Simple Salon vs Shortcuts
Modern Salon Software Built for Where the Industry Is Going
Shortcuts has a long history in the industry, but its product development has stalled. Simple Salon offers a full, actively developed feature set: appointments, POS, marketing, reporting, memberships, and more.
No contracts · No card required · Cancel anytime
Shortcuts has no AI features
Shortcuts has no AI or machine learning features listed anywhere on its site, blog or changelog, as of April 2026. Every other major platform, including Fresha, Timely and Kitomba, has already begun integrating AI tooling.
40+ reports, no quote needed
Shortcuts Aire's reporting is described as basic, with deeper analytics through Fusion needing a quote-only engagement. Simple Salon's 40+ reports, including KPI dashboards, are included on the Pro and Max plans.
Automated reminders and win-backs
Shortcuts' marketing automation is limited in the Aire tier. Simple Salon's Smart Send automates appointment reminders, re-engagement campaigns for lapsed clients and birthday messages, running continuously once set up.
Why Salon Owners Are Switching From Shortcuts
Simple Salon is a Shortcuts alternative that focuses on modern, actively developed salon software rather than a legacy feature set. It pairs online bookings and POS with automated SMS and email marketing, memberships, loyalty and reporting, all on one flat monthly subscription with no lock-in contracts. Shortcuts Software is one of the longer-established names in salon management, with over 30 years in the market and a presence in 48 countries.
Read more
Its Aire product serves solo operators and small teams, while Fusion targets enterprise salons on a quote-only basis. Salon owners looking for a Shortcuts alternative typically point to a lack of product innovation: no AI features, limited marketing automation, and a recent changelog that has focused almost entirely on minor UI changes rather than meaningful new capabilities.
The real cost: Shortcuts vs Simple Salon
| Feature (AUD) | Simple Salon | Shortcuts |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | from A$25/mo (Starter) | A$0-$39/mo |
| Enterprise pricing | Max, A$55/operator/mo (public) | Fusion, quote only, no public pricing |
| Marketing automation | Smart Send: automated campaigns included | Limited |
| Reporting | 40+ reports incl. KPI dashboard and benchmarking | Basic |
| Multi-location | Yes, Dome (included) | Fusion only (quote required) |
| SMS reminders | 200/operator/mo on Pro, then top up with a PredictPro SMS subscription at a lower rate than pay-as-you-go. | Available |
| Memberships / Packages | Yes, included | Available |
| Gift vouchers | Yes, included | Available |
| Loyalty points | Yes, included | Available |
| Xero / QuickBooks integration | Yes, included | Available |
| BYO payment processor | Yes: Tyro, Stripe, Worldline, PIN, Mercury, KPay | Limited |
| BNPL | Afterpay, ZipPay | Limited |
| WhatsApp messaging | Yes, included | Not listed |
| Reserve with Google | Yes, included | Not listed |
| Mobile app | Yes (iOS + Android) | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Transparent pricing (all tiers) | Yes, all plans public | Aire only, Fusion is quote-only |
• Shortcuts Aire and Fusion product details: shortcutssoftware.com, verified 2026-04-30 • Simple Salon pricing: simplesalon.com/pricing, verified 23 August 2026, all prices AUD ex GST
Zero AI Features, the Only Major Platform with None
As of April 2026, Shortcuts has no AI or machine learning features listed anywhere on its website, blog, or changelog. No blog posts, press releases, or product updates mention AI. Every other major salon software platform, including Fresha (Nova AI, AI Receptionist, AI Distribution), Timely (Textie Bestie), and Kitomba (REACH.ai integration), has at least begun integrating AI tooling. For salon owners evaluating platforms for the next three to five years, the innovation trajectory matters.
40+ Reports vs Basic Analytics
Simple Salon includes over 40 reports covering KPI dashboards, staff performance benchmarking, product sales, client retention, appointment analysis, and more. Shortcuts Aire's reporting is described as basic, and deeper analytics through Fusion require a quote-only enterprise engagement. Simple Salon's reporting depth is included in the standard Pro and Max plans, no upgrade or sales call required.
Smart Send Marketing Automation: Set Up Once, Run Continuously
Simple Salon's Smart Send feature automates client communication: appointment reminders, re-engagement campaigns for lapsed clients, birthday messages, and more. Shortcuts' marketing automation capabilities are limited in the Aire tier, and there is no evidence of significant marketing automation development in recent releases. For salon owners who rely on consistent client communication to drive retention, this gap in capability is a practical consideration.
Enterprise Features Without a Hidden Price Tag
Shortcuts' multi-location and advanced features are gated to the Fusion plan, which has no public pricing. Getting a cost estimate requires a direct sales engagement. Simple Salon's multi-location capability, the Dome feature, is available on published plans, and the Max plan at A$55/operator/mo covers the full feature set with transparent pricing. There are no hidden tiers.
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 don’t 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 Shortcuts takes a day, not a month
1
Export your data
Download your clients, services and history from Shortcuts. 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.
Ready for Salon Software That Is Still Moving Forward?
Simple Salon's full feature set, including 40+ reports, Smart Send marketing, memberships, and multi-location management, is available to trial free today.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Shortcuts free? How does its pricing compare to Simple Salon?
Shortcuts Aire has a free entry tier and a paid tier up to $39/mo. Simple Salon starts at A$25/mo for the Starter plan. For operators needing the full feature set (marketing, reporting, multi-location, memberships), Simple Salon Pro at A$45/operator/mo and Shortcuts Fusion (quote-only, no public price) are the more relevant comparison. Simple Salon publishes all pricing publicly.
Does Shortcuts have AI features?
No. As of April 2026, Shortcuts has no AI or machine learning features across either its Aire or Fusion products. This is documented by the absence of any AI-related content on shortcutssoftware.com, its blog, and its public changelog.
What was the last major update Shortcuts released?
The most recently documented product update on the Shortcuts blog is a UI change to the appointment tip window, published in October 2025. No significant new features have been announced for 2026.
How does Simple Salon handle multi-location management?
Simple Salon includes the Dome feature for multi-location management, available on paid plans at published prices. Shortcuts' multi-location capability is only available through the Fusion enterprise plan, which requires a quote.
What payment processors does Simple Salon support?
Simple Salon supports Tyro, Stripe, Worldline, PIN Payments, Mercury, and KPay, plus BNPL options Afterpay and ZipPay. With this salon software, you choose the processor and negotiate your own rates, rather than being locked into a single provider.
Can I try Simple Salon before committing?
Yes, Simple Salon offers a free trial. You can explore this Shortcuts alternative and its full feature set before deciding.
Does Shortcuts require a long-term contract?
Shortcuts' established Fusion product is sold on long-term agreements. Reviewers commonly cite multi-year contracts with auto-renewal. Simple Salon has no fixed-term contract and no lock-in, and your data is exportable at any time.