Pronto vs Salonist

Pronto8.6Visit Salonist8.5Visit

Higher score Pronto #6 in Salon POS Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Pronto

vs

Salonist #7 in Salon POS Software 8.5/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Salonist

• Pronto fits best

  Budget-conscious salons needing offline POS

• Salonist fits best

  Salons wanting free entry and many integrations

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Side by side

Feature	Pronto 8.6/10 Visit ↗	Salonist 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.6	8.5
Ranking	#6 in Salon POS Software	#7 in Salon POS Software
Best for	Budget-conscious salons needing offline POS	Salons wanting free entry and many integrations
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$19/mo	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	7 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Self-hosted	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux	Web, iOS, Android
Integrations	6 integrations	15 integrations
Features Pronto 1/6 · Salonist 1/6
Online booking	✓	✓
Retail inventory	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Tip management	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Commission tracking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Gift cards	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Multi-location support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free plan includes POS, CRM, inventory, booking, and reminders Offline POS plus self-hosted Docker deployment Starter supports five staff members for $19 per month	Free plan includes online booking and 50 appointments per month Supports booking through websites, Instagram, Google, and the Salonist app Connects with payment, accounting, marketing, commerce, and calendar tools
Cons	Free plan limits usage to one staff member and 50 bookings monthly Paid plans are required for deposits and no-show protection Integrations and ecosystem breadth are relatively narrow	The free plan is capped at 50 appointments per month Advanced capabilities are distributed across multiple paid tiers Custom integrations and API access are limited to the Expert plan
Our verdict	Pronto brings online booking, staff scheduling, point of sale, client records, inventory, and automated reminders into one system for beauty salons, hair salons, nail salons, and barbershops. Its public booking page does not require… Read the review →	Salonist is cloud-based salon and spa management software for beauty and wellness businesses, ranging from solo professionals to multi-location operators. Its scope covers online appointment booking, drag-and-drop calendars, staff… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Pronto — where it wins

  • Free plan includes POS, CRM, inventory, booking, and reminders
  • Offline POS plus self-hosted Docker deployment
  • Starter supports five staff members for $19 per month

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan limits usage to one staff member and 50 bookings monthly
  • Paid plans are required for deposits and no-show protection
  • Integrations and ecosystem breadth are relatively narrow

• Salonist — where it wins

  • Free plan includes online booking and 50 appointments per month
  • Supports booking through websites, Instagram, Google, and the Salonist app
  • Connects with payment, accounting, marketing, commerce, and calendar tools

  Where it doesn't

  • The free plan is capped at 50 appointments per month
  • Advanced capabilities are distributed across multiple paid tiers
  • Custom integrations and API access are limited to the Expert plan

• Pronto8.6/10 · Free plan

  A low-cost salon POS with offline operation, self-hosting, and a useful free plan.

  Visit ProntoFull verdict →
• Salonist8.5/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A broad salon POS platform with free entry, booking tools, and extensive integrations.

  Visit SalonistFull verdict →