GetSalonPOS vs Square Appointments for hair salons
Square Appointments is a strong, well-known booking and payments product with a free plan for one location. GetSalonPOS is built around the salon desk: tiered stylist commission, backbar stock, client colour formulas, six languages and local pricing in the UAE and Pakistan.
Which should a hair salon choose?
Choose Square if you want card processing and booking from one company and a free plan for a very small shop. Choose GetSalonPOS if commission maths, retail and backbar stock, a non-English desk or a UAE/Pakistan salon matter to you.
Square Appointments vs GetSalonPOS, feature by feature
| What matters | GetSalonPOS | Square Appointments |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per location by chair band, no per-stylist fee | Free plan, paid plans per location |
| Card processing | Works with your own processor or bank terminal | Square processing (built in) |
| Stylist commission | Flat or tiered, service and retail rates, splits | Available on paid plans |
| Backbar inventory | Yes, with purchase orders and transfers | Retail inventory; backbar via workarounds |
| Client colour formulas | Dated formula notes on the client card | Client notes |
| Languages at the desk | 30+ interface languages incl. Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Urdu | Limited set of languages |
| UAE & Pakistan | Local prices, AED with VAT, PKR | Not available in these markets |
| Online store | Generated from your catalogue | Square Online (separate setup) |
Based on public information checked 2026-10-18 (Costbench, Booksy 2026 guide, Dupple). Features and prices change; check Square Appointments's own site. Square Appointments is a trademark of its owner; we are not affiliated.
Where Square Appointments is the better pick
- Payments and booking from one company, one bill
- A free plan for a single location
- A very large ecosystem of add-ons and hardware
Where GetSalonPOS is the better pick
- Commission built for salons, including tiers and splits
- Backbar tracking and purchase orders
- Desk and receipts in Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic or Urdu
- Sold and supported in the UAE and Pakistan
How to switch from Square Appointments
Export your data
Export customers from your Square Dashboard as a CSV and export your item library; send us both.
We import it, free
Clients, services, products and stock; we check the result with you.
Set up the book
Durations, processing gaps, stylists, deposits and commission rules.
Run both for a week
New bookings in GetSalonPOS, old ones finish where they are.
Swap the booking link
Instagram bio, Google profile, WhatsApp. Then cancel the old plan.
Leave Square Appointments for a flat price.
14-day free trial, no cardNo contractFree importSalon plan from $49/mo
Square Appointments questions
Comparing
Is Square Appointments free?
Square has a free plan for one location, with paid plans adding features; card processing is charged per transaction. Check Square's current pricing page before deciding.
Can I keep my Square card reader?
Square readers work with Square's own software. With GetSalonPOS you use a card machine from your own processor or bank and record the payment on the sale.
Which is better for stylist commission?
GetSalonPOS was built around salon commission: separate service and retail rates, tiers, product-cost deductions and split services, all in the report.
Which is cheaper for an eight-chair salon?
Compare the full monthly cost including processing and any per-staff fees. GetSalonPOS Salon covers up to 8 chairs for one flat price per location; see pricing and the calculator.
Does GetSalonPOS work in Dubai or Lahore?
Yes, with prices in AED (VAT included) and PKR, and the desk in Arabic or Urdu if you want it.
Switching
Can I import my clients from Square?
Yes. Export your client list (and services and products where Square allows it) as a CSV and we import it free. Appointment history usually comes across as notes on each client. See switching.
Will I lose my future bookings when I switch?
No, if you plan it. We import upcoming appointments from your export or you run both systems for one or two weeks, taking new bookings only in GetSalonPOS until the old book empties.
Do I need new hardware?
Usually not. GetSalonPOS runs in a browser on the tablet or computer you already have. Card machines stay with your own processor. See the hardware guide.