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Beauty · head to head

Phorest vs Shortcuts Software

Phorest logo

Phorest

Beauty

Salon software that grows your business

From
$99/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: Phorest no price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request; Shortcuts Software pricing not published online
  • They diverge on capability: Phorest covers Reputation management, Shortcuts Software covers Inventory management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Phorest and Shortcuts Software actually diverge.

Attributes where Phorest and Shortcuts Software differ
AttributePhorestShortcuts Software
Starting price$99/month$89/month
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, Windows, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20031990

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 Phorest

  • Reputation management
  • Staff management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Business reports
  • Google My Business
  • Stripe
  • SumUp
  • Shopify

Only in Shortcuts Software

  • Inventory management
  • Staff rostering
  • Loyalty programs
  • Business analytics
  • Xero
  • MYOB
  • Google Analytics
  • Tyro

Both cover

  • Appointment booking
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Marketing automation
  • Mailchimp
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • GDPR compliant
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Phorest

  • Salon and clinic management softwarenot Shortcuts Software
  • Medical spa operations and schedulingnot Shortcuts Software
  • Beauty and wellness business softwarenot Shortcuts Software

Shortcuts Software

  • Salon operationsnot Phorest
  • Inventory controlnot Phorest
  • Client loyaltynot Phorest
  • Marketing campaignsnot Phorest
  • Business intelligencenot Phorest

Where each one falls short

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

Phorest

  • No price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • There is no free trial at all, which the company states plainly
  • The product is described as suited to 3 or more staff, so a solo operator is outside the intended range
  • The branded booking app requires the Ultimate plan, and two way SMS, memberships, lead management and the ads manager are all Elite only

Shortcuts Software

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Phorest

$99/month
  • Grow$99/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • POS
  • Elevate$179/month
    • Everything in Grow
    • Advanced marketing
    • Online booking
  • Innovate$299/month
    • Everything in Elevate
    • Multi-location
    • Advanced analytics

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 Phorest if

  • You need reputation management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want staff management.
Phorest review

Choose Shortcuts Software if

  • You need inventory management.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want staff rostering.
Shortcuts Software review

Questions people ask

Is Phorest or Shortcuts Software better?
Neither clearly leads. Phorest starts at $99/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, Phorest or Shortcuts Software?
Phorest starts at $99/month and Shortcuts Software at $89/month.
Does Phorest or Shortcuts Software run on more platforms?
Phorest runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Shortcuts Software runs on Web, Windows, Ios, Android, Api.
What is Phorest best used for?
Phorest is most often used for salon and clinic management software, medical spa operations and scheduling, beauty and wellness business software. Of those, salon and clinic management software and medical spa operations and scheduling are not what Shortcuts Software is typically brought in for.
What can Phorest do that Shortcuts Software cannot?
Phorest covers Reputation management, Staff management, Inventory tracking, Business reports. Shortcuts Software covers Inventory management, Staff rostering, Loyalty programs, Business analytics. Both handle Appointment booking, Client management, Point of sale, Marketing automation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Phorest: How do I find out Phorest pricing for my salon?

All plans require a custom quote. Click 'Request a quote' or 'Book a demo' on the Phorest pricing page to receive pricing tailored to your business needs.

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
Phorest: What SMS charges apply to each plan?

Core Aesthetics: 8.2 cents/SMS; Elevate/Elite Aesthetics: 7 cents/SMS; Starter/Grow/Ultimate: 500 free SMS/month.

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
Phorest: Is there a minimum staff requirement?

Yes, Phorest recommends 3+ staff members to use the software.

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
Phorest: What is included in Phorest plans?

All plans include: unlimited devices, unlimited staff, software for life with future upgrades, migration services, and unlimited training.

Source
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