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Beauty · head to head

Merlua vs Treatwell

Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Treatwell logo

Treatwell

Beauty

Beauty and wellness booking 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.; Treatwell treatwell charges 35 percent commission on the first booking from a client introduced through its marketplace, and the rate is subject to location
  • They diverge on capability: Merlua covers Guest online booking, Treatwell covers Online booking platform.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Merlua and Treatwell actually diverge.

Attributes where Merlua and Treatwell differ
AttributeMerluaTreatwell
Pricing modelfreemiumtransaction
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WordPressWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2008

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 Treatwell

  • Online booking platform
  • Business profile
  • Customer reviews
  • Appointment management
  • Payment processing
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics
  • Google

What people use each for

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

Merlua

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

Treatwell

  • Listing a salon on the Treatwell consumer booking marketplacenot Merlua
  • Free salon calendar, POS and client records for freelancers and small teamsnot Merlua
  • Taking online prepaid bookings with daily payoutsnot 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.

Treatwell

  • Treatwell charges 35 percent commission on the first booking from a client introduced through its marketplace, and the rate is subject to location
  • Online prepayments carry an additional 2.5 percent processing fee plus VAT
  • All commissions and fees are subject to VAT on top of the quoted percentages
  • The commercial model depends on marketplace introductions: there is no commission on direct or social media bookings, so the software is free only where the salon brings its own clients

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

Treatwell

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Online booking
    • Business profile
    • 25% commission
  • Premium$49/month
    • Everything in Free
    • 15% commission
    • Advanced analytics

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 Treatwell if

  • You need online booking platform.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want business profile.
Treatwell review

Questions people ask

Is Merlua or Treatwell better?
Neither clearly leads. Merlua starts at Free and Treatwell at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Merlua or Treatwell?
Merlua starts at Free and Treatwell at Free.
Does Merlua or Treatwell run on more platforms?
Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress. Treatwell 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 Treatwell is typically brought in for.
What can Merlua do that Treatwell cannot?
Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments. Treatwell covers Online booking platform, Business profile, Customer reviews, Appointment 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
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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