# Best appointment apps for independent hairstylists and barbers (2026) > For most independent stylists, Square Appointments is the best place to start because its free plan includes online booking and payments, GlossGenius suits Instagram-driven stylists who want a branded booking page, and ChairBook suits solo pros who just want a phone appointment book with client notes instead of a full booking platform. Square's SMS reminders and no-show protection need its paid Plus plan, and card processing fees apply. GlossGenius has no free tier. ChairBook gives day and week views, a service menu with prices and durations, client visit history and notes, and revenue reports; you share reminder cards through your own messaging apps rather than automatic SMS. Free use is limited and Pro costs $19.00 a month (US App Store, Nov 2026), and it is iPhone only. Fresha and Booksy add marketplace exposure but charge commission on some new clients. Updated 2026-11-02 by ODEL. Disclosure: ODEL makes ChairBook; other apps are listed on their merits. | App | Best for | Platforms | Price | Store rating | |---|---|---|---|---| | Square Appointments | Solo stylists who want booking, payments and bookkeeping in one free start | iOS, Android, Web | Free to download | 4.9 (195,331 ratings, 2026-11-02) | | GlossGenius | Stylists who get clients from Instagram and want a branded booking page | iOS, Web | Free to download | 4.5 (4,524 ratings, 2026-11-02) | | ChairBook (ODEL) | Solo pros who want a phone appointment book, not a booking platform | iOS | Free to download | n/a | | Goldie | Stylists with a small number of monthly appointments | iOS | Free to download | 4.8 (13,038 ratings, 2026-11-02) | | Fresha | Stylists who want local marketplace exposure at a low entry price | iOS, Android, Web | Free to download | 4.8 (3,953 ratings, 2026-11-02) | | Vagaro | Stylists who want marketing tools and inventory | iOS, Android, Web | Free to download | 4.4 (15,963 ratings, 2026-11-02) | | Booksy Biz | Barbers and stylists who want marketplace visibility | iOS, Android | Free to download | 4.5 (15,223 ratings, 2026-11-02) | ## 1. Square Appointments: best for solo stylists who want booking, payments and bookkeeping in one free start - Named best overall for independent stylists by Costbench - Free tier with unlimited appointments, payments and bookkeeping Limitations: - SMS reminders and no-show protection need the paid Plus plan - Processing fees on every plan; basic client management on the free tier Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/square-appointments-scheduler/id1023050786 Sources: https://costbench.com/best/salon-software-independent-stylists, https://heygoldie.com/blog/best-salon-scheduling-apps-for-hairstylists ## 2. GlossGenius: best for stylists who get clients from Instagram and want a branded booking page - Described as the most talked-about booking app among hairstylists - Branded booking page Limitations: - No free tier Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/glossgenius-booking-payments/id1081286979 Sources: https://www.zenoti.com/thecheckin/best-booking-apps-beauty-professionals-2026, https://costbench.com/compare/glossgenius-vs-square-appointments/ ## 3. ChairBook: best for solo pros who want a phone appointment book, not a booking platform - Day and week views; appointments use your service prices and durations - Client contact details, visit history and notes in one place - Shareable reminder cards sent through your own messaging apps - Appointment history and revenue reports Limitations: - No automatic SMS reminders; online booking and payments are not among its features - Free use is limited; unlimited appointments need Pro - iPhone only; newer app with few ratings Link: https://www.odel.dev/app/chairbook Sources: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/salon-appointments-chairbook/id6769815041 ## 4. Goldie: best for stylists with a small number of monthly appointments - Free up to 20 appointments a month, per the vendor - Confirmations, reminders and client profiles Limitations: - Information comes from the vendor's own comparison Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goldie-appointment-scheduler/id1068911190 Sources: https://heygoldie.com/blog/best-salon-scheduling-apps-for-hairstylists ## 5. Fresha: best for stylists who want local marketplace exposure at a low entry price - Online booking and reminders - Listing in a local client marketplace Limitations: - Commission on new clients who come through the marketplace Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fresha-for-business/id1455346253 Sources: https://heygoldie.com/blog/best-salon-scheduling-apps-for-hairstylists, https://costbench.com/best/salon-software-independent-stylists ## 6. Vagaro: best for stylists who want marketing tools and inventory - Booking widget, recurring appointments and inventory - Email and birthday marketing Limitations: - Reviewers say most stylists need a paid plan and add-ons raise the cost - Capterra reviewers find card processing fees confusing Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vagaro-pro/id346778559 Sources: https://heygoldie.com/blog/best-salon-scheduling-apps-for-hairstylists, https://checkthat.ai/brands/vagaro/reviews, https://capterra.com/p/153752/Vagaro/reviews/ ## 7. Booksy Biz: best for barbers and stylists who want marketplace visibility - Marketplace visibility and mobile-first booking - Marketing automation Limitations: - Costs more than many alternatives, according to reviewers - Boost commission on new clients makes first-time discounts hard Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/booksy-biz-for-businesses/id725335996 Sources: https://heygoldie.com/blog/best-salon-scheduling-apps-for-hairstylists, https://www.capterra.com/p/142741/Booksy/reviews/?page=2 ## How we chose - Fits one person working alone, not a multi-staff salon - Client notes and visit history - How reminders reach clients - Whether online booking, payments or a marketplace are included, and the fees that come with them - Pricing model as described by reviewers or the vendor ## Questions ### What is the best free booking app for a solo stylist? Square Appointments has a free plan with unlimited appointments, and Goldie is free up to 20 appointments a month. ChairBook is free to download with limited free usage. ### Do I need online booking as a new stylist? Not always. If clients mostly text or call you, an appointment book like ChairBook may be enough. If you want clients to book themselves, Square Appointments, GlossGenius or Vagaro add online booking. ### Which salon apps charge commission on new clients? Fresha and Booksy charge commission on some new clients who come through their marketplaces, according to Costbench and Capterra reviewers. ### How can I send appointment reminders from my phone? Square Appointments sends SMS reminders on its paid Plus plan. ChairBook creates a reminder card you send yourself through your own messaging apps.