Bookatu vs Vagaro
Bookatu vs Vagaro: priced by clients, not calendars
In short
Vagaro charges a monthly subscription for each location, priced by how many bookable calendars you have: in Australia it starts at AU$45 a month for one calendar, and each extra calendar costs more, up to seven. Its pricing page lists no booking commission. Bookatu is from US$9 a month after a 90-day free trial, takes 0% commission, and prices by the clients you served in the last 90 days rather than by calendars. Vagaro suits a business that wants a marketplace listing and many tools from one company; Bookatu suits one that wants its own booking page and a price that does not rise with each new chair.
Vagaro and Bookatu agree on one point: neither lists a commission on your bookings. The difference is what the monthly price follows. This page puts the two models side by side, with a source for each figure.
Prices and fees, side by side
| Product | Price model | Starting price | Commission and card fees | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BookatuOur pricing page | One monthly plan, sized by how many clients you served in the last 90 days, never per staff member. US$9 to US$179 a month. | US$9 a monthAfter a 90-day free trial. US$8 a month billed yearly. | 0% on every booking. Stripe's card fees apply to deposits. | Independent salons, barbers, spas, studios and trainers who want their own booking page and a price that does not rise with staff. |
| VagaroCountry: Australiavagaro.com/en-au/pro/pricing | Monthly subscription for each location, priced by bookable calendars: AU$45 a month for one, more for each extra calendar up to seven. 30-day trial. | AU$45 a month | No booking commission listed on its pricing page. Card fees: see their pricing page. | Salons, spas and fitness businesses that want many tools and a marketplace listing from one company. |
Competitor prices are as each company's own pricing page showed them on the date under each source, for the country named, before tax. They change and vary by country, so check the linked page before you decide.
Bookatu vs Vagaro at a glance
| Topic | Bookatu | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Booking commission | 0% on every booking. | None listed on its pricing page. |
| What the price follows | How many clients you served in the last 90 days. Adding staff does not change it. | Bookable calendars at each location. Each extra calendar costs more, up to seven. |
| Card payments | Deposits go into your own Stripe account, at Stripe's card fees. | Vagaro's own card processing. Rates: see their pricing page. |
| Your booking page | Your own branded booking page and link. | Online booking on Vagaro, Instagram, Facebook and Apple Maps, and a free Vagaro Marketplace listing. |
Who should not pick Bookatu
- You want a listing on a consumer marketplace, like Vagaro's free marketplace listing, as well as your own booking page. Bookatu has no marketplace of that size.
- You want card readers and payments from the same company as your booking software. Bookatu does not sell card readers: deposits go through your own Stripe account, and card payments taken on your own terminal are recorded in Bookatu.
- You run a medical or health clinic that must keep clinical records under health privacy law. Bookatu is not built for that yet.
The bottom line
With Vagaro, each bookable calendar you add raises the monthly price until you reach seven, and each location is billed separately. With Bookatu, adding a chair or a staff member does not change the price; seeing more clients over 90 days does.
If you run one location with a settled team and want many tools from one company, Vagaro's model is easy to follow. If you are adding staff, a price that follows clients may cost less. Prices vary by country, so check both pricing pages before you decide.
Ready to go independent?
Bookatu gives you a branded booking page, deposits, memberships, gift cards and reminders, with 0% commission on your bookings and deposits paid into your own Stripe account.
Start freeCommon questions
Does Vagaro charge booking commission?
Vagaro's pricing page lists no booking commission. It charges a monthly subscription for each location, priced by bookable calendars, and offers its own card processing.
How much does Vagaro cost?
Vagaro's Australian pricing page starts at AU$45 a month for one bookable calendar, with more for each extra calendar up to seven, and a 30-day free trial. Prices differ by country.
Does adding staff cost more on Bookatu?
No. Bookatu prices by how many clients you served in the last 90 days, not by staff or calendars. Plans run from US$9 to US$179 a month.
Where do deposits go with Bookatu?
Into your own Stripe account, and Stripe pays them out to your bank. Bookatu takes no cut of your bookings.