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 |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription and team pricing | Essential from £22 + VAT/month for one bookable column, with additional columns charged separately. Check the price for your full team. | Essentials from £29 + VAT/month for a solo stylist; team-based pricing is capped from seven staff. Premium includes online bookings from £49 + VAT/month before team pricing. |
| Salon CRM and client records | Client profiles, appointment history, photos and notes are advertised. Compare the information available in a real client journey. | Connected salon CRM with client history, preferences, colour formulas, consultation forms, courses and marketing permissions. |
| Digital consultation forms | Consultation forms are listed in Slick’s feature comparison. Check the plan and forms workflow. | Digital consultation forms are included in every package, including Essentials. |
| Appointment diary and resources | Online diary and appointment management are core features. Test your service and staffing requirements. | Appointments with rooms and resources, processing times, recurring bookings, waiting lists and configurable team availability. |
| Online booking experience | Online booking is listed on Essential, without a marketplace new-client fee. | Direct online bookings without requiring clients to create an account; optional in Essentials and included from Premium. |
| Reports and business insight | Financial, staff KPI and commission reports are listed. | Business and team reporting, targets, favourites, filtering and exports, with information linked to daily salon operations. |
| Stock and retail management | Retail and stock tools, purchase orders and stock-taking app are advertised. | Stock levels, minimum/maximum controls, purchase orders, mobile stocktaking and stock transfers. |
| Staff access and security | Staff permissions and staff management tools are listed. Check device approval and account security against your requirements. | Role-based access, two-factor authentication and device approval controls. Cyber Essentials certified. |
| Training and ongoing support | Slick offers onboarding, training, live chat and phone support. Confirm access and hours for your plan. | UK-based support, tailored onboarding and unlimited training included in every package. |
| Payments and chair renters | In-person card rate displayed at 1.29%; online payments at 2.17% + 27p. Split payments for chair renters are listed on eligible plans. | SalonPay tailored rates from 0.3%, depending on eligibility and quote; net or gross settlement, integrated terminals and chair-renter payment workflows. |
| SMS reminders and marketing | Unlimited appointment-reminder SMS included; marketing allowances depend on plan, with paid top-ups available. | Reminder and campaign SMS available at 6p–8p per message, with bundles or pay as you go. |
| Email appointment reminders | Check the current Slick plan and communications settings for email reminder availability. | Free unlimited email reminders included with every Salon Manager package. |
| Agreement and setup | Standard published plans are monthly rolling, with no setup fee; promotional quotes may have different conditions. | 12-month agreement, with 30 days’ notice before the term ends; £199 + VAT standard setup, including onboarding. |
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
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.
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.
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.
