Softwr

Beauty · head to head

Phorest vs StyleSeat

Phorest logo

Phorest

Beauty

Salon software that grows your business

From
$99/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: Phorest no price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request; StyleSeat single tier pricing model with no lower-cost options
  • They diverge on capability: Phorest covers Appointment booking, StyleSeat covers Online booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Phorest and StyleSeat actually diverge.

Attributes where Phorest and StyleSeat differ
AttributePhorestStyleSeat
Starting price$99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20032011

Identical on both: 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 Phorest

  • Appointment booking
  • Point of sale
  • Marketing automation
  • Reputation management
  • Staff management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Business reports
  • Mailchimp

Only in StyleSeat

  • Online booking
  • Professional profiles
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing tools
  • Reviews & ratings
  • Mobile app
  • Calendar management
  • Google Calendar

Both cover

  • Client management
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Stripe
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Phorest

  • Salon and clinic management softwarenot StyleSeat
  • Medical spa operations and schedulingnot StyleSeat
  • Beauty and wellness business softwarenot StyleSeat

StyleSeat

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

Where each one falls short

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

Phorest

  • No price is published for any of the seven plans, and every route ends at a quote request
  • There is no free trial at all, which the company states plainly
  • The product is described as suited to 3 or more staff, so a solo operator is outside the intended range
  • The branded booking app requires the Ultimate plan, and two way SMS, memberships, lead management and the ads manager are all Elite only

StyleSeat

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Phorest

$99/month
  • Grow$99/month
    • Appointment booking
    • Client management
    • POS
  • Elevate$179/month
    • Everything in Grow
    • Advanced marketing
    • Online booking
  • Innovate$299/month
    • Everything in Elevate
    • Multi-location
    • Advanced analytics

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 Phorest if

  • You need appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want point of sale.
Phorest review

Choose StyleSeat if

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

Questions people ask

Is Phorest or StyleSeat better?
Neither clearly leads. Phorest starts at $99/month and StyleSeat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Phorest or StyleSeat?
StyleSeat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Phorest and Free for StyleSeat.
Does Phorest or StyleSeat run on more platforms?
Phorest runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. StyleSeat runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use StyleSeat for free?
Yes. StyleSeat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Phorest starts at $99/month.
What is Phorest best used for?
Phorest is most often used for salon and clinic management software, medical spa operations and scheduling, beauty and wellness business software. Of those, salon and clinic management software and medical spa operations and scheduling are not what StyleSeat is typically brought in for.
What can Phorest do that StyleSeat cannot?
Phorest covers Appointment booking, Point of sale, Marketing automation, Reputation management. StyleSeat covers Online booking, Professional profiles, Payment processing, Marketing tools. Both handle Client management, Facebook, Instagram, Stripe.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Phorest: How do I find out Phorest pricing for my salon?

All plans require a custom quote. Click 'Request a quote' or 'Book a demo' on the Phorest pricing page to receive pricing tailored to your business needs.

Source
StyleSeat: How much does StyleSeat cost?

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

Source
Phorest: What SMS charges apply to each plan?

Core Aesthetics: 8.2 cents/SMS; Elevate/Elite Aesthetics: 7 cents/SMS; Starter/Grow/Ultimate: 500 free SMS/month.

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
Phorest: Is there a minimum staff requirement?

Yes, Phorest recommends 3+ staff members to use the software.

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
Phorest: What is included in Phorest plans?

All plans include: unlimited devices, unlimited staff, software for life with future upgrades, migration services, and unlimited training.

Source
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