Phorest vs. Bookuply vs. salonMonster
salonMonster is built for beauty professionals, by beauty professionals, with the everyday salon essentials in one price. Phorest prices by quote and signs salons to a one-year contract. Bookuply pairs a booking calendar with a consumer marketplace, and it’s free while it’s in beta.
No credit card required · No long-term contract · Free migration help
Canadian-owned and built in British Columbia since 2010, with straightforward pricing for salons across Canada and the US.
Who it's made for
salonMonster
Hairdressers, nail techs, estheticians, and owner-led salons who want software made for beauty professionals, by people who have worked behind the chair
Phorest
Growing salons, spas, and med spas. Phorest says its plans are perfect for three or more staff
Bookuply
Salons, studios, and other service businesses that want a listing in a consumer marketplace alongside their booking calendar
Top features
salonMonster
Online booking, processing-time gaps for colour, booking requests, client records, inventory, reports, a wait list, and bulk email and text marketing, all in one plan
Phorest
Top features locked behind paid plan upgrades and add-ons, and cancelling requires wide-range advance notice
Bookuply
Online booking, a marketplace profile with reviews and a photo portfolio, client chat, reminders, and email campaigns
Support
salonMonster
Phone, chat, and email support from people who know salon work, plus free migration help from a real person
Phorest
Tailored setup, migration, and training. Support available Monday to Friday
Bookuply
Free migration of clients, services, and staff schedules, with phone and chat support listed on its Team plan
Bottom line
salonMonster
Built by hairdressers, for hairdressers, with the salon tools, marketing, and personal help in one price
Phorest
A broad platform with a quote-based price and a one-year contract
Bookuply
A marketplace and booking app that is free during its beta, with a plan to choose once the beta ends
Hairdressers, nail techs, estheticians, and owner-led salons who want software made for beauty professionals, by people who have worked behind the chair
Phorest
Growing salons, spas, and med spas. Phorest says its plans are perfect for three or more staff
Bookuply
Salons, studios, and other service businesses that want a listing in a consumer marketplace alongside their booking calendar
Online booking, processing-time gaps for colour, booking requests, client records, inventory, reports, a wait list, and bulk email and text marketing, all in one plan
Top features locked behind paid plan upgrades and add-ons, and cancelling requires wide-range advance notice
Online booking, a marketplace profile with reviews and a photo portfolio, client chat, reminders, and email campaigns
Phone, chat, and email support from people who know salon work, plus free migration help from a real person
Tailored setup, migration, and training. Support available Monday to Friday
Free migration of clients, services, and staff schedules, with phone and chat support listed on its Team plan
Built by hairdressers, for hairdressers, with the salon tools, marketing, and personal help in one price
A broad platform with a quote-based price and a one-year contract
A marketplace and booking app that is free during its beta, with a plan to choose once the beta ends
Already sold? Jump in whenever you're ready.
Start your free 14-day trialNo card required, no contract.
Want a deeper dive? Here's how salonMonster stacks up.
Based on each company's public product and pricing information (last reviewed: Phorest September 23 to 24, 2026, Bookuply October 5, 2026). salonMonster bills in Canadian dollars in Canada and US dollars in the US. Prices, plans, and promotions change, so check before deciding: Phorest's Canada or United States pricing page and Bookuply's pricing page .
The real difference: Phorest, Bookuply, or software built for your salon
Built around the chair
Phorest says its plans are perfect for three or more staff, and that it isn’t a good fit for chair rental salons or mobile operators. Bookuply serves salons, studios, and a wide range of other service businesses. salonMonster is made by hairdressers, for the way a salon day already runs. Book a cut into the gap while a colour processes, approve online booking requests before they land in your book, and keep formulas on the client record.
The essentials are in the price
With Phorest, every plan is priced by quote, and reminder texts are billed per message. Bookuply is free during its beta, and says it will ask you to pick a plan when the beta ends. salonMonster sticks to what a salon uses every day and includes it on every plan.
Help from people who know salons
We've been behind the chair, so you won't have to explain what a root touch-up is. A real person moves your client list over for free and walks you through your new account. And you get 14 days with no card at all, so nothing can charge you until you've decided it's right for you.
Switching from Phorest or Bookuply: export first
1
Export your records
From Phorest, grab your client file first, then appointments, services, and products. From Bookuply, ask its support team for your clients, upcoming appointments, services, and notes. Keep your account open while you do.
2
We look at what you got
Send the files over through our secure process. We'll tell you exactly what can move into salonMonster before we call the move done, so there are no surprises later.
3
Walk through it with a real person
We'll go over your clients, services, upcoming bookings, team access, and booking rules together. Once it all looks right, that's the moment to cancel or downgrade your old plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phorest or Bookuply better for a salon?
It depends on what you want the software to do. Phorest is aimed at growing salons, spas, and med spas, with quoted pricing and a one-year contract. Bookuply pairs a booking calendar with a consumer marketplace for salons, studios, and other service businesses. salonMonster only does salons and beauty. It’s built by hairdressers, for hairdressers, so every feature is designed around a salon day and included in one plan.
Which costs less: Phorest, Bookuply, or salonMonster?
salonMonster is $30 a month for one person, with every salon tool included: processing time, a wait list, client records, and marketing. Phorest doesn’t publish a subscription price on its Canadian or US pricing page and asks you to request a quote. Bookuply is free during its beta, and its listed plans for afterwards run from a limited free plan to $19.95 a month per team member, in Canadian dollars. Team size, country, and add-ons all change the total, so compare the setup you would really use.
Do Phorest and Bookuply offer a free trial?
salonMonster’s trial is 14 days of the full system and doesn’t ask for a card, so nothing is charged until you choose a plan. Phorest has no free trial. Its public FAQ says it offers a personalized demonstration instead. Bookuply offers free beta access without a credit card.
Does Bookuply have a marketplace?
Bookuply publishes business profiles in a consumer marketplace and gives you a shareable profile link. salonMonster keeps booking between you and your clients: they book through your own booking page or a widget on your website, not a marketplace.
Do Phorest or Bookuply require a contract?
salonMonster has no contract and no cancellation fee. Phorest’s public Canadian and US terms state a one-year contract period with automatic annual renewal, at least two months’ written notice, and remaining subscription fees payable on early termination. Bookuply says beta users will be emailed ahead of time and asked to choose a plan to continue.
Can I export my data from Phorest or Bookuply?
Phorest documents free self-service exports for several data categories. Custom exports requested from Phorest may involve a charge. Bookuply’s privacy policy says you can ask its support team for a copy of your data. Whichever you’re on, get every export you rely on before you cancel or downgrade.
Can salonMonster move everything from Phorest or Bookuply?
It depends on the files you’re able to export. Send them over and we’ll tell you exactly what can move before you change anything on your current account.
ready when you are
Ready for salon software built around the chair?
Start with 14 days free. No credit card. If you decide to move from Phorest or Bookuply, a real person will look over the files you export and explain what can come across before you change anything.
No card. No contract.
salonMonster is an independent company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Phorest or Bookuply. Phorest and Bookuply are trademarks of their respective owners.