Best POS Systems for Beauty Salons in 2025
Beauty salon POS software helps manage appointments, track product sales, handle payments, and build customer loyalty all in one system. The best POS systems also manage inventory, automate rebooking, and offer marketing tools to keep your salon growing.
Managing a beauty salon or hair salon takes more than just skill with clients. You need a salon POS system that handles bookings, payments, product sales, and inventory without slowing you down. A good beauty salon point of sale software keeps everything from checkout to rebooking running smoothly while helping you stay on top of your business without the chaos. Here’s what the best salon POS systems do to level up your business.
Best POS systems for beauty salons in 2025
⭐ Square: Best for small salons
⭐ Clover: Best for fast, flexible salon checkouts
⭐ Lightspeed: Best for managing services and retail products together
⭐ Fresha: Best for appointment booking
⭐ Mangomint: Best for high-end salons
Quick comparison
| POS System | Standout Feature | Best For | Inventory Management | Loyalty Program Tools | Pricing Tier |
| Square | Easy setup with salon templates | Small beauty salons | ✅ | ✅ | Entry-level |
| Clover | Flexible checkout and service menus | Busy salons needing fast processing | ✅ | ✅ | Mid-range |
| Lightspeed | Strong retail and service management | Salons selling products | ✅ | ✅ | Mid-range |
| Fresha | Appointment-based salons | Appointment-based salons | ❌ | ❌ | Entry-level |
| Mangomint | High-end salons focusing on client experience | High-end salons | ❌ | ✅ | Premium |
Our top picks
There are many POS systems out there, but not all of them are built for the way beauty salons work. We picked the ones that help you move faster, manage appointments, track product sales, and keep clients coming back without the extra noise. From easy checkout to smart rebooking tools, these systems are built to handle real salon workflows, not slow them down.
Square: Best for small beauty salons
Free setup & no hidden fees
Create customer profiles in seconds Square offers a simple, flexible POS system that covers appointment booking, payment processing, inventory management, and basic client tracking. It is designed for salons that need an affordable solution without complicated setup or long training times.
Key Features
- Easy appointment scheduling: Quickly book and manage client appointments with simple calendar tools.
- Integrated payments: Accept cards, contactless payments, and mobile wallets directly through Square’s hardware or app.
- Client profiles: Store client history, service preferences, and notes to personalize visits and boost retention.
- Inventory management: Track salon products like shampoos, styling tools, and retail items in real time.
- Loyalty program integration: Build custom rewards programs to encourage repeat visits without using third-party apps.
- Online booking: Offer clients the option to book online through a free customizable booking page.
- Reports and insights: Monitor sales, service popularity, and staff performance with real-time dashboards.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable with no monthly fee for basic features
- Easy to set up and start using right away
- Built-in online booking tools
- Includes loyalty program options
- Works on phones, tablets, and dedicated software
Cons
- Limited customization for larger salons
- Inventory management is basic
- Some advanced features require paid upgrades
Who It’s For
Square is a good fit for small to mid-sized beauty salons that want an affordable, easy-to-use POS system without needing advanced customization or complex setup.
Clover: Best for fast, flexible checkouts
Cloud-hosted & accessible from anywhere
Accept payments & track inventory Clover offers a POS system with flexible hardware options and fast transaction speeds, built to support busy salons that handle a high volume of appointments and product sales. It provides a mix of in-house features and third-party app integrations to adapt to different salon workflows.
Key Features
- Customizable checkout screens: Speed up service with personalized quick-access buttons for popular treatments or products.
- Appointment management through apps: Integrate booking tools from Clover’s App Market to handle client scheduling.
- Integrated payments: Accept cards, contactless payments, and mobile wallets with built-in Clover hardware.
- Inventory tracking: Manage salon products and retail sales with automatic low-stock alerts.
- Customer loyalty programs: Set up points-based rewards and promotions directly through the system.
- Employee management: Track sales by staff member and manage permissions easily from the dashboard.
- Offline mode: Continue running transactions even if the internet goes down.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fast and reliable hardware options
- Flexible system with app-based add-ons
- Built-in loyalty and gift card tools
- Offline mode included
- Scales easily for growing salons
Cons
- Appointment management requires third-party apps
- Hardware can be expensive upfront
- Pricing and features vary by reseller
Who It’s For
Clover is ideal for mid-sized to larger salons that need a fast, flexible POS system and don’t mind using add-ons for customized features.
Lightspeed: Best for service management
Advanced inventory management capabilities
Smarter sales & reporting Lightspeed offers a POS system that combines service management with strong retail features, making it a good choice for salons that handle both appointments and product sales. It supports detailed inventory tracking, staff management, and multi-location syncing for growing businesses.
Key Features
- Advanced inventory management: Track retail products, backbar supplies, and service usage with real-time updates.
- Service and product bundling: Combine services and retail products in one transaction for streamlined checkout.
- Staff scheduling and permissions: Manage shifts, roles, and performance tracking from the POS dashboard.
- Multi-location management: Sync menus, inventory, and reporting across multiple salon locations.
- Customizable checkout workflows: Tailor the checkout experience for faster processing during busy hours.
- Integrated reporting tools: View detailed sales, employee performance, and client trends in one place.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong inventory and retail tools
- Scales easily across multiple locations
- Detailed reporting and analytics
- Service and retail checkout flexibility
- Ecommerce capabilities built in
Cons
- More expensive than basic POS options
- Setup can be complex for small teams
- Best suited for salons with retail operations
Who It’s For
Lightspeed is a good fit for salons that combine services with a significant retail component and want detailed control over inventory, sales, and multi-location operations.
Fresha: Best for appointment-based salons
Fresha is a booking-first platform with built-in POS features designed for salons that prioritize appointments over retail sales. These include hair, nail, spa, makeup, and more. It offers free use of its core system with no monthly fees, charging only for optional upgrades and payment processing.
Key Features
- Free appointment scheduling: Manage client bookings, cancellations, and rebooking with no subscription fee.
- Point of sale integration: Handle payments, discounts, and checkout directly from the booking platform.
- Client management tools: Track visit history, service preferences, and no-shows within each profile.
- Automated reminders: Send SMS and email reminders to reduce missed appointments.
- Basic product sales support: Sell retail items alongside services, though inventory tracking is limited.
- Built-in marketing tools: Launch promotions, special offers, and rebooking campaigns through the app.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No monthly subscription for core features
- Easy online booking setup
- Automated reminders included
- Built-in marketing campaigns
- Simple to use with minimal training
Cons
- Limited inventory management
- No offline mode
- Charges transaction fees on payments processed through Fresha
Who It’s For
Fresha is ideal for salons that focus mainly on appointments and client services and want a low-cost system without heavy investment in hardware or advanced inventory tools.
Mangomint: Best for high-end salons
Mangomint is a salon and spa POS system built for businesses that want a seamless, luxury client experience. It focuses on clean workflows, automation, and minimal staff involvement at checkout, making it a strong fit for upscale salons.
Key Features
- Client self-checkout: Let clients pay and tip through their own device, reducing wait times and staff workload.
- Smart appointment scheduling: Auto-fill gaps, prevent double-booking, and streamline appointment management.
- Membership and package management: Sell service memberships or bundles directly through the POS.
- Customizable checkout options: Tailor the checkout process based on services, staff preferences, or client history.
- Inventory tracking: Monitor product levels and set automated reorder points for retail and backbar supplies.
- Integrated reporting and analytics: View real-time data on sales, appointments, and client behavior.
- Third-party integration friendly: Connect easily with marketing, accounting, and CRM tools.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Streamlined, luxury client checkout experience
- Strong automation tools reduce manual work
- Clean, intuitive user interface
- Supports memberships and packages
- Integrates with many popular apps
Cons
- Premium pricing compared to basic POS systems
- Limited hardware options compared to bigger brands
- Best suited for salons focused on service, not high-volume retail
Who It’s For
Mangomint is ideal for high-end salons and spas that want a polished client experience, strong automation, and flexible service management without clutter.
Why use a POS system for your beauty salon?
Using a salon POS system manages your entire business more efficiently. A strong POS platform helps you:
- Book and manage appointments easily: Keep your schedule organized and avoid double-booking.
- Track retail product sales: Stay on top of shampoo, skincare, and other retail inventory without manual counts.
- Build client loyalty: Set up rewards, memberships, and rebooking offers to keep clients coming back.
- Simplify staff management: Track performance, commissions, and schedules without extra spreadsheets.
- Offer faster, smoother checkout: Speed up service during busy times and let clients pay their way.
- Use real-time reports: Understand what services are most popular, what products sell, and how your team is performing.
A good beauty salon POS system relieves the pressure of daily operations, allowing you to focus more on growing your business and less on fixing tech problems.
What to look for in a beauty salon POS system
Not every POS system fits the needs of a salon. Here’s what to focus on when choosing the right one:
- Appointment and calendar management: It should make booking, rebooking, and schedule changes fast and easy.
- Retail and inventory tracking: Important if you sell hair care, skincare, or other salon products.
- Client profiles and history: Storing service history, preferences, and notes builds stronger client relationships.
- Loyalty and membership tools: Look for built-in rewards programs or the ability to sell memberships.
- Ease of use: Staff should be able to learn the system quickly, without complicated training.
- Mobile and online booking: Clients expect to book appointments online or from their phones.
- Reliable reporting: Clear data on sales, services, and team performance helps you make better decisions.
- Integration options: If you need marketing tools, accounting software, or ecommerce, make sure your POS can connect with them.
The bottom line
Choosing the right salon POS system comes down to knowing what your business needs and picking a platform that can deliver. Compare the options, weigh the features that matter most to you, and make a decision that keeps your salon running smoother and serving clients better. The right system is out there for you to find and get moving to grow your business.
FAQ
Q: What is a salon POS system?
A: A salon POS system is a point-of-sale platform that manages appointments, payments, client records, and product sales, all in one place.
Q: Do beauty salons need a POS system?
A: Yes. A beauty salon POS system helps streamline bookings, track product sales, manage staff, and improve the client experience—saving time and reducing errors.
Q: Can a salon POS system manage inventory too?
A: Many salon POS systems include basic inventory management for retail products like hair care or skincare. More advanced systems track stock levels, reordering, and supplier management.
Q: Are there free POS systems for beauty salons?
A: Some platforms like Fresha offer free plans for basic appointment and payment management, but features like inventory tracking or loyalty programs may require paid upgrades.
Q: What’s the difference between basic and advanced salon POS features?
A: Basic systems handle booking and payments. Advanced systems add inventory tracking, membership management, multi-location syncing, and deeper reporting tools.
Q: Can a salon POS system help with marketing?
A: Yes. Many POS systems include built-in tools for email campaigns, rebooking promotions, client reminders, and loyalty programs to help grow your business.