vs GlossGenius

GlossGenius Alternative: DoTheBeauty vs GlossGenius for Salons

Your own website. Lower fees. No US-only lock-in.

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Where GlossGenius Falls Short

GlossGenius is only available in the United States

If you run a salon in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, or anywhere outside the US, GlossGenius simply isn't available to you. The platform's payment processing, banking, and business operations are built exclusively for the American market — full stop.

2.6% transaction fee on every card payment

GlossGenius charges 2.6% on all card payments — tap, chip, swipe, and online. On $5,000/month in card revenue, that's $130 in processing fees every single month, on top of your subscription. The fee never goes down no matter how long you've been a customer.

No website — just a booking page on their subdomain

GlossGenius gives you a booking page at a GlossGenius subdomain. There is no website builder, no custom domain, and no way to build your Google presence around your own URL. Your salon's online identity lives on GlossGenius's property, not yours.

$299 card reader required for in-person payments

To accept card payments in your salon, you must buy GlossGenius's proprietary Pro Reader at $299. This is a one-time cost on top of your subscription and the ongoing 2.6% transaction fee — and you're locked to their hardware ecosystem.

Payroll is a costly extra

GlossGenius charges $40/month plus $6 per employee just for payroll — that's $70/month for a five-person team, or $840/year extra. For a feature that most modern platforms bundle in, this add-on cost catches many salon owners off guard.

Feature Comparison

FeatureGlossGeniusDoTheBeauty
Monthly base fee$24–$48/mo (annual) or $28–$56/mo (monthly)From €19.95/mo flat
Transaction fee on card payments2.6% on every card payment1% (Growth) or 0.5% (Pro)
Commission on bookingsNone — flat subscription model0% — always
AI website builderNo — booking page onlyYes — full salon website in 10 minutes
Custom domainNot available — subdomain onlyYes — included on Growth and Pro plans
International availabilityUnited States onlyEU, Indonesia — and growing
Payment processorGlossGenius Payments only — locked inStripe (your own account)
Online bookingYes — via their booking page24/7 on your own page
Client CRMYes — includedFull database with history and notes
Card reader hardware requiredGlossGenius Pro Reader — $299 one-timeAny Stripe-compatible terminal
Staff managementUp to 9 (Gold) or unlimited (Platinum at $148+/mo)Up to 8 (Growth) or unlimited (Pro)
Free trial14 days, no card required7 days

Pricing Comparison

GlossGenius

$24–$48/mo (annual) or $28–$56/mo (monthly) + 2.6% card fee

Monthly subscription + 2.6% transaction fee on all card payments

  • ✗ 2.6% transaction fee on every card payment — no exceptions
  • ✗ $24/mo Standard or $48/mo Gold (annual billing); $28/$56 monthly
  • ✗ $299 one-time card reader purchase required for in-person payments
  • ✗ Payroll add-on: $40/mo + $6 per employee — not bundled in any plan
  • ✗ No website builder — booking page only on their subdomain
  • ✗ US-only — unavailable in the UK, EU, Australia, or anywhere international

DoTheBeauty

Starter€19.95/mo
Growth€49/mo
Pro€79/mo
  • ✓ 0% commission, ever
  • ✓ No hidden fees
  • ✓ Cancel anytime
  • ✓ 7-day free trial
Industry-first

One Booking. Multiple Stylists.

Your client wants a cut with Bonnie and a keratin treatment with Lisa. Traditional booking systems make them book twice. DoTheBeauty handles it in one seamless flow.

Traditional BookingDay View
B Bonnie
L Lisa
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
Emma J.
Cut + Keratin
10:00 – 12:30 · 2h 30m
Idle
No bookings
1 client · 2h 30m · Lisa idle
With DoTheBeautyDay View
B Bonnie
L Lisa
10:00
10:30
11:00
11:30
12:00
12:30
Emma J.
Cut & Colour
10:00 – 10:30
Sarah K.
Cut & Blowdry
11:00 – 12:30 · added
Emma J.
Keratin Treatment
10:30 – 12:00 · with Lisa
2 clients · same window · linked

Same 2.5 hours. Traditional booking: one client, one stylist blocked. DoTheBeauty: Emma's full multi-stylist appointment AND a second client in Bonnie's freed time.

See how mixed bookings work

Your own website. Half the transaction fees. Available where you are.

GlossGenius is a well-designed platform for US-based solo stylists who want a clean mobile app. But it comes with a 2.6% fee on every card payment, no website builder, no custom domain, and a $299 hardware purchase just to get started — and it's only available in the United States. DoTheBeauty takes a different approach: one flat monthly fee, transaction rates from 1% (Growth) or 0.5% (Pro), and an AI website builder that gets your salon on Google with your own domain in under 10 minutes. No proprietary hardware. No marketplace dependency. No US-only restrictions. If you've been checking what GlossGenius actually costs, see our <a href="/blog/glossgenius-pricing-salon-cost-breakdown">full GlossGenius pricing breakdown</a> — the subscription fee is just the beginning. Want to compare your options across the market? Read our <a href="/blog/best-salon-booking-system">guide to the best salon booking systems</a> for a side-by-side of all the major platforms. Ready to try a platform built around what you actually own? <a href="/signup">Start your 7-day free trial</a> or <a href="/pricing">see our pricing</a> to compare plans. --- **See also:** - [Fresha vs DoTheBeauty](/compare/fresha-alternative) — escape the 20% new client commission - [Booksy vs DoTheBeauty](/compare/booksy-alternative) — ditch the Boost marketplace fee - [Treatwell vs DoTheBeauty](/compare/treatwell-alternative) — cut the 35% commission and own your clients

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a GlossGenius alternative available outside the US?
Yes. GlossGenius only operates in the United States, so salons in the UK, EU, Australia, Indonesia, or anywhere else need an alternative. DoTheBeauty is built for EU and Indonesian salons and includes an AI website builder, online booking, client management, and Stripe payments — all at a flat monthly fee with 0% booking commission.
How does DoTheBeauty compare to GlossGenius on fees?
GlossGenius charges 2.6% on every card payment plus the monthly subscription. DoTheBeauty charges 1% on card payments (Growth plan) or 0.5% (Pro plan) — roughly half the rate. On €5,000/month in card revenue, that's a difference of €75–€105/month in processing fees alone.
Does DoTheBeauty include a website builder?
Yes — all DoTheBeauty plans include the AI website builder. Answer 9 questions and get a professional salon website with copy, design, and booking integration in about 10 minutes. The Growth plan adds a custom domain so your site lives at yoursalon.com — something GlossGenius doesn't offer.
Can I use my own payment processor with DoTheBeauty?
Yes. DoTheBeauty integrates directly with Stripe, so you set up your own Stripe account and control your payouts. GlossGenius requires you to use their proprietary payment system at 2.6% per transaction — you have no choice and no ability to negotiate a lower rate.
Do I need to buy special hardware to use DoTheBeauty?
No proprietary hardware purchase is required. DoTheBeauty works with any Stripe-compatible card terminal. GlossGenius requires their Pro Reader at $299 for in-person card acceptance.
Does DoTheBeauty charge commission on bookings?
Never. Every DoTheBeauty plan is 0% commission on bookings, forever. You pay a flat monthly fee and keep 100% of your booking revenue. The only payment-related fee is the Stripe transaction rate (1% or 0.5% depending on your plan).
Is there a free trial for DoTheBeauty?
Yes — DoTheBeauty offers a 7-day free trial on all plans. A credit card is required to start. You can build your website, add services and staff, and take test bookings before you're charged anything.

Ready to switch?

Build your salon website in 10 minutes. 0% commission.

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