Best Shortcuts Alternatives in 2026
The top Shortcuts alternatives are DaySmart Salon, Vagaro and Fresha: 15 salon POS software our editors would look at instead of Shortcuts, in our ranking order.
Shortcuts: A broad salon back-office suite for scheduling, sales, inventory and staff management. Where it falls short: pricing requires a quote or demo.
Switching from Shortcuts? For most salon pos software buyers the best Shortcuts alternative is DaySmart Salon, built for full-service salons needing broad POS operations. On a budget, Pronto starts at $19/mo. Fresha has a free plan.
Why People Look for a Shortcuts Alternative
- Pricing requires a quote or demo
- Xero is the only listed integration
- Features and availability vary by region and package
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallDaySmart Salon9.4
Full-service salons needing broad POS operations
Visit DaySmart Salon - Lowest pricePronto8.6
Paid plans from $19/mo
Visit Pronto - Best free optionFresha9.0
Has a free plan
Visit Fresha
All 15 Shortcuts Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forFull-service salons needing broad POS operations
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 6.9
Broad salon POS and operations software with plans starting at $29 per month.
- Multi-location support
- Online booking
9.4/10★★★★★Visit DaySmart Salon -
Best forGrowing salons wanting broad integrations
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.9
A broad salon POS suite for booking, payments, operations, and integrations.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Vagaro -
Best forTeams prioritizing booking and client management
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.9
A broad salon POS suite for teams that prioritize booking and client management.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Fresha -
Best forIndependent salons wanting booking and POS
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.9
A polished booking and POS system for independent salons and growing beauty teams.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit GlossGenius -
Best forMulti-location salons with advanced workflows
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.9
A broad salon POS platform for multi-location teams with advanced operational workflows.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Mangomint -
Best forBudget-conscious salons needing offline POS
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 6.9
A low-cost salon POS with offline operation, self-hosting, and a useful free plan.
- Online booking
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Pronto -
Best forSalons wanting free entry and many integrations
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.9
A broad salon POS platform with free entry, booking tools, and extensive integrations.
- Online booking
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Salonist -
Best forSolo professionals and small appointment-based teams
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.4 vs 6.9
A capable salon booking and POS platform for solo professionals and small teams.
- Online booking
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Booksy -
Best forSalons needing payments and accounting integrations
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.9
A practical salon booking and payments system with useful accounting integrations.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Timely -
Best forEuropean salons wanting low-cost POS coverage
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 6.9
A low-cost salon POS suite with broad operational coverage and limited integrations.
- Multi-location support
- Online booking
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Salonized -
Best forBarbershops and salons needing strong POS depth
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.9
A deep barbershop POS with booking, payments, inventory, and multi-location tools.
- Multi-location support
- Online booking
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit SQUIRE -
Best forEstablished multi-location salon groups
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.9
A broad salon management suite for established, multi-location groups.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Phorest -
Best forSmall salons wanting simple all-in-one POS
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.9
A simple salon POS with booking, payments, inventory, memberships, and reporting.
- Multi-location support
- Online booking
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Rosy -
Best forMature salons needing core operations
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.9
A mature salon operations platform with broad features and custom pricing.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Kitomba -
Best forSalons focused on retail, tips, and commissions
- Better than Shortcuts:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.9
A practical salon POS for retail, tips, commissions, and booking.
- Tip management
- Retail inventory
- Commission tracking
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Slick
Shortcuts Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Shortcuts?
DaySmart Salon: #1 in our Salon POS Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Broad salon POS and operations software with plans starting at $29 per month.
Is there a free alternative to Shortcuts?
Yes. Fresha, Pronto, Salonist and Squire have a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Shortcuts?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Pronto starts lowest, at $19/mo.
Why do people look for Shortcuts alternatives?
Pricing requires a quote or demo; Xero is the only listed integration; Features and availability vary by region and package.
How do I switch from Shortcuts?
Export your data from Shortcuts (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Shortcuts.
How to Switch from Shortcuts
- Export your data from Shortcuts (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Shortcuts.
Shortcuts vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Online booking | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Shortcuts | Yes | 6.9 | ||
| 1 | DaySmart Salon | No | $29/mo | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Vagaro | No | $30/mo | 9.2 | |
| 3 | Fresha | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 4 | GlossGenius | No | $24/mo | 8.8 | |
| 5 | Mangomint | No | 8.7 | ||
| 6 | Pronto | Yes | $19/mo | Yes | 8.6 |
| 7 | Salonist | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 8 | Booksy | No | $29.99/mo | Yes | 8.4 |
| 9 | Timely | No | $26/user/mo | 8.3 | |
| 10 | Salonized | No | €21/mo | Yes | 8.2 |
| 11 | Squire | No | $30/mo | Yes | 8.1 |
| 12 | Phorest | No | 8.1 | ||
| 13 | Rosy | No | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 14 | Kitomba | No | 7.9 | ||
| 15 | Slick | No | $22/mo | Yes | 7.7 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update