ChairBook vs GlossGenius: which app should you use?

Which is better, ChairBook or GlossGenius?

Choose GlossGenius if your clients find you on Instagram and you want a branded booking page where they book and pay; choose ChairBook if you book clients yourself by text or phone and want a simple appointment book with client notes on your iPhone. Reviewers call GlossGenius the most talked-about booking app among hairstylists, but it has no free tier and charges card processing on payments. ChairBook gives day and week views, a service menu with prices and durations, client contact details, visit history and notes, appointment history and revenue reports, and reminder cards you send through your own messaging apps. It does not offer online booking, payments or automatic SMS reminders. It is free to download with limited free use; Pro is $19.00 monthly, $149.00 yearly or a $399.00 lifetime unlock (US App Store, Nov 2026). ChairBook is iPhone only and a newer app with few ratings.

ChairBook and GlossGenius side by side

	ChairBook	GlossGenius
Platforms	iOS	iOS, Web
Price to download	Free to download	Free to download
Store rating	n/a	4.5 (4,523 ratings, 2026-11-02)
What it is	Appointment book and client notes you run yourself	Booking platform with a branded booking page for clients [source]
Online booking by clients	Not offered; you create appointments in the app	Yes, through a branded booking page [source]
Payments	Not included	Card payments with a flat processing rate [source]
Reminders	Reminder card you send yourself through your messaging apps	See the vendor's site
Free option	Free to download with limited free use; Pro $19.00/month, $149.00/year or $399.00 lifetime (US App Store, Nov 2026)	No free tier [source]
Client records	Contact details, visit history and notes; service menu with prices and durations	See the vendor's site

Choose ChairBook if

Your clients text or call you and you don't need a booking page
You want a paper diary replacement with client notes, not a payments platform
You want a yearly or one-time price option

Choose GlossGenius if

You get new clients from Instagram and want them to book themselves
You want to take card payments in the same app
You want a widely used app that many stylists already know

Questions

Does ChairBook have a booking page like GlossGenius?

No. ChairBook is an appointment book you run yourself; client-facing online booking is not among its features. GlossGenius gives you a branded booking page.

Is there a free version of GlossGenius?

Reviewers report GlossGenius has no free tier. ChairBook is free to download with limited free use, and Square Appointments has a free plan.

Can ChairBook send reminders?

ChairBook creates a reminder card that you send through your own messaging apps. It does not send automatic SMS.