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Beauty · head to head

Phorest vs Zolmi

Phorest logo

Phorest

Beauty

Salon software that grows your business

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zolmi logo

Zolmi

Beauty

Cloud salon booking and management software with two flat plans

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zolmi 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; Zolmi additional staff members cost $3 to $5 each per month depending on plan, on top of the base $20 or $30 monthly fee, as of August 2026
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Phorest and Zolmi actually diverge.

Attributes where Phorest and Zolmi differ
AttributePhorestZolmi
Starting price$99/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Marketing automation
  • Reputation management
  • Staff management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Business reports

Only in Zolmi

Nothing recorded that Phorest does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Phorest

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

Zolmi

  • Managing hair salons with online booking and appointment remindersnot Phorest
  • Operating nail salons with staff scheduling and client managementnot Phorest
  • Running spa and medi-spa businesses with service inventorynot Phorest
  • Managing massage therapy practices with client records and billingnot Phorest
  • Operating tattoo shops with appointment management and product trackingnot 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

Zolmi

  • Additional staff members cost $3 to $5 each per month depending on plan, on top of the base $20 or $30 monthly fee, as of August 2026
  • Stock management, reporting and the website builder are locked to the PRO plan at $30 per month, as of August 2026

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

Zolmi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic salon management
  • START$20/month
    • Online calendar
    • Appointment reminders
    • Online booking
  • PRO$30/month
    • All START features plus
    • Business reporting
    • Stock management

Which should you pick?

Choose Phorest if

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

Choose Zolmi if

  • You want to start without paying.
Zolmi review

Questions people ask

Is Phorest or Zolmi better?
Neither clearly leads. Phorest starts at $99/month and Zolmi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Phorest or Zolmi?
Zolmi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/month for Phorest and Free for Zolmi.
Does Phorest or Zolmi run on more platforms?
Phorest runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Zolmi runs on Web.
Can I use Zolmi for free?
Yes. Zolmi 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 Zolmi is typically brought in for.
What can Phorest do that Zolmi cannot?
Phorest covers Appointment booking, Client management, Point of sale, Marketing automation.

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
Zolmi: Can I cancel Zolmi anytime or am I locked into a contract?

You can downgrade and cancel Zolmi plans at any time with no setup costs or contract required. Annual billing saves up to 30% compared to monthly.

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
Zolmi: Does Zolmi require a credit card to start the free plan?

No, Zolmi's free tier is available with no credit card required. You can upgrade to paid plans whenever you need advanced features.

Source
Phorest: Is there a minimum staff requirement?

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

Source
Zolmi: How is customer support handled for Zolmi?

Zolmi offers customer support available 7 days a week. Your data is automatically backed up via Dropbox or Google Drive.

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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