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Beauty · head to head

SimpleSalon vs StyleSeat

SimpleSalon logo

SimpleSalon

Beauty

Powerful yet simple salon software

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StyleSeat logo

StyleSeat

Beauty

Book beauty appointments instantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only StyleSeat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: SimpleSalon the $20 Starter plan includes no SMS credits and charges 14 cents per SMS; StyleSeat single tier pricing model with no lower-cost options
  • They diverge on capability: SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling, StyleSeat covers Professional profiles.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SimpleSalon and StyleSeat actually diverge.

Attributes where SimpleSalon and StyleSeat differ
AttributeSimpleSalonStyleSeat
Starting price$20/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
Free tierNoYes
Founded20102011

Identical on both: 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 SimpleSalon

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client database
  • Point of sale
  • Stock management
  • Marketing automation
  • Reporting
  • Mobile apps
  • Xero

Only in StyleSeat

  • Professional profiles
  • Client management
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing tools
  • Reviews & ratings
  • Mobile app
  • Calendar management
  • Instagram

Both cover

  • Online booking
  • Stripe
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

SimpleSalon

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

StyleSeat

  • Client acquisitionnot SimpleSalon
  • Online bookingnot SimpleSalon
  • Personal brandingnot SimpleSalon
  • Payment collectionnot SimpleSalon
  • Client retentionnot SimpleSalon

Where each one falls short

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

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

StyleSeat

  • Single tier pricing model with no lower-cost options
  • No published information on free trial length

Pricing, plan by plan

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

StyleSeat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Online booking
    • Client management
    • Professional profile
  • Pro$35/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Smart pricing
    • No-show protection

Which should you pick?

Choose SimpleSalon if

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

Choose StyleSeat if

  • You need professional profiles.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want client management.
StyleSeat review

Questions people ask

Is SimpleSalon or StyleSeat better?
Neither clearly leads. SimpleSalon starts at $20/month and StyleSeat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SimpleSalon or StyleSeat?
StyleSeat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $20/month for SimpleSalon and Free for StyleSeat.
Does SimpleSalon or StyleSeat run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use StyleSeat for free?
Yes. StyleSeat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SimpleSalon starts at $20/month.
What is SimpleSalon best used for?
SimpleSalon is most often used for appointment booking and rostering for hair and beauty salons, salon point of sale, stock and client history, sms appointment reminders and marketing to salon clients. Of those, appointment booking and rostering for hair and beauty salons and salon point of sale, stock and client history are not what StyleSeat is typically brought in for.
What can SimpleSalon do that StyleSeat cannot?
SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling, Client database, Point of sale, Stock management. StyleSeat covers Professional profiles, Client management, Payment processing, Marketing tools. Both handle Online booking, Stripe, PCI DSS, SSL encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
StyleSeat: How much does StyleSeat cost?

StyleSeat costs $35 per month flat with no hidden fees or add-ons included.

Source
SimpleSalon: Is there a Simple Salon free trial?

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

Source
StyleSeat: What is included in the StyleSeat subscription?

The $35 monthly fee includes advanced booking features, marketing automation with automated reminders, a booking page, promotions, secure payment processing, and client management tools.

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
StyleSeat: Is there a free trial?

Yes, StyleSeat offers a free trial, though the specific trial duration is not published on the pricing page.

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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