SalonX vs Phorest
Phorest is built for salons and clinics with three or more staff, sold in four plans with the price given by quote. SalonX is one plan at a published price, for anyone from a single chair to a full team.
The short answer
- SalonX publishes its price: £15 a month, plus £5 for each extra person. Phorest's plans (Starter, Grow, Ultimate, Elite) are priced by quote.
- Phorest says its plans are for salons and clinics with three or more staff, with unlimited staff and devices on every plan. SalonX is priced per person, starting at one.
- On SalonX every feature is in the one plan. On Phorest, the online store starts on Grow and the branded client app on Ultimate.
- Phorest gives each salon its own branded app on its Ultimate plan. SalonX clients use the SalonX app.
- SalonX's shop is stocked and shipped by distributors, with commission to the salon. Phorest's online store and Shopify integration sell the salon's own stock.
What you pay
| Compared | SalonX | Phorest |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £15 a month, plus £5 for each extra person | By quote. No price is published |
| Plans | One, with everything in it | Four: Starter, Grow, Ultimate and Elite |
| Who it's for | Salons, independent stylists and chair renters | Salons and clinics, "perfect for 3+ staff" |
| Staff | £5 a month each after the first | Unlimited on every plan |
| Free trial | 14 days. Your card is taken at sign-up and first charged on day 15 | Ask Phorest |
| Card payments | 2% + 20p on UK cards | Through PhorestPay. No rate on its pricing page |
| Commission on bookings | None | Ask Phorest |
What's included
| Compared | SalonX | Phorest |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking with deposits | Included | Starter and above |
| Memberships | Included | Listed on Starter, and as an add-on |
| Loyalty | £10 a month add-on, with reviews | Loyalty programme on Starter; digital loyalty on Ultimate |
| Consultation forms | Included | Sent ahead of the appointment on Grow and above |
| Client app | The SalonX app, included | Your own branded app, Ultimate and above |
| Stock management | Included | Starter and above |
| Set-up and training | Guided imports you run yourself, and a help centre | Set-up, data migration and training by Phorest's team, included |
| Support | Email, with a help centre and assistant | Phone support, Monday to Saturday |
Selling products
| Compared | SalonX | Phorest |
|---|---|---|
| Online shop | Included. Stocked by professional distributors | Online store on Grow and above; Shopify integration on Starter |
| Who holds the stock | The distributor. Nothing to buy in | You do |
| Who ships the order | The distributor, to your client's door | You do |
| Recommending products | Recommendation lists and Client View, a consultation the client does on an iPad | Expert Recommendations by SMS, Grow and above |
Checked on 11 November 2026. SalonX's figures are from our pricing page; Phorest's are from its own UK pricing page. Prices are a month, as each company lists them, and most exclude VAT. Prices change, so check theirs before you decide. SalonX isn't affiliated with any company named here.
Choose Phorest if
- You have a larger team and want unlimited staff on one subscription.
- You want your own branded app in the app stores.
- You want someone to set the system up, move your data and train your team for you.
- You want phone support.
Choose SalonX if
- You want to know the price before you talk to anyone.
- You work alone, rent a chair or have a small team.
- You want everything in one plan, with nothing held back for a higher tier.
- You want to earn from retail without buying stock.
Moving from Phorest
Export your clients and appointments from Phorest as files and SalonX imports them. You check each step before it's saved, and the import can be undone. The help centre has the steps.
Questions.
Anything else, write to info@salonx.ai and a person will reply.
How much does Phorest cost compared with SalonX?
Phorest doesn't publish a price: each of its four plans is quoted for your salon. SalonX is £15 a month, plus £5 a month for each extra person on your team, with everything included.
Is SalonX suitable for a salon with a big team?
Yes, though the pricing works differently. SalonX charges £5 a month for each extra person; Phorest includes unlimited staff in its quoted price. Work out your team size against Phorest's quote.
Can I move from Phorest to SalonX?
Yes. Export your clients and appointments from Phorest and SalonX imports the files. You check each step before it's saved and the import can be undone.
Does SalonX give my salon its own app?
No. Your clients use the SalonX app, where they see your salon, their appointments and their rewards. Phorest offers a separately branded app on its Ultimate plan.
Try it on your own diary.
Your first 14 days are free. Bring your clients across, take a booking and see how it sits.
More comparisons: SalonX vs Fresha, SalonX vs Phorest, Fresha alternatives in the UK, SalonX for chair renters.