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Beauty · head to head

Genbook vs Phorest

Genbook logo

Genbook

Beauty

Online booking and business growth for salons

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phorest logo

Phorest

Beauty

Salon software that grows your business

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Genbook limited documentation and onboarding tutorials for new users; Phorest no price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • They diverge on capability: Genbook covers Online booking, Phorest covers Appointment booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Genbook and Phorest actually diverge.

Attributes where Genbook and Phorest differ
AttributeGenbookPhorest
Starting price$29/month$99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20062003

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Genbook

  • Online booking
  • Review collection
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Calendar sync
  • Mobile apps
  • Google
  • Yelp

Only in Phorest

  • Appointment booking
  • Point of sale
  • Marketing automation
  • Staff management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Business reports
  • Mailchimp
  • Instagram

Both cover

  • Client management
  • Reputation management
  • Facebook
  • Stripe
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Genbook

  • Getting more clientsnot Phorest
  • Managing reviewsnot Phorest
  • Online bookingnot Phorest
  • Building reputationnot Phorest

Phorest

  • Salon and clinic management softwarenot Genbook
  • Medical spa operations and schedulingnot Genbook
  • Beauty and wellness business softwarenot Genbook

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Genbook

  • Limited documentation and onboarding tutorials for new users
  • Customer support responsiveness can be slow or unreliable
  • Limited flexibility in rebooking timeframes and appointment management
  • Competitors offer additional features like HIPAA-compliant SOAP notes at lower prices

Phorest

  • No price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • There is no free trial at all, which the company states plainly
  • The product is described as suited to 3 or more staff, so a solo operator is outside the intended range
  • The branded booking app requires the Ultimate plan, and two way SMS, memberships, lead management and the ads manager are all Elite only

Pricing, plan by plan

Genbook

$29/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Genbook review.

Phorest

$99/month
  • Grow$99/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • POS
  • Elevate$179/month
    • Everything in Grow
    • Advanced marketing
    • Online booking
  • Innovate$299/month
    • Everything in Elevate
    • Multi-location
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Genbook if

  • You need online booking.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want review collection.
Genbook review

Choose Phorest if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want point of sale.
Phorest review

Questions people ask

Is Genbook or Phorest better?
Neither clearly leads. Genbook starts at $29/month and Phorest at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Genbook or Phorest?
Genbook starts at $29/month and Phorest at $99/month.
Does Genbook or Phorest run on more platforms?
Genbook runs on Web, Mobile. Phorest runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
What is Genbook best used for?
Genbook is most often used for getting more clients, managing reviews, online booking, building reputation. Of those, getting more clients and managing reviews are not what Phorest is typically brought in for.
What can Genbook do that Phorest cannot?
Genbook covers Online booking, Review collection, Payment processing, Marketing campaigns. Phorest covers Appointment booking, Point of sale, Marketing automation, Staff management. Both handle Client management, Reputation management, Facebook, Stripe.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Genbook: What does Genbook cost?

Genbook starts at $29 per month with different tiers available for businesses with varying needs.

Source
Phorest: How do I find out Phorest pricing for my salon?

All plans require a custom quote. Click 'Request a quote' or 'Book a demo' on the Phorest pricing page to receive pricing tailored to your business needs.

Source
Genbook: What support options are available?

Genbook offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, knowledge base, phone support, 24/7 live representative, and chat support.

Source
Phorest: What SMS charges apply to each plan?

Core Aesthetics: 8.2 cents/SMS; Elevate/Elite Aesthetics: 7 cents/SMS; Starter/Grow/Ultimate: 500 free SMS/month.

Source
Phorest: Is there a minimum staff requirement?

Yes, Phorest recommends 3+ staff members to use the software.

Source
Phorest: What is included in Phorest plans?

All plans include: unlimited devices, unlimited staff, software for life with future upgrades, migration services, and unlimited training.

Source
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