Beauty · head to head
SalonBiz vs Shortcuts Software
The short version
- Each has a real cost: SalonBiz pricing is per location: $160 per month for Basic, $265 for Essential and $370 for Premium; Shortcuts Software pricing not published online
- They diverge on capability: SalonBiz 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 SalonBiz and Shortcuts Software actually diverge.
| Attribute | SalonBiz | Shortcuts Software |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $160/month | $89/month |
| Platforms | Web, Windows | Web, Windows, Ios, Android, Api |
| Founded | 2005 | 1990 |
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 SalonBiz
- Appointment scheduling
- Client database
- Staff management
- Business reporting
- QuickBooks
- Stripe
- Desktop deployment
Only in Shortcuts Software
- Appointment booking
- Client management
- Staff rostering
- Loyalty programs
- Business analytics
- Xero
- MYOB
- Mailchimp
Both cover
- Point of sale
- Inventory management
- Marketing automation
- SSL encryption
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
SalonBiz
- Salon appointment booking and point of sale priced per locationnot Shortcuts Software
- Integrated card payments through SalonBiz Paymentsnot Shortcuts Software
- Beauty school and institute management with student recordsnot Shortcuts Software
Shortcuts Software
- Salon operationsnot SalonBiz
- Inventory controlnot SalonBiz
- Client loyaltynot SalonBiz
- Marketing campaignsnot SalonBiz
- Business intelligencenot SalonBiz
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
SalonBiz
- Pricing is per location: $160 per month for Basic, $265 for Essential and $370 for Premium
- Each tier caps service professionals at 5, 12 and 20 respectively, with extra staff sold in blocks of 10 at $55 per month
- Not using SalonBiz Payments raises the monthly fee by $25 to $45 depending on tier
- School and institute plans are capped at 100 students on Essential and 200 on Premium, with extra students at $15 per month per 25
- Enterprise and multi location pricing is quote only with no published rate
Shortcuts Software
- Pricing not published online
- Regional variation in pricing and features
- Requires demo or sales contact to obtain pricing
Pricing, plan by plan
SalonBiz
$160/month- Basic (Salon)$160/month
- Full platform included
- Essential (Salon)$265/month
- Full platform included
- Premium (Salon)$370/month
- Full platform included
- Essential (School/Institute)$315/month
- Full platform included
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 SalonBiz if
- You need appointment scheduling.
- You work on Web, Windows.
- You also want client database.
Choose Shortcuts Software if
- You need appointment booking.
- You work on Web, Windows, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want client management.
Questions people ask
- Is SalonBiz or Shortcuts Software better?
- Neither clearly leads. SalonBiz starts at $160/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, SalonBiz or Shortcuts Software?
- SalonBiz starts at $160/month and Shortcuts Software at $89/month.
- Does SalonBiz or Shortcuts Software run on more platforms?
- SalonBiz runs on Web, Windows. Shortcuts Software runs on Web, Windows, Ios, Android, Api.
- What is SalonBiz best used for?
- SalonBiz is most often used for salon appointment booking and point of sale priced per location, integrated card payments through salonbiz payments, beauty school and institute management with student records. Of those, salon appointment booking and point of sale priced per location and integrated card payments through salonbiz payments are not what Shortcuts Software is typically brought in for.
- What can SalonBiz do that Shortcuts Software cannot?
- SalonBiz covers Appointment scheduling, Client database, Staff management, Business reporting. Shortcuts Software covers Appointment booking, Client management, Staff rostering, Loyalty programs. Both handle Point of sale, Inventory management, Marketing automation, Facebook.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SalonBiz: How much does SalonBiz cost?
SalonBiz salon pricing ranges from $160/month (Basic with 5 professionals) to $370/month (Premium with 20 professionals). School and institute pricing ranges from $315/month (Essential with 100 students) to $420/month (Premium with 200 students). Pricing is billed per location.
SourceShortcuts 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.
SourceSalonBiz: Does SalonBiz charge per location?
Yes, SalonBiz pricing is per location. If managing multiple locations, the selected plan price applies to each location individually.
SourceShortcuts 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.
SourceSalonBiz: What is the difference between SalonBiz plans?
SalonBiz salon plans differentiate by number of service professionals: Basic (5), Essential (12), and Premium (20). All plans include the full platform. Overage charges apply at $55/month per 10-person addition beyond the plan capacity.
SourceShortcuts 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.
SourceSalonBiz: Is there a long-term contract requirement for SalonBiz?
No, SalonBiz requires no long-term contract. Customers can cancel before their next billing date with no penalties or fees.
SourceRelated pages
More on Shortcuts Software
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