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Software · head to head

Revel Systems vs Salonist

Revel Systems logo

Revel Systems

Software

Cloud-based iPad POS for enterprise

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Salonist logo

Salonist

Software

Complete salon software from India

From
Free
Rated
-

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.

Attributes where Revel Systems and Salonist differ
AttributeRevel SystemsSalonist
Starting price$99/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiPad, WebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20102017

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/month

No 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.

Source
Salonist: 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.

Source
Revel Systems: How long does implementation take?

Revel implementation typically takes 2-4 weeks, including hardware setup, menu configuration, staff training, and system integration.

Source
Salonist: 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.

Source
Revel 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.

Source
Salonist: 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.

Source
Revel 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.

Source
Salonist: 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.

Source
Salonist: 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.

Source
Salonist: 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.

Source

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