Barbershops don't all run the same way. Some are fully booked a week out. Some live on walk-ins and a line out the door on Saturday. Many do both, and many mix commission barbers with booth renters. Most barbershop apps are built for one of those shops, so the right pick depends on which one is yours.
This guide covers what to look for, compares the main tools with real prices for a 4-chair shop, and helps you choose.
What barbershop software needs to do
Handle walk-ins, not just appointments
If walk-ins are a big part of your day, you need a walk-in line: clients check in when they arrive, see where they are in line, and get the next free barber or the barber they asked for. Most booking apps only have a waitlist that fills cancelled appointments, which isn't the same thing. (More in our guide to barbershop check-in systems and walk-in queues.)
Keep turn order fair
When walk-ins come in, who gets the next one? A shared turn list ends arguments over "whose turn is it" and stops the same barber from always getting the quick cuts.
Mix walk-ins with booked clients
A barber with a 2 pm appointment shouldn't pick up a walk-in at 1:50. The software should know who's booked and who's free right now.
Fit how you pay barbers
- Commission shops need commission tracking at checkout, ideally with different rates per barber or service. (See how to track barber commissions without spreadsheets.)
- Booth-rent shops need each barber to have their own book and payouts, and sometimes rent tracking. (See how much to charge for booth rent.)
Text reminders that don't cost extra
Reminders cut no-shows for booked clients. Check whether texts are included or charged per message.
Watch the new-client fees
Several marketplaces take a cut of a new client's first visit. On a $40 cut that's small, but it adds up when most new clients come through the app.
Barbershop software compared
Monthly prices for a shop with 4 barbers, from each company's published pricing unless noted.
| Software | Walk-in queue | Commissions | Booth rent payouts | New-client fee | 4 barbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SupaDay Grow | Yes (QR check-in + turn tracker) | Yes | No | None | $56/mo |
| Booksy | Waitlist (staff adds walk-ins) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 30% of first visit with Boost (max $100) | ~$90/mo |
| Squire | Waitlist on Executive | Executive | Rent collection on Executive | $1–$3 per booking charged to clients (reported) | $50–$150/mo |
| theCut | No | Not found | Yes | $10 per new client on free plan | $0–$100/mo, often paid by barbers |
| Square Appointments | Waitlist on Plus | Premium ($149) | No | None | $0–$149/mo |
| Vagaro | In-shop check-in app +$10/mo | Add-on | Rent collection add-on | Not found | ~$60/mo + add-ons |
| Fresha | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 20% of first visit (min $6) | ~$60/mo |
| GlossGenius Gold | Cancellation waitlist | Yes | Yes | None | $48/mo (billed yearly) |
Squire's figures come from review sites, because Squire doesn't publish pricing openly. Fresha's per-barber price is also from a review site.
SupaDay: built for walk-ins
SupaDay is built around the walk-in line. Clients scan a QR code at the door or tap a tablet to check in, pick a favorite barber or join the line for whoever is free next, and your team sees the line on a shared screen. A fair turn tracker handles who's up, with breaks and half turns. Online booking, commission tracking, checkout with tips, and 500 text reminders a month are included on Grow.
Best for: walk-in-heavy and mixed shops on commission. Watch out for: check-in happens at the shop, not from home, and SupaDay doesn't handle booth-rent collection or separate payouts for each barber.
Booksy: the barber marketplace
Booksy is one of the best-known booking apps for barbers, with a large consumer marketplace. It's $29.99 a month plus $20 for each additional barber. Its Boost program brings in new clients for 30% of their first visit, capped at $100.
Best for: appointment-heavy shops that want marketplace exposure. Watch out for: Boost fees on new clients, and walk-ins handled only by adding them to a waitlist by hand.
Squire: premium shops with a branded app
Squire is aimed at larger, premium barbershops, with plans priced per shop and a branded client app. The waitlist, commission management and rent collection are reported on its Executive plan.
Best for: established, appointment-driven shops that want their own branded app. Watch out for: pricing isn't published openly, and reviewers report a per-booking fee charged to clients.
theCut: booth renters running their own book
On theCut, each barber chooses Free (with a $10 fee per new client found through the app) or Pro at $25 a month, and the owner's shop plan is free. Owners can track booth rent and send reminders, and each barber gets their own payouts.
Best for: booth-rent shops where every barber manages their own clients. Watch out for: no walk-in queue, and commission tracking wasn't found.
Square Appointments: if you already use Square
Square's free plan covers booking and payments with unlimited barber calendars. Plus ($49) adds a waitlist and texts, and Premium ($149) adds commission tracking. (Full review: is Square Appointments good for salons.)
Best for: shops already using Square for payments and retail. Watch out for: no walk-in check-in, and commissions only on Premium.
Vagaro: lots of add-ons
Vagaro is $30 a month plus $10 per barber calendar. Its Check-In app adds in-shop QR check-in for $10 a month, and payroll, rent collection and text marketing are separate add-ons.
Best for: mixed shops that want commission or rent tools and an in-shop check-in tablet. Watch out for: the add-ons push the real price well above the starting one.
Fresha: low price, fee on new clients
Fresha charges per barber and takes 20% (minimum $6) of a new client's first booking from its marketplace. Each barber gets 20 free messages a month.
Best for: budget appointment shops that want marketplace bookings. Watch out for: no walk-in queue, and texts beyond the free allowance cost extra.
GlossGenius: hybrid commission and booth rent
GlossGenius Gold ($48 a month billed yearly, up to 9 staff) includes commissions, a cancellation waitlist and 2,500 text credits, and booth renters get their own payout accounts on every plan. Card processing is a flat 2.6%.
Best for: shops with a mix of commission barbers and booth renters. Watch out for: the waitlist fills cancellations rather than running a walk-in line.
How to choose
- Mostly walk-ins: you need a walk-in queue, self check-in and fair turn order. Most booking apps don't have this, so check before you sign up.
- Mostly appointments: Booksy, Squire, Square and Fresha are all strong at booking. Compare new-client fees if the marketplace is where your new clients come from.
- Booth-rent shop: theCut or GlossGenius, where each barber gets their own payouts.
- Commission shop: pick a tool that calculates commission at checkout, so you're not doing it by hand on payday.
- Mix of everything: list your must-haves (walk-ins, commissions or rent, texts) and price the plan that actually includes all of them, not the starting plan.
Test it on a busy Saturday during a free trial. A walk-in line looks simple in a demo and very different with eight people waiting.
The bottom line
Most barbershop software is built for appointments. That's fine if your book is full a week out, and Booksy, Squire and Square all do it well. If walk-ins are a big part of your day, look for a real walk-in line and fair turn order, because most apps only offer a cancellation waitlist. SupaDay covers walk-ins, booking, commissions and reminders for a 4-chair shop at $56 a month. See how SupaDay works for barbershops →
