Next

Next brings scheduling, client outreach and payment tools together for personal-care providers working in salon suites. It is strongest for solo professionals who want to manage bookings without a subscription; the main trade-offs are the optional SMS charge and the dependence on participating suite locations for some integrations.

Overview

Next’s free booking app combines appointment management with marketing and point-of-sale features. That breadth makes it a useful starting point for independent providers who would otherwise coordinate those tasks separately. Its suite-location connections can add rent management, website booking, cross-marketing and maintenance requests, but the app is most compelling when the provider’s location participates.

Key features

Scheduling

Professionals can set booking rules, let clients request appointments or book directly, adjust service durations and stack appointments. Request-based booking suits providers who want to approve each appointment; direct booking gives clients more autonomy. Custom durations and stacked appointments accommodate varied services, although providers should choose rules that fit how they manage their own calendars.

Marketing

Email, in-app and SMS campaigns can be precreated or custom. This offers several ways to reach clients without making the SMS add-on a prerequisite for the free booking app. Providers who depend on text reminders or promotions, however, should include the monthly SMS charge in their operating costs.

Payments

The point-of-sale system supports deposits, cards on file, coupons, discounts, touch and touchless payments, plus merged or split payments. That range is useful for handling different transaction arrangements from one system. The stated flat 2.52% processing rate applies to chipped-card transactions, including AMEX and Discover, with no per-transaction fees; it should not be treated as the rate for other payment types.

Suite connections and privacy

At participating locations, Next can connect with suite services for rent management, website booking, cross-marketing and maintenance requests. Connection to a salon-suite website and check-in system is coming soon, so those capabilities should not be treated as current features. Next says information remains private when it connects to a suite location. Its privacy policy says card details are transmitted using SSL and stored by its third-party payment processor.

Pricing

The Next booking app costs nothing and includes free booking, scheduling and app features. This is the clearest fit for professionals who want core appointment tools without a booking subscription.

The optional Unlimited SMS texts plan costs $5 a month, billed $5.00 per month. It covers unlimited SMS texts for appointment reminders, confirmations and marketing campaigns. Providers who need regular texting can budget for a fixed monthly add-on; those who do not can stay on the free plan and forgo unlimited SMS.

Platforms

Next is available on Android, iOS and the web. The maker says the Next Pro app is available for Android or Apple and sends users an email invitation to download it.

Who it's for

Next names hairstylists, barbers, nail artists, makeup artists, lash technicians, estheticians, massage therapists and other personal-care professionals as its audience. Its scheduling, campaigns and payments suit providers who want those tasks in one place, particularly those working in participating salon suites. It is less suited to someone whose decision depends on an immediate connection to a salon-suite website or check-in system.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free booking, scheduling and app features lower the cost of getting started.
• Pros: Booking rules, direct or request-based appointments, custom durations and stacked appointments give providers meaningful control over calendar setup.
• Pros: The POS handles deposits and several payment arrangements, while the stated chipped-card rate has no per-transaction fee.
• Cons: Unlimited SMS costs $5 a month, making frequent text outreach an ongoing expense.
• Cons: Suite integrations depend on participation, and website and check-in connections are still forthcoming.

Alternatives

WellnessLiving is worth considering for a paid setup that includes booking for classes and appointments, a client app, a staff app and POS; its Starter plan is $62 a month billed annually for one staff member. Salonist offers a free Marketplace Listing with 50 appointments per month, online booking, calendar and scheduling, and staff shift management, making it a better fit when those stated caps and tools align with a provider’s needs. SalonSynq has a free Start Plan with unlimited bookings for one user, manual payment logging, a vanity booking link and email reminders; choose it when those booking tools suit better than Next’s integrated POS and campaign approach. Tonso offers a free plan when fees are passed to clients, and may suit businesses comfortable with that fee arrangement. Appy Pie Salon App Builder is an alternative for publishing a salon app, with a plan at $18 a month that includes hosting, SSL, push notifications, Stripe payments, loyalty and app-store submission. Authic uses custom pricing agreed in the customer agreement. ClinicHub is another paid alternative. Salon is another paid alternative. For a broader shortlist, see Salon App Builder Software.

Verdict

Choose Next if you work in personal care and want free booking tools alongside client campaigns and a versatile POS, especially at a participating salon suite. Look elsewhere if unlimited texting is essential but the monthly add-on does not suit your budget, or if you need suite website and check-in connections before they arrive.