Choosing between Booksy and Squire for your barbershop? Here's a detailed breakdown of pricing, features, and which one actually fits your shop.
| Your Situation | Better Choice |
|---|---|
| Independent barber or small shop | Booksy |
| Multi-location or growing chain | Squire |
| Need all features at lowest cost | Booksy |
| Need sophisticated payroll/commission | Squire |
| Want marketplace exposure for new clients | Booksy |
Now let's dig into why.
This is where Booksy and Squire diverge significantly.
| Plan | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Base | $29.99/mo | Everything: scheduling, reminders, reporting, waitlists, marketing, gift cards |
That's it. One price. All features included.
| Plan | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | $30/mo | Basic scheduling |
| Pro | $50/mo | Full shop features |
| Executive | $150/mo per location | Advanced features |
| Titan | $250/mo per location | Enterprise features |
Plus:
The math: An independent barber pays roughly the same on both platforms ($30). But on Booksy, you get every feature. On Squire's base tier, you get basic functionality only.
For a multi-chair shop wanting advanced features, Squire can cost $150-250/month per location.
All-inclusive feature set. Text reminders, reporting, waitlists, email/text marketing, and gift cards are all included at the base price. No upsells.
Client marketplace. Booksy lists your shop for free in their app, which has millions of users globally. This drives new client discovery without extra cost.
Intuitive interface. 92% of surveyed Booksy users report business growth. The app is designed to be simple enough that you can manage bookings between cuts.
Broad market. While Booksy works for barbershops, it also supports salons and spas, so there's a larger user base and more development resources.
Barbershop-specific design. Squire is built exclusively for barbershops. Every feature, every workflow is designed around how barbers actually work.
Sophisticated payroll. Detailed commission tracking and payroll automation. If you have complex pay structures (booth rent + commission splits), Squire handles this better.
Multi-location management. Built for shops planning to expand. Centralized reporting, staff management across locations, and enterprise-level analytics.
Modern interface. Clean dashboard showing key metrics at a glance. Specifically designed for the barbering industry.
Poor customer service. This is the most common complaint. Users describe support as unresponsive, slow, and sometimes unhelpful. Getting issues resolved can take time.
Fake accounts. Anyone can create a free profile on Booksy's marketplace, including fake accounts using your shop's name with lower prices. Support requires extensive verification to remove them.
Auto-assignment issues. The system sometimes auto-assigns clients to available barbers rather than letting them choose. This frustrates regulars who want their specific barber.
Data concerns. Some users report issues with data handling, especially after Booksy's merger with Genbook. Client lists have reportedly leaked between businesses.
Expensive at scale. $150-250/month per location adds up fast for multi-shop operations. The tiered pricing means features you might expect are locked behind higher tiers.
20% marketplace fee. If new clients find you through Squire's marketplace, you pay 20% of that first booking. This can eat into margins.
Higher transaction fees. 2.2% + $0.20 per transaction, plus 2% for instant payouts (vs Booksy's 1.5%). Small difference per transaction, but it adds up.
| Feature | Booksy | Squire |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29.99/mo | $30/mo |
| Full features price | $29.99/mo | $150-250/mo |
| All features included | Yes | No (tiered) |
| Marketplace for new clients | Yes (free) | Yes (20% fee) |
| Transaction fees | Lower | Higher |
| Payroll/commission | Basic | Advanced |
| Multi-location | Supported | Built for it |
| Barbershop-specific | No (general) | Yes |
| Customer service | Weak point | Better reputation |
Booksy makes sense if:
Squire makes sense if:
Both Booksy and Squire assume your clients will open an app or website to book. But think about how your clients actually reach out.
"Yo, you got anything open today?"
That text comes through on WhatsApp. Or Instagram. Or SMS. And you're mid-cut, trying to type out your availability.
Neither Booksy nor Squire handles that conversation. You're still the human chatbot, stopping your fade to answer "what times you got?"
There's a third option. Replypop takes a different approach: instead of another booking app, it handles booking conversations where they already happen. Client texts you on WhatsApp or DMs you on Instagram, AI responds with your availability and books them in. You keep cutting.
It's not for everyone. If you want marketplace exposure for new clients, Booksy or Squire is better. But if most of your bookings start as messages, it might be worth a look.
For most independent barbers: Booksy offers better value. Same price as Squire's base tier, but with all features included. The marketplace exposure helps with new clients.
For growing shops and chains: Squire's barbershop-specific design and advanced payroll make more sense, despite the higher cost.
For both: You're still manually answering texts and DMs about availability.
If you're still researching:
If you're looking for something different:
Questions about choosing barbershop software? We're happy to give an honest take, even if that means recommending a competitor.
Questions or feedback? Reach out anytime
