The salon industry is brutal. Clients are always hunting for deals. New salons open every month. And keeping customers coming back? It’s harder than ever.
But here’s what successful salon owners know:
If you have the right loyalty program, you can turn one-time visitors into devoted clients who book regularly, spend more per visit, and refer their friends.
Not by slashing prices, but by making every client feel valued, rewarded, and excited to return.
The best salon marketing software with loyalty features helps you do exactly that:
- Turn casual clients into repeat customers
- Increase average ticket size through reward incentives
- Build a community of brand advocates who spread the word
- Automate retention so you can focus on what you do best
These are the tools savvy salon owners use to build client bases that keep growing, month after month.
(And the loyalty programs that actually drive results)
The best part?
These platforms work for salons of any size. Whether you’re a solo stylist or running multiple locations.
My Top Salon Loyalty Software for 2025
- Zenoti: Enterprise-grade platform with AI-powered loyalty and membership programs
- Vagaro: Affordable all-in-one solution with marketplace exposure and built-in loyalty tools
- GlossGenius: Beautifully designed platform perfect for independent professionals and small teams
Zenoti
Best for multi-location salons and large operations that need enterprise-level loyalty management
Pricing: Custom pricing starting around $300-600 per month (requires annual contract)
Zenoti gets mentioned on every “best salon software” list for good reason. It’s incredibly comprehensive. And when it comes to loyalty programs, they’ve built something seriously powerful.
But I don’t recommend Zenoti for everyone.
I recommend it specifically for salon owners who need enterprise-level features and have the budget to match. Here’s where Zenoti really shines:
Build Sophisticated Loyalty Programs
Zenoti provides foundational Regular Loyalty Programs and advanced Tiered Loyalty Programs, allowing customized point accrual (pre- or post-tax) and easy redemption.
You can create multiple loyalty tiers that make your best clients feel truly special. Think Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels where spending more unlocks better perks.
For example:
Bronze members might earn 1 point per dollar spent. Silver members could earn 1.5 points per dollar after spending $500. And Gold members get 2 points per dollar once they hit $1,000 in annual spending.
Zenoti provides detailed Loyalty Program Performance Reports, Guest Retention and Feedback Summaries, Referral Effectiveness Tracking, and a Loyalty Points Liability Data Model for advanced analytics.
This means you can see exactly which loyalty strategies drive the most revenue and adjust accordingly.
Automate Referral Rewards
Configure attractive rewards for referrals, integrating effortlessly into marketing campaigns. Boost organic growth through effective word-of-mouth strategies.
Zenoti makes it easy to track when existing clients bring in new customers. You can automatically reward both the referrer and the new client.
This creates a powerful growth loop where happy clients become your best marketing channel.
Manage Loyalty Across Multiple Locations
If you run multiple salon locations, Zenoti handles this seamlessly. Zenoti packages are easily accessible across all your brand’s locations. The Zenoti salon and spa management system tracks purchased packages by guest ID to ensure that guests can redeem their packages irrespective of their location.
Your clients can earn points at one location and redeem them at another. The system keeps everything synchronized automatically.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Advanced loyalty analytics and reporting | Expensive with annual contract requirements |
| Multi-location loyalty program management | Steep learning curve for staff |
| AI-powered marketing automation | Secretive pricing structure |
Zenoti Alternative: Mindbody
Mindbody offers similar enterprise-level features for multi-location salon chains. It includes loyalty programs, membership management, and marketing automation.
However, Zenoti typically offers better customization options for loyalty programs and stronger analytics capabilities. Mindbody tends to be more fitness-focused in its feature development.
Vagaro
Best for small to medium salons wanting affordable loyalty features with marketplace exposure
Pricing: $30 per month for one location; additional team members at $10 each
Vagaro takes a different approach to salon software. Instead of trying to be the most feature-rich platform, they focus on being the most accessible and affordable.
And their loyalty program features punch well above their price point.
Create Custom Loyalty Programs
Create & manage customer loyalty programs is included in every Vagaro plan, even at the $30 entry level.
Customize price, duration & points for each service and employees who offer them.
You can set up point-based systems where clients earn rewards for every dollar spent. Or create service-specific rewards where a facial earns different points than a haircut.
The flexibility here is impressive for such an affordable platform.
Get Discovered Through the Vagaro Marketplace
Here’s what sets Vagaro apart: Free listing with unlimited daily deals and bookings on the Vagaro Marketplace.
This marketplace connects potential clients with your salon. And unlike most discovery platforms, Vagaro doesn’t charge you extra when clients book through it.
You can promote special offers and loyalty program sign-ups directly through the marketplace. This gives you a built-in way to attract new clients who might become loyalty program members.
Automate Client Engagement
1,000 free email marketing messages to send each month helps you stay connected with loyalty program members.
You can send automated birthday discounts, point balance updates, and special member-only promotions. All without paying extra for email marketing tools.
The system also handles appointment reminders automatically, which helps reduce no-shows and keeps your loyal clients engaged.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very affordable with no long-term contracts | The platform’s “kitchen sink” approach means you get access to numerous features, but the sheer amount of features and the way the software presents them to you may seem overwhelming, especially at first |
| Free marketplace exposure for new client acquisition | This means that they will receive marketing communications from Vagaro as well as access to and promotion of their marketplace – where your competitors are |
| Integrated payment processing and marketing tools | Limited customization compared to enterprise platforms |
Vagaro Alternative: Phorest
Phorest focuses specifically on salon and spa businesses with updated Digital Loyalty and new Referrals features. Their Digital Loyalty program has evolved from the traditional Treatcard system to a fully digital experience where clients can track their rewards through online booking.
However, Phorest doesn’t run a salon marketplace or directory, so you miss out on the built-in client discovery that Vagaro provides.
GlossGenius
Best for independent professionals and small salons that want beautiful design with solid loyalty features
Pricing: $24 per month for Standard Plan, $48 per month for Gold Plan, $148 per month for Platinum Plan
GlossGenius has earned a reputation for being the most beautifully designed salon software on the market. But it’s not just about looks.
Their loyalty program features are thoughtfully designed and easy to implement.
Build Client Relationships That Last
While GlossGenius doesn’t have the most complex loyalty program features, what they do offer works incredibly well for smaller operations.
GlossGenius offers powerful salon marketing tools to help you attract new clients and retain existing ones. With features like customizable email and SMS campaigns, social media integrations, and rebooking reminders, GlossGenius makes it easier than ever to engage with potential clients and encourage repeat visits.
The focus here is on relationship building rather than complex point systems. You can send personalized messages, track client preferences, and create experiences that make people want to return.
Seamless Client Experience
The platform now includes a fully integrated payment system with a competitive 2.6% flat processing rate and versatile payment options including tap, insert, and swipe payments through their stylish card readers.
When clients feel good about every interaction with your business, they naturally become more loyal. GlossGenius excels at making every touchpoint feel premium and professional.
Your booking site, payment process, and client communications all maintain the same beautiful, consistent brand experience.
Perfect for Growing Businesses
The Standard Plan provides all the essentials needed for running your business as a solo professional, but you can scale up as you grow.
The Gold Plan, which costs $48 per month, offers additional features for busy salons with fewer than ten employees.
This makes it easy to start simple and add more sophisticated loyalty features as your client base grows.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| GlossGenius has an average Ease of Use rating of 4.8, which is higher than the average Ease of Use rating of 4.6 in the appointment scheduling category | Multiple reviewers wish they could let their customers benefit from a referral program or subscriptions, but GlossGenius doesn’t offer these features |
| Transparent pricing structure with competitive 2.6% flat processing rate | Lighter on features than many of its rivals |
| Beautiful, professional design that impresses clients | Limited integration options with third-party tools |
GlossGenius Alternative: Mangomint
Mangomint offers more robust team features and advanced loyalty program options. It’s designed specifically for growing salons that need more sophisticated client retention tools.
However, GlossGenius wins on ease of use and design. If you value simplicity and want your software to look as good as your salon, GlossGenius is the better choice.
Other Tools in Our Salon Marketing Stack
Running a successful loyalty program requires more than just the right software platform.
At our salon, we also use these tools to maximize client retention:
- Canva for creating beautiful loyalty program graphics and social media posts
- Google Analytics to track which loyalty incentives drive the most bookings
- Mailchimp for advanced email sequences that nurture loyalty program members
- Instagram Business to showcase loyal clients and create FOMO around exclusive perks
Wrapping up
Look, there are dozens of salon software options out there. But these three consistently deliver results when it comes to building loyal client relationships.
An affordable platform with solid loyalty features beats an expensive one that sits unused.
But beyond the software, focus on making every client interaction remarkable. Technology amplifies great service, but it can’t replace it.
