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Software · head to head

Salonist vs TouchBistro

Salonist logo

Salonist

Software

Complete salon software from India

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TouchBistro logo

TouchBistro

Software

All-in-one POS built for restaurants

From
$69/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Salonist has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Salonist free plan limited to 50 appointments per month; TouchBistro requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
  • They diverge on capability: Salonist covers Appointment booking, TouchBistro covers iPad POS.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Salonist and TouchBistro actually diverge.

Attributes where Salonist and TouchBistro differ
AttributeSalonistTouchBistro
Starting priceFree$69/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidiPad
Founded20172010

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 Salonist

  • Appointment booking
  • Billing & invoicing
  • Inventory management
  • Loyalty programs
  • Staff management
  • GST compliance
  • Marketing automation
  • Business analytics

Only in TouchBistro

  • iPad POS
  • Table management
  • Menu management
  • Staff scheduling
  • Inventory tracking
  • Customer relationship management
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Salonist

  • Indian salon managementnot TouchBistro
  • GST billingnot TouchBistro
  • Customer loyaltynot TouchBistro
  • Inventory controlnot TouchBistro

TouchBistro

  • Point of Salenot Salonist
  • Order Managementnot Salonist
  • Inventory Controlnot Salonist
  • Staff Schedulingnot Salonist

Where each one falls short

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

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

TouchBistro

  • Requires annual contracts with no monthly billing option
  • Add-on pricing for features like online ordering, reservations, loyalty programs is not transparent and requires custom quotes
  • Limited to iPad hardware, reducing flexibility compared to multi-device systems like Lightspeed or Clover
  • Mandatory use of TouchBistro Payments for new customers reduces payment processor options

Pricing, plan by plan

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

TouchBistro

$69/month

No published plan breakdown. See the TouchBistro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Salonist if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want billing & invoicing.
Salonist review

Choose TouchBistro if

  • You need ipad pos.
  • You work on iPad.
  • You also want table management.
TouchBistro review

Questions people ask

Is Salonist or TouchBistro better?
Neither clearly leads. Salonist starts at Free and TouchBistro at $69/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Salonist or TouchBistro?
Salonist has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Salonist and $69/month for TouchBistro.
Does Salonist or TouchBistro run on more platforms?
Salonist runs on Web, Ios, Android. TouchBistro runs on iPad.
Can I use Salonist for free?
Yes. Salonist has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. TouchBistro starts at $69/month.
What is Salonist best used for?
Salonist is most often used for indian salon management, gst billing, customer loyalty, inventory control. Of those, indian salon management and gst billing are not what TouchBistro is typically brought in for.
What can Salonist do that TouchBistro cannot?
Salonist covers Appointment booking, Billing & invoicing, Inventory management, Loyalty programs. TouchBistro covers iPad POS, Table management, Menu management, Staff scheduling. Both handle Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
TouchBistro: Can TouchBistro process payments offline?

Yes. TouchBistro has offline payment capabilities where you can accept payments and store credit card information when offline, with transactions processing once Internet is restored. However, you cannot dip or tap the card in offline mode; you must swipe instead.

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
TouchBistro: Can I integrate TouchBistro with DoorDash or Uber Eats?

Yes. TouchBistro integrates with delivery platforms through Deliverect and UrbanPiper, which aggregate orders from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and other services directly into your TouchBistro POS, eliminating manual order entry.

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
TouchBistro: What are the minimum hardware requirements for TouchBistro?

TouchBistro runs on Apple iPads and works with compatible printers, cash drawers, and payment terminals. The system leverages iPad hardware you may already own, potentially reducing initial hardware costs compared to dedicated POS systems.

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
TouchBistro: Do I have to sign a long-term contract with TouchBistro?

Yes. All TouchBistro plans require annual contracts, and the system requires TouchBistro Payments (powered by Chase) for payment processing on all new customer accounts.

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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