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Head-to-head · Salon Inventory Management Software

SalonScale vs BackBar Pro

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 8 checks side by side
Higher score SalonScale #3 in Salon Inventory Management Software 9.0/10 Paid ✓ 3 of 7 features Visit SalonScale
BackBar Pro #8 in Salon Inventory Management Software 8.4/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 7 features Visit BackBar Pro

SalonScale leads on 0 checks, BackBar Pro on 1, 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 scoreSalonScale · 9.0/10
  • Lowest starting priceBackBar Pro · $28/mo
  • Free trialonly BackBar Pro
  • Most featuresBackBar Pro · 4 of 7

SalonScale scores higher on our rubric for salon inventory management software: 9.0 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #8.

BackBar Pro is cheaper to start at $28/mo against $49/mo.

SalonScale is the better fit for color-focused salons and multi-location teams. BackBar Pro is the better fit for color salons needing costing and stock controls.

  • SalonScale fits best

    Color-focused salons and multi-location teams

  • BackBar Pro fits best

    Color salons needing costing and stock controls

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 SalonScale 9.0/10 Visit ↗ BackBar Pro 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.4
Ranking #3 in Salon Inventory Management Software #8 in Salon Inventory Management Software
Best for Color-focused salons and multi-location teams Color salons needing costing and stock controls
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $49/mo $28/mo (best)
Free plan — —
Free trial — 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Docs Email, Live chat
Integrations 3 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features SalonScale 3/7 · BackBar Pro 4/7
Purchase orders Not checked yet —
Low-stock alerts ✓ ✓
Usage tracking ✓ ✓
Multi-location inventory ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Vendor management Not checked yet Not checked yet
Barcode scanning Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Retail product tracking Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Our review
Pros
  • Real-time color costing with usage and waste tracking
  • Formula storage, remixing, and Bluetooth scale support
  • Stock alerts, reorder suggestions, and backbar reporting
  • Color cost-per-gram calculations and live bowl costing
  • Automatic retail deductions with low-stock thresholds
  • Web, iOS, and Android access with booking and payments
Cons
  • No free plan is available
  • Starts at USD 49 per month
  • Hardware and onboarding are separate from subscriptions
  • Restock lists do not send supplier orders
  • Color Bar bottle scanning requires the Premium plan
  • The feature set may exceed the needs of booking-only salons
Our verdict

SalonScale is a backbar management platform for stylists, salon owners, managers, and multi-location salon brands. It combines inventory counts, color product cost calculation, formula records, waste tracking, reporting, and product…

Read the review →

BackBar Pro combines salon inventory management with client records, scheduling, online booking, payments, financial reporting, and color formula storage. It is designed for independent hairstylists, colorists, booth renters, and small…

Read the review →
  1. SalonScaleSalon Inventory Management Software 9.0Paid
  2. BackBar ProSalon Inventory Management Software 8.414-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • SalonScale — where it wins

    • Real-time color costing with usage and waste tracking
    • Formula storage, remixing, and Bluetooth scale support
    • Stock alerts, reorder suggestions, and backbar reporting

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available
    • Starts at USD 49 per month
    • Hardware and onboarding are separate from subscriptions

  • BackBar Pro — where it wins

    • Color cost-per-gram calculations and live bowl costing
    • Automatic retail deductions with low-stock thresholds
    • Web, iOS, and Android access with booking and payments

    Where it doesn't

    • Restock lists do not send supplier orders
    • Color Bar bottle scanning requires the Premium plan
    • The feature set may exceed the needs of booking-only salons

More comparisons

All salon inventory management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update