Pricing
subscription
Best For
Salons struggling with client retention that need systematic win-back campaigns and loyalty programs
Rating
8.0/10
Last Updated
Mar 2026
TL;DR
Phorest is the retention-obsessed salon platform. While others focus on booking or POS, Phorest built its entire product around keeping clients coming back. The marketing automation, loyalty programs, and client retention analytics are genuinely superior to competitors. It's particularly strong in the UK, Ireland, and European markets. At $99-299/month, the pricing is mid-range and the value is strongest for salons that lose clients faster than they gain them.
What is Phorest?
Built Around Retention
Most salon software treats marketing as an afterthought — a tab somewhere with basic email tools. Phorest flips this. Client retention is the central philosophy. Every feature is designed to answer one question: how do we get this client to rebook? The result is a platform where marketing, loyalty, and reputation management are first-class features, not add-ons.
The Retention Toolkit
Client retention reporting shows you exactly who hasn't rebooked and how long it's been. Automated win-back campaigns target lapsed clients with personalized messages. Loyalty programs reward repeat visits. Online reputation management monitors reviews and prompts happy clients to leave them. SMS and email marketing campaigns are pre-built for salon-specific scenarios. The system identifies at-risk clients before they leave and triggers outreach automatically.
Salon Marketing That Actually Works
Phorest's marketing isn't generic email blasts. It's targeted campaigns based on client behavior: "Clients who got highlights 8+ weeks ago," "Clients who haven't visited in 90 days," "Clients who've spent over $500 this year." This segmentation means your marketing is relevant, not spammy. Open and conversion rates are significantly higher than generic email tools because the messages match the recipient's actual relationship with your salon.
Booking and POS Fundamentals
The core booking and POS features are solid if not spectacular. Online booking works well. The scheduling interface is clean. POS handles payments and retail sales. Client records are comprehensive. It's not as fast as Mangomint or as feature-rich as Vagaro, but it covers the fundamentals competently.
The European Strength
Phorest has a particularly strong presence in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Australia. The platform handles multi-currency, European payment processing, and GDPR compliance natively. For European salons, Phorest understands the local market better than US-focused competitors like Boulevard or Mangomint.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class client retention tools — automated win-back campaigns and loyalty programs that measurably reduce client churn
- Targeted marketing based on actual client behavior (visit frequency, spending, services) beats generic email blasts
- Strong reputation management that monitors reviews and systematically generates positive feedback from happy clients
- Particularly strong in European markets with native GDPR compliance, multi-currency, and local payment processing
- Retention analytics identify at-risk clients before they leave so you can proactively reach out
Cons
- Core booking and POS features are solid but not best-in-class — the platform shines in marketing, not operations
- Interface design is functional but not as polished or fast as Mangomint or as intuitive as Fresha
- Weaker presence in the US market compared to European markets where Phorest is more established
- Retention tools require ongoing attention — set-and-forget doesn't work, you need to monitor and adjust campaigns
- Starting price of $99/month doesn't include the best features — you really need the $199+ Grow plan for full value
Phorest Pricing
Grow
- Everything in Starter
- Retention analytics
- Loyalty programs
- Advanced marketing
- Reputation management
Scale
- Everything in Grow
- Multi-location
- Advanced reporting
- Priority support
- Custom integrations
Pricing last verified: March 26, 2026
Who is Phorest Best For?
- Salons struggling with client retention that need systematic win-back campaigns and loyalty programs
- European salons and spas wanting software built for GDPR compliance and local market understanding
- Marketing-focused salon owners who want targeted campaigns based on client behavior rather than generic emails
- Businesses prioritizing online reputation with systematic review generation and monitoring
Technical Details
The Bottom Line
Phorest scores 8/10. It stands out for best-in-class client retention tools — automated win-back campaigns and loyalty programs that measurably reduce client churn. Best suited for salons struggling with client retention that need systematic win-back campaigns and loyalty programs. Keep in mind that core booking and pos features are solid but not best-in-class — the platform shines in marketing, not operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on editorial analysis