salonMonster vs. Vagaro
salonMonster includes the everyday salon essentials in one price, where Vagaro sells extras as paid add-ons. And our free trial needs no credit card.
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
Independent beauty professionals and owner-led salons who want a focused salon system and online booking on their own website
Vagaro
Salon, spa, wellness, and fitness businesses that want marketplace discovery and a big catalogue of optional tools
Top features
salonMonster
Online booking on your own website, reminders, client records, point-of-sale tracking, inventory, reports, a wait list, and bulk email and text marketing, included on every plan
Vagaro
Scheduling, memberships, packages, and a marketplace listing, with forms, a website builder, text marketing, and a branded app sold as paid add-ons
Support
salonMonster
Phone, chat, and email support included on every plan, plus free migration help from a real person
Vagaro
24/7 phone support, plus live chat and email, with onboarding and help moving your data into Vagaro
Bottom line
salonMonster
A focused salon system, a free trial with no card, and the everyday essentials included in the price
Vagaro
Worth a look if you want a marketplace, memberships, classes, or a wide menu of add-ons
Independent beauty professionals and owner-led salons who want a focused salon system and online booking on their own website
Vagaro
Salon, spa, wellness, and fitness businesses that want marketplace discovery and a big catalogue of optional tools
Online booking on your own website, reminders, client records, point-of-sale tracking, inventory, reports, a wait list, and bulk email and text marketing, included on every plan
Scheduling, memberships, packages, and a marketplace listing, with forms, a website builder, text marketing, and a branded app sold as paid add-ons
Phone, chat, and email support included on every plan, plus free migration help from a real person
24/7 phone support, plus live chat and email, with onboarding and help moving your data into Vagaro
A focused salon system, a free trial with no card, and the everyday essentials included in the price
Worth a look if you want a marketplace, memberships, classes, or a wide menu of add-ons
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.
Public product and pricing information reviewed October 3, 2026. salonMonster bills in Canadian dollars in Canada and US dollars in the US; Vagaro's prices are shown in each country's own currency. Prices and promotions change, so check Vagaro's Canada or United States pricing page before deciding.
Compare the team and the country you actually have
In Canada, salonMonster comes in a little under Vagaro at every team size. In the US, a solo subscription costs the same and Vagaro's standard price is lower once you add calendars.
Based on each company's published standard subscription prices, in Canadian dollars for Canada and US dollars for the US. Payment processing, hardware, taxes, and Vagaro's optional add-ons aren't included. Vagaro sometimes runs introductory offers in the US, so check its live price.
See salonMonster pricingThe real difference: a big ecosystem, or a focused salon system
Start without handing over a card
Vagaro's trial is longer, at 30 days, and it rolls into a paid subscription on the card you put down. salonMonster gives you 14 days with no card at all, so nothing can charge you until you've decided it's right for you.
The essentials are in the price
Vagaro's catalogue is huge, which is great if you need memberships, classes, or a branded app. Extras like forms, a website, and text marketing are priced one by one. salonMonster sticks to what a salon uses every day and includes it on every plan.
Booking under your own name
Vagaro lists you in its marketplace, at no charge for those bookings, which helps if you want to be found by people browsing. salonMonster has no marketplace. Clients book on your own booking page or a widget on your website, so your business stays front and centre.
Switching from Vagaro: export first, then cancel
Your client list is the business you built, and it should come with you. Vagaro lets you export it yourself, with the rest of your records coming out report by report. Start there and we'll do the rest together.
1
Export your list and your reports
Download your customer list, then run the appointment, sales, inventory, gift card, membership, and package reports you rely on. Ask Vagaro about notes, forms, and photos too. 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 Vagaro.
Frequently asked questions
Is salonMonster cheaper than Vagaro?
It depends on where you are. In Canada, salonMonster’s published subscription is a little lower than Vagaro’s at every team size. In the United States, a solo subscription is the same price, and Vagaro’s standard price is lower once you add calendars. Add-ons, payment processing, hardware, and taxes all change the total, so compare the setup you would really use.
Does Vagaro charge commission on marketplace bookings?
No. Vagaro says there is no extra fee when a new or existing client books through its marketplace. Get Featured, which gives you more visibility there, is an optional flat monthly add-on and not a commission.
Does Vagaro require a contract?
Not for the software. Vagaro lets you cancel anytime with no cancellation fee, and so does salonMonster. Some of Vagaro’s card-reader offers come with their own terms, including a 12-month minimum, so read the terms on any reader offer before you accept it.
Does the Vagaro free trial require a credit card?
Vagaro’s trial runs for 30 days, and its help centre says the card on file is charged when the trial ends and the monthly subscription starts automatically. salonMonster’s trial is 14 days and doesn’t ask for a card, so nothing is charged until you choose a plan.
Can I export my customer list from Vagaro?
Yes. The business owner can export the customer list as Excel or PDF, and many other records can be exported from individual reports. Run each report you rely on before you cancel, and ask Vagaro about notes, forms, and files.
Can salonMonster move everything from Vagaro?
It depends on the files you’re able to export. Send them over and we’ll tell you exactly what can move before you cancel anything.
Does Vagaro include text and email marketing?
Vagaro includes 1,000 marketing emails a month. Larger email plans and text marketing are paid extras. Appointment reminders are included separately. salonMonster includes email and text reminders, booking confirmations, and bulk email and text marketing on every plan.
Which one has better migration help?
Both offer free help moving in. With salonMonster, a real person looks at your files, moves what can be moved, and walks through the new account with you before you close the old one.
ready when you are
Ready for a salon system centred on your business?
Start with 14 days free. No credit card. If you decide to move from Vagaro, a real person will look over the files you export and explain what can come across before you cancel.
No card. No contract.
salonMonster is an independent company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Vagaro. Vagaro is a trademark of its respective owner. Product and pricing information was reviewed on October 3, 2026.