Independent stylist guide
Booking apps for independent hair stylists: 5 compared
Published 2026-09-15 · Updated 2026-10-29 · By BabaCoiffure editorial team
Lire en françaisThe short answer
Choose a booking app around your existing clients, team size and payment needs. BabaCoiffure Free includes a public profile and limited bookings; deposits require Premium. Booksy and Fresha publish subscription prices, while Planity and Treatwell require an individual quote or agreement for an exact comparison. The prices below concern offers displayed on French-market pages.
Five booking apps compared
French-market prices checked on 29 October 2026. Taxes, optional fees and contract terms can differ. These are not US or UK price quotes.
| App | Public price | Best for | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| BabaCoiffure | Free plan; Premium founding offer at €13.99/month or €140/year | Independent hair professionals who want a focused booking setup | Free has limits on services and bookings and excludes deposits and travel fees; those features require Premium |
| Booksy | €59/month excluding tax, plus €10/month per extra team member | Professionals who want salon management and an established marketplace | Extra team members add to the subscription; online payments are listed at 1.5% + €0.25 excluding tax per transaction |
| Fresha | €14.95/month for one independent professional on the French pricing page, excluding tax | Professionals who want broad salon, marketing and payment features | Online payments are listed at 1.29% + €0.15 per transaction; check taxes, messaging, optional modules and any marketplace acquisition terms |
| Planity | Quote required | French beauty businesses that value marketplace visibility and onboarding support | The official pricing page does not publish the subscription amount |
| Treatwell | Contract-specific fees and marketplace commission | European salons that want marketplace distribution | The public partner terms defer exact fees to the individual agreement |
How should an independent stylist choose?
You work alone and clients find you on Instagram
A profile with services, availability and a shareable booking link may be enough. Check free-plan limits and try the client path on a phone. Our Instagram booking-link guide explains what information to prepare.
You need to request a deposit
Check the required plan, payment fees and cancellation terms. BabaCoiffure requires Premium for deposits; Free does not include them. A deposit does not guarantee that clients will attend.
You manage a team or want new clients
Compare per-person costs, checkout tools and the marketplace presence in your area. A marketplace listing does not guarantee new bookings. Ask for a demonstration when your choice depends on a specific feature.
Start with your client source. If people already come through referrals or social media, prioritize a clear booking profile, availability and deposits. If you need a marketplace to introduce new clients, compare its acquisition fees as well as the subscription.
Then calculate the cost for your real setup. Add extra team members, payment processing, messages and optional modules. A low headline price can become expensive when the features you use sit outside the base plan.
Hypothetical example: at the Booksy prices checked, one professional would pay €59 excluding tax per month for the subscription, and a two-person team €69 excluding tax. Any payment fees are additional. This is not a comparison of the five apps’ total costs.
Finally, test the client path on a phone. Check how many steps it takes to choose a service, select a time and pay a deposit. The best feature list is irrelevant if regular clients do not finish the booking.
When BabaCoiffure is a good fit
BabaCoiffure suits an independent hair professional who wants to publish services and availability, accept bookings and request a deposit without paying for a larger salon suite. It is not the strongest choice when an established marketplace is your main source of new clients or when you need mature multi-location salon operations.
Free is a starting option with limits. For deposits and travel fees, check Premium on the pricing page. Review the applicable payment terms and fees before enabling payments.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free booking app for independent hair stylists?
BabaCoiffure Free includes a public profile, messaging and an activity dashboard, with limits on services and bookings. Deposits and travel fees require Premium. Check the current plans before choosing.
How do I compare the real cost of a booking app?
Compare subscription, taxes, extra team members, payment processing, messages and any marketplace fees for the same country and usage. Planity and Treatwell do not publish one directly comparable subscription price, so this guide does not name a universal cheapest option.
Do I need a marketplace or only a booking link?
Choose a marketplace if discovery is a priority. A focused booking profile may be enough when most clients already find you through referrals or social media.
How this comparison was prepared
BabaCoiffure publishes this guide and sells one of the apps included. The editorial team consulted official French-market pricing pages and partner terms on 29 October 2026. BabaCoiffure information was checked against its Free and Premium plans and documentation.
This is a desk-research comparison, not a full test of the five apps. We have not measured their usability or business results. Quote-only prices, unverified features and acquisition outcomes need confirmation from each provider.
Do clients contact you on Instagram? Prepare a clear booking link while keeping useful conversations in DMs.