Phorest and Salon Manager both support professional salon operations, but their packages, pricing disclosure and feature tiers differ. Salon Manager is the upgraded cloud-based evolution of iSalon. Compare current functionality, onboarding, training, client data access and a complete quote rather than historical product descriptions.
WHY SALONS CHOOSE SALON MANAGER
Compare today’s software, not old iSalon claims. Look closely at feature tiers, data access and total costs.
CURRENT CAPABILITIES
Salon Manager includes digital consultation forms from Essentials, plus waiting lists and team reporting. Compare actual functions, not branded labels.
CLEARER STARTING POINT
Essentials starts at £29 + VAT a month, with £199 + VAT setup. Online booking is optional or included from Premium.
YOUR CLIENT RECORDS
Customers could export their own data from iSalon. We charge only if asked to carry out the export as a professional service.
THE DECISION THAT MATTERS
Compare today’s capabilities and documented policies, not legacy claims.
01
May describe an older product
02
Consultation forms, waiting lists and more
03
Self-service export available
Ask for a written quote and check which features and services are included.
THE CRITICAL QUESTION WITH PHOREST
Phorest publishes quote-based plans. Its Grow tier adds pre-send consultation forms, reputation management and online gift vouchers; other tools appear in further tiers. Ask which package includes everything your team needs.
ASK BEFORE YOU BUY
Are we comparing the same features, not just the headline tier?
THE SALON MANAGER APPROACH
Salon Manager includes consultation forms in Essentials. Online booking is available as an add-on or included from Premium. Our published starting prices make the initial comparison straightforward.
FEATURE AND COST EQUIVALENCE
Features may have different names and package rules. This compares practical capabilities, not marketing labels.
| Compare the detail | Phorest | Salon Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Product being compared | Phorest’s historic page compares against iSalon; that does not describe all present Salon Manager features. | Salon Manager is the upgraded cloud-based evolution of iSalon. |
| Published subscription price | UK plans generally require a quotation; targeted at salons with 3+ staff. | Essentials from £29 + VAT/month for solo stylists; published team pricing. |
| Online booking | Included in Starter with deposits. | Optional in Essentials; included from Premium (from £49 + VAT/month). |
| Consultation forms | In-salon digital consultation options; pre-send forms listed within Grow or as plan-specific functionality. | Digital consultation forms included in every package, including Essentials. |
| Waiting list | Waiting list appears in Phorest feature comparison. | Waiting list available. |
| Marketing | Automated marketing in Starter; Reconnect and reputation tools in Grow. | Automated marketing and rebooking tools; check the campaign types required. |
| Staff and devices | Advertises unlimited staff and devices within its plans. | Unlimited devices; pricing depends on team size and package. |
| SMS price | UK pricing table shows 9.5p Starter, 8.2p Grow and 7p Ultimate (verify quote). | SMS priced at 6p–8p, bundles or pay-as-you-go. |
| Training and local support | Local support advertised Mon–Sat; Phorest Academy online training listed in Grow. | UK-based human support and ongoing training. |
| Exporting client data | Ask for actual export scope, format and charges on migration. | Customers can export their own data; team-run exports are a chargeable service. |
| Contract and switching | Check cancellation conditions and time spent migrating, configuring and retraining. | 12-month agreement; 30 days’ notice before the term ends. Setup £199 + VAT. |
| Card processing | Compare effective fees against your actual card mix, including fixed charges and online payments. | SalonPay rates from 0.3%, subject to individual quote; net or gross settlement. |
Prices and features vary by package, eligibility, location and quotation. Competitor information checked 24 October 2026. All illustrative commission figures exclude VAT, payment fees and service costs.
Check provider information: Official source 1 · Official source 2
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Customers using iSalon could export their own data. A charge applied if they asked our team to carry out an export as a professional service. That is not the same as charging to unlock customer records.
Phorest’s iSalon comparison should not be mistaken for a current assessment of Salon Manager’s capabilities.
WHY CUSTOMERS CHOOSE SALON MANAGER
Flexible monthly subscriptions elsewhere can be useful. But migrating data, training staff and changing routines still take time. Check the whole investment before you decide.
DETAILS WORTH CHECKING
Salon Manager Essentials starts at £29 + VAT monthly for a solo stylist, with £199 + VAT setup and a 12-month agreement. A 30-day notice period applies before the end of the term. Online bookings are optional in Essentials and included from Premium (from £49 + VAT per month). Premium Plus (from £99 + VAT per month) includes online vouchers. SMS 6p–8p each. SalonPay card rates are individually quoted from 0.3%.
Competitor terms can change. Ask providers to itemise the exact package, optional services, processing charges and cancellation conditions.
CLEAR ANSWERS
Straight answers about features, pricing and terms. Confirm current provider offers before signing.
Yes. Salon Manager is the upgraded cloud-based evolution of iSalon. Comparisons referring only to older iSalon arrangements may not describe the current Salon Manager platform.
Yes. Digital consultation forms are included in every Salon Manager package, including Essentials. Check which competitor tier contains the equivalent feature when comparing quotes.
Yes. Salon Manager offers waiting lists, team dashboards, performance reporting and commission tools. A feature can exist under a different name from a competitor’s branded version.
Yes. Customers have always been able to export their own data. Salon Manager charges for a professional service only where a customer asks its team to carry out an export on their behalf.
Salon Manager Essentials starts at £29 + VAT per month and has a £199 + VAT setup fee. Phorest provides UK pricing by quotation; ask for a like-for-like proposal covering the required tier, team, payments and implementation.
Ask about migration, data portability, staff training, client communication, onboarding time, payment fees and cancellation conditions. The effort of changing systems matters even when a subscription is flexible.
