Feature comparison
Which Salon Software Has Built-In Online Booking?
15 of 15 platforms offer online booking. 0 do not.
Nearly every salon software platform offers online booking in 2026 — it is a baseline expectation. The real differentiators are in the details: schedule optimisation modes, deposit collection during booking, draft booking recovery for clients who start but don't finish, and how much control you have over the booking flow. Bella Booking offers three schedule optimisation modes (Show All, Reduce Gaps, Eliminate Gaps), service-level deposit requirements, and automatic capture of incomplete bookings — features that most platforms lack.
Bella Booking's online booking
Online booking on all plans; schedule optimisation on all plans
- 24/7 branded booking page with no marketplace listing required
- Three schedule optimisation modes: Show All, Reduce Gaps, Eliminate Gaps
- Deposits during online booking — fixed amount or percentage, per service
- Draft booking recovery — auto-captures incomplete bookings with follow-up SMS/email
- Multi-service booking with accurate timing and service sequencing
- Booking approval mode — require approval before confirming online bookings
- Service add-ons visible during online booking for upselling
Online Booking across 15 platforms
Based on publicly available feature documentation
| Platform | Available | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bella Booking | Yes | Online booking on all plans; schedule optimisation on all plans |
| Fresha | Yes | Via booking page link. 3 schedule modes: Regular, Reduce gaps, Eliminate gaps |
| Timely | Yes | Branded booking page with Minimize Gaps mode |
| Shortcuts | Partial | Online booking on Climb and Summit tiers only — not available on Base plan |
| Square Appointments | Yes | Online booking included. Processing time between appointments but no gap-reduction modes |
| Vagaro | Yes | Online booking with Minimize Gaps setting |
| Phorest | Yes | Online booking with deposit protection and Smart Booking for back-to-back scheduling |
| Booksy | Yes | Online booking via marketplace and booking page. Gap processing time but no client-facing slot restriction modes |
| Setmore | Yes | Online booking included. No schedule optimisation modes |
| GlossGenius | Yes | Online booking with gap/clean-up time blocking but no smart-scheduling mode for slot display |
| Mindbody | Yes | Online booking with buffer times but no client-facing gap-reduction modes |
| Mangomint | Yes | Online booking shows gap-filling times only. Open days show start/end-of-day only |
| Boulevard | Yes | Online booking with Precision Scheduling that surfaces best times |
| Kitomba | Yes | Kitomba Online Bookings with waitlist and drag-and-drop gap filling |
| Zenoti | Yes | Branded booking page with Gap-Free Scheduling and Efficient Booking for short gaps |
| Treatwell | Yes | Via Treatwell marketplace and embeddable widget. No schedule optimisation modes |
Based on publicly available feature documentation as of May 2026. Visit each provider's website for current information.
Frequently asked questions
- Which salon software has the best schedule optimisation for online booking?
- Bella Booking and Fresha both offer three configurable modes (Show All, Reduce Gaps, Eliminate Gaps). Zenoti offers Gap-Free Scheduling and Efficient Booking. Mangomint only shows gap-filling times. Boulevard uses Precision Scheduling. Most other platforms offer basic buffer time between appointments but no client-facing slot restriction modes.
- What happens if a client starts booking online but doesn't finish?
- Bella Booking automatically captures incomplete bookings when an authenticated client reaches the review step and leaves. The draft appears in the Follow-ups panel with a one-tap "Book for client" action, and an optional automatic SMS/email reminder with a resume link can be enabled. Most other salon software does not offer draft booking recovery.
- Can clients pay a deposit when booking online?
- Bella Booking supports service-level deposits during online booking on all plans — set a fixed amount or percentage. Most competitors also support deposits, though Shortcuts restricts them to higher-tier plans and some platforms handle deposits only via manual invoicing.
- Do I need a marketplace listing for online booking?
- No. Bella Booking provides a branded booking page without any marketplace. Fresha and Booksy combine booking pages with marketplace listings (with commission on marketplace clients). Treatwell is primarily a marketplace. Most other platforms offer standalone booking pages without marketplace dependency.
- Can clients book multiple services in one appointment?
- Bella Booking supports multi-service booking with accurate timing, proper service sequencing, and service bundles. Most competitors also support multi-service appointments, though the level of sequencing control and bundle pricing options varies.
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Important Notice
The information about the platforms listed on this page is based on publicly available data as of May 2026 and is provided for general comparison purposes only. Pricing, features, and policies may change at any time without notice. We make reasonable efforts to keep this information accurate, but we cannot guarantee its completeness or current accuracy.
Always verify directly with the platforms listed before making any business decisions. This comparison reflects our understanding and may not capture all nuances of their offerings.