Simple Salon vs Acuity Scheduling
Scheduling Built for Salons, Not Every Service Business
Simple Salon goes beyond online booking with a full POS, stock management, marketing automation, and salon-specific reporting built for the beauty industry.
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Built-in POS for salons
Acuity has no point of sale. Simple Salon's POS takes Afterpay, ZipPay and your own processor.
Retail and back bar stock
Acuity has no stock control. Simple Salon tracks retail and back bar stock, and purchase orders.
40+ salon reports
40+ salon reports: rebooking rates, revenue breakdowns, staff KPIs and benchmarking, not generic booking counts.
Why Salon Owners Are Considering an Acuity Scheduling Alternative
Simple Salon is an Acuity Scheduling alternative built around how salons actually run, not a general-purpose booking tool stretched to fit. Founded in 2009, it brings POS, inventory, staff commissions, and automated SMS and email marketing into one platform shaped around the beauty industry. Acuity Scheduling is a general-purpose online booking tool used by all kinds of service businesses, from coaches and therapists to tutors and personal trainers.
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It handles basic appointment booking, but it was never built for salons. There is no POS, no inventory, no staff commissions, and no salon-specific marketing automation. For a salon that needs software shaped around how the beauty industry actually runs, an Acuity Scheduling alternative closes those gaps.
The real cost: Acuity Scheduling vs Simple Salon
| Feature / Cost | Simple Salon | Acuity Scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | A$25/mo | USD $16/mo |
| Designed for salons | Yes, salon-specific | No, general purpose |
| POS / Cash register | Yes | No |
| Inventory management | Yes | No |
| Staff commissions | Yes | No |
| Salon-specific reporting | 40+ reports (rebooking, KPI, revenue, staff) | No |
| Marketing automation | Smart Send: rebook, win-back, birthday, follow-up | No salon-specific automation |
| Memberships / packages | Yes | Limited |
| Loyalty points | Yes | No |
| Gift vouchers | Yes | Limited |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Bottom line | Built for salons, core features included, from A$25/mo | General scheduling tool, salon features cost extra |
Sources: acuityscheduling.com/pricing and simplesalon.com, Acuity checked April 2026, Simple Salon checked 23 August 2026. Acuity Scheduling prices shown in USD; Simple Salon prices in AUD ex GST.
A POS That Handles How Salons Actually Take Payment
Acuity Scheduling has no built-in point of sale. In a salon, checkout is about more than ringing up a booking fee. You sell retail products, split payments, handle tips, redeem gift vouchers and loyalty, and offer buy now pay later. Simple Salon includes a full POS that supports Afterpay, ZipPay, and your own payment processor, and it links straight to the appointment so taking payment is one quick step.
Inventory Management for Retail and Back-Bar
Acuity has no inventory or stock control. Simple Salon tracks stock for both retail shelves and back bar use, so you can see what is selling, reorder before you run out, and keep purchase orders in the same system. That same view gives you a true cost of service, something a general scheduling tool cannot show you.
Salon-Specific Reporting, Not Generic Booking Counts
A tool built for every kind of service business reports on generic booking counts. Simple Salon gives you more than 40 reports made for salons, covering rebooking rates, service revenue breakdowns, staff KPIs, product performance, and benchmarking. These are the numbers that show how the business is really doing and where to put your attention next.
Marketing Automation That Knows the Salon Client Lifecycle
Smart Send runs the campaigns that keep salon clients coming back. It sends rebook reminders at the right point after an appointment, win back messages to clients who have gone quiet, birthday offers, and follow up notes after a visit. Acuity has no equivalent built for the way salon clients move through their lifecycle, so keeping them coming back is left to you to chase by hand.
Fewer Wasted Gaps Between Your Appointments
When a client books online, Simple Salon can offer them the times right beside your existing appointments, either straight after one finishes or just before the next one starts. Your day then stays in bigger working blocks instead of breaking up into short gaps that are too small to fill.
Your data is yours, always
Some providers make it hard to leave, locking your client list and history behind a paywall, charging you to export your own data, or tying you into long contracts and other strange rules. We donโt play those games. With Simple Salon your clients, bookings and reports are always yours: export everything anytime, at no cost, with no lock-in. If you ever move on, you take it all with you.
Switching
Moving from Acuity Scheduling takes a day, not a month
1
Export your data
Download your clients, services and history from Acuity Scheduling. We’ll show you exactly where the buttons are.
2
We import it for you
Our team helps bring your client list and appointments across. Once we have your files, most salons are up and running within a day.
3
Keep taking bookings
Share your new booking link on your socials and your book keeps filling, now with no commission on new clients.
Try a Scheduling Tool Made for Salons
Online booking is only the start. As an alternative to Acuity Scheduling, Simple Salon also runs your POS, stock, marketing, and reporting in one place.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can Acuity Scheduling handle salon POS and retail sales?
Acuity Scheduling does not include a POS system. Simple Salon includes a full POS with support for retail product sales, gift vouchers, loyalty redemption, and BNPL options.
Does Simple Salon include online booking like Acuity?
Yes. Simple Salon supports online booking through your own booking page, Reserve with Google, and Facebook and Instagram, giving clients multiple ways to book directly with you.
What reporting does Simple Salon include for salons?
Simple Salon includes 40+ salon-specific reports covering rebooking rates, revenue analysis, service performance, staff KPIs, and benchmarking.
Is Simple Salon only for large salons?
No. Simple Salon suits businesses from solo operators through to multi-location groups. The Starter plan at A$25/mo suits smaller operations.
Does Simple Salon integrate with accounting software?
Yes. Simple Salon integrates with Xero and QuickBooks.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Both Acuity Scheduling and Simple Salon offer free trials.