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The Best Booking Apps for solo Hairdressers in 2024

May 13, 2024 | Indie Insights

indie hairdresser Katy Reeve styling Emily

Unwritten the app for indie hairdressers

Remington Meyer celebrity hairdresser and Unwritten Ambassador

In the dynamic world of solo hairdressing, booking apps play a crucial role in managing appointments and enhancing customer interactions. In 2024, several apps are competing for the attention of individual solo hairdressers who wish to streamline their booking processes. Here, we compare Timely, Square Appointments, Fresha, and Unwritten to determine which one offers the best value wins the best booking app for solo hairdressers in 2024.

Timely

Pros:

  • Timely is renowned for its ease of use and comprehensive features that cater to individual needs and small businesses.
  • It supports automated SMS reminders, which customers find very convenient.
  • The software has a good track record of customer support and is well-rated for its value for money​ (GetApp)​.

Cons:

  • Some users feel that Timely could improve by adding more robust reporting features to aid in targeted marketing.
  • Although Timely has a strong set of basic features, it lacks some advanced functionalities that could enhance user experience further​ (Software Advice)​.

Pricing:

  • Timely offers a pricing plan of $55 AUD per staff member per month, which includes 300 SMS credits​ (Software Advice)​.

Reviews:

  • Timely enjoys a high overall rating, with many users appreciating its customer service and the user-friendly interface​ (GetApp)​​ (TrustRadius)​.

Square Appointments

Pros:

  • Square Appointments integrates seamlessly with other Square products, offering a comprehensive business management suite.
  • It’s free for individual use, unless you need to handle appointments with service processing times, then there is a monthly fee.
  • The app includes robust features such as inventory management and payment processing​ (TrustRadius)​.

Cons:

  • The main drawback is that it might be more complex than necessary for hairdressers who only need booking functionality.

Pricing:

  • Free for basic individual users, but costs escalate with additional features and team members​ (TrustRadius)​.

Fresha

Pros:

  • Known for its zero subscription fees, Fresha charges only for successful bookings, making it very popular among hairdressers.
  • It provides features like appointment reminders, calendar management, and client management​ (TrustRadius)​.

Cons:

  • The reliance on a pay-per-booking model might not be preferable for all, especially those with high client turnover.

Pricing:

  • No monthly fees; charges are based on booking transactions​ (TrustRadius)​.

Unwritten

Pros:

  • Tailored specifically for hairdressers, focusing solely on their needs without the clutter of unrelated features.
  • It emphasizes a high-quality user experience with a clean, easy-to-navigate interface.
  • Unwritten is Australian made, which might appeal to local users looking for regional support and design sensibilities.

Cons:

  • Being a newer entrant, it might not yet have the same breadth of reviews and user feedback as more established competitors.

Pricing:

  • Unwritten is subscription free. The only charges are for turning on the optional SMS appointment reminders.

Reviews:

  • As a niche product designed for hairdressers, Unwritten aims to cater precisely to the industry’s requirements, though more extensive user feedback would be beneficial.

Conclusion

For individual hairdressers, choosing the right booking software depends on specific needs such as pricing flexibility, feature requirements, and ease of use. While Timely, Square Appointments, and Fresha offer robust solutions, Unwritten presents itself as potentially the best value app `due to its tailor-made design for hairdressers. Its focus on simplicity and direct relevance to the industry make it a standout choice, especially for those who value an app made with their specific challenges in mind. We mark Unwritten as The best booking app for solo hairdressers in 2024.

For more detailed information and user reviews, visit the respective websites of Timely, Square Appointments, Fresha, and Unwritten.