How much does salon booking software cost in Malta?
Chris AzzopardiFounder, Bookify MaltaGozo, Malta8 min read
Ask ten salons what they pay for booking software and you will get ten different answers, from nothing to over 100 EUR a month. The spread is not just about features: it is about how each platform hides its real price in per-booking commissions, payment markups and SMS add-ons. Here is how to compare them properly, and where Bookify Malta fits.
The honest range in Malta
A solo stylist can run a real booking system for nothing, while a growing salon on a premium suite can pay a few hundred euros a month. The headline price is only the start of the story.
to start with Bookify Malta Basic, free forever, no commission
a month for Pro, free for your first 3 months, no commission
per-booking commission, ever, on any booking at any plan
Entry prices at a glance
The published entry price tells you how much a solo business pays before extras. Bookify Malta’s Pro plan sits in the middle of the pack on paper, but it includes the things others charge for later: no per-booking commission on any booking and no lock-in.
Illustrative entry prices in EUR per month from public pricing (Fresha 18, Booksy 28, GlossGenius 26, Timely 33, StyleSeat 32, Phorest 99+). Bookify Pro is 30 EUR and free for 3 months.
The fee hiding in the small print
The biggest hidden cost is the marketplace commission. When a new client books through the platform’s directory, some platforms take 20% to 30% of that first visit. On a 40 EUR service that is 8 to 12 EUR gone before you have even welcomed the client. Bookify Malta takes nothing on any booking, on any plan, ever. Not 20%, not 10%, not a cent.
Illustrative one-time marketplace commissions on a new client’s first booking. Direct bookings are usually free on these platforms too; the difference is how many of your clients come through the directory.
What year one actually costs
Add it all up for a solo stylist and Bookify Malta Pro costs 270 EUR in year one because the first 3 months are free. Phorest runs to nearly 1,200 EUR. The gap is even wider once marketplace commissions and payment processing markups join the equation.
Illustrative year-one totals in EUR for a solo stylist on entry plans. Bookify Pro: 9 months at 30 EUR after 3 free months.
Four costs to watch for
When comparing quotes, put each platform through the same four checks. This is where the real differences show up.
Per-booking commissions
Some platforms take 20% to 30% of a new client's first booking when they find you through the marketplace. On a 40 EUR service, that is 8 to 12 EUR gone for a client you might have kept for years.
Lock-in contracts
Some platforms tie you into an annual contract or make it hard to leave with your client data. Bookify Malta has no lock-in contracts, so you can cancel any time and keep your data.
Payment processing markups
Card payments add 1.3% to 2.7% plus a fixed fee on most platforms. It is small per booking, but it compounds across every payment you take all year.
SMS add-ons
Automated reminder texts are often a bolt-on at 0.05 to 0.15 EUR per message on top of your subscription. The cost is real if you send reminders to every client every week.
Why Bookify Malta looks different
We built Bookify Malta to be the price that stays the price. The difference is simple: competitors earn a cut of your clients, Bookify Malta does not. No marketplace commission, no lock-in, and a free tier that is genuinely free.
- 1
Basic is free forever
No trial that silently converts, no feature that unlocks after day 14. Basic stays free for as long as you use it, with no per-booking commission at all.
- 2
Pro is free for your first 3 months
You can run your salon on Pro, free, for a full quarter before paying a cent. If it does not earn its 30 EUR, walk away. There is no lock-in contract.
- 3
Zero commission, forever
Every booking that comes through Bookify Malta is yours. No per-booking fees, no success fees, no marketplace cut on the clients who find you. While competitors take 20% to 30% of a new client's first booking, Bookify Malta takes nothing.
- 4
Built in Malta, for Maltese salons
SMS reminders, two-way rescheduling and self-booking requests designed around how salons in Malta and Gozo actually run, with a founder who visits every salon we onboard.
Common questions
Is salon booking software free in Malta?
Yes, several platforms have genuinely free entry tiers. Bookify Malta's Basic plan is free forever with no per-booking commission, which is rare: most free tiers are limited or sit on a platform that charges a marketplace commission on new clients.
How much does salon booking software cost per month?
Entry plans run from about 15 to 35 EUR a month, mid-tier plans from 40 to 150 EUR, and premium suites like Phorest can exceed 100 to 300 EUR a month. Bookify Malta's Pro plan is 30 EUR a month and is free for your first 3 months.
Do salon booking apps charge per booking?
Some do. Marketplace-style platforms charge a one-time commission of 20% to 30% on a new client's first booking when they discover you through their directory. Bookify Malta never charges per-booking fees, success fees or commissions on any booking.
Are there hidden costs in salon software?
Watch for marketplace commissions on new clients, payment processing markups, SMS add-ons and long lock-in contracts. Bookify Malta has flat monthly pricing, never charges a commission on any booking, and has no lock-in contracts. SMS reminders are available as a straightforward add-on.
Keep reading
More guides for salons and barbers across Malta and Gozo.
How to reduce salon no-shows in Malta
Every empty chair costs you money. The data behind missed appointments, why clients don't show, and the eight tactics that actually cut no-shows in Maltese salons.
How to Take Bookings from Instagram and Facebook
Most clients discover salons on social media, but turning a DM into a confirmed appointment takes a system. The data, the profile setup and the reply flow that books more chairs.
SMS reminders vs WhatsApp reminders for salons
Open rates, response rates, deliverability and cost. The data behind SMS and WhatsApp appointment reminders, and which channel fits a Maltese salon best.
Start free, stay free on Basic
Bookify Malta Basic is free forever with no per-booking commission, and Pro is free for your first 3 months. All prices are exclusive of Maltese VAT of 18%, which is added on top.
Prices and competitor figures are illustrative and based on public pricing at the time of writing. They can change and your results will vary.