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Beauty · head to head

Kitomba vs SimpleSalon

Kitomba logo

Kitomba

Beauty

Salon software from New Zealand

From
79/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: Kitomba no plan price is published; pricing depends on package, features and staff count and is only given after a demo and a discovery call with a Kitomba consultant; SimpleSalon the $20 Starter plan includes no SMS credits and charges 14 cents per SMS
  • They diverge on capability: Kitomba 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 Kitomba and SimpleSalon actually diverge.

Attributes where Kitomba and SimpleSalon differ
AttributeKitombaSimpleSalon
Starting price79/month$20/month
Founded20012010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Kitomba

  • Appointment booking
  • Client management
  • Marketing tools
  • Business analytics
  • Tyro
  • Google Calendar
  • Data backup

Only in SimpleSalon

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client database
  • Marketing automation
  • Reporting
  • Stripe
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • Point of sale
  • Stock management
  • Mobile apps
  • Online booking
  • Xero
  • MYOB
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • English language support

What people use each for

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

Kitomba

  • Salon and spa managementnot SimpleSalon
  • Appointment and client bookingnot SimpleSalon
  • Business operations for service-based companiesnot SimpleSalon

SimpleSalon

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kitomba

  • No plan price is published; pricing depends on package, features and staff count and is only given after a demo and a discovery call with a Kitomba consultant
  • Advertised per user pricing is based on 3 staff, so the quoted figure does not apply at other headcounts
  • Xero, Mailchimp, REACH.ai, Salon Pay and Vish integrations all carry separate charges outside the software fee
  • Data migration and live education carry additional charges
  • Kitomba Pay EFTPOS terminal rental is available in Australia only

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

Kitomba

79/month
  • Starter$79/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • Basic reporting
  • Business$149/month
    • All Starter features
    • POS system
    • Stock management

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 Kitomba if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want client management.
Kitomba 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 Kitomba or SimpleSalon better?
Neither clearly leads. Kitomba starts at 79/month and SimpleSalon at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kitomba or SimpleSalon?
Kitomba starts at 79/month and SimpleSalon at $20/month.
Does Kitomba or SimpleSalon run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Kitomba best used for?
Kitomba is most often used for salon and spa management, appointment and client booking, business operations for service-based companies. Of those, salon and spa management and appointment and client booking are not what SimpleSalon is typically brought in for.
What can Kitomba do that SimpleSalon cannot?
Kitomba covers Appointment booking, Client management, Marketing tools, Business analytics. SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling, Client database, Marketing automation, Reporting. Both handle Point of sale, Stock management, Mobile apps, Online booking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kitomba: How much does Kitomba cost?

Kitomba pricing is customized based on selected package (Lite, Grow, Pro, Enterprise), features needed, and number of staff. Use their pricing calculator or book a demo with a Kitomba Business Consultant for a quote.

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
Kitomba: What are Kitomba's four pricing tiers?

Kitomba offers Lite (basic booking), Grow (client loyalty tools), Pro (team tracking and integrations), and Enterprise (multi-location management). Specific pricing requires a custom quote.

Source
SimpleSalon: Is there a Simple Salon free trial?

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

Source
Kitomba: Are there additional costs beyond Kitomba software?

Yes, REACH.ai integration charges apply separately. Xero integration charges apply. Data migration and training sessions incur additional fees.

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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