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Head-to-head · Salon Marketing Software

Lumidara vs Phorest

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Lumidara #7 in Salon Marketing Software 8.7/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Lumidara
Phorest #8 in Salon Marketing Software 8.6/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Phorest

Lumidara leads on 1 check, Phorest on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreLumidara · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly Lumidara
  • Free trialonly Lumidara
  • Most featuresLumidara · 4 of 5

Lumidara scores higher on our rubric for salon marketing software: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #8.

Lumidara offers free plan; Phorest doesn't.

Lumidara is the better fit for budget-conscious salons starting with free automation. Phorest is the better fit for mature multi-location salons needing full lifecycle tools.

  • Lumidara fits best

    Budget-conscious salons starting with free automation

  • Phorest fits best

    Mature multi-location salons needing full lifecycle tools

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Lumidara 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Phorest 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #7 in Salon Marketing Software #8 in Salon Marketing Software
Best for Budget-conscious salons starting with free automation Mature multi-location salons needing full lifecycle tools
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $10/mo —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, iOS, Android
Support Docs Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs
Integrations 1 integrations 10 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Lumidara 4/5 · Phorest 0/5
Booking integration ✓ (best) Not checked yet
SMS campaigns ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Email campaigns ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Client segmentation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Loyalty tools ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Campaign automation Basic Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free Starter plan includes loyalty, referrals, campaigns, and a client portal
  • Pro adds unlimited clients, self-booking, deposits, and analytics for $10/month
  • Automates rebooking, birthday follow-ups, email, and SMS campaigns
  • Combines booking, POS, payments, marketing, loyalty and reputation tools
  • Supports multi-location reporting, staff performance and inventory management
  • Offers branded mobile apps, online booking and automated reminders
Cons
  • Automation is basic rather than highly configurable
  • Stripe is the listed payment integration
  • The platform is web-only, with no downloadable client app
  • Pricing requires a sales conversation rather than published plan prices
  • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of smaller salons
  • Advanced capabilities are reserved for higher-tier plans
Our verdict

Lumidara is a web-based marketing and client-management platform for independent salons, nail studios, lash bars, spas, and solo beauty professionals. It combines online self-booking, service selection, availability, booking deposits,…

Read the review →

Phorest is cloud-based management software for salons, spas, medspas and aesthetic clinics. It brings appointment scheduling, online booking, client records, staff management, point of sale, payment collection, marketing automation,…

Read the review →
  1. LumidaraSalon Marketing Software 8.7Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. PhorestSalon Marketing Software 8.6Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Lumidara — where it wins

    • Free Starter plan includes loyalty, referrals, campaigns, and a client portal
    • Pro adds unlimited clients, self-booking, deposits, and analytics for $10/month
    • Automates rebooking, birthday follow-ups, email, and SMS campaigns

    Where it doesn't

    • Automation is basic rather than highly configurable
    • Stripe is the listed payment integration
    • The platform is web-only, with no downloadable client app

  • Phorest — where it wins

    • Combines booking, POS, payments, marketing, loyalty and reputation tools
    • Supports multi-location reporting, staff performance and inventory management
    • Offers branded mobile apps, online booking and automated reminders

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a sales conversation rather than published plan prices
    • The broad feature set may exceed the needs of smaller salons
    • Advanced capabilities are reserved for higher-tier plans
  • Lumidara8.7/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A low-cost web platform for salons that want booking and basic marketing automation.

    Visit LumidaraFull verdict →
  • Phorest8.6/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad salon operations and marketing suite for growing multi-location businesses.

    Visit PhorestFull verdict →

More comparisons

All salon marketing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update