Booking
Updated Oct 2026
Best booking software for nail salons
Nail salons live on three things booking tools usually handle badly: variable service length, add-ons mid-appointment, and walk-ins that arrive in a burst.
The four requirements
- Variable duration per service — gel manicure 45 min, full set 90, nail art +20.
- Add-ons that can be added after booking — most tools force rebooking.
- Deposits for long services only — a 90-minute slot deserves protection, a 15-minute polish change does not.
- Walk-in queue that does not destroy the day — bursts at lunch and after 17:00.
How the main options compare
Fresha
Strong on salons, free core, per-service duration editing is clean. Add-ons work as separate services, which is workable but clutters the menu. Best for solo or two-technician salons that want zero fixed cost.
Booksy
Best if your problem is discovery rather than scheduling. Marketplace traffic matters for new salons. Pricing is per staff, so a five-technician shop feels it.
Square Appointments
Good if you already take card payments with Square. Service variations and add-ons are more flexible than most, but the free tier is effectively one calendar.
| Fresha | Booksy | Square | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Variable duration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Add-ons after booking | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit per service | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | Full core | No | 1 calendar |
The two settings that pay for themselves
Deposit only on long services
Charge a deposit on anything over 60 minutes. Short services stay frictionless, long slots stop disappearing. This single rule typically cuts lost hours by more than half.
Buffer time, not buffer anxiety
Set a 10-minute buffer after full sets and acrylics. It absorbs the overrun without pushing the whole day by an hour.
What I would do
New salon, one or two technicians: Fresha, deposits on 60+ minute services, 10-minute buffers.
Five technicians, empty weekday mornings: Booksy and treat the fee as marketing spend.