TimeTailor

Overview

TimeTailor is salon-management software that brings appointment scheduling, checkout and payment tools together for freelancers and small salon businesses. It is most compelling for salons that can start with manual scheduling and add client booking or other paid services as needed. Its free plan has no stated cap on manual bookings or staff, but online booking and several useful controls are separate charges.

Key features

The free service plan includes unlimited manual bookings and staff, a service menu editor, reporting and email reminders. That is a substantial base for a solo professional or team that handles appointments directly. Salons that want customers to arrange their own visits need the Online booking add-on, which provides a booking link clients can use around the clock.

The free plan also includes a client list, booking history, profile details and communication history. These records help keep appointment context together. Team tools cover staff schedules and permissions, time-off requests and team members, giving salons ways to coordinate beyond an individual calendar.

Online booking adds online payments and deposits, plus retention emails and SMS and promotions and discounts. Its fee is priced on request, billed as a 3.9% fee paid by the client at checkout on online appointments. That shifts the charge to the customer, but salons should account for how an added checkout fee fits their pricing and booking flow.

Advanced reporting costs $9 a month per Bookable Expert and provides revenue reports for experts and services; admin roles are free. The free plan already includes reporting, so this add-on is for businesses that need those more specific revenue breakdowns rather than basic reporting alone.

Offline no-show protection costs $12 a month per User. It includes no-show flags, deposits, automatic SMS or WhatsApp reminders, late cancellation fees and full prepayment. These controls may suit salons where missed appointments are costly, but the per-user charge can add up across a team.

The Professional website plan costs $15 a month and includes an SEO-optimized website, integrated online booking, synced menu and business details, and custom domain support. It is aimed at salons that want a web presence built into their booking setup, rather than just a booking link. The pricing page says payments are handled by Stripe, supports Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and states that every transaction is encrypted.

TimeTailor offers a WordPress booking widget that can be added using a shortcode or block, and an API for connecting salon software with payment, marketing or customer management tools. Its salon appointment app is available on iOS and Android; the help page says it can be used on phones, tablets and computers. TimeTailor advertises 24-hour live support and email support.

Pricing

The Free service plan costs nothing, with unlimited manual bookings and staff, a service menu editor, reporting and email reminders. It is the clearest fit for salons willing to manage appointments themselves. The main sacrifice is that online self-booking is not part of this plan.

Paid options are priced separately: Online booking is priced on request, billed as 3.9% paid by the client on online appointments; Advanced reporting is $9 a month per Bookable Expert; Offline no-show protection is $12 a month per User; and Professional website is $15 a month. The Online booking charge is tied to contacts and checkout, while the two operational add-ons scale by expert or user. Select only the features the salon needs, and consider the relevant usage basis when estimating the total. The pricing note says paid plans start at $9/mo, but the listed add-ons have their own billing terms.

Platforms

TimeTailor supports web, iOS and Android, with an API for integrations. The mobile apps and computer access give staff options for managing appointments across devices; the WordPress plugin adds a booking widget for salons using that website platform.

Who it's for

TimeTailor is a good fit for freelancers and small salon teams that want unlimited manual bookings and staff on a free plan, with the option to pay for client self-booking, more detailed revenue reporting, no-show controls or a business website. It is less suited to businesses that need online booking included without a separate add-on or that want to avoid charges tied to contacts, users or bookable experts.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Unlimited manual bookings and staff on the free plan leave room for a salon to grow without a stated booking or team cap.
• Pros: Client and communication histories, staff coordination tools and reminders support more than just calendar management.
• Pros: The paid options address distinct needs, from online deposits to cancellation fees and an integrated website.
• Cons: Online self-booking is a paid option, so the free plan does not let clients book directly through a salon link.
• Cons: Add-on charges use different bases—contacts, bookable experts, users or a monthly website fee—which makes the total dependent on the salon's setup.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Salon Appointment Scheduling Software.

• Treatwell Pro is another freemium salon option with apps for Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows; its Advanced plan includes unlimited staff, with a new-client commission for marketplace clients subject to location.
• Pronto may suit a salon that wants a self-hosted or desktop-capable option: its free plan is limited to 1 staff, 100 clients, 50 bookings per month and 100 products, while its Starter plan is $19 a month.
• Salonist offers a free marketplace listing with 50 appointments per month, online booking, calendar and scheduling, and staff shift management; consider it when those included limits match your needs.
• NexCal is a free, self-hosted, open-source option for teams that want Docker deployment and zero subscription fees.
• Salon Booking System has a free plan for one site with an online booking calendar, unlimited services and email notifications; its platforms include API and self-hosted options.
• VoxelBooking is a free self-hosted system with unlimited businesses and no per-booking, per-seat or monthly fee, but hosting and maintenance are yours.
• Planity Pro is a paid option with Android, iOS and web apps; its Agenda + Caisse plan includes an NF525-certified register, inventory, online gift cards and services, and accounting data export.
• Bookido is another freemium option with Android, iOS and web apps.

Verdict

Choose TimeTailor if you run a freelance practice or small salon and want a free base with unlimited manual bookings and staff, then plan to add only the booking, reporting, no-show or website tools you need. Look elsewhere if client self-booking must be included from the start or if the varying per-contact, per-expert and per-user charges do not suit your budget.