Softwr

Beauty · head to head

Merlua vs SalonTarget

Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SalonTarget logo

SalonTarget

Beauty

Data-driven salon growth platform

From
$99/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.; SalonTarget no pricing information available on website, requires contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: Merlua covers Guest online booking, SalonTarget covers Client retention alerts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Merlua and SalonTarget actually diverge.

Attributes where Merlua and SalonTarget differ
AttributeMerluaSalonTarget
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WordPressWeb
FoundedUnknown2016

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 SalonTarget

  • Client retention alerts
  • Automated marketing
  • Data analytics
  • At-risk client identification
  • Email campaigns
  • SMS marketing
  • Performance tracking
  • Revenue forecasting

What people use each for

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

Merlua

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

SalonTarget

  • Appointment scheduling and online booking for salonsnot Merlua
  • Point of sale with integrated paymentsnot Merlua
  • Inventory tracking for retail and back barnot Merlua
  • Booth renter managementnot Merlua
  • Client marketing and rebooking remindersnot 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.

SalonTarget

  • No pricing information available on website, requires contacting sales
  • Trial limited duration, exact terms unclear

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

SalonTarget

$99/month
  • Growth$99/month
    • Client retention alerts
    • Automated campaigns
    • Basic analytics
  • Enterprise$199/month
    • All Growth features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Multi-location support

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 SalonTarget if

  • You need client retention alerts.
  • You also want automated marketing.
SalonTarget review

Questions people ask

Is Merlua or SalonTarget better?
Neither clearly leads. Merlua starts at Free and SalonTarget at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Merlua or SalonTarget?
Merlua has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Merlua and $99/month for SalonTarget.
Does Merlua or SalonTarget run on more platforms?
Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress. SalonTarget runs on Web.
Can I use Merlua for free?
Yes. Merlua has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SalonTarget starts at $99/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 SalonTarget is typically brought in for.
What can Merlua do that SalonTarget cannot?
Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments. SalonTarget covers Client retention alerts, Automated marketing, Data analytics, At-risk client identification.

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
SalonTarget: How much does SalonTarget cost?

SalonTarget does not publish pricing information on its website. Contact the sales team at (844) 440-6151 or email [email protected] to request pricing details and discuss your salon's specific needs.

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
SalonTarget: Does SalonTarget offer a free trial?

Yes, SalonTarget offers a free trial option. Start a free trial or contact sales at (844) 440-6151 to discuss trial terms and pricing with the sales team.

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
SalonTarget: How can I get a SalonTarget demo?

Click the 'Get Started Now' link on the SalonTarget homepage to access a demo, or contact the sales team at (844) 440-6151 or [email protected] to schedule a personalized demo.

Source
Merlua: Do clients need an account to book?

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

Source
SalonTarget: What factors affect SalonTarget pricing?

SalonTarget pricing likely varies based on salon size, features needed, and location, but specific details are not available online. Contact sales to discuss your requirements and receive a custom pricing quote.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Merlua

More on SalonTarget

Keep looking

Other head to heads