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Beauty · head to head

Merlua vs Rosy Salon Software

Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rosy Salon Software logo

Rosy Salon Software

Beauty

Affordable salon management

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Merlua has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Rosy Salon Software pricing for 2, 3, and 4+ employee tiers not displayed on pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Merlua covers Guest online booking, Rosy Salon Software covers Appointment scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Merlua and Rosy Salon Software actually diverge.

Attributes where Merlua and Rosy Salon Software differ
AttributeMerluaRosy Salon Software
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WordPressWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2010

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 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 Rosy Salon Software

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory tracking
  • Marketing automation
  • Commission tracking
  • Online booking
  • Reports

What people use each for

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

Merlua

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

Rosy Salon Software

  • Budget-friendly managementnot Merlua
  • Small salon operationsnot Merlua
  • Client trackingnot Merlua
  • Basic marketingnot Merlua
  • Daily operationsnot 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.

Rosy Salon Software

  • Pricing for 2, 3, and 4+ employee tiers not displayed on pricing page
  • Premium add-ons like AI marketing platform require separate costs

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

Rosy Salon Software

$29/month
  • Startup$29/month
    • 1-2 service providers
    • Appointment booking
    • Client database
  • Growing$49/month
    • 3-5 service providers
    • Everything in Startup
    • Online booking
  • Established$69/month
    • 6+ service providers
    • Everything in Growing
    • Advanced reports

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 Rosy Salon Software if

  • You need appointment scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want client management.
Rosy Salon Software review

Questions people ask

Is Merlua or Rosy Salon Software better?
Neither clearly leads. Merlua starts at Free and Rosy Salon Software at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Merlua or Rosy Salon Software?
Merlua has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Merlua and $29/month for Rosy Salon Software.
Does Merlua or Rosy Salon Software run on more platforms?
Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress. Rosy Salon Software runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Merlua for free?
Yes. Merlua has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rosy Salon Software starts at $29/month.
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 Rosy Salon Software is typically brought in for.
What can Merlua do that Rosy Salon Software cannot?
Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments. Rosy Salon Software covers Appointment scheduling, Client management, Point of sale, Inventory tracking.

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
Rosy Salon Software: What are Rosy's subscription tiers?

Rosy offers employee-based tiered pricing with a Just Me plan at $29/month. Plans for 2, 3, and 4+ employees are available but their specific prices are not shown on the pricing page.

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
Rosy Salon Software: Does Rosy offer a free trial?

Yes, Rosy offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required to start.

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
Rosy Salon Software: What add-ons cost extra with Rosy?

Optional premium features include automated email marketing, enhanced text messaging, mass email marketing, client images, and Salon Marketing Services Pro (AI-powered marketing platform), though their specific costs are not disclosed.

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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