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Studioloop vs Phorest

The premium salon CRM with quote-based pricing. Strong marketing tools behind a sales call.

Flat pricing

Per location, cap at $249/mo

Branded app + loyalty

Built-in, not an add-on

No marketplace tax

No feature gating

The short version

Phorest is a capable salon platform with strong CRM and marketing, but pricing requires a sales call and varies by configuration. StudioLoop offers transparent pricing you can see before you commit.

Feature by feature

How they compare

15 metrics that matter when choosing salon software. Every row shows what you get with Studioloop versus Phorest.

01Starting price & pricing model

Studioloop

$99/mo flat, per location. Price caps at $249/mo for 4+ locations. Every feature included.

Phorest

Quote-based pricing. No public price page. Requires a sales call.

02Payment processing & POS

Studioloop

Stripe-powered. Cards, wallets, and pay-later where available. Direct deposits to your bank.

Phorest

PhorestPay integrated payment processing.

03Online booking options

Studioloop

Embeddable widget with 6 themes. Guest-first booking (no login required). QR codes and link sharing.

Phorest

Online booking with website widget and booking tools.

04Client acquisition / marketplace

Studioloop

No marketplace. Clients book through your channels only. No competitor listings inside the app.

Phorest

No marketplace. Retention and owned-channel focus.

05Deposits & prepayments

Studioloop

Configurable per service. Full prepay or percentage deposits. Card on file.

Phorest

Deposits supported via payment policies. Configuration varies.

06Cancellation & no-show fees

Studioloop

Card-on-file enforcement. Automated no-show and late cancellation fees.

Phorest

Included in cancellation policies toolkit.

07Reminders & messaging

Studioloop

Push notifications, email, and SMS reminders included in every plan, subject to fair use and anti-abuse protections.

Phorest

Strong SMS and email communications included.

08Marketing toolkit

Studioloop

Built-in loyalty program with points and tiers. Custom rewards. Branded app drives retention.

Phorest

A key differentiator. Deep CRM, marketing automation, and campaigns.

09Gift cards / packages / memberships

Studioloop

Gift cards (email, SMS, print), service packages, and memberships. All included.

Phorest

Included in retention and revenue tooling.

10Inventory + retail

Studioloop

Retail POS, inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and cash drawer management.

Phorest

Strong salon retail support. Inventory management included.

11Team tools

Studioloop

Staff scheduling, roles, permissions, automated commissions. No per-staff fees.

Phorest

Built for salons with front desk and teams.

12Multi-location support

Studioloop

Multi-location with shared clients, central reporting, and a price cap at $249/mo total.

Phorest

Supported for larger salon groups. Pricing varies by package.

13Reporting & analytics

Studioloop

Revenue analytics, staff performance, retention metrics, and booking insights.

Phorest

Advanced reporting with Health Check Dashboard.

14Integrations & API

Studioloop

Stripe Connect, embeddable booking widget, QR codes. API access.

Phorest

Shopify and social media integrations. Varies by region.

15Data ownership + migration + support

Studioloop

Free migration assistance. Full data export anytime. Email and chat support.

Phorest

Tailored setup and onboarding as part of sales process. Data export available.

Why salons switch

Common reasons salons move to Studioloop

01

No transparent pricing

Phorest requires a sales call to get pricing. You can not see what you will pay before committing. StudioLoop publishes pricing openly.

02

Sales-led buying process

Getting started with Phorest means demos, calls, and negotiation. StudioLoop lets you sign up and start in minutes.

03

Complex onboarding

Phorest's tailored setup can mean longer time to launch. StudioLoop's import-from-website approach gets you running quickly.

Who it's for

Which one is right for you?

Phorest is best for

Established salons (3+ staff) that prioritize CRM depth and marketing automation, and are comfortable with a sales-led buying process.

Studioloop is best for

Salons that want transparent pricing, fast self-serve setup, and all features included without going through a sales cycle.

Common questions

Studioloop vs Phorest FAQ

Is Phorest cheaper than StudioLoop?

Phorest does not publish pricing. You need a sales call to get a quote. StudioLoop is transparently priced at $99/mo per location with a cap at $249/mo. No surprises.

Does Phorest have a branded app?

Phorest offers a branded salon app on higher-tier plans (Elite). StudioLoop includes a branded iOS app in every plan.

Can I migrate from Phorest to StudioLoop?

Yes. Phorest supports data export. StudioLoop offers free migration assistance to transfer your client data and service information.

What is the main difference between StudioLoop and Phorest?

Phorest is a premium, sales-led platform with strong CRM and marketing. StudioLoop is a self-serve, transparent platform that includes all features at a flat rate with no sales calls required.

Ready to switch?

Try Studioloop

Flat-rate pricing. Every feature included. No marketplace. No per-staff fees. Free migration.

Early access opening soon