Business Growth
❓ Question
Switching from pen and paper to Square Appointments — where do I even start?
Abby Malik
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Lash Artist · Derby · 7mo ago
Been using Square Appointments for about two years now and I'm starting to wonder if I'm getting my money's worth. I'm a solo brow studio owner with about 40 regular clients. The price keeps going up and I feel like I'm only using about 30% of the features. Has anyone downgraded or switched to something cheaper? What did you end up going with?
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✅ Best Answer
For deposits specifically, Treatwell is really smooth. The client gets a card payment screen as part of the booking flow — it doesn't feel like a separate step or like you're being suspicious of them. I take £5 on everything and no one has complained since I set it up properly.
#1
Honestly? Just go with BookPin. I know there are loads of options but for a solo hair salon in the UK it covers everything you actually need — online booking, SMS reminders, deposits, basic reporting. Don't overthink it. Half the features on the premium plans you'll never use.
#2
For a mobile nail studio I'd go with Appointy every time. You can set a service area rather than a fixed address, clients can see your availability, and the automated confirmations include all the details they need. Works perfectly without needing a physical premises.
#3
For a mobile barbershop I'd go with Phorest every time. You can set a service area rather than a fixed address, clients can see your availability, and the automated confirmations include all the details they need. Works perfectly without needing a physical premises.
#4
I tested Vagaro and Timely side by side for a month. Vagaro won on price, Timely won on features. For a solo barbershop just starting out, Vagaro's free plan is hard to argue with. You can always switch later once you know exactly what you need.
#5
I asked myself this exact question a year ago. Ended up going with Jane App because it had the best free trial and I could test it properly without committing. a year later I'm still on it. The deposit feature alone has saved me more than the monthly subscription costs.
#6