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Beauty · head to head

Merlua vs MyTime

Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MyTime logo

MyTime

Beauty

Online booking and appointment scheduling platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; MyTime aimed at chains and franchises from 5 to 500 locations rather than single-site independents
  • They diverge on capability: Merlua covers Guest online booking, MyTime covers Online booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Merlua and MyTime actually diverge.

Attributes where Merlua and MyTime differ
AttributeMerluaMyTime
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WordPressWeb, Mobile-responsive
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Merlua

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

Only in MyTime

  • Online booking
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client database
  • Email & SMS reminders
  • Payment processing
  • Custom branding
  • Marketing tools
  • Reporting

What people use each for

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

Merlua

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

MyTime

  • Appointment scheduling across multiple salon or spa locationsnot Merlua
  • Point of sale and integrated payments at the counternot Merlua
  • Staff scheduling and labour forecastingnot Merlua
  • Email, SMS and push marketing to clientsnot Merlua
  • Loyalty, referral and membership programmesnot Merlua
  • Multi-location reporting for a franchise groupnot Merlua

Where each one falls short

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

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.

MyTime

  • Aimed at chains and franchises from 5 to 500 locations rather than single-site independents
  • Pricing is not published

Pricing, plan by plan

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

MyTime

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Online booking
    • Client management
    • Email reminders
  • Professional$39/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Custom branding
    • Marketing tools

Which should you pick?

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

Choose MyTime if

  • You need online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile-responsive.
  • You also want appointment scheduling.
MyTime review

Questions people ask

Is Merlua or MyTime better?
Neither clearly leads. Merlua starts at Free and MyTime at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Merlua or MyTime?
Merlua starts at Free and MyTime at Free.
Does Merlua or MyTime run on more platforms?
Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress. MyTime runs on Web, Mobile-responsive.
Can I use Merlua for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Merlua best used for?
Merlua is most often used for taking salon bookings without forcing client accounts, cutting no-shows with deposits and reminders, coordinating several staff members' availability, running a branded booking page from an existing website. Of those, taking salon bookings without forcing client accounts and cutting no-shows with deposits and reminders are not what MyTime is typically brought in for.
What can Merlua do that MyTime cannot?
Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments. MyTime covers Online booking, Appointment scheduling, Client database, Email & SMS reminders.

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
MyTime: How much does MyTime cost?

Specific pricing information is not displayed on the MyTime homepage. Customers must navigate to the Pricing Packages section to view rates for the scheduling and POS system.

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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