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Beauty · head to head

Merlua vs Salon Iris

Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Salon Iris logo

Salon Iris

Beauty

Complete salon & spa 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.; Salon Iris saloniris.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to daysmart.com/salon/pricing; the product is sold as DaySmart Salon
  • They diverge on capability: Merlua covers Guest online booking, Salon Iris covers Appointment scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Merlua and Salon Iris actually diverge.

Attributes where Merlua and Salon Iris differ
AttributeMerluaSalon Iris
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WordPressWeb, Windows, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown1999

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 Salon Iris

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Marketing tools
  • Payroll reports
  • Online booking
  • Mobile access

What people use each for

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

Merlua

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

Salon Iris

  • Salon appointment scheduling and client recordsnot Merlua
  • Salon point of sale and inventorynot Merlua
  • Stylist payroll and commission trackingnot 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.

Salon Iris

  • saloniris.com/pricing returns a 301 redirect to daysmart.com/salon/pricing; the product is sold as DaySmart Salon
  • The $29 per month entry plan includes only 1 user and excludes resource management, packages, memberships, payroll and digital forms
  • Additional users cost $9 per month each
  • Text and email volumes are capped per plan, starting at 500 texts and 1,000 emails per month
  • Text marketing, two way texting, reputation management and the website builder are separately priced add ons

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

Salon Iris

$29/month
  • Basic$29/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client database
    • Basic POS
  • Deluxe$59/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Online booking
    • Marketing tools
  • Premier$109/month
    • Everything in Deluxe
    • Advanced reports
    • Multi-location

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 Salon Iris if

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

Questions people ask

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

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
Salon Iris: How much does DaySmart Salon cost?

DaySmart Salon (formerly Salon Iris) does not publish specific pricing on its website. Customers must either start a free trial or contact the sales team at +1 (800) 527-7600 to receive pricing information.

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
Salon Iris: Does DaySmart Salon offer a free trial?

Yes, DaySmart Salon offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Start the trial at https://app.daysmart.com or link to their pricing page to sign up.

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
Salon Iris: How can I get DaySmart Salon pricing?

To obtain pricing information, either start the 14-day free trial or contact sales at +1 (800) 527-7600 (Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM ET). Sales email is available through their contact form.

Source
Merlua: Do clients need an account to book?

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

Source
Salon Iris: Does DaySmart Salon have a pricing calculator?

Yes, DaySmart Salon offers an ROI calculator tool to help determine the potential value and return on investment. Calculate the value using their calculator available on the sales page.

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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