Orbis Salon

Orbis Salon is appointment and business-management software for salons, clinics and other service businesses. It is strongest for UK operators that want booking, client records, payments and a branded web presence together. Lite keeps the entry price low, but its booking cap and per-booking fee make the higher tiers more practical for growing teams.

Overview

Orbis combines online booking, staff calendars, customer accounts, payments, forms, treatment records, photos and reporting. Multi-location support, inventory tracking, memberships and packages extend it beyond a basic appointment diary, making it relevant to hair and beauty businesses, aesthetics clinics, podiatrists, massage practices, personal trainers and recovery studios.

Core and Pro include a bespoke multi-page website on the business's own domain. Orbis manages hosting, security and updates, while the customer portal lets clients manage accounts, appointments, forms and saved payment methods. That combination suits owners who want a public website and client self-service without assembling separate services; Lite is a much narrower proposition.

Key features

Payments can run through Orbis Pay, Stripe Connect or another supported provider, and raw card security codes are not stored by Orbis. Security controls include application-level encryption at rest, separately managed keys, HTTPS, tenant isolation, role permissions, password hashing, audit trails and backups. Orbis says its tools support UK data-protection responsibilities but do not by themselves make a business GDPR compliant.

Websites can connect with booking systems, Google Business Profile, Google Analytics, Search Console, WordPress, Wix and Squarespace. SMS reminders are pay-as-you-go, so businesses using them should budget beyond the subscription. Orbis does not run HMRC payroll, and automatic Clover integration or two-way sync is not promised.

UK-based email and phone support runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm UK time, with a stated aim of replying to email enquiries within one working day. Orbis says most salons go live within five to 10 working days after approving the design, with domain, hosting, booking setup and Google profile handled as part of onboarding.

Pricing

Lite — £4.99 per month, billed £4.99/month, includes one staff member, one location, 30 bookings per month and five services. Each booking carries a 50p Orbis service fee. The seven-day free trial and low base price fit a solo operator with modest volume, but the quota and fee can become restrictive quickly.

Core — £9.99 per month, billed £9.99/month, supports three team members and one location, with £1/month for each extra team member and £3/month for each extra location. It has a 14-day free trial, no Orbis booking fee, and includes the bespoke website and customer portal. This is the sensible step up for a small team whose bookings would make Lite's charges costly.

Pro — £14.99 per month, billed £14.99/month, covers 10 team members and two locations. Extra team members cost £1/month and extra locations £3/month; the 14-day trial and no Orbis booking fee remain. Pro is better suited to established operators or a second site, provided the included staff capacity matches the business.

Clinic — £19.99 per month, billed £19.99/month, has a 14-day free trial and no Orbis booking fee.

Platforms

Orbis Salon Manager is available on Android, iOS, macOS and Windows through the relevant stores or Mac download, with browser access as well. That breadth suits businesses mixing phones, desktops and web use.

Who it's for

Choose Orbis for a salon, barbershop, beauty or nail business, clinic, therapist, podiatry practice, massage business, personal-training operation or recovery studio that wants booking, records, payments and a managed website in one system. It is less suitable where HMRC payroll is essential, Clover synchronisation is a requirement, or SMS costs must be bundled into a fixed fee.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Core and Pro combine a custom-domain website with a customer portal, reducing the need for separate web and booking tools.
• Multi-location support, inventory, memberships and packages cover more than simple appointment scheduling.
• Multiple payment-provider routes and layered security controls support sensitive client information.
• UK-based phone and email support, plus assisted setup, should help businesses that want implementation guidance.

Cons

• Lite allows only 30 bookings a month and adds 50p per booking, limiting its value as volume rises.
• SMS reminders are charged pay-as-you-go, creating a variable communications cost.
• There is no HMRC payroll, and Clover automatic integration or two-way sync is not promised.
• Clinic's published allowance is unclear, making plan comparison harder for larger practices.

Alternatives

If you need a free, self-hosted option, Pronto has a free plan for one staff member, 100 clients and 50 bookings per month across web, Windows, macOS and Linux.

Salonist is worth considering when a free marketplace listing, online booking and shift management matter, with Android, iOS and web support.

PandaCue is another paid platform with a free trial and Android, iOS, web and API access.

Meevo suits buyers seeking paid salon software with plans that publish user, email-contact and SMS-credit allowances, though prices are custom.

Kitomba is an alternative for online booking, stock management, integrated EFTPOS and marketing tools, with custom pricing.

Phorest is a paid option with no free trial and plans advertising unlimited devices and staff.

Salonized offers a 21 EUR monthly appointments plan, a free trial and annual billing with a 10% discount.

Vagaro provides a paid, free-trial option with a 30 USD monthly one-location plan and support for multiple locations.

For broader comparisons, browse Salon Software, Esthetician Software, Salon Booth Rental Software, Salon Membership Software, Salon CRM Software and Salon Commission Management Software.

Verdict

Orbis Salon is a strong choice for UK appointment-led businesses that want a managed website, online booking and operational records in one package. Choose Core for a small team or Pro for multiple locations; look elsewhere if you need payroll, guaranteed Clover sync or predictable all-inclusive SMS costs.