Softwr

Scheduling · head to head

Sawyer vs StyleSeat

Sawyer logo

Sawyer

Scheduling

Class and camp booking software for children activity businesses, with a marketplace that takes up to 30 percent

From
$189/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StyleSeat logo

StyleSeat

Beauty

Book beauty appointments instantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only StyleSeat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Sawyer the Launch plan looks free but forces a marketplace listing at 30 percent commission, so a single high-value camp booking through the marketplace can cost more than a year of the Grow subscription would have.; StyleSeat single tier pricing model with no lower-cost options
  • They diverge on capability: Sawyer covers Class and camp registration, StyleSeat covers Online booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sawyer and StyleSeat actually diverge.

Attributes where Sawyer and StyleSeat differ
AttributeSawyerStyleSeat
Starting price$189/monthFree
Pricing modelPer business per month, plus marketplace commissiontransaction
Free tierNoYes
CategorySchedulingBeauty
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Sawyer

  • Class and camp registration
  • Memberships and class packs
  • Consumer marketplace
  • Auto-billing
  • Waivers and e-signature
  • Multi-location

Only in StyleSeat

  • Online booking
  • Professional profiles
  • Client management
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing tools
  • Reviews & ratings
  • Mobile app
  • Calendar management

What people use each for

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

Sawyer

  • A new kids activity studio with no mailing list that wants the marketplace to fill its first termsnot StyleSeat
  • An established music school moving off spreadsheets that will run Sawyer as software only and never list on the marketplacenot StyleSeat
  • A gym selling memberships, class packs and birthday parties that needs all three billed from one systemnot StyleSeat
  • A provider running summer camps alongside term-time classes who wants a single parent account for bothnot StyleSeat

StyleSeat

  • Client acquisitionnot Sawyer
  • Online bookingnot Sawyer
  • Personal brandingnot Sawyer
  • Payment collectionnot Sawyer
  • Client retentionnot Sawyer

Where each one falls short

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

Sawyer

  • The Launch plan looks free but forces a marketplace listing at 30 percent commission, so a single high-value camp booking through the marketplace can cost more than a year of the Grow subscription would have.
  • Marketplace commission applies to the order value, not the margin, so low-margin providers can lose money on a marketplace booking.
  • Payment processing fees are charged separately by Stripe on top of the subscription and any commission, which the plan comparison does not surface clearly.
  • The step from Grow to Scale doubles the monthly cost for account management and integrations rather than for capability most providers need, making the middle tier the only sensible choice for many.
  • It is built for consumer activity businesses, so providers who invoice schools, councils or corporate clients will find the billing model a poor fit.

StyleSeat

  • Single tier pricing model with no lower-cost options
  • No published information on free trial length

Pricing, plan by plan

Sawyer

$189/month
  • Launch$undefined/month
    • No monthly subscription fee
    • 3 percent per transaction
    • Marketplace listing required, 30 percent commission on marketplace orders
  • Grow$189/month
    • 189 USD per month billed annually, 219 monthly
    • Marketplace listing optional, 20 percent commission if used
    • Advanced scheduling, waitlists, free trials
  • Scale$379/month
    • 379 USD per month billed annually, 399 monthly
    • Marketplace listing optional, 15 percent commission if used
    • Dedicated account manager and registration launch support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom pricing for large multi-site operators

StyleSeat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Online booking
    • Client management
    • Professional profile
  • Pro$35/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Smart pricing
    • No-show protection

Which should you pick?

Choose Sawyer if

  • You need class and camp registration.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want memberships and class packs.
Sawyer review

Choose StyleSeat if

  • You need online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want professional profiles.
StyleSeat review

Questions people ask

Is Sawyer or StyleSeat better?
Neither clearly leads. Sawyer starts at $189/month and StyleSeat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sawyer or StyleSeat?
StyleSeat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $189/month for Sawyer and Free for StyleSeat.
Does Sawyer or StyleSeat run on more platforms?
Sawyer runs on Web, iOS, Android. StyleSeat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use StyleSeat for free?
Yes. StyleSeat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sawyer starts at $189/month.
What is Sawyer best used for?
Sawyer is most often used for a new kids activity studio with no mailing list that wants the marketplace to fill its first terms, an established music school moving off spreadsheets that will run sawyer as software only and never list on the marketplace, a gym selling memberships, class packs and birthday parties that needs all three billed from one system, a provider running summer camps alongside term-time classes who wants a single parent account for both. Of those, a new kids activity studio with no mailing list that wants the marketplace to fill its first terms and an established music school moving off spreadsheets that will run sawyer as software only and never list on the marketplace are not what StyleSeat is typically brought in for.
What can Sawyer do that StyleSeat cannot?
Sawyer covers Class and camp registration, Memberships and class packs, Consumer marketplace, Auto-billing. StyleSeat covers Online booking, Professional profiles, Client management, Payment processing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Sawyer: Is the Launch plan really free?

No. It has no monthly fee but charges 3 percent per transaction and requires a marketplace listing that takes 30 percent of marketplace orders.

StyleSeat: How much does StyleSeat cost?

StyleSeat costs $35 per month flat with no hidden fees or add-ons included.

Source
Sawyer: Can I use Sawyer without the marketplace?

Yes, on Grow and Scale the listing is optional. On Launch it is required.

StyleSeat: What is included in the StyleSeat subscription?

The $35 monthly fee includes advanced booking features, marketing automation with automated reminders, a booking page, promotions, secure payment processing, and client management tools.

Source
Sawyer: What does the marketplace commission apply to?

The full order value of bookings originating on hisawyer.com, not to bookings from your own website.

StyleSeat: Is there a free trial?

Yes, StyleSeat offers a free trial, though the specific trial duration is not published on the pricing page.

Source
Sawyer: Is there a contract?

Monthly plans are month to month with 30 days notice; annual billing saves roughly 5 to 14 percent depending on tier.

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