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Beauty · head to head

Envision vs Merlua

Envision logo

Envision

Beauty

Salon management software with integrated POS

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: Envision standard plan includes only 1 user and charges $20 per additional user up to a 5 seat cap; 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: Envision covers Appointment scheduling, Merlua covers Guest online booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Envision and Merlua actually diverge.

Attributes where Envision and Merlua differ
AttributeEnvisionMerlua
Starting price$79/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, WordPress
Founded2008Unknown

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 Envision

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Client database
  • Staff scheduling
  • SMS reminders
  • Reporting
  • Stripe

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.

Envision

  • Salon and spa businesses managing bookings, marketing campaigns and payments in one platformnot Merlua

Merlua

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

Where each one falls short

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

Envision

  • Standard plan includes only 1 user and charges $20 per additional user up to a 5 seat cap
  • No dollar amounts are shown for any plan; the page states pricing is tailored to your practice and requires contacting sales

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

Envision

$79/month
  • Starter$79/month
    • Scheduling
    • Basic POS
    • Client management
  • Professional$159/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Advanced POS
    • Inventory

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 Envision if

  • You need appointment scheduling.
  • You also want point of sale.
Envision 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 Envision or Merlua better?
Neither clearly leads. Envision 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, Envision or Merlua?
Merlua has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $79/month for Envision and Free for Merlua.
Does Envision or Merlua run on more platforms?
Envision runs on Web. 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. Envision starts at $79/month.
What is Envision best used for?
Envision is most often used for salon and spa businesses managing bookings, marketing campaigns and payments in one platform. Of those, salon and spa businesses managing bookings, marketing campaigns and payments in one platform is not what Merlua is typically brought in for.
What can Envision do that Merlua cannot?
Envision covers Appointment scheduling, Point of sale, Inventory management, Client database. Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Envision: How much does Envision cost?

Envision does not publish pricing information on its website. The vendor directs customers to schedule a demo or use an ROI calculator to obtain pricing details.

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
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
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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