Vagaro is a capable platform for salons, spas and fitness — but it’s priced per bookable calendar, with a long menu of paid add-ons that stack up as you grow. ChairPilot Pro keeps it simple with flat plans and your own payment processor.
On paper Vagaro’s base price looks low. In practice it’s charged per bookable calendar, plus around $10 for each extra user, plus separate add-ons for marketing, forms, a branded app and more — which is how a five-chair salon ends up well north of $100/month.
ChairPilot Pro folds marketing, loyalty, memberships and reporting into the plan you’re already paying for, and lets you connect your own Stripe or Square instead of routing payments through the platform.
| Feature | ChairPilot Pro | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Salons, barbershops, spas & pet groomers | Salons, spas & fitness |
| Pricing | Flat $50–$249/mo, features included | ~$30/mo per calendar + ~$10 per extra user + add-ons |
| Add-on stacking | No — included by plan | Marketing, forms, branded app billed separately |
| Payments | Bring your own Stripe or Square | Vagaro merchant processing |
| Marketplace | Your own booking page | Marketplace + paid boosts |
| POS & retail | Yes — built in | Yes |
| Memberships & gift cards | Yes — included (Growth up) | Add-on |
| Loyalty & reviews | Yes — included | Add-on |
| Email + SMS marketing | Yes — included | Paid add-on, per message |
| Multi-location | Up to 3 / unlimited (Pro) | Priced per location |
Your plan includes marketing, loyalty, memberships and reports — no à-la-carte modules quietly inflating the monthly bill.
Keep your Stripe or Square account and your rates instead of the platform’s processing.
Salon, barber, spa and pet-grooming modes with one-click themes to match your brand.
Is ChairPilot cheaper than Vagaro?
It depends on your add-ons. Vagaro’s base looks low but climbs with per-calendar users and paid modules; ChairPilot’s flat plans include marketing, loyalty and memberships, so the all-in total is usually more predictable.
Do I need to buy add-ons for marketing or memberships?
No — those are included from the Growth plan up, not separate purchases.
Can I keep my own card processor?
Yes — bring your own Stripe or Square and keep your rates.
Start your free 14-day trial — marketing, loyalty and memberships in every plan.