Software · head to head
Revel Systems vs Salonist
The short version
- Only Salonist has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Revel Systems requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel; Salonist free plan limited to 50 appointments per month
- They diverge on capability: Revel Systems covers iPad POS, Salonist covers Appointment booking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Revel Systems and Salonist actually diverge.
| Attribute | Revel Systems | Salonist |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | iPad, Web | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Revel Systems
- iPad POS
- CRM
- Employee management
- Delivery management
- Multi-location management
- QuickBooks
- Xero
- 7shifts
Only in Salonist
- Appointment booking
- Billing & invoicing
- Loyalty programs
- Staff management
- GST compliance
- Marketing automation
- Business analytics
- Razorpay
Both cover
- Inventory management
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Revel Systems
- Point of Salenot Salonist
- Order Managementnot Salonist
- Inventory Controlnot Salonist
- Staff Schedulingnot Salonist
Salonist
- Indian salon managementnot Revel Systems
- GST billingnot Revel Systems
- Customer loyaltynot Revel Systems
- Inventory controlnot Revel Systems
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Revel Systems
- Requires 3-year contract with high early termination fees making it difficult to cancel
- System crashes and glitches frequently, especially at high transaction volumes
- Mandatory payment processing through Revel's Advantage processor with external processors heavily penalized
- Customer support quality is poor with Level 1 support described as ineffective
- Expensive upfront costs and numerous hidden fees for add-on features
Salonist
- Free plan limited to 50 appointments per month
- Pricing listed in AED (UAE currency) with regional variations
- Offline capabilities not clearly documented for mobile app
- Advanced AI features (AI Automation Marketing) only on Expert plan
Pricing, plan by plan
Revel Systems
$99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Revel Systems review.
Salonist
Free- Marketplace ListingFree
- 50 appointments/month
- Online booking
- Staff scheduling
- Essential$2900/year
- Point of Sale
- Sales reports
- Customer history
- Advance$4180/year
- All Essential features
- Customer surveys and loyalty
- Gift cards and campaigns
- Expert$6580/year
- All Advance features
- Multi-branch management
- Dedicated account manager
Which should you pick?
Choose Revel Systems if
- You need ipad pos.
- You work on iPad, Web.
- You also want crm.
Choose Salonist if
- You need appointment booking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want billing & invoicing.
Questions people ask
- Is Revel Systems or Salonist better?
- Neither clearly leads. Revel Systems starts at $99/month and Salonist at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Revel Systems or Salonist?
- Salonist has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Revel Systems and Free for Salonist.
- Does Revel Systems or Salonist run on more platforms?
- Revel Systems runs on iPad, Web. Salonist runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Salonist for free?
- Yes. Salonist has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Revel Systems starts at $99/month.
- What is Revel Systems best used for?
- Revel Systems is most often used for point of sale, order management, inventory control, staff scheduling. Of those, point of sale and order management are not what Salonist is typically brought in for.
- What can Revel Systems do that Salonist cannot?
- Revel Systems covers iPad POS, CRM, Employee management, Delivery management. Salonist covers Appointment booking, Billing & invoicing, Loyalty programs, Staff management. Both handle Inventory management, Ios support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Revel Systems: What does Revel Systems cost?
Revel pricing starts around $99 per month per terminal with a minimum 3-year contract requirement. Customers also pay for additional features like reporting, workforce management, integrations, and Advantage payment processing which is typically mandatory.
SourceSalonist: Does Salonist offer a free plan?
Salonist offers a free Marketplace Listing plan with 50 appointments/month, online booking, staff scheduling, and marketplace access. Unlimited staff are included on every plan.
SourceRevel Systems: How long does implementation take?
Revel implementation typically takes 2-4 weeks, including hardware setup, menu configuration, staff training, and system integration.
SourceSalonist: What features are included in the Essential plan?
Essential ($2,900 AED/year or approximately $59/month) includes Point of Sale, sales reports, customer history, coupon management, retail product and expense tracking, automated reminders, memberships, e-wallet, and staff commission tracking.
SourceRevel Systems: What integrations does Revel support?
Revel integrates with multiple payment processors through Stripe and Square connectors, plus accounting, payroll, and ecommerce solutions. Payment gateways vary by region.
SourceSalonist: Does Salonist support multiple locations?
Multi-branch management is available on the Expert plan ($6,580 AED/year) with centralized reporting and a dedicated account manager.
SourceRevel Systems: What are Revel's contract terms?
Revel requires a minimum 3-year contract with high early termination fees. Use of Revel's Advantage payment processing is typically mandatory, and using outside processors is heavily penalized or not allowed.
SourceSalonist: What payment gateways does Salonist support?
Salonist integrates with multiple payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, Razorpay, and other regional providers. The Advance plan and above include multiple payment integration options.
SourceSalonist: Does Salonist have a mobile app?
Yes, Salonist offers mobile apps for iOS and Android allowing clients to browse services, check prices, view customer reviews, and book appointments.
SourceSalonist: What is included in the Advance plan?
Advance ($4,180 AED/year or approximately $109/month) adds customer survey management, loyalty rewards, gift cards, SMS/email campaigns, inventory management, lead management system, and advanced onboarding to Essential features.
SourceRelated pages
More on Revel Systems
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Revel Systems vs Toast POS
- Revel Systems vs Square for Restaurants
- Revel Systems vs Lightspeed Restaurant
- Revel Systems vs Clover
- Revel Systems vs DoorDash
- Revel Systems vs Grubhub
- Revel Systems vs Uber Eats
- Revel Systems vs Lavu
- Revel Systems vs Heartland Restaurant
- Revel Systems vs Olo
- Revel Systems vs Aloha POS
- Revel Systems vs BentoBox
- Revel Systems vs Caviar
- Revel Systems vs OpenTable
- Revel Systems vs SpotOn
- Revel Systems vs TouchBistro
- Revel Systems vs 7shifts
- Revel Systems vs Apicbase
- Revel Systems vs Genbook
- Revel Systems vs SalonBiz
- Revel Systems vs StyleSeat
- Revel Systems vs Treatwell
- Revel Systems vs Belliata
- Revel Systems vs Bookeo
- Revel Systems vs DaySmart Salon
- Revel Systems vs Envision
- Revel Systems vs Goldie
- Revel Systems vs Insight Salon Software
- Revel Systems vs Kitomba
- Revel Systems vs Mangomint
- Revel Systems vs Meevo
- Revel Systems vs Milano
- Revel Systems vs MyTime
- Revel Systems vs Phorest
- Revel Systems vs Resurva
- Revel Systems vs Rosy
- Salonist vs Toast POS
- Salonist vs Square for Restaurants
- Salonist vs Lightspeed Restaurant
- Salonist vs Clover
- Salonist vs DoorDash
- Salonist vs Grubhub
- Salonist vs Uber Eats
- Salonist vs Lavu
- Salonist vs Heartland Restaurant
- Salonist vs Olo
- Salonist vs Aloha POS
- Salonist vs BentoBox
- Salonist vs Caviar
- Salonist vs OpenTable
- Salonist vs SpotOn
- Salonist vs TouchBistro
- Salonist vs 7shifts
- Salonist vs Apicbase
- Salonist vs Genbook
- Salonist vs SalonBiz
- Salonist vs StyleSeat
- Salonist vs Treatwell
- Salonist vs Belliata
- Salonist vs Bookeo
- Salonist vs DaySmart Salon
- Salonist vs Envision
- Salonist vs Goldie
- Salonist vs Insight Salon Software
- Salonist vs Kitomba
- Salonist vs Mangomint
- Salonist vs Meevo
- Salonist vs Milano
- Salonist vs MyTime
- Salonist vs Phorest
- Salonist vs Resurva
- Salonist vs Rosy


