Softwr

Beauty · head to head

Kitomba vs Phorest

Kitomba logo

Kitomba

Beauty

Salon software from New Zealand

From
79/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: Kitomba no plan price is published; pricing depends on package, features and staff count and is only given after a demo and a discovery call with a Kitomba consultant; Phorest no price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • They diverge on capability: Kitomba covers Stock management, Phorest covers Marketing automation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kitomba and Phorest actually diverge.

Attributes where Kitomba and Phorest differ
AttributeKitombaPhorest
Starting price79/month$99/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20012003

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Kitomba

  • Stock management
  • Marketing tools
  • Business analytics
  • Mobile apps
  • Online booking
  • Xero
  • MYOB
  • Tyro

Only in Phorest

  • Marketing automation
  • Reputation management
  • Staff management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Business reports
  • Mailchimp
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Both cover

  • Appointment booking
  • Point of sale
  • Client management
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Kitomba

  • Salon and spa managementnot Phorest
  • Appointment and client bookingnot Phorest
  • Business operations for service-based companiesnot Phorest

Phorest

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kitomba

  • No plan price is published; pricing depends on package, features and staff count and is only given after a demo and a discovery call with a Kitomba consultant
  • Advertised per user pricing is based on 3 staff, so the quoted figure does not apply at other headcounts
  • Xero, Mailchimp, REACH.ai, Salon Pay and Vish integrations all carry separate charges outside the software fee
  • Data migration and live education carry additional charges
  • Kitomba Pay EFTPOS terminal rental is available in Australia only

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

Kitomba

79/month
  • Starter$79/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • Basic reporting
  • Business$149/month
    • All Starter features
    • POS system
    • Stock management

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 Kitomba if

  • You need stock management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want marketing tools.
Kitomba review

Choose Phorest if

  • You need marketing automation.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want reputation management.
Phorest review

Questions people ask

Is Kitomba or Phorest better?
Neither clearly leads. Kitomba starts at 79/month and Phorest at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kitomba or Phorest?
Kitomba starts at 79/month and Phorest at $99/month.
Does Kitomba or Phorest run on more platforms?
Kitomba runs on Web, Ios, Android. Phorest runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
What is Kitomba best used for?
Kitomba is most often used for salon and spa management, appointment and client booking, business operations for service-based companies. Of those, salon and spa management and appointment and client booking are not what Phorest is typically brought in for.
What can Kitomba do that Phorest cannot?
Kitomba covers Stock management, Marketing tools, Business analytics, Mobile apps. Phorest covers Marketing automation, Reputation management, Staff management, Inventory tracking. Both handle Appointment booking, Point of sale, Client management, PCI DSS.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kitomba: How much does Kitomba cost?

Kitomba pricing is customized based on selected package (Lite, Grow, Pro, Enterprise), features needed, and number of staff. Use their pricing calculator or book a demo with a Kitomba Business Consultant for a quote.

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
Kitomba: What are Kitomba's four pricing tiers?

Kitomba offers Lite (basic booking), Grow (client loyalty tools), Pro (team tracking and integrations), and Enterprise (multi-location management). Specific pricing requires a custom quote.

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
Kitomba: Are there additional costs beyond Kitomba software?

Yes, REACH.ai integration charges apply separately. Xero integration charges apply. Data migration and training sessions incur additional fees.

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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