Best Booksy alternatives for barbers and independent stylists (2026)
What are the best Booksy alternatives for barbers and independent stylists in 2026?
The best Booksy alternatives are Square Appointments for a free plan with online booking and payments, GlossGenius for a branded booking page, ChairBook for a simple iPhone appointment book with client notes and no marketplace, Goldie for stylists with a small number of monthly appointments, and Hair Stylist Appointments for a one-time purchase that uses your existing contacts and calendar. People look for alternatives because reviewers say Booksy costs more than many alternatives and its Boost commission on new clients makes first-time discounts hard. ChairBook gives day and week views, a service menu with prices and durations, client visit history and notes, and revenue reports; it has no online booking, payments or automatic SMS, it is iPhone only and free use is limited, with Pro at $19.00 monthly (US App Store, Nov 2026). Vagaro adds marketing tools but reviewers say add-ons raise the cost.
Disclosure: ODEL makes ChairBook. We list other apps on their merits, say where they are the better choice, and link our sources. Store ratings and prices are from the public App Store listing on the date shown.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Price | Store rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Appointments | Barbers and stylists who want online booking and payments with a free start | iOS, Android, Web | Free to download | 4.9 (195,330 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| GlossGenius | Stylists who get clients from Instagram and want a branded booking page | iOS, Web | Free to download | 4.5 (4,523 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| ChairBook (ours) | Barbers and stylists with their own clients who want a phone appointment book | iOS | Free to download | n/a |
| Goldie | Stylists with a small number of appointments each month | iOS | Free to download | 4.8 (13,039 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Vagaro | Stylists who want marketing tools, inventory and a booking widget | iOS, Android, Web | Free to download | 4.4 (15,965 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Hair Stylist Appointments | Stylists who want a one-time purchase instead of a monthly plan | iOS | $7.99 | 3.5 (11 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
1. Square Appointments: best for barbers and stylists who want online booking and payments with a free start
Square Appointments (by Block, Inc.) is best for barbers and stylists who want online booking and payments with a free start. Free tier with unlimited appointments, payments and bookkeeping. Named best overall for independent stylists by Costbench. The main limitations: SMS reminders and no-show protection need the paid Plus plan; Processing fees on every plan.
Why we picked it
- Free tier with unlimited appointments, payments and bookkeeping
- Named best overall for independent stylists by Costbench
Limitations
- SMS reminders and no-show protection need the paid Plus plan
- Processing fees on every plan
Sources: costbench.com, heygoldie.com
2. GlossGenius: best for stylists who get clients from Instagram and want a branded booking page
GlossGenius (by GlossGenius, Inc.) is best for stylists who get clients from Instagram and want a branded booking page. Branded booking page. Described as the most talked-about booking app among hairstylists. The main limitation: No free tier.
Why we picked it
- Branded booking page
- Described as the most talked-about booking app among hairstylists
Limitations
- No free tier
Sources: zenoti.com, costbench.com
3. ChairBook: best for barbers and stylists with their own clients who want a phone appointment book
ChairBook (by ODEL) is best for barbers and stylists with their own clients who want a phone appointment book. Day and week views; appointments use your service prices and durations. Client contact details, visit history and notes. Reminder cards you send through your own messaging apps. Appointment history and revenue reports; no marketplace or commission. The main limitations: No online booking, payments or automatic SMS reminders; Free use is limited; unlimited appointments need Pro; iPhone only; newer app with few ratings.
Why we picked it
- Day and week views; appointments use your service prices and durations
- Client contact details, visit history and notes
- Reminder cards you send through your own messaging apps
- Appointment history and revenue reports; no marketplace or commission
Limitations
- No online booking, payments or automatic SMS reminders
- Free use is limited; unlimited appointments need Pro
- iPhone only; newer app with few ratings
Sources: apps.apple.com
4. Goldie: best for stylists with a small number of appointments each month
Goldie (by QUARTET HOLDCO S.R.L.) is best for stylists with a small number of appointments each month. Free up to 20 appointments a month, per the vendor. Confirmations, reminders and client profiles. The main limitation: Information comes from the vendor's own comparison.
Why we picked it
- Free up to 20 appointments a month, per the vendor
- Confirmations, reminders and client profiles
Limitations
- Information comes from the vendor's own comparison
Sources: heygoldie.com
5. Vagaro: best for stylists who want marketing tools, inventory and a booking widget
Vagaro (by Vagaro Inc) is best for stylists who want marketing tools, inventory and a booking widget. Booking widget and recurring appointments. Email and birthday marketing, inventory. The main limitations: Reviewers say most stylists need a paid plan and add-ons raise the cost; Capterra reviewers find card processing fees confusing.
Why we picked it
- Booking widget and recurring appointments
- Email and birthday marketing, inventory
Limitations
- Reviewers say most stylists need a paid plan and add-ons raise the cost
- Capterra reviewers find card processing fees confusing
Sources: heygoldie.com, checkthat.ai, capterra.com
6. Hair Stylist Appointments: best for stylists who want a one-time purchase instead of a monthly plan
Hair Stylist Appointments (by JZ Mobile LLC) is best for stylists who want a one-time purchase instead of a monthly plan. Uses your existing iPhone contacts and calendar. No monthly or annual fees, per the listing; data stays on the device. The main limitations: Automated client messages and cloud sync are separate in-app purchases; iPhone only, with a small number of ratings.
Why we picked it
- Uses your existing iPhone contacts and calendar
- No monthly or annual fees, per the listing; data stays on the device
Limitations
- Automated client messages and cloud sync are separate in-app purchases
- iPhone only, with a small number of ratings
Sources: apps.apple.com
How we chose
- Fits one barber or stylist, not a multi-staff salon
- Marketplace commission or not
- Client notes and visit history
- Online booking, payments and reminders, and what they cost
- Pricing model as reported by reviewers or the store listing
Questions
Why do barbers look for Booksy alternatives?
Reviewers say Booksy costs more than many alternatives, and a Capterra reviewer says its Boost commission on new clients makes first-time discounts hard. Square Appointments, GlossGenius, ChairBook and Goldie are common alternatives.
Which salon apps have no new-client commission?
ChairBook and Hair Stylist Appointments have no marketplace, so there is no new-client commission; you bring your own clients. Fresha, like Booksy, charges commission on some marketplace clients, according to Costbench.
What is the cheapest Booksy alternative?
Square Appointments has a free plan and Goldie is free up to 20 appointments a month. ChairBook is free to download with limited free use, and Hair Stylist Appointments is a one-time purchase.
Do I lose anything by leaving Booksy?
Yes, its marketplace visibility. If most of your new clients come from Booksy, an appointment book like ChairBook will not replace that; a booking platform with its own marketplace or a booking page you promote yourself would.