Kitomba

Overview

Kitomba is booking, payments and team-management software for salons, spas and clinics, from hair and beauty businesses to medispa, wellness and barber services. It is best suited to operators who want those functions under one roof and can work with custom pricing. Its breadth is a strength; the one-way calendar sync and lack of a free plan may rule it out for businesses with tighter budgets or a need for two-way updates.

Key features

Clients can book online 24/7, while staff manage calendars, waitlists and repeat appointments. Automated reminders and targeted SMS and email campaigns support ongoing client communication. One-way calendar sync is the notable constraint: Kitomba may fit businesses that manage their schedule in its system, but is less suited to teams that need changes to sync in both directions.

Point of sale, integrated EFTPOS and Kitomba Pay options for online payments and terminals extend the product beyond scheduling. That combination is useful for businesses that want booking and payment collection together. Kitomba also offers more than 150 reports, including a Business Summary report, giving owners a range of reporting options.

Integrations and partners include Xero, Vish, REACH.ai, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Salon Pay and Sustainable Salons. Some third-party integrations, including Xero, Mailchimp and REACH.ai, carry extra charges, which can affect the overall cost of a setup that depends on them. Staff access controls, a security log and secure client-document storage cover account access and records. All plans include automatic backups, updates, new features and unlimited phone, email and chat support. Data migration is offered where possible for an additional charge, as is live education.

Pricing

Kitomba is paid software with custom pricing; there is no free plan. Its four plans differ by included features, but no plan prices are given, so businesses will need to request a quote to compare tiers and assess the cost against their needs.

• Lite: Online booking, stock management, POS with integrated EFTPOS and marketing tools make this the core option for businesses focused on bookings, sales and client outreach.
• Grow: Adds staff targets, waitlists, repeat appointments, loyalty and concessions. It is a better fit for businesses that want more tools for managing team performance and recurring client relationships.
• Pro: Adds staff time management, Xero integration, Google Analytics and AI marketing. Consider it if those functions matter to how the business runs, while checking any extra integration charges.
• Enterprise: Includes unlimited staff, making it the tier to consider for businesses whose team size exceeds the needs of the other plans.

All plans include support, backups, updates and new features. Some integrations, data migration and live education can add costs beyond the plan price.

Platforms

Kitomba supports Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows, giving businesses a choice of mobile and desktop access. Online booking is available to clients, and calendar sync is one-way.

Who it's for

Kitomba is aimed at salons, spas and clinics, including hair, beauty, medispa, wellness and barber businesses. It is a strong fit for operators seeking booking, payments, stock, marketing and staff tools in one product. Businesses that need free software, transparent upfront prices or two-way calendar sync should compare other options.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Booking, POS, integrated EFTPOS and online payment options are brought together, which suits appointment-based businesses that also need to take payments.
• Pros: More than 150 reports, client marketing tools and staff-management features support a broader set of operating needs than booking alone.
• Pros: Unlimited phone, email and chat support, along with backups and updates, are included across all plans.
• Cons: There is no free plan and pricing is custom, so prospective buyers cannot compare tier costs without requesting a quote.
• Cons: Calendar sync is one-way, which is a drawback for businesses needing changes to flow both ways.
• Cons: Some integrations, migration and live education cost extra, so the plan price may not capture the full cost of a setup.

Alternatives

Pronto is worth considering for businesses that want a free tier: it includes one staff member, 100 clients, 50 bookings per month and 100 products, with a paid Starter plan also offered.

Salonist offers a free marketplace-listing plan with 50 appointments per month, online booking, calendar and scheduling, and staff shift management. Choose it if those limits suit your needs and a free trial is useful.

PandaCue is another paid option with a free trial and Android, iOS, web and API platforms.

Meevo may suit teams comparing salon and spa plans that specify user, email-contact and SMS-credit limits.

Orbis Salon has a free trial and a Lite plan at £4.99 a month, but that plan caps use at one staff member, one location, 30 bookings per month and five services, with a 50p booking service fee per booking.

Phorest is another paid option with Starter and Grow plans that include unlimited devices and staff.

Salonized offers an Appointments plan at €21 a month, with monthly billing and an annual billing option at a 10% discount.

Vagaro is another paid option, with a One Location plan at $30 a month and a separate Multiple Locations plan.

For category comparisons, browse Esthetician Software, Salon POS Software, Salon Staff Scheduling Software, Salon Software, Salon and Spa Scheduling Software or Salon Membership Software.

Verdict

Kitomba is a strong choice for salons, spas and clinics that want online booking, payment collection, marketing and team tools in a single system, with support and backups included on every plan. Its custom pricing and one-way calendar sync are the main reasons to look elsewhere, especially if upfront cost comparison or two-way scheduling is essential.