Comparing Salon Software Costs: What Do You Really Pay in 2026?
From subscription to hidden costs: discover what salon software really costs in 2026. We compare prices, transaction fees and total cost of ownership of the most popular platforms.
Salongroei Editorial Team
Expert Editorial
The price on the website isn’t the price you pay
You’ve seen it before: a salon software package advertised at “from €19 per month” and you think — that’s manageable. But three months later, you check your bank statement and you’re paying double. Transaction fees, SMS bundles, extra staff charges, marketplace commissions — the bill creeps up without you noticing.
In 2026, most salon software platforms offer a base subscription, but the actual cost depends on how you use it. In this article, we calculate what you really pay with the most popular platforms in the Netherlands, so you can make a fair comparison.
Why “cheap” isn’t always cheap
A recent Capterra study (2025) shows that 62% of small business owners are surprised by hidden costs in SaaS software. For salon software, the most common surprises include:
- Per-staff pricing — you pay more as your team grows
- Transaction fees — a percentage per online booking or payment
- SMS costs — automated reminders billed separately
- Marketplace commissions — up to 30% per booking through an external platform
- Migration costs — one-time setup or data import fees
- Premium features — reports, marketing tools or integrations locked behind higher plans
The big cost comparison
Let’s compare the most popular platforms on the Dutch market side by side. We’re looking at an average salon with 3 staff members and 200 bookings per month.
Monthly subscription costs
| Platform | Starting price | Price (3 staff) | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| SalonUp | €10/mo (Solo) | €25/mo (Pro, up to 25 staff) | Fixed per plan |
| Salonized | ~€29/mo | ~€49/mo ⚠️ | Per feature tier |
| Planty | ~€19/mo | ~€39/mo ⚠️ | Per staff member |
| Treatwell | Starting price + commission | Variable | Hybrid model |
| Fresha | €0 (free base) | €0 + transaction fees | Transaction-based |
⚠️ = estimated prices based on publicly available information. Check current prices on the provider’s website.
Hidden costs: where’s the difference?
| Cost item | SalonUp | Salonized | Planty | Treatwell | Fresha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction fees | None | Low ⚠️ | Low ⚠️ | ~30% per marketplace booking | 20% new clients |
| SMS reminders | Included | Pro plan ⚠️ | Separate ⚠️ | Included | €0.01+/SMS |
| Online booking | Included | Included | Included | Included (with commission) | Included |
| Extra staff | Up to 25 in Pro | Depends on plan ⚠️ | Per staff member ⚠️ | N/A | No extra charge |
Cost example: what does it cost per year?
Let’s calculate a concrete example for a salon with 3 staff members, 200 bookings per month and an average transaction value of €55:
SalonUp Pro:
- Subscription: €25 × 12 = €300/year
- SMS: included
- Transaction fees: none
- Total: ~€300/year
Treatwell (marketplace model):
- Subscription: variable starting price
- Commission: say 40 bookings/month via marketplace × €55 × 30% = €660/month → ~€7,920/year in commission alone
- Own bookings: no commission
- Total: heavily dependent on marketplace share
Fresha (free base):
- Subscription: €0
- Transaction fees new clients: 20% × say 30 new clients/month × €55 = €330/month → ~€3,960/year
- Existing clients: lower costs
- Total: “free” but can add up significantly
The lesson is clear: a low or free subscription doesn’t automatically mean lower total costs.
Total Cost of Ownership: what to watch for
When comparing salon software, it’s smart to look at Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over at least 12 months. Pay attention to these factors:
1. Scalability
How do costs change when you grow from 1 to 5 staff members? With per-staff pricing platforms, this can escalate quickly. SalonUp’s Pro plan costs the same for 2 as for 25 staff members — that’s a big difference as you grow.
2. Commission structure
Marketplace models like Treatwell can be valuable for finding new clients, but the ~30% commission per booking eats into your margins. Calculate how many bookings come through the marketplace channel versus your own website.
3. SMS and communication
Automated reminders reduce no-shows by 30-50% (Phorest, 2025). But if SMS is billed separately at €0.05-€0.10 per message, that costs €10-€20 extra per month at 200 bookings. Platforms offering WhatsApp integration significantly reduce these costs.
4. Migration costs
Switching from one system to another costs time and sometimes money. Always ask whether data migration (client data, appointments, history) is included or costs extra.
5. Contract duration
Pay attention to contract terms. Some platforms offer monthly cancellation, others require annual contracts with discounts. SalonUp offers a free 14-day trial and annual pricing.
Free salon software: too good to be true?
Some platforms offer a free basic version. That sounds attractive, but there are caveats:
Advantages of free software:
- Low barrier to start
- Good for very small salons (1 staff member)
- Risk-free to try
Disadvantages of free software:
- Limited functionality (no reports, no marketing tools)
- Hidden transaction costs that increase with growth
- Less support and updates
- Lock-in: hard to switch later when your client data is in the system
How to choose the right pricing model?
The best choice depends on your situation:
| Situation | Best model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer / solo stylist | Fixed, low subscription | Predictable costs, no surprises |
| Growing salon (2-5 staff) | Fixed per plan (not per staff) | Costs don’t increase with team size |
| New salon, need many new clients | Marketplace + own bookings | Reach is valuable, but monitor commission |
| Established salon with regular clientele | Fixed subscription without commission | You don’t need the reach, so don’t pay for it |
Conclusion: do the math
The cheapest salon software isn’t always the one with the lowest monthly price. Calculate your total costs over 12 months: subscription + transaction fees + SMS + commissions + potential upgrades.
A fixed subscription without hidden costs — like SalonUp’s Pro plan at €25/month — gives you predictability and scalability. But the right choice depends on your salon, your team and your growth strategy.
Want to compare yourself? At salongroei.com you’ll find detailed comparisons of all popular salon software platforms on the Dutch market.