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Beauty · head to head

Shortcuts Software vs SimpleSalon

Shortcuts Software logo

Shortcuts Software

Beauty

Salon & spa business success

From
$89/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SimpleSalon logo

SimpleSalon

Beauty

Powerful yet simple salon software

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Shortcuts Software pricing not published online; SimpleSalon the $20 Starter plan includes no SMS credits and charges 14 cents per SMS
  • They diverge on capability: Shortcuts Software covers Appointment booking, SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Shortcuts Software and SimpleSalon differ
AttributeShortcuts SoftwareSimpleSalon
Starting price$89/month$20/month
PlatformsWeb, Windows, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19902010

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 Shortcuts Software

  • Appointment booking
  • Client management
  • Inventory management
  • Staff rostering
  • Loyalty programs
  • Business analytics
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Only in SimpleSalon

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client database
  • Online booking
  • Stock management
  • Reporting
  • Mobile apps
  • Stripe
  • Web support

Both cover

  • Point of sale
  • Marketing automation
  • Xero
  • MYOB
  • Mailchimp
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Shortcuts Software

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

SimpleSalon

  • Appointment booking and rostering for hair and beauty salonsnot Shortcuts Software
  • Salon point of sale, stock and client historynot Shortcuts Software
  • SMS appointment reminders and marketing to salon clientsnot Shortcuts Software

Where each one falls short

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

Shortcuts Software

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

SimpleSalon

  • The $20 Starter plan includes no SMS credits and charges 14 cents per SMS
  • Pricing is charged per operator, capped at 7 operators, so a two person salon pays twice the listed rate
  • SMS remains chargeable on every plan once the included 200 credits per operator on Pro or 300 on Max are used, at 10 and 9 cents each
  • The free trial runs 14 days

Pricing, plan by plan

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

SimpleSalon

$20/month
  • Starter$20/month
    • 0 SMS included
    • Additional SMS: $0.14 each
    • No new client fees
  • Pro$34/month
    • Most Popular option
    • 200 SMS per operator included
    • Additional SMS: $0.10 each
  • Max$41/month
    • 300 SMS per operator included
    • Additional SMS: $0.09 each
    • WhatsApp access included

Which should you pick?

Choose Shortcuts Software if

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

Choose SimpleSalon if

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

Questions people ask

Is Shortcuts Software or SimpleSalon better?
Neither clearly leads. Shortcuts Software starts at $89/month and SimpleSalon at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shortcuts Software or SimpleSalon?
Shortcuts Software starts at $89/month and SimpleSalon at $20/month.
Does Shortcuts Software or SimpleSalon run on more platforms?
Shortcuts Software runs on Web, Windows, Ios, Android, Api. SimpleSalon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Shortcuts Software best used for?
Shortcuts Software is most often used for salon operations, inventory control, client loyalty, marketing campaigns. Of those, salon operations and inventory control are not what SimpleSalon is typically brought in for.
What can Shortcuts Software do that SimpleSalon cannot?
Shortcuts Software covers Appointment booking, Client management, Inventory management, Staff rostering. SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling, Client database, Online booking, Stock management. Both handle Point of sale, Marketing automation, Xero, MYOB.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
SimpleSalon: How much does Simple Salon cost?

Simple Salon offers three plans starting at $20/month for Starter, $34/month for Pro (most popular), and $41/month for Max. Yearly billing saves 2 months' cost. Pricing scales with operator count but caps at 7+ operator rates.

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
SimpleSalon: Is there a Simple Salon free trial?

Yes. Simple Salon offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

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
SimpleSalon: What is included in SMS credits?

SMS allowances are pooled account-wide, not locked to individual operators, and can be used for appointment reminders and marketing messages. The Starter plan includes 0 SMS, Pro includes 200 per operator, and Max includes 300 per operator.

Source
SimpleSalon: Are there contracts or setup fees for Simple Salon?

No. Simple Salon has no contracts, no fixed-term requirements, and no sign-up fees.

Source
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