Resources for independent salon & beauty pros
Guides, comparisons and industry pages to help you stop no-shows, take deposits, get paid faster and switch booking software without losing your clients.
By your trade
13Booking software for hair salons that protects your column from no-shows.
Deposit-backed online booking built for hair salons. A no-showed color or balayage slot is two to four empty hours you can never resell. Keptbookings protects e
ReadThe booking app for nail techs that makes no-shows pay.
Deposit-backed online booking built for nail techs. Long acrylic and gel sets have some of the highest no-show rates in beauty — each one is a wasted two-hour b
ReadA barber booking app that keeps your chair full and your clients yours.
Deposit-backed online booking built for barbers. Back-to-back chairs mean a single no-show ripples through your whole day. Keptbookings protects every slot — SM
ReadOnline booking for massage therapists, with deposit-backed no-show protection.
Deposit-backed online booking built for massage therapists. A no-showed 90-minute table session is the most expensive empty slot in your week. Keptbookings prot
ReadBooking software for estheticians that protects your treatment column.
Deposit-backed online booking built for estheticians. Facials and treatment series rely on rebooking — a missed appointment breaks the whole plan. Keptbookings
ReadBooking and deposits for tattoo artists that actually hold.
Deposit-backed online booking built for tattoo artists. You already know deposits are non-negotiable in tattooing — Keptbookings makes them automatic and imposs
ReadA booking app for lash techs with deposits built in.
Deposit-backed online booking built for lash techs. A full set is a two-hour booking — a no-show wipes out half your afternoon. Keptbookings protects every slot
ReadBooking and deposits for brow and microblading artists.
Deposit-backed online booking built for brow artists. Microblading slots are long and high-value — protect them with a deposit at booking. Keptbookings protects
ReadSpa booking software that keeps rooms full and payouts fast.
Deposit-backed online booking built for spas. Treatment rooms and therapist time are finite — empty slots cost you twice. Keptbookings protects every slot — SMS
ReadScheduling and deposit-backed booking for med spas.
Deposit-backed online booking built for med spas. A no-showed injectable or laser slot is one of the most expensive empty chairs in the industry. Keptbookings p
ReadA booking app for spray tan artists with deposit protection.
Deposit-backed online booking built for spray tan artists. Mobile and studio slots are easy to lose to last-minute cancellations. Keptbookings protects every sl
ReadBooking and deposits for permanent makeup artists.
Deposit-backed online booking built for PMU artists. PMU appointments are long and high-value — never run one without a deposit. Keptbookings protects every slo
ReadBooking software for waxing salons.
Deposit-backed online booking built for waxing salons. High-volume waxing books fill fast — protect every slot. Keptbookings protects every slot — SMS reminders
ReadCompare & switch
12The honest Fresha alternative
Looking for a Fresha alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Vagaro alternative
Looking for a Vagaro alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Booksy alternative
Looking for a Booksy alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest GlossGenius alternative
Looking for a GlossGenius alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Square Appointments alternative
Looking for a Square Appointments alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Acuity Scheduling alternative
Looking for a Acuity Scheduling alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Setmore alternative
Looking for a Setmore alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest StyleSeat alternative
Looking for a StyleSeat alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Schedulicity alternative
Looking for a Schedulicity alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Goldie alternative
Looking for a Goldie alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Mangomint alternative
Looking for a Mangomint alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadThe honest Phorest alternative
Looking for a Phorest alternative? Keptbookings gives you no-show protection, fast payouts and no commission on your own clients — one flat price.
ReadBuyer’s guides
8The best booking apps for nail techs (2026)
The best booking apps for nail techs in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadThe best booking apps for hair salons (2026)
The best booking apps for hair salons in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadThe best booking apps for barbers (2026)
The best booking apps for barbers in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadThe best booking apps for massage therapists (2026)
The best booking apps for massage therapists in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadThe best booking apps for estheticians (2026)
The best booking apps for estheticians in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadThe best booking apps for tattoo artists (2026)
The best booking apps for tattoo artists in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadThe best booking apps for lash techs (2026)
The best booking apps for lash techs in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadThe best booking apps for med spas (2026)
The best booking apps for med spas in 2026, compared on deposits, no-show protection, fees and payouts — so you keep more of your money.
ReadGuides & templates
6How to stop no-shows at your salon
A practical guide to stopping salon no-shows: deposits, card-on-file, reminder cadence, cancellation policies and the exact systems that make clients show up.
ReadHow to take deposits for appointments
How to take deposits for appointments the right way: how much to charge, when to collect, refund rules, and how to automate it so no booking slips through.
ReadA salon cancellation policy template that actually works
A free, copy-paste salon cancellation policy template — plus how to set your window, deposit and no-show fee so the policy actually protects your income.
ReadHow much do no-shows really cost you?
No-shows quietly drain thousands a year from independent beauty businesses. Here’s how to calculate your real cost — and how much deposits claw back.
ReadHow to reduce last-minute client cancellations
Last-minute cancellations are lost income. Learn the reminder cadence, policy windows and booking flow that cut cancellations without scaring clients off.
ReadAppointment reminder templates that get a reply
Free appointment reminder text and email templates for salons and beauty pros — confirmation, 24-hour, 2-hour and rebooking — with timing best practices.
ReadFeatures
6Online booking
A branded booking page your clients can use without creating an account — share it on Instagram, your site, or anywhere.
ReadDeposits & no-show protection
Take a deposit or hold a card at booking, and auto-charge no-shows per your policy — protection that clients can't dodge.
ReadSMS & email reminders
Automatic confirmation and reminder messages over SMS and email, included — with delivery tracking so nothing fails silently.
ReadCalendar & scheduling
Day, week and full month views with per-service durations, buffers and per-provider hours — built to replace your paper diary.
ReadBranded booking page & widget
A hosted, brandable booking page on your own clean URL, plus an embeddable widget for your site and socials.
ReadPayments & fast payouts
Stripe-powered payments with a transparent flat rate and fast next-day payouts — never an arbitrary platform hold.
ReadWhy Keptbookings
4Stop losing money to no-shows.
Stop losing money to no-shows. Keptbookings validates a card or takes a deposit at booking and auto-charges no-shows per your policy — protection that actually holds.
ReadYour clients are yours.
Unlike marketplaces that take 20–30% on your bookings, Keptbookings never charges a commission on your own clients. Plus one-click export and free import.
ReadGet paid fast. We never freeze your money.
Get paid fast with next-day payouts, no surprise rolling reserves, and a real human to call if anything ever holds. Your money, when you earn it.
ReadOne flat price. Texts included.
No per-seat scaling, no à-la-carte add-on creep, no commission. Keptbookings is one flat monthly price per business with SMS reminders included.
ReadReady to keep your clients and your money?
49+ guides and comparisons — or just start free and see it for yourself.
No card to start · Free import of your clients