Phorest Pricing Plans: Full Breakdown & Features (2026 Review)

Key Takeaways

Phorest pricing isn’t publicly listed. You must contact sales for a custom quote.

Phorest offers strong salon-focused marketing, booking, and POS features, but it lacks native clinical EMR, AI-driven documentation, and full integration for medical practices.

Pabau provides an all-in-one alternative with pricing starting at $69/month, including scheduling, billing, marketing, clinical EMR, AI automations, and digital forms in every plan—eliminating the need for multiple tools or costly add-ons.

Phorest pricing plans aren’t publicly listed—you need to contact sales for a custom quote.

However, in this guide, we’ll break down each plan, highlight key features, and show exactly what you get at every price point, so you can make an informed decision.

We’ll also compare Phorest salon software with alternatives like Pabau, giving you a clear view to confidently choose the right practice management software.

How much does Phorest cost?

Unlike many SaaS tools that display clear pricing tiers with set monthly costs, Phorest does not publish standard prices. Instead, you’ll receive a custom quote based on business size, locations, and selected features. 

Below is a breakdown of the Phorest pricing plans available and what each typically includes:

Pabau: An alternative

If you’re exploring alternatives to Phorest, Pabau is a strong contender—especially for clinics, med spas, and multi‑service practices. 

It combines scheduling, client records and client portal, marketing tools, multi-location management, and POS software in one platform, with transparent pricing for its Startup tier—starting at $69/month. 

Why choose Pabau over Phorest:

• Designed for medical and aesthetic clinics—not salon-first.
  
• Deep automation across the patient journey: conditional logic and reminder automation.
  
• Comprehensive EMR and client records: with medical history and treatment documentation.
  
• Self‑service client dashboard: clients can manage appointments, forms, history, invoices, subscriptions, and more.
  
• AI supporting clinical workflows: Echo AI for clinical notes, follow‑ups, and prescription safety alerts (Phorest’s AI is more focused on retargeting and marketing).

Also, Phorest often requires integrations (e.g., Aesthetic Nurse Software) for clinical documentation, which results in using two or more separate systems versus Pabau’s unified platform.

Phorest pricing plans: A breakdown

There are four Phorest plans designed to fit salons and clinics of different sizes. Each plan combines scheduling, marketing, and client management tools, but the experience grows as you move up tiers. 

Starter Plan

If you’re running a small salon or clinic with only a few staff members, the Starter plan is a solid way to get organized. 

You can take bookings online with deposits, send automated reminders to reduce no-shows, and even use Reconnect SMS to bring clients back. 

Staff management is also made simple with rostering tools, and the Smart POS system makes payment processes easy—cardless checkout included. 

On top of that, you get loyalty programs, marketing templates, video consultations, and support from a local team to keep things running smoothly.

Grow Plan 

Once your business starts picking up, Grow gives you everything in Starter but adds tools to help you expand. 

You can track staff performance through Phorest Go, manage reviews with the Online Reputation Manager, and boost revenue with an online store or gift vouchers. 

Also, the Free Reconnect SMS feature keeps clients returning, while a dedicated success manager and unlimited training ensure your team is growing alongside your salon. 

Ultimate Plan

For larger salons or clinics, Ultimate takes things a step further. 

You get a branded booking app so clients can book straight from their phones, and you can set staff goals and track progress in real time. 

With the lowest SMS rates in the system and Reserve with Google integration, you’re fully equipped to manage a growing client base efficiently while keeping your team motivated.

Elite Plan

Elite is designed for premium salons that want it all. In addition to everything in Ultimate, you get tools to attract and retain your dream clients, like Phorest Ads Manager and 500 free SMS per month. 

A premium business advisor works with you personally, while full Reserve with Google integration ensures seamless bookings. This plan is perfect for salons that want a complete, high-touch system to grow both clients and revenue effortlessly.

Phorest hidden costs

While you’ll pay a monthly subscription for the tier you choose, there are also several additional costs to be aware of:

• Online booking fees: Phorest may charge for every booking made online to support system maintenance, with costs varying by location and booking value. Typical rates are around $1 in the US and Canada, $1.25 in Australia, and £0.60–£1.50 in the UK and Ireland.
  
• SMS and messaging beyond bundles: If you go over your included SMS allowance, additional messages are charged at a standard rate, and longer messages that exceed 160 characters may count as multiple SMS.
  
• 2‑way messaging add‑on: Phorest Chat is typically offered as a monthly add-on. However, each message is still charged at the standard SMS rate.
  
• Branded online booking app: Only included in the higher tiers and may incur costs if added separately.
  
• Phorest Ads Manager and paid promotions: These features are only included in the Elite plan. So if you’re on a lower tier and want access, you’ll need to pay an additional fee.

Phorest pros and cons

Here’s a quick look at the strengths and weaknesses of Phorest, helping you weigh whether it’s the right salon or clinic management software for your business.

Pros

• Industry-leading marketing: Their “TreatCard” loyalty program and Reconnect SMS tools are top-tier for retention.
  
• User interface: The “PhorestGo” mobile app is highly rated for its ease of use on the salon floor.
  
• Support and training: They offer excellent 1-on-1 coaching and training for new owners or managers, and there’s unlimited online training via Phorest Academy.
  
• Staff management: Rostering, performance tracking, and goal setting.
  

Cons

• Not Clinical-First: Lacks native EMR—requires integration with ANS for medical notes.
  
• Expensive add-ons: Features like 2-way chat and branded apps are not standard.
  
• Booking fees: Charging per online booking is a major pain point for high-volume clinics.
  
• Not transparent pricing: Requires contacting sales for quotes, which can make budgeting harder.
  
• Annual contract required: Most new salon owners must commit to at least a one-year contract for the software, with some regions offering monthly renewals only after the initial term.

Who is Phorest best for?

Phorest works best for salons looking for an all-in-one platform that streamlines bookings, marketing, client retention, and staff management.

Let’s see who’ll benefit the most from using Phorest:

Salon owners

For owners of hair, nail, beauty, or other specialty salons—whether a single location or multiple—Phorest centralizes calendars, bookings, staff management, and sales tracking. 

The integrated system saves time, provides actionable insights, and keeps operations running smoothly across all locations, making it easier to manage diverse services under one platform.

Spa and med spa businesses

Small to mid-sized spas and med spas benefit from Phorest’s intuitive scheduling and client management tools. 

Automated reminders, loyalty programs, and digital consultation forms help keep guests returning, streamline daily operations, and ensure a smooth, professional experience for every client.

High-end hair salons

Phorest helps premium hair salons drive repeat visits and increase retail sales. 

Automated marketing, loyalty programs, and Reconnect SMS ensure clients return frequently, while the smart POS and expert recommendations boost product purchases effortlessly.

Phorest customer reviews

Many salons and clinics are happy with Phorest, praising its all-in-one platform for bookings, marketing, and client management. However, some users are frustrated by costs or certain feature limitations and would not recommend it.

Positives

Phorest users consistently praise its all-in-one platform, with features like appointment scheduling, client management, marketing, loyalty programs, and POS integration. 

Many highlight how easy it is for staff to use and onboard, as well as the responsive customer support. Salons, spas, and med spas report that these tools streamline daily operations, improve client engagement, and help grow their business.

Source: Capterra

Complaints

Some Phorest users report frustration with high costs, hidden fees, and strict annual contracts. 

Common issues include slow or glitchy software, limited functionality in areas like reporting, payment processing management, and online store integration, and poor customer service. 

Users also mention onboarding difficulties, lack of follow-up, and feature delays. These challenges have led several salon and spa owners to seek alternative platforms.

Source: Capterra

Top alternative to Phorest: Pabau

If you’re seeking a robust alternative to Phorest, Pabau is the solution for you. 

Why? 

Because all essential features—appointment scheduling, billing, marketing, and POS—are included in every plan, so you won’t need to pay for extra add-ons. 

Also, unlike Phorest, Pabau offers an integrated clinical EMR and other medical-grade features that practices can’t function without, such as intake forms, consent tracking, treatment documentation, and AI-powered workflow automation. 

This makes it ideal for clinics, med spas, and hybrid practices that need both client management and clinical functionality without juggling multiple platforms.

• Unified clinical EMR and treatment documentation

Pabau provides a native clinical EMR where appointment history, intake forms, consent documents, and treatment notes are all stored in one place. Clinicians can capture structured records, injection plotting, and post-care instructions without switching tools, reducing admin time and improving patient safety.

• Echo AI—automated documentation and workflow assistant

Echo AI generates clinician notes, summaries, and documentation directly within the patient record. Acting as a real-time scribe during consultations, it captures key details as practitioners speak with patients, automatically organizing treatment notes, post-care instructions, and summaries. 

This AI-driven assistant reduces manual charting, ensures consistency, minimizes errors, and frees clinicians to focus on patient care.

Here’s a comparison of Phorest and Pabau pricing plans:

Stop switching between tools: Run your whole practice in one place with Pabau

Don’t let hidden booking fees and disconnected clinical records slow your growth. 

If you are tired of paying a premium for a salon system and then paying again for medical software, it’s time to consolidate. 

Pabau gives you the marketing power of Phorest with the clinical depth of a high-end medical EMR.

From scheduling to patient notes, stock management, invoicing to automated follow-ups, everything your practice needs is built into one seamless platform.