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Beauty · head to head

Merlua vs Resurva

Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Resurva logo

Resurva

Beauty

Beautiful online booking for beauty businesses

From
Free
Rated
-

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.; Resurva pricing information not publicly displayed on website, requiring direct contact with sales team for quotes
  • They diverge on capability: Merlua covers Guest online booking, Resurva covers Custom booking page.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Merlua and Resurva actually diverge.

Attributes where Merlua and Resurva differ
AttributeMerluaResurva
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WordPressWeb, iOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2014

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 Resurva

  • Custom booking page
  • Online scheduling
  • Email reminders
  • SMS reminders
  • Payment processing
  • Calendar sync
  • Website embedding
  • Client database

What people use each for

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

Merlua

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

Resurva

  • Online bookingnot Merlua
  • Website integrationnot Merlua
  • Appointment remindersnot Merlua
  • Professional presencenot 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.

Resurva

  • Pricing information not publicly displayed on website, requiring direct contact with sales team for quotes
  • Limited information about feature depth compared to dedicated salon management platforms
  • Integration options limited to five third-party tools compared to more comprehensive platforms

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

Resurva

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Resurva review.

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.

Choose Resurva if

  • You need custom booking page.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online scheduling.

Questions people ask

Is Merlua or Resurva better?
Neither clearly leads. Merlua starts at Free and Resurva at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Merlua or Resurva?
Merlua starts at Free and Resurva at Free.
Does Merlua or Resurva run on more platforms?
Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress. Resurva runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 Resurva is typically brought in for.
What can Merlua do that Resurva cannot?
Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments. Resurva covers Custom booking page, Online scheduling, Email reminders, 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
Resurva: Does Resurva offer a free trial?

Yes. Resurva offers a 60-day free trial with super support. No credit card is required to sign up.

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
Resurva: What features does Resurva include?

Resurva includes appointment scheduling, booking management, client management with client portal, online booking, email and SMS reminders, online payments, POS integration, multi-location support, and analytics and reporting tools.

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
Resurva: What integrations does Resurva support?

Resurva integrates with Mailchimp for email marketing, Meta for Business for social advertising, Stripe for payments, Twitter/X for social publishing, and Vend for POS and retail operations.

Source
Merlua: Do clients need an account to book?

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

Source
Resurva: Does Resurva support multi-location management?

Yes. Resurva supports multiple locations with a multi-location discount available on all accounts for managing several salon or barbershop locations from one dashboard.

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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