Honest comparison · verified July 2026
Strandly vs Vagaro
A feature-rich salon platform and marketplace priced per bookable calendar, with a long menu of paid add-ons.
The short version
Vagaro's base plan is genuinely broad — but much of what's advertised lives in 13+ paid add-ons ($10–$100/mo each): text marketing, forms, a website, expanded photo storage, payroll. Costs creep as you add pieces. Strandly is the opposite bet: fewer features overall, but everything it has is in the one $29 price.
| Strandly | Vagaro | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | $29/mo flat | From $23.99/mo (starting price on vagaro.com; may be promotional — third parties consistently report ~$30/mo for one calendar) |
| Priced per | Per stylist — everything included, no tiers, no add-ons | Per bookable calendar (per service provider), roughly +$10/mo each up to 7; multi-location billed per location |
| Commission / new-client fees | None — no commission, no new-client fees, ever | None for organic bookings; a $10/mo 'Get Featured' add-on boosts marketplace ranking |
| Card processing | Standard Stripe rates; Strandly adds no markup | No rates published on its pricing page; support docs list ~2.75% in-person (under $4k/mo volume). The 'free' card reader requires a 12-month processing commitment or a $150 early-cancellation fee |
| Free trial | 30 days free, no card required | Free trial |
Vagaro figures were checked against vagaro.com/pro/pricing and support.vagaro.com (US credit card processing rates) in July 2026. Prices and terms change — always confirm on their current pricing page. We built Strandly, so read us accordingly.
Where Vagaro shines
- Huge feature breadth: inventory, memberships, packages, loyalty, and a consumer marketplace listing are all in the base plan.
- Unlimited SMS appointment reminders included, plus 24/7 live phone support.
- Scales to big multi-location businesses in a way few competitors match.
Where Strandly is different
- Text marketing ($20/mo), forms ($10/mo), a website ($20/mo), expanded photo/file storage ($10/mo), payroll ($34/mo + $5/employee) and more are paid add-ons; Strandly has no add-on menu — one price.
- Before/after photo storage is core to Strandly's client book, not an upsell.
- Strandly publishes exactly what payments cost (standard Stripe rates, no markup, no hardware lock-in); Vagaro's pricing page publishes no processing rates and its free reader carries a 12-month commitment.
Want to feel the difference instead of reading about it? Try Strandly's live demo booking page — or see how the pricing models compare across the industry.
Frequently asked
Is Vagaro really cheaper than Strandly?
The advertised starting price ($23.99/mo, as listed on vagaro.com in July 2026) is lower than Strandly's $29 — but each additional stylist adds ~$10/mo, and common needs like text marketing, forms, or a website are $10–$20/mo add-ons each. Many working setups end up costing more than a flat $29 per stylist.
Does Vagaro take a commission?
Not on organic bookings. Its marketplace can list your business for free, and a paid add-on boosts your ranking. Strandly has no marketplace and simply never charges acquisition fees.
Which one fits a solo stylist better?
If you want inventory, memberships, and marketplace presence in one giant toolbox, Vagaro. If you want your formulas, photos, booking, deposits, and waitlist at one flat price with zero add-on math, Strandly.
More comparisons: Strandly vs GlossGenius · Strandly vs Booksy · Strandly vs Fresha · Strandly vs StyleSeat
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