vs phorest

The Best Phorest Alternative for Growing Salons in 2026

Transparent pricing. No sales call. Your own salon website — live in 10 minutes.

Where phorest Falls Short

No transparent pricing — every plan is 'request a quote'

Phorest does not publish any prices on its website. Every one of its four plans — Starter, Grow, Ultimate, and Elite — requires you to book a demo call before you learn what you'll pay. Industry reports and reviews suggest entry pricing starts around £100–£150/month for a typical team. DoTheBeauty lists its prices clearly: Starter from €19.95/month, Growth €49/month, Pro €79/month. You know what you're paying before you sign a thing.

Mandatory demo call — no self-serve signup

You can't start a trial without going through Phorest's sales team. Every plan requires you to request a quote or book a demo. That means at least one or two calls, a walkthrough, and a waiting period before you can try the software. DoTheBeauty has a 7-day free trial you can start right now — answer 9 questions, get your AI website, and be taking bookings today.

Built for 3+ staff — solo stylists and micro-salons need not apply

Phorest's own pricing page says its plans are 'great for salons & clinics with 3+ staff.' If you're a solo stylist, a two-person nail studio, or a mobile beauty therapist, Phorest is simply not designed for you. DoTheBeauty's Starter plan covers up to 2 staff from €19.95/month, Growth covers up to 8, and Pro is unlimited — no minimum team size.

Gift voucher commission on online sales

Phorest's Grow plan unlocks online gift voucher sales — but Phorest takes a percentage of every voucher sold through their platform. That means every time a client buys a voucher as a gift, a cut goes to Phorest on top of your monthly fee. DoTheBeauty charges a flat monthly fee with 0% commission on all revenue streams.

No AI website builder — you still need a separate site

Phorest is a salon management system, not a website platform. It gives you an online booking widget you can embed into an existing website — but you still need to build and host that website yourself, pay for the domain, write the copy, and manage the SEO. DoTheBeauty builds your entire professional salon website in 10 minutes with AI: copy, design, booking integration, and SEO all in one place.

Feature Comparison

FeaturephorestDoTheBeauty
Transparent public pricingNo — all plans require a custom demo/quoteYes — Starter €19.95, Growth €49, Pro €79/mo
Self-serve signup (no sales call)No — demo call required for all plansYes — 7-day free trial, start today
AI salon website builderNo — booking widget only; separate website neededYes — 9 questions, live in 10 minutes
Custom domain includedNo — you host your own website separatelyYes — on Growth and Pro plans
Solo stylists & 1–2 person teamsNot the target — 'great for 3+ staff'Yes — Starter plan from €19.95/mo
Commission on bookings or vouchersCommission on online gift vouchers (Grow plan+)0% — always, on all plans
Monthly fee rangeQuote-based; reported £100–£150+/mo for typical teamsFrom €19.95 — published on website
Mixed bookings (multi-stylist, one appointment)NoYes — unique DoTheBeauty feature
24/7 online bookingVia embeddable widget or Phorest marketplaceVia your own website, no client app needed
Client CRM & appointment managementFull — client cards, history, loyalty programmeFull — history, notes, search, walk-ins

Pricing Comparison

Phorest

Not publicly listed. Industry reports suggest £100–£150+/mo for a typical multi-staff salon.

Quote-based subscription — no public pricing. All plans require a demo call.

  • No pricing published — must request a quote to find out the cost
  • Mandatory demo/sales call before any trial access
  • Minimum 3 staff recommended — not designed for solo or small teams
  • Commission charged on online gift vouchers (Grow plan and above)
  • No own website included — you need a separate hosting solution

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.

Phorest is enterprise software. DoTheBeauty is built for every salon.

<p>Phorest is genuinely impressive salon management software. Its POS system, marketing automation, consultation forms, and loyalty programmes are well-regarded — particularly among salons with 5–20 staff who need deep operational tools and a dedicated success manager. If that's your world, Phorest is worth exploring.</p> <p>But if you're a growing independent salon, a two-person nail studio, or a stylist who finally wants a professional website without a month-long sales process, Phorest puts obstacles in your way before you even start. You can't see the price. You can't sign up without a call. And once you're in, you still need to build your own website separately — Phorest only gives you a booking widget.</p> <p>DoTheBeauty is the opposite: pricing is on the page, the trial starts immediately, and your entire salon website — including online booking, SEO, custom design, and your own domain — is live in 10 minutes. No sales call, no mystery pricing, no separate hosting bill.</p> <p>For salons comparing options, our <a href="/blog/salon-management-software">salon management software guide</a> and <a href="/blog/best-salon-booking-system">best salon booking systems comparison</a> break down what features actually matter at each stage of growth.</p> <hr> <p><strong>See also:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="/compare/treatwell-alternative">Treatwell vs DoTheBeauty</a> — stop paying 35% commission to a marketplace</li> <li><a href="/compare/fresha-alternative">Fresha vs DoTheBeauty</a> — no hidden 20% new-client fee</li> <li><a href="/compare/booksy-alternative">Booksy vs DoTheBeauty</a> — flat pricing, no 30% Boost commission</li> </ul>

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Phorest and DoTheBeauty?
Phorest is a comprehensive salon management platform built for multi-staff salons, with a strong focus on POS, marketing automation, and loyalty programmes. It does not include a website builder and requires a demo call to access pricing. DoTheBeauty is a complete platform — AI website builder, 24/7 booking, client management, and billing — with transparent flat pricing from €19.95/month and a self-serve 7-day free trial. No sales call required.
How much does Phorest cost?
Phorest does not publish its pricing publicly. All four plans (Starter, Grow, Ultimate, Elite) require a demo call to receive a quote. Industry reviews and user reports suggest typical pricing starts around £100–£150/month for a small multi-staff salon, rising significantly for larger teams with marketing add-ons. DoTheBeauty publishes all prices on its pricing page: Starter €19.95/mo, Growth €49/mo, Pro €79/mo.
Does Phorest work for solo stylists or very small salons?
Phorest's own website describes its plans as 'great for salons & clinics with 3+ staff.' It is designed for teams, not for solo stylists or two-person operations. DoTheBeauty's Starter plan covers up to 2 staff from €19.95/month and is fully usable by a solo stylist or mobile therapist.
Does Phorest charge commission?
Phorest's base subscription does not charge booking commission. However, the Grow plan and above charge a commission on online gift vouchers sold through Phorest's platform. DoTheBeauty charges 0% commission on all plans — on bookings, products, and all revenue.
Can I try Phorest without a sales call?
No. Every Phorest plan requires you to book a demo or request a quote before you can access the software. There is no public self-serve trial. DoTheBeauty offers a 7-day free trial you can start right now — no call, no waiting, no credit card required to begin.

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