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Beauty · head to head

Goldie vs Merlua

G

Goldie

Beauty

Beauty booking app for independent professionals

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Goldie goldie is free to download on the App Store with no listed purchase price; monetisation, if any, is in-app and not disclosed in the store listing; 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: Goldie covers Mobile 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 Goldie and Merlua actually diverge.

Attributes where Goldie and Merlua differ
AttributeGoldieMerlua
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, WordPress
Founded2018Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Goldie

  • Mobile scheduling
  • Client database
  • Online booking link
  • Payment processing
  • SMS reminders
  • No-show protection
  • Social sharing
  • Revenue tracking

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.

Goldie

  • Mobile business managementnot Merlua
  • Client bookingnot Merlua
  • Payment collectionnot Merlua
  • Building clientelenot Merlua

Merlua

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

Where each one falls short

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

Goldie

  • Goldie is free to download on the App Store with no listed purchase price; monetisation, if any, is in-app and not disclosed in the store listing

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

Goldie

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Appointment scheduling
    • Client management
    • Basic reminders
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • All Free features
    • Online payments
    • SMS reminders

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 Goldie if

  • You need mobile scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want client database.
Goldie 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 Goldie or Merlua better?
Neither clearly leads. Goldie starts at Free and Merlua at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Goldie or Merlua?
Goldie starts at Free and Merlua at Free.
Does Goldie or Merlua run on more platforms?
Goldie runs on Ios, Android. Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress.
Can I use Goldie for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Goldie best used for?
Goldie is most often used for mobile business management, client booking, payment collection, building clientele. Of those, mobile business management and client booking are not what Merlua is typically brought in for.
What can Goldie do that Merlua cannot?
Goldie covers Mobile scheduling, Client database, Online booking link, Payment processing. Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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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