Head-to-head · Salon Software
Salonist vs Orbis Salon
Salonist leads on 1 check, Orbis Salon on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 8 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreSalonist · 7.9/10
- Free planonly Salonist
- Free trialonly Salonist
Salonist scores higher on our rubric for salon software: 7.9 against 6.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #13 and #24.
Salonist offers free plan; Orbis Salon doesn't.
Salonist is the better fit for salons wanting a free marketplace presence. Orbis Salon is the better fit for budget-conscious salons needing full coverage.
- Salonist fits best
Salons wanting a free marketplace presence
- Orbis Salon fits best
Budget-conscious salons needing full coverage
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Side by side
| Feature | Salonist 7.9/10 Visit ↗ | Orbis Salon 6.6/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 7.9 | 6.6 |
| Ranking | #13 in Salon Software | #24 in Salon Software |
| Best for | Salons wanting a free marketplace presence | Budget-conscious salons needing full coverage |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $79/mo | £4.99/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Phone · 24/7 | Email, Phone, Docs |
| Integrations | 40+ integrations | 1 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Salonist 7/7 · Orbis Salon 7/7 | ||
| Online booking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff calendar | ✓ | ✓ |
| POS and payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client reminders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inventory tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-location support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Memberships and packages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Salonist is cloud-based salon and spa management software for beauty and wellness businesses, ranging from single-chair operators to multi-location groups. It brings online booking, appointment calendars, staff scheduling, point-of-sale… Read the review → |
Orbis Salon is booking and business-management software for salons, barbers, beauty businesses, clinics, therapists, studios and other appointment-led businesses. It brings together branded online booking, visual staff calendars, rotas,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Salonist — where it wins
- Free marketplace listing for salon discovery and booking visibility
- Covers booking, POS, inventory, reminders, memberships and staff operations
- Supports web, iOS and Android with broad payment and marketing integrations
Where it doesn't
- The free offering is narrower than the paid plans
- Paid plans start at $79 per month on monthly billing
- Its broad feature set may exceed the needs of very small operators
Orbis Salon — where it wins
- Booking, calendars, POS, reminders, inventory and memberships in one platform
- Runs across web, iOS, Android, Windows and macOS
- Multi-location management with marketing and reporting features
Where it doesn't
- No free plan; paid plans start at £4.99 per month
- Lite adds a 50p booking service fee per booking
- Team and location limits vary across the three plans
- Salonist7.9/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial
A broad salon platform with a free marketplace listing and paid operational tools.
Visit SalonistFull verdict → - Orbis Salon6.6/10 · Paid
Broad salon operations coverage at a low monthly entry price, with plan limits to weigh.
Visit Orbis SalonFull verdict →
All salon software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update