Booking software for salons and barbershops: subscription, commission marketplace, free with conditions or Belleceo
Almost every booking tool for salons fits one of four models, and each one charges (or doesn’t) in a different way. Before comparing logos it pays to understand the model: it decides how much you pay once your agenda fills up and who owns your clients. This comparison describes the models in general terms, without naming products; check each provider’s specific terms on its website.
The four models you will run into
Subscription software: a fixed monthly fee for the agenda and, often, a separate acquisition module that charges per new client. Predictable, but a fixed cost whether you have many appointments or few.
Commission marketplace: the tool is mainly a storefront where clients discover salons; the business pays a commission on every booking (or new client) that arrives that way, sometimes on top of a software fee. It brings clients, but turns even loyal ones into a recurring cost.
Free with conditions: no monthly fee, but limits in the free plan (bookings, professionals), commissions on marketplace new clients, card payment fees or basic features sold as paid extras.
Manual agenda: paper, WhatsApp or a generic calendar. It costs zero euros and many hours: no 24/7 booking, no automatic reminders, no client history.
How to choose for your situation
The best model depends on where your bookings come from today and how much work you want off your plate.
- If most of your clients are regulars or arrive via Instagram and WhatsApp, paying a commission or an acquisition fee is paying for something you already do yourself: a free tool with your own link and QR gives you the same result.
- If you need new clients every week and have no channels of your own, a marketplace can pay off at first; the goal should be to move regulars to your own link as soon as possible.
- If you work mobile or independently, avoid fixed costs and look for service areas, reminders and an easy-to-share link.
- If you have just opened, start free and without limits; decide later, with data, whether a paid acquisition module is worth it.
Where Belleceo fits and where it does not
Belleceo is free and commission-free: an agenda per professional, 24/7 online booking from your link and QR, automatic email and push reminders, clients with history, team, reviews, loyalty and statistics, with no limits on bookings or professionals. Your clients and reviews live in your account.
What it does not offer today: online payments or deposits, and a marketplace with heavy traffic. Approved businesses appear in the public search by city and service, but volume depends on how many businesses and clients there are in your area. If you live on last-minute marketplace bookings, combine it with Belleceo rather than replacing it overnight.
Questions to ask any provider
Whatever the model, these answers should be in writing on their website:
- What do I pay per month and what do I pay per booking or new client?
- Are there limits on bookings, clients or professionals?
- Are reminders and reviews included?
- Can I export my clients if I leave?
- Do my clients need to install an app or sign up with a password?
Side by side
| Monthly subscription | Commission marketplace | Free with conditions | Belleceo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed monthly cost | Yes | Sometimes (software fee) | No | No |
| Commission per booking or new client | Sometimes (acquisition module) | Yes | Yes, on marketplace new clients | No |
| Limits on bookings or professionals | Per plan | Per plan | Common in the free plan | No limits |
| Automatic reminders | Yes | Yes | Sometimes paid | Yes (email and push) |
| Your clients and reviews in your account | Yes | Partially | Yes | Yes |
| Own link and QR | Usual | Usual | Usual | Yes |
| Online payments or deposits | Usual | Usual | Usual, with fees | Not yet |
| Marketplace visibility | Depends | Yes, it is the core | Depends | Free public search, volume depends on the area |
Third-party features and pricing change over time. Always check the provider's official website for current terms.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Belleceo free?
- We are building the network business by business and city by city; free, commission-free software is how each business brings its own clients. If we add optional services in the future they will be extras you can choose to enable.
- Can I combine Belleceo with a marketplace?
- Yes. Many businesses use the marketplace for new clients and Belleceo as their main agenda and booking link for regulars.
- What happens when I grow?
- Nothing changes: there are no limits on bookings, clients or team members, and the cost stays zero.
Try Belleceo with your business
Free, no commissions, no card required. Your booking link ready in under 10 minutes.
Last updated: 2026-08-31