Phorest vs Timely

Phorest9.2Visit Timely8.6Visit

Higher score Phorest #2 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software 9.2/10 Pricing on request ✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Phorest

vs

Timely #7 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software 8.6/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Timely

• Phorest fits best

  Established multi-location salon groups

• Timely fits best

  Salons wanting mature scheduling tools

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Side by side

Feature	Phorest 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Timely 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.6
Ranking	#2 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software	#7 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software
Best for	Established multi-location salon groups	Salons wanting mature scheduling tools
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	$26/user/mo
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs	Live chat, Community, Docs
Compliance	GDPR, HIPAA	2FA
Integrations	10 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Phorest 1/6 · Timely 1/6
Online self-booking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Automated reminders	✓	✓
Cancellation controls	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Staff calendars	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Appointment payments	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
External calendar sync	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Staff accounts	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines appointments, POS, payments, staff, inventory and reporting Supports group bookings, deposits and automated client reminders Offers multi-location management and branded booking apps	Two-way Google Calendar sync with online booking and appointment reminders Collects deposits and cancellation fees alongside online and in-person payments Adds staff controls, inventory, reporting, and digital consultation forms
Cons	Pricing is quote-based, with no numeric plan prices advertised There is no free plan A broad feature set may exceed the needs of a single-location salon	No free plan; Build starts at $26 per staff member monthly Advanced tools such as waitlists and digital forms require higher plans Elevate and Innovate plan prices are not specified here
Our verdict	Phorest brings appointment scheduling together with point of sale, payment collection, client records, staff management, marketing, inventory and reporting. It is aimed at salons, spas and aesthetic clinics, with plans positioned for… Read the review →	Timely brings appointment booking, payment collection, and salon management into a cloud-based product for hair, beauty, wellness, and other appointment-based businesses. Its tools span online booking pages, an appointment calendar, client… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Phorest — where it wins

  • Combines appointments, POS, payments, staff, inventory and reporting
  • Supports group bookings, deposits and automated client reminders
  • Offers multi-location management and branded booking apps

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is quote-based, with no numeric plan prices advertised
  • There is no free plan
  • A broad feature set may exceed the needs of a single-location salon

• Timely — where it wins

  • Two-way Google Calendar sync with online booking and appointment reminders
  • Collects deposits and cancellation fees alongside online and in-person payments
  • Adds staff controls, inventory, reporting, and digital consultation forms

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; Build starts at $26 per staff member monthly
  • Advanced tools such as waitlists and digital forms require higher plans
  • Elevate and Innovate plan prices are not specified here

• Phorest9.2/10 · Pricing on request

  Broad salon management tools, with quote-based pricing and no free plan.

  Visit PhorestFull verdict →
• Timely8.6/10 · 14-day trial

  A mature scheduling toolkit for salons, with payments, staff controls, and client records.

  Visit TimelyFull verdict →