Softwr

Beauty · head to head

Goldie vs Phorest

G

Goldie

Beauty

Beauty booking app for independent professionals

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Phorest logo

Phorest

Beauty

Salon software that grows your business

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Goldie has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Goldie goldie is free to download on the App Store with no listed purchase price; monetisation, if any, is in-app and not disclosed in the store listing; Phorest no price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • They diverge on capability: Goldie covers Mobile scheduling, Phorest covers Appointment booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Goldie and Phorest actually diverge.

Attributes where Goldie and Phorest differ
AttributeGoldiePhorest
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20182003

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 Goldie

  • Mobile scheduling
  • Client database
  • Online booking link
  • Payment processing
  • SMS reminders
  • No-show protection
  • Social sharing
  • Revenue tracking

Only in Phorest

  • Appointment booking
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Marketing automation
  • Reputation management
  • Staff management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Business reports

Both cover

  • Instagram
  • Stripe
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Goldie

  • Mobile business managementnot Phorest
  • Client bookingnot Phorest
  • Payment collectionnot Phorest
  • Building clientelenot Phorest

Phorest

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

Where each one falls short

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

Goldie

  • Goldie is free to download on the App Store with no listed purchase price; monetisation, if any, is in-app and not disclosed in the store listing

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

Goldie

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Appointment scheduling
    • Client management
    • Basic reminders
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • All Free features
    • Online payments
    • SMS reminders

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 Goldie if

  • You need mobile scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want client database.
Goldie review

Choose Phorest if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want client management.
Phorest review

Questions people ask

Is Goldie or Phorest better?
Neither clearly leads. Goldie starts at Free and Phorest at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Goldie or Phorest?
Goldie has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Goldie and $99/month for Phorest.
Does Goldie or Phorest run on more platforms?
Goldie runs on Ios, Android. Phorest runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Goldie for free?
Yes. Goldie has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Phorest starts at $99/month.
What is Goldie best used for?
Goldie is most often used for mobile business management, client booking, payment collection, building clientele. Of those, mobile business management and client booking are not what Phorest is typically brought in for.
What can Goldie do that Phorest cannot?
Goldie covers Mobile scheduling, Client database, Online booking link, Payment processing. Phorest covers Appointment booking, Client management, Point of sale, Marketing automation. Both handle Instagram, Stripe, SSL encryption, Cloud deployment.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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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