Software · head to head
Shortcuts vs Envision
The short version
- Only Shortcuts has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Shortcuts shortcuts (salon and spa management software) is sold via phone inquiry rather than published pricing, and its own marketing frames it as the only solution built for chain or franchise businesses specifically rather than for independent single-location salons (archived homepage, 14 September 2012); Envision standard plan includes only 1 user and charges $20 per additional user up to a 5 seat cap
- They diverge on capability: Shortcuts covers Online booking platform, Envision covers Appointment scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Shortcuts and Envision actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 Shortcuts
- Online booking platform
- Business profile
- Appointment management
- Payment processing
- Mobile app
- Analytics dashboard
- Reviews management
Only in Envision
- Appointment scheduling
- Point of sale
- Inventory management
- Client database
- Staff scheduling
- SMS reminders
- Reporting
Both cover
- Stripe
- SSL encryption
- Cloud deployment
- Web support
- English language support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Shortcuts
- Client acquisitionnot Envision
- Multi-vendor bookingnot Envision
Envision
- Salon and spa businesses managing bookings, marketing campaigns and payments in one platformnot Shortcuts
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Shortcuts
- Shortcuts (salon and spa management software) is sold via phone inquiry rather than published pricing, and its own marketing frames it as the only solution built for chain or franchise businesses specifically rather than for independent single-location salons (archived homepage, 14 September 2012)
Envision
- Standard plan includes only 1 user and charges $20 per additional user up to a 5 seat cap
- No dollar amounts are shown for any plan; the page states pricing is tailored to your practice and requires contacting sales
Pricing, plan by plan
Shortcuts
Free- FreeFree
- Online booking
- Business profile
- 20% commission
- Premium$99/month
- Everything in Free
- 10% commission
- Advanced analytics
Envision
$79/month- Starter$79/month
- Scheduling
- Basic POS
- Client management
- Professional$159/month
- Everything in Starter
- Advanced POS
- Inventory
Which should you pick?
Choose Shortcuts if
- You need online booking platform.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want business profile.
Questions people ask
- Is Shortcuts or Envision better?
- Neither clearly leads. Shortcuts starts at Free and Envision at $79/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Shortcuts or Envision?
- Shortcuts has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Shortcuts and $79/month for Envision.
- Does Shortcuts or Envision run on more platforms?
- Shortcuts runs on Web, Ios, Android. Envision runs on Web.
- Can I use Shortcuts for free?
- Yes. Shortcuts has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Envision starts at $79/month.
- What is Shortcuts best used for?
- Shortcuts is most often used for client acquisition, multi-vendor booking. Of those, client acquisition and multi-vendor booking are not what Envision is typically brought in for.
- What can Shortcuts do that Envision cannot?
- Shortcuts covers Online booking platform, Business profile, Appointment management, Payment processing. Envision covers Appointment scheduling, Point of sale, Inventory management, Client database. Both handle Google, Facebook, Stripe, SSL encryption.