Booksy takes 20% on new-client bookings. StyleSeat takes similar. On $10,000/month bookings: $2,000 in commission. Here are the true zero-commission alternatives for hair salons in 2026.
The real cost of Booksy and StyleSeat
Popular salon booking apps charge:
- Booksy — $29.90/month base + 20% commission on new-client bookings
- StyleSeat — free base + 50% commission on first-time clients (yes, half)
- Fresha — free base + 20% commission on marketplace bookings + payment processing fees
Real math for a 3-stylist salon doing $10,000/month:
| ~30% new clients: $3,000/month |
| Booksy commission on new clients (20%): $600/month lost |
| StyleSeat commission (50%): $1,500/month lost |
Annual cost: $7,200 (Booksy) to $18,000 (StyleSeat). A Voxtya subscription (€29/month) costs far less.
What Voxtya offers for salons
- Zero commission — ever. €29/month, unlimited bookings.
- A booking page in your colors at yoursalon.voxtya.com or embedded on your own site.
- Service catalog with durations + prices — cuts, colors, treatments.
- Email reminders the day before — fewer no-shows.
- More Google reviews — an email after the appointment invites the client to leave a review, plus the wheel of fortune (Review collection service).
Barbers: online booking for a barbershop
A barber runs short appointments back to back: a men’s cut, a beard trim, a hot towel shave, or cut and beard together. Voxtya booking software fits that pace:
- Short, precise services: 20 minutes for a beard trim, 30 for a cut, 45 for cut and beard, with a slot grid from 5 to 60 minutes so no gaps are left.
- Each barber has a calendar: clients pick their barber or “No preference (first available)”.
- Walk-ins: open only some time ranges online (for example evenings and Saturdays) and keep the rest for clients who walk in.
- A reminder the day before by email, with a cancellation link, so the chair is freed in time.
- More Google reviews: an email after the appointment invites the client to leave a review.
Same price as for a hair salon: €29/month, no commission. See also Voxtya for hair salons and barbers and a barbershop case study.
Comparison for hair salons
| Tool | Base price | New-client commission | Bookings/mo included |
|---|
| Voxtya | €29/mo | 0% | Unlimited |
| Booksy | $29.90/mo | 20% | Unlimited |
| StyleSeat | Free base | 50% | Unlimited |
| Fresha | Free base | 20% marketplace | Unlimited |
| Vagaro | $25-85/mo | 0% direct bookings | Unlimited |
| Squire | $60/mo | 0% | Unlimited |
Voxtya takes no commission. With other services, it also covers Google reviews, a website and social media posts.
How appointments work: services, stylists, slots
- Your services: women’s cut, colour, balayage, blow-dry… each with its duration (in 5-minute steps), a buffer time if needed and its displayed price.
- Your stylists: each one is linked to the services they do. The client picks a stylist or “No preference (first available)”.
- Slots are calculated from your opening hours and the appointments already booked: no double booking.
- Emails: confirmation when booking, a reminder the day before, and an email after the appointment inviting the client to leave a Google review (can be switched off).
- A waitlist when a slot is full.
Commission or subscription? Take your number of online bookings per month, multiply by what each one costs you today, and compare with €29/month. Many salons keep a marketplace to be found by new clients and send their regulars to their own link: see Voxtya vs Planity and free Planity alternatives.
Where to put your booking link
- On your Google listing, in the appointment links: that is where most clients find you. The guide: adding a booking link to your Google profile.
- In your Instagram bio and in a highlighted story.
- On your website: with the Website service, the “Book” button is already built in.
- In your voicemail message: “You can also book online at…”.
For step-by-step set-up (services, durations, stylists), read our guide to online booking for hair salons.
What to pair it with
Bookings work well with review collection: a QR code at the styling station and the wheel of fortune for hair salons. See also the Bookings service, the Review collection service and our page on Google reviews software for hair salons.
Switch to online booking in 4 steps
- List your services with their duration and price: cut, colour, highlights, blow-dry.
- Add your stylists and tick what each one does: clients only see slots that really work.
- Set your hours and cancellation notice: clients get an email confirmation, then a reminder the day before with a link to cancel by themselves within your notice period.
- Share your link: Google listing, Instagram bio, website, QR code in the window.
Phone bookings go into the same planner, so you keep one view of your day. Full details on Bookings.
Run your own numbers
With Voxtya the price does not depend on how many bookings you take: €29 a month for Bookings (€23 billed annually), €49 with your website. To compare with a marketplace, take last month’s new-client bookings and multiply them by the commission charged per booking. The busier your month, the bigger the gap. See also Voxtya vs Booksy, Voxtya vs Fresha and our guide to online booking without commission.
Mistakes to avoid at launch
- Durations that are too short: a colour listed at one hour that really takes two shifts your whole day. Start from your real timings.
- A link nobody sees: without a link on your Google listing and Instagram, clients keep phoning.
- Not telling your regulars: a word at the till and a small sign by the mirror are often enough.
- Forgetting reviews after the appointment: Bookings pairs well with Review collection, so each good visit can become a Google review. See also Google reviews software for hair salons.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my Booksy clients?
Not automatically yet. Contact us and we will help you get set up.
Do clients need to create an account to book?
No — clients book with their name, email and phone, without creating an account.
Can I keep Booksy in parallel for marketplace visibility?
Yes. Voxtya doesn't block other platforms. Many salons keep Booksy lightly for new-client marketplace visibility while running all repeat bookings through Voxtya (0-commission).
How does Voxtya limit no-shows?
A configurable cancellation policy and day-before email reminders help limit no-shows. No Voxtya commission on bookings, ever.
Does it work for a barber or barbershop?
Yes. Create your short services (cut, beard, shave, cut and beard) with their length, add each barber, and open online only the time ranges where you want appointments: the rest stays for walk-ins. Same price: €29/month, no commission.
Can clients choose their stylist?
Yes. Each stylist is linked to the services they do. The client picks a person or “No preference (first available)”.
Can I put the link on my Google listing?
Yes. Paste your booking link in the appointment links of your Google listing, depending on the options offered for your category.
Do I need a Voxtya website?
No. The booking page works on its own, with its own link. With the Website service, the bundle is €49/month.
Can I block holidays and breaks?
Yes. You set your opening hours and block closing days: no slot is offered during those periods.
Can I take bookings for several salons?
Yes. Each extra location costs €39 a month and has its own booking page and planner.
