Beauty · head to head
Mangomint vs Merlua
The short version
- Only Merlua has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Mangomint the base plan is $130 a month before any add ons, which is a high floor for a single chair salon; 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: Mangomint covers Smart 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 Mangomint and Merlua actually diverge.
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 Mangomint
- Smart scheduling
- Client management
- Integrated payments
- Automated confirmations
- Inventory management
- Express booking
- Two-way texting
- Business reports
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.
Mangomint
- Salon and spa management softwarenot Merlua
- Multi-location business scheduling and point-of-salenot Merlua
Merlua
- Taking salon bookings without forcing client accountsnot Mangomint
- Cutting no-shows with deposits and remindersnot Mangomint
- Coordinating several staff members' availabilitynot Mangomint
- Running a branded booking page from an existing websitenot Mangomint
- Giving staff their schedule and earnings on their phonenot Mangomint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Mangomint
- The base plan is $130 a month before any add ons, which is a high floor for a single chair salon
- Each additional location is $120 a month and each additional user $10
- Phone service is $70 a month per line, marketing starts at $30 and payroll is $50 plus $8 per worker
- Card processing is charged on top, at 2.45% plus 15 cents in person and 2.90% plus 30 cents for virtual payments
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
Mangomint
$120/monthly- Base Plan$120/monthly
- Full access to complete platform and core features
- Calendar and scheduling
- Payments and point-of-sale
- Phone Add-on$70/monthly
- Phone line service
- Optional add-on to base plan
- Marketing Add-on$30/monthly
- Starting price with various credit tiers available
- Marketing automation credits range from 3,500 to 60,000 credits
- Payroll Add-on$50/monthly
- Payroll management
- Per worker: $8 additional fee
Merlua
Free- FreeFree
- Core scheduling with no time limit
- Basic booking management
- Standard and Premium$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 Mangomint if
- You need smart scheduling.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want client management.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Mangomint or Merlua better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mangomint starts at $120/monthly and Merlua at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Mangomint or Merlua?
- Merlua has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $120/monthly for Mangomint and Free for Merlua.
- Does Mangomint or Merlua run on more platforms?
- Mangomint runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. 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. Mangomint starts at $120/monthly.
- What is Mangomint best used for?
- Mangomint is most often used for salon and spa management software, multi-location business scheduling and point-of-sale. Of those, salon and spa management software and multi-location business scheduling and point-of-sale are not what Merlua is typically brought in for.
- What can Mangomint do that Merlua cannot?
- Mangomint covers Smart scheduling, Client management, Integrated payments, Automated confirmations. Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Mangomint: What is the total cost if I add multiple features to the base plan?
Base plan starts at $120 per month plus $10 per additional user. Optional add-ons include Phone at $70/month, Marketing starting at $30/month, Payroll at $50/month plus $8 per worker, and each additional location at $120/month. Free onboarding and data transfer are included.
SourceMerlua: 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.
SourceMangomint: What are the payment processing rates if I accept cards?
Mangomint charges 2.45 percent plus $0.15 per transaction for in-person payments, and 2.90 percent plus $0.30 per transaction for virtual payments. These rates are in addition to the subscription fee.
SourceMerlua: 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.
SourceMangomint: Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes, Mangomint explicitly states 'Cancel anytime' on the pricing page. There are no long-term contracts required. Free onboarding and data transfer are provided when you sign up.
SourceMerlua: 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.
SourceMerlua: Do clients need an account to book?
No. Clients complete bookings as guests without creating a password or a permanent account.
SourceMerlua: 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.
SourceMerlua: 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.
SourceRelated pages
Other head to heads
- Mangomint vs SalonBiz
- Mangomint vs Genbook
- Mangomint vs Salonist
- Mangomint vs StyleSeat
- Mangomint vs SimpleSalon
- Mangomint vs Rosy Salon Software
- Mangomint vs Salon Ultimate
- Mangomint vs Squire
- Mangomint vs Treatwell
- Mangomint vs DaySmart Salon
- Mangomint vs Belliata
- Mangomint vs Shortcuts Software
- Mangomint vs SuperSalon
- Mangomint vs Versum
- Mangomint vs Zolmi
- Mangomint vs DaySmart Spa
- Mangomint vs Resurva
- Mangomint vs Salonized
- Mangomint vs Rosy
- Mangomint vs Salon Iris
- Merlua vs SalonBiz
- Merlua vs Genbook
- Merlua vs Salonist
- Merlua vs StyleSeat
- Merlua vs SimpleSalon
- Merlua vs Rosy Salon Software
- Merlua vs Salon Ultimate
- Merlua vs Squire
- Merlua vs Treatwell
- Merlua vs DaySmart Salon
- Merlua vs Belliata
- Merlua vs Shortcuts Software
- Merlua vs SuperSalon
- Merlua vs Versum
- Merlua vs Zolmi
- Merlua vs DaySmart Spa
- Merlua vs Resurva
- Merlua vs Salonized
- Merlua vs Rosy
- Merlua vs Salon Iris


