Simple vs Vagaro
Last reviewed: October 2026
Vagaro pricing starts at $30 a month list per location, plus $10 for each extra bookable calendar, and above $4,000 a month in card volume it charges 2.29% + 19¢ in person plus a $10 monthly fee. Simple costs $29 to $399 a month with no calendar fees and charges 2.19% on every transaction, in person and online, with no per-transaction fee.
Competitor pricing last reviewed October 2026. Published rates change; check the vendor's current pricing page: Vagaro pricing.
Key facts: Simple vs Vagaro
- Vagaro base price is $30/mo list per location ($23.99 promo for the first 6 months), plus $10/mo per additional calendar, up to 7. Published by Vagaro.
- Vagaro in-person rate: 2.6% + 10¢ under $4K/mo, or 2.29% + 19¢ plus $10/mo at $4K and up. Keyed is 3.5% + 19¢. Published by Vagaro.
- Forms, the online store, the website, text marketing, a branded app and payroll are each separate Vagaro add-ons.
- Simple is $29, $99 or $399 per month with 5, 10 or unlimited users, at 2.19% on every transaction, in person and online.
How does Vagaro pricing add up?
Vagaro's headline price is low, and then it stacks. The base plan covers one calendar. Each extra stylist or room calendar is $10 a month. Then each feature you want beyond booking and checkout is its own line on the bill.
| Vagaro item | Monthly cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Base plan, 1 calendar | $30 list ($23.99 promo for first 6 months) | Published by Vagaro |
| Each extra calendar (up to 7 total) | $10 | Published by Vagaro |
| Forms | $10 | Published by Vagaro |
| Online Shopping Cart | $10 | Published by Vagaro |
| MySite website | $20 | Published by Vagaro |
| Text marketing | From $20 | Published by Vagaro |
| Email marketing | Free up to 1,000 credits | Published by Vagaro |
| Branded app | $100/mo plus $100 setup | Published by Vagaro |
| Payroll | $34 + $5 per employee | Published by Vagaro |
| Simple Small / Medium / Large | $29 / $99 / $399; forms, online store and text marketing included; no branded app or payroll | Published by Simple |
What are Vagaro's card fees?
| Payment type | Vagaro | Simple |
|---|---|---|
| In person, under $4K/mo | 2.6% + 10¢ | 2.19% |
| In person, $4K/mo and up | 2.29% + 19¢, plus $10/mo | 2.19% |
| Keyed | 3.5% + 19¢ (published) | 2.19% |
| Card on file | Not published separately; reported at 3.5% + 19¢ | 2.19% |
| ACH | 1% | Not applicable |
| Instant payout | 1.75% | Not applicable |
| Chargeback | $7.50 | Not applicable |
| Mastercard location fee | $1.25/mo | None |
Vagaro figures published by Vagaro on its pricing page and help center, except the card-on-file rate, which is reported by third parties because Vagaro does not publish it.
The fixed 19¢ is the part salons miss. At an $85 ticket it adds about 0.22 points to every payment, so Vagaro's 2.29% behaves more like 2.51% in person.
What does a 5-stylist salon pay on Vagaro vs Simple?
A salon with 5 providers, $30,000 a month in card payments, an $85 average ticket, 85% paid in person and 15% by deposit or card on file.
Vagaro: $25,500 x 2.29% + 300 x $0.19 + $4,500 x 3.5% + 53 x $0.19 + $10 fee = $818.52/mo, plus 5 calendars $70 = $10,662/yr
Simple: $30,000 x 2.19% = $657/mo, plus Small $29 = $8,232/yr
Difference: about $2,430 a year
Add forms, the online store and text marketing on Vagaro: +$40/mo, or $480/yr more
Savings Calculator
Live math using verified August 2026 published rates.
Which of these do you use?
Simple
Processing only
$10,860
per year
Square
Processing + feature add-ons
$16,608
per year
Annual total: processing + on-toggle feature costs. Base software shown below.
Simple software
Square software
Free plan by default; $49/mo Plus and $149/mo Premium exist. Plus fee is counted above when a Plus-only feature is on.
You save
$5,748
per year vs Square
Processing
- In person 2.19%, no per-transaction fee$701/mo
- Online 2.19%, no per-transaction fee$175/mo
Software
- Simple Small plan: $29 × 1 location$29/mo
Processing
- Processing: in-person 2.60% + 15¢, online 3.30% + 30¢$1,384/mo
Not for sale at any price on Square
Estimates based on published August 2026 rates and typical published app pricing. Your actuals may vary.
Savings Calculator
Salon, spa and studio pricing, verified September 2026.
The rest is paid in person.
Which of these do you use?
Simple
Processing + plan
$8,232
per year
Vagaro
Processing + software + fees
$10,662
per year
Annual total: processing + software + add-ons, both sides.
Simple plan
Simple Small plan: $29/mo (5 users)
Vagaro plan
Vagaro: $30 + 4 extra calendars at $10 = $70/mo ($23.99 promo for first 6 months)
You save
$2,430
per year vs Vagaro
Processing
- Every card transaction, in person and online 2.19%, no per-transaction fee$657/mo
Software
- Simple Small plan: $29/mo (5 users)$29/mo
Processing
- In person 2.29% + 19¢ ($4K/mo and up)$641/mo
- Card on file and online 3.5% + 19¢ (reported; Vagaro publishes 3.5% + 19¢ for keyed)$168/mo
- Vagaro monthly processing fee at $4K and up$10/mo
Software
- Vagaro: $30 + 4 extra calendars at $10 = $70/mo ($23.99 promo for first 6 months)$70/mo
Vagaro, GlossGenius and Fresha figures are published by each vendor, verified September 2026. Boulevard card rates and Mindbody card rates are third-party estimates. Your actuals may vary.
Is Vagaro or GlossGenius cheaper?
For the same salon, GlossGenius Standard comes to $9,696 a year at a flat 2.6% plus $28, which is about $966 less than Vagaro. Vagaro's advantage is the consumer marketplace and a longer add-on catalog. See Simple vs GlossGenius for the full math.
Who is Vagaro best for?
- Vagaro is best for salons that want a consumer marketplace listing and are happy to build their setup from add-ons.
- Simple is best for salons that want forms, an online store, marketing, loyalty and memberships in one price.
Who should choose Vagaro instead?
- Salons using Vagaro's introductory promotion. The $23.99 base-price promotion for the first 6 months is below Simple Small's $29 software fee. Compare calendar fees and processing costs too.
- Salons that want a branded app or payroll built in. Vagaro sells both. Simple offers neither.
Vagaro contracts are cancel anytime, with no pause option and a $5 reactivation fee. Simple is also month to month. More options: best Vagaro alternatives and the salon software guide.
Frequently asked questions
Vagaro is $30/mo list per location ($23.99 promo for the first 6 months), plus $10/mo for each additional calendar up to 7. Add-ons like forms ($10), the online store ($10) and text marketing (from $20) cost extra.
Vagaro charges 2.6% + 10¢ in person under $4K a month, or 2.29% + 19¢ plus a $10 monthly fee at $4K and up. Keyed payments are 3.5% + 19¢.
Effectively, yes. Vagaro charges $10/mo per additional bookable calendar, and each stylist usually needs a calendar. Simple has no per-calendar fee.
For a 5-stylist salon doing $30,000 a month, GlossGenius Standard comes to about $9,696 a year and Vagaro about $10,662, so GlossGenius is cheaper on published rates.
Simple has no per-calendar fees and includes forms, the online store and marketing in its plan, at 2.19% on every transaction, in person and online. For a 5-stylist salon it costs about $2,430 a year less than Vagaro.
Stop paying per calendar
One plan, every stylist booked, 2.19% on every transaction, in person and online.