.
The Verdict
Vagaro wins decisively for nail salons, hair salons, and beauty businesses. It's purpose-built for beauty services, costs 4–10x less, and includes everything you need including payroll and inventory. Mindbody is the right choice only if you run fitness or yoga classes alongside beauty services. For pure beauty businesses, Mindbody's higher price buys features you don't need.