Bookatu vs Vagaro
Bookatu vs Vagaro: every feature on every plan
Vagaro is a capable all-rounder with a low starting price for a single location. It does not take a commission on your bookings, which is a real plus. The catch is the shape of the pricing: the base scales with the number of staff, and many of the useful features are paid add-ons that stack on top.
Bookatu takes a flatter approach. Every feature is on every plan, the price is based on your number of active clients, and there is no commission on any booking. Here is how the two line up.
Bookatu vs Vagaro at a glance
Booking commission
Bookatu
0% commission on every booking.
Vagaro
No commission on bookings either (as of 2026, verify current pricing on their site). This is common ground.
Pricing model
Bookatu
One subscription based on active clients. Adding staff does not raise the price.
Vagaro
A base fee per location (around US$23.99/mo for a single location, as of 2026, verify current pricing on their site) that scales with the number of staff.
Feature access
Bookatu
Every feature on every plan: deposits, memberships, packages, gift cards, reminders, retention.
Vagaro
Many features are paid add-ons that are billed separately and stack up over time.
Where the money lands
Bookatu
Deposits and sales go straight into your own Stripe account.
Vagaro
Payments run through the platform's own processing with per-transaction fees (as of 2026, verify current pricing on their site).
Who owns the client
Bookatu
Your clients are yours, on your own branded booking page.
Vagaro
You keep your client list, though add-ons and processing keep you inside the platform.
Cost as you grow
Bookatu
Predictable. The price tracks active clients, not staff count or feature list.
Vagaro
The bill grows with more staff and each extra add-on you switch on.
Competitor details are a general guide as of 2026 and can change. Please verify current pricing and availability on Vagaro’s own site before deciding.
The bottom line
Vagaro and Bookatu agree on one important thing: neither takes a commission on your bookings. The difference is how the rest of the cost is built. With Vagaro, the base grows with your team and the genuinely useful tools often sit behind separate add-ons, so the real monthly figure depends on what you switch on.
Bookatu puts every feature on every plan and prices on active clients, so there are no surprises and nothing to unlock later. Deposits, memberships, packages, gift cards and retention are all included, and your money lands in your own Stripe account.
Both prices move, so add up the real cost for your team and your add-ons before you choose. The structural difference is plan tiers and stacked add-ons versus one plan with everything included.
Ready to go independent?
Bookatu gives you a branded booking page, deposits, memberships, gift cards and reminders, with 0% commission on your bookings and your money in your own Stripe account.
Start freeCommon questions
Does Vagaro charge booking commission?
Vagaro does not take a commission on bookings (verify the current details for 2026), which it shares with Bookatu. The difference is in the subscription: Vagaro scales with staff and bills many features as separate add-ons.
What do I get on the Bookatu plan?
Every feature, on every plan. Deposits, memberships, packages, gift cards, reminders and retention are all included. There is nothing to unlock with a paid add-on later, and the price is based on your active clients.
Does adding staff cost more on Bookatu?
No. Bookatu prices on your number of active clients, not your number of staff. You can grow your team without a per-seat charge, which is different from a per-staff base fee.
Do I keep my own payments with Bookatu?
Yes. You connect your own Stripe account, so deposits and sales go straight to you and pay out to your bank. Bookatu never holds your money.