Vagaro vs. Square. The platform built for salons, spas, and fitness studios.
Although Square offers basic tools to get up and running, many important features are locked behind plan upgrades. Vagaro gives you scheduling, automated reminders, marketing, reporting, and operations in one platform built specifically for appointment based businesses within the base plan.
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See how Vagaro stacks up against Square pricing
*Comparison is based on Square's paid plans with features comparable to Vagaro. Square's free plan is excluded due to limited functionality.
Vagaro vs. Square FAQ
Vagaro and Square use different pricing structures, which can impact total monthly cost depending on how your business operates. Vagaro plans start at $23.99 per month and include scheduling, automated reminders, marketing tools, reporting, and core operations features in the base plan. Square offers a free plan with basic tools, but many features commonly used by appointment-based businesses require upgrading to Square Plus ($49/month) or Square Premium ($149/month). For businesses that rely on scheduling, client communication, and reporting, the total monthly cost with Square may be higher depending on the features needed.
Yes. Both Vagaro and Square provide appointment scheduling tools. Vagaro includes advanced scheduling features—such as waitlists, resource management, custom service hours, and gap time—in its base plan. Square offers appointment scheduling at all levels, but access to advanced scheduling controls may require upgrading to Plus or Premium plans.
Both platforms offer automated appointment reminders. Vagaro includes unlimited automated reminders in its base plan. Square provides automated reminders as well, but access to advanced communication features may require a higher-tier subscription depending on your plan.
Yes. Both Vagaro and Square offer integrated payment processing and point-of-sale hardware. Vagaro offers competitive processing rates based on how much you process a month, always giving you the best deal, while Square offers rates that are tied to upgrading to their paid plans. Both platforms support Buy Now, Pay Later options.
Both Vagaro and Square offer business funding programs. Vagaro provides access to capital funding up to $500,000, while Square offers funding up to $350,000. Availability, eligibility, and terms vary based on business performance and location for both platforms.
Vagaro and Square both offer marketing tools such as email campaigns and promotions. Vagaro includes email marketing with 1,000 free emails per month in its base plan, along with campaign automations. Square offers marketing features as well, but access to automation and higher-volume campaigns typically requires upgrading to Plus or Premium plans.
Yes. Both platforms provide website builders. Vagaro’s website builder is designed to support appointment-based businesses and is synced directly with the business account. Square also offers a website builder, primarily focused on online sales and commerce, with feature availability depending on the plan selected.
Both Vagaro and Square offer marketplace visibility. Vagaro’s marketplace connects businesses with over 38 million consumers actively searching for beauty, wellness, and fitness services. Square provides marketplace visibility through Square Go, with a much smaller consumer search base.
Yes. Both Vagaro and Square provide customer support resources. Vagaro offers 24/7 human support via phone, chat, and email starting with its base plan. Square provides customer support and self-service resources, with phone support availability depending on your plan level.
Both Vagaro and Square can support service-based businesses, but they are built with different primary use cases in mind. Vagaro is designed specifically for appointment-based businesses such as salons, spas, and fitness studios. Square is a broader commerce platform that supports retail, restaurants, and service businesses, with some appointment-focused features available through Square Appointments.
Yes. Businesses can migrate from Square to Vagaro. Vagaro offers data transfer options and onboarding support to help businesses move client information, services, and schedules. Square allows data exports, which can be used during the transition process. The migration experience may vary depending on the size and complexity of your business.