Salon Manager and Slick both provide salon management and online booking. Slick advertises unlimited appointment-reminder SMS, while other message types can have allowances or charges. Compare actual messaging use, team workflows, card fees and package inclusions before deciding which delivers better value.
WHY SALONS CHOOSE SALON MANAGER
Look beyond free reminders. Compare the full cost of communications, payments and the tools your team uses every day.
MORE THAN REMINDERS
Use client records, targeted campaigns and rebooking tools to drive return visits. Salon Manager SMS is charged transparently at 6p–8p per message.
THE COMPLETE COST
A low subscription or free reminder allowance is only part of the cost. SalonPay offers individually quoted processing rates from 0.3%.
BUILT AROUND SALONS
Get UK human support, ongoing education and a product roadmap shaped by customer requests.
THE DECISION THAT MATTERS
Compare the communications you actually send, not just the word “unlimited”.
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Included on eligible plans
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Monthly allowances and extras
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Check your package
Ask for a written quote and check which features and services are included.
THE CRITICAL QUESTION WITH SLICK
Slick distinguishes appointment reminders from marketing messages. Complimentary marketing allowances vary by plan; additional campaigns may be chargeable. Compare your real sending pattern, not one headline.
ASK BEFORE YOU BUY
How much would our full year of reminders, marketing and payments cost?
THE SALON MANAGER APPROACH
Salon Manager offers clear SMS costs of 6p to 8p per message, in bundles or pay as you go. You control how much to buy and when.
FEATURE AND COST EQUIVALENCE
Features may have different names and package rules. This compares practical capabilities, not marketing labels.
| Compare the detail | Slick | Salon Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Starting subscription | Essential advertises £20 + VAT for one staff member on its pricing page; confirm current quote. | Essentials from £29 + VAT/month for a solo stylist; online booking is optional. |
| Online booking | Listed on Essential; no separate marketplace new-client fee. | Optional with Essentials, included from Premium (from £49 + VAT/month). No compulsory customer sign-up. |
| Appointment reminder SMS | Unlimited SMS appointment reminders on each plan. | SMS charged at 6p–8p per message, via bundles or pay as you go. |
| Marketing SMS | Essential: 50/month; Advanced: 500; Supercharged: 2,000. Extra messages cost more. | Marketing SMS available; buy the volume you need. No fixed monthly free allowance is promised. |
| Booking confirmations | Unlimited confirmations included in Advanced and Supercharged; optional on Essential. | Confirm the selected SMS and email reminder setup and usage charges. |
| Chair-renter payments | Split payments/commissions listed in Advanced and Supercharged. | Chair-renter commissions and payments to individual stylist accounts, without extra readers. |
| Staff tipping | Direct-to-staff tipping is listed by Slick. | Staff tipping is available without a separate feature charge; payment fees may still apply. |
| Consultation forms | Confirm the specific forms and which plan includes them. | Digital consultation forms included in Essentials and all higher packages. |
| Waitlist | Waitlist option for clients is advertised. | Waiting list available. |
| Support hours | 7-day live chat and email; priority phone support weekdays 8am–5pm (published). | UK-based support team and ongoing training; confirm cover for your business hours. |
| 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
THE FULL COMMERCIAL PICTURE
Some SalonPay customers save as much in processing fees as they spend on software. For illustration, a 0.4 percentage point reduction on £300,000 annual card turnover is £1,200. Your saving depends on transaction mix, current provider and an individual quote.
Compare effective card rates, fixed charges, equipment, settlement and software costs together. SalonPay rates start from 0.3%; this is not a guaranteed rate.
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.
Slick advertises unlimited appointment-reminder SMS. Marketing messages and certain other message types have separate allowances or charges. Check the current plan and compare the number and type of messages your salon actually sends.
Yes. Salon Manager provides SMS marketing, with messages purchased in bundles or on a pay-as-you-go basis. SMS is typically 6p–8p per message, depending on the purchasing arrangement.
Yes. Salon Manager supports chair-renter workflows, commissions and arrangements for settling payments to individual stylists. Ask for a demonstration of the configuration relevant to your business.
Not necessarily. Compare software, setup, team access, SMS use, booking functionality and card transaction charges together. Individually quoted SalonPay rates may offset some or all software costs for certain salons.
Essentials starts from £29 + VAT per month for a solo stylist, but online booking is optional on Essentials. Premium starts from £49 + VAT per month and includes online bookings.
Check availability, channels, onboarding, ongoing education and help with real salon workflows. Salon Manager provides UK-based human support and training informed by more than 30 years of salon software experience.
