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Beauty · head to head

Salon Ultimate vs Shortcuts Software

Salon Ultimate logo

Salon Ultimate

Beauty

Complete salon management made simple

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shortcuts Software logo

Shortcuts Software

Beauty

Salon & spa business success

From
$89/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Salon Ultimate no per-seat pricing model, only per-location billing; Shortcuts Software pricing not published online
  • They diverge on capability: Salon Ultimate covers Appointment scheduling, Shortcuts Software covers Appointment booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Salon Ultimate and Shortcuts Software actually diverge.

Attributes where Salon Ultimate and Shortcuts Software differ
AttributeSalon UltimateShortcuts Software
Starting price$69/month$89/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Windows, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20081990

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 Salon Ultimate

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client database
  • Staff scheduling
  • Online booking
  • Reporting & analytics
  • Email marketing
  • QuickBooks
  • Stripe

Only in Shortcuts Software

  • Appointment booking
  • Client management
  • Marketing automation
  • Staff rostering
  • Loyalty programs
  • Business analytics
  • Xero
  • MYOB

Both cover

  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Mailchimp
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Salon Ultimate

  • Appointment managementnot Shortcuts Software
  • Client retentionnot Shortcuts Software
  • Inventory control
  • Business reportingnot Shortcuts Software

Shortcuts Software

  • Salon operationsnot Salon Ultimate
  • Inventory control
  • Client loyaltynot Salon Ultimate
  • Marketing campaignsnot Salon Ultimate
  • Business intelligencenot Salon Ultimate

Both are used for inventory control, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Salon Ultimate

  • No per-seat pricing model, only per-location billing
  • Pricing applies per salon location, not per user

Shortcuts Software

  • Pricing not published online
  • Regional variation in pricing and features
  • Requires demo or sales contact to obtain pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

Salon Ultimate

$69/month
  • BookedBy on Clover$69/month
    • Software and hardware included
  • Single Store$159/month
    • Advanced features for single location
  • Multi-Store$199/month
    • Multi-location management

Shortcuts Software

$89/month
  • Essential$89/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • Basic POS
  • Professional$159/month
    • Everything in Essential
    • Online booking
    • Marketing tools
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Multi-location
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Salon Ultimate if

  • You need appointment scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want client database.
Salon Ultimate review

Choose Shortcuts Software if

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

Questions people ask

Is Salon Ultimate or Shortcuts Software better?
Neither clearly leads. Salon Ultimate starts at $69/month and Shortcuts Software at $89/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Salon Ultimate or Shortcuts Software?
Salon Ultimate starts at $69/month and Shortcuts Software at $89/month.
Does Salon Ultimate or Shortcuts Software run on more platforms?
Salon Ultimate runs on Web, Ios, Android. Shortcuts Software runs on Web, Windows, Ios, Android, Api.
What is Salon Ultimate best used for?
Salon Ultimate is most often used for appointment management, client retention, inventory control, business reporting. Of those, appointment management and client retention are not what Shortcuts Software is typically brought in for.
What can Salon Ultimate do that Shortcuts Software cannot?
Salon Ultimate covers Appointment scheduling, Client database, Staff scheduling, Online booking. Shortcuts Software covers Appointment booking, Client management, Marketing automation, Staff rostering. Both handle Point of sale, Inventory management, Mailchimp, PCI DSS.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Salon Ultimate: How much does SalonUltimate cost?

SalonUltimate offers three subscription tiers billed monthly per location: BookedBy on Clover at $69/month, Single Store at $159/month for individual salons, and Multi-Store at $199/month for businesses managing multiple locations.

Source
Shortcuts Software: How much does Shortcuts software cost?

Shortcuts does not publish pricing online. To obtain pricing information, you must contact their regional sales teams: Australia & New Zealand (1300 667 374), USA & Canada (888 246 8408), or UK (0161 972 4900), or book a demo.

Source
Salon Ultimate: What features are included in all SalonUltimate plans?

All SalonUltimate plans include online booking, check-in and check-out capabilities, employee scheduling, customer management, service and pricing administration, inventory tracking, standard reporting, email and SMS marketing, unlimited support and training.

Source
Shortcuts Software: Does Shortcuts offer different pricing for Fusion vs Aire products?

Shortcuts offers two product tiers: Shortcuts Fusion for full-featured salon management and Shortcuts Aire for solo operators and small businesses. Pricing varies by region and product tier but is only available by contacting sales.

Source
Salon Ultimate: Is there a free trial for SalonUltimate?

No free trial period is mentioned on SalonUltimate's pricing page. Demos are available by contacting sales at [email protected] or calling +1 (855) 466-9332.

Source
Shortcuts Software: Is there a trial or demo available for Shortcuts?

Yes, Shortcuts offers demos that can be booked through their website. The demo is the primary way to discuss pricing, features, and which product tier fits your business needs.

Source
Salon Ultimate: What is the difference between BookedBy on Clover and SalonUltimate Single Store plans?

BookedBy on Clover at $69/month includes software and hardware shipped to your business. SalonUltimate Single Store at $159/month is designed for individual salon locations seeking advanced features with no hardware included.

Source
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