Best Salon Software in India: How to Choose (and Who Fits What)

Most "best salon software" lists are written by a vendor ranking itself first. This one is too, in a sense: we make SalonOS. So we will show our working, say where other tools are stronger, and tell you what to test yourself.

Details on other products come from their public pages and reviews, checked in November 2026. Prices and plans change, so confirm on their sites.

What to check before you choose

1. GST billing. Every bill should carry CGST and SGST, with credit notes for returns. Many global tools do not handle this for India.
2. WhatsApp. Your clients already message you there. Look for reminders, campaigns with consent checks, and booking inside the chat.
3. Pricing you can read. Per staff, per branch, per bill, or a quote? Ask what changes when you add a stylist or a branch.
4. Multiple branches. One login, per-branch roles, and reports across locations.
5. Staff. Commissions, attendance and payroll without a second tool.
6. Getting your data in. Can you import clients and history from where you are today?

The main options

Zylu. India-built, with GST billing, UPI point of sale, multi-branch support and WhatsApp and SMS campaigns. Plans are tiered (Lite, Grow, Standard, Premium) with a setup fee, and the Lite plan lists limits on appointments and products. Strong for owners who want an established local tool.

Salonify. Has a free tier, then yearly paid plans, and lists AI assistants plus hairstyle try-on and accounting integrations such as Tally and Zoho. Strong if you want a free start or those integrations.

ReSpark. An all-in-one platform with biometric attendance, payroll and an online catalogue. Pricing is by quote, so you cannot compare it without a call.

Zenoti. An enterprise platform for large chains. Reviewers report custom quotes, setup fees and 12-month contracts. Strong for big operations, heavier than most independent salons need.

Fresha. A global booking platform with a consumer marketplace. Reviews mention a fee on new clients who arrive through the marketplace.

SalonOS. Flat per-branch pricing from ₹1,999 a month plus GST with no per-staff fees and 0% commission, GST invoices, memberships and wallets, payroll, multi-location roles, and a WhatsApp AI front desk that books into your calendar. Gaps today: no free tier, and AI hairstyle try-on is not released.

How to decide in one afternoon

Pick two tools. Run a normal Saturday on each: take a booking from WhatsApp, bill a package redemption with GST, split a commission, and close the register. The one that makes your front desk faster wins, whatever a ranking says.

If you are weighing a specific switch, see our Zylu comparison, Salonify comparison or pricing.