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Beauty · head to head

Kitomba vs Merlua

Kitomba logo

Kitomba

Beauty

Salon software from New Zealand

From
79/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Merlua has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kitomba no plan price is published; pricing depends on package, features and staff count and is only given after a demo and a discovery call with a Kitomba consultant; Merlua plan prices are not published. The pricing page renders its comparison table client side and no amounts are visible on it as of September 2026, so the cost of Standard or Premium is not knowable before signup.
  • They diverge on capability: Kitomba covers Appointment booking, Merlua covers Guest online booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kitomba and Merlua actually diverge.

Attributes where Kitomba and Merlua differ
AttributeKitombaMerlua
Starting price79/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, WordPress
Founded2001Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Beauty).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Kitomba

  • Appointment booking
  • Point of sale
  • Stock management
  • Client management
  • Marketing tools
  • Business analytics
  • Mobile apps
  • Online booking

Only in Merlua

  • Guest online booking
  • Services and staff
  • Calendar and availability
  • Deposits and payments
  • Email and SMS reminders
  • Branded booking page
  • Staff and client apps

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Kitomba

  • Salon and spa managementnot Merlua
  • Appointment and client bookingnot Merlua
  • Business operations for service-based companiesnot Merlua

Merlua

  • Taking salon bookings without forcing client accountsnot Kitomba
  • Cutting no-shows with deposits and remindersnot Kitomba
  • Coordinating several staff members' availabilitynot Kitomba
  • Running a branded booking page from an existing websitenot Kitomba
  • Giving staff their schedule and earnings on their phonenot Kitomba

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Kitomba

  • No plan price is published; pricing depends on package, features and staff count and is only given after a demo and a discovery call with a Kitomba consultant
  • Advertised per user pricing is based on 3 staff, so the quoted figure does not apply at other headcounts
  • Xero, Mailchimp, REACH.ai, Salon Pay and Vish integrations all carry separate charges outside the software fee
  • Data migration and live education carry additional charges
  • Kitomba Pay EFTPOS terminal rental is available in Australia only

Merlua

  • Plan prices are not published. The pricing page renders its comparison table client side and no amounts are visible on it as of September 2026, so the cost of Standard or Premium is not knowable before signup.
  • Stripe is the only payment processor named, so a salon banking elsewhere has no alternative route.
  • Built for beauty specifically. A clinic, a gym or a barber chain wanting inventory, POS or memberships will find those absent.
  • The integration list is short next to established salon platforms: Stripe, WordPress and SMS, with no accounting, marketing or POS connections listed.
  • A new vendor with no independent review coverage, so the reliability claims rest on the vendor's own material.

Pricing, plan by plan

Kitomba

79/month
  • Starter$79/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • Basic reporting
  • Business$149/month
    • All Starter features
    • POS system
    • Stock management

Merlua

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core scheduling with no time limit
    • Basic booking management
  • Standard and Premium$undefined/month
    • 14-day full-feature trial, no card required
    • No Merlua booking transaction fees
    • Monthly or annual billing, switchable at any time

Which should you pick?

Choose Kitomba if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want point of sale.
Kitomba review

Choose Merlua if

  • You need guest online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress.
  • You also want services and staff.
Merlua review

Questions people ask

Is Kitomba or Merlua better?
Neither clearly leads. Kitomba starts at 79/month and Merlua at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kitomba or Merlua?
Merlua has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at 79/month for Kitomba and Free for Merlua.
Does Kitomba or Merlua run on more platforms?
Kitomba runs on Web, Ios, Android. Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress.
Can I use Merlua for free?
Yes. Merlua has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kitomba starts at 79/month.
What is Kitomba best used for?
Kitomba is most often used for salon and spa management, appointment and client booking, business operations for service-based companies. Of those, salon and spa management and appointment and client booking are not what Merlua is typically brought in for.
What can Kitomba do that Merlua cannot?
Kitomba covers Appointment booking, Point of sale, Stock management, Client management. Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kitomba: How much does Kitomba cost?

Kitomba pricing is customized based on selected package (Lite, Grow, Pro, Enterprise), features needed, and number of staff. Use their pricing calculator or book a demo with a Kitomba Business Consultant for a quote.

Source
Merlua: Is there a free plan?

Yes. Merlua states it offers "a robust free tier with core scheduling capabilities so you can manage basic bookings without a time limit", separate from the paid trial.

Source
Kitomba: What are Kitomba's four pricing tiers?

Kitomba offers Lite (basic booking), Grow (client loyalty tools), Pro (team tracking and integrations), and Enterprise (multi-location management). Specific pricing requires a custom quote.

Source
Merlua: How does the free trial work?

Fourteen days of full access to all premium features with no credit card required upfront. At the end you either pick a plan or continue on the free tier.

Source
Kitomba: Are there additional costs beyond Kitomba software?

Yes, REACH.ai integration charges apply separately. Xero integration charges apply. Data migration and training sessions incur additional fees.

Source
Merlua: Does Merlua charge booking transaction fees?

No hidden booking transaction fees on the Standard or premium tiers. Standard payment processing fees from your gateway, such as Stripe, still apply.

Source
Merlua: Do clients need an account to book?

No. Clients complete bookings as guests without creating a password or a permanent account.

Source
Merlua: What happens if I cancel?

Premium features stay active until the end of the current billing period, and plans can be upgraded, downgraded or switched between monthly and annual at any time from billing settings.

Source
Merlua: What can I install it on?

A web dashboard, mobile apps for staff and clients, a WordPress plugin, and an embeddable booking widget for any site.

Source
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