COMPARISON · DIRECT CLIENT PORTAL VS. SALON SUITE & MARKETPLACE
FavCRM vs. Vagaro
Vagaro is an established salon, spa, and fitness suite with a consumer marketplace and hardware POS ecosystem. FavCRM is built for independent studios and growing teams that want a clean Branded Client Portal, flat pricing without add-on creep, real CRM follow-up workflows, and open AI connectivity.
CHOOSE FAVCRM WHEN
- You want clients booking on your own Branded Client Portal rather than browsing a consumer directory that displays nearby salons and studios beside yours.
- You want transparent flat pricing—Simply Booking (US$20/mo, up to 3 staff) or FavCRM Pro (US$29/mo, up to 5 staff)—without stacking extra monthly add-ons for intake context, branded portals, or CRM pipelines.
- You want client records connected to structured follow-up queues, official WhatsApp conversations, and OAuth 2.1 MCP for your AI assistant.
CHOOSE VAGARO WHEN
- You run a multi-chair US salon relying on Vagaro’s consumer marketplace discovery, integrated Vagaro Pay card readers, and built-in staff commission payroll.
- You need physical retail barcode inventory management tied to countertop salon hardware.
Side-by-side breakdown
| Capability | FavCRM | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Client booking experience | Clean, mobile-first Branded Client Portal exclusively for your business—no app download required. | Consumer marketplace directory & app alongside optional paid branded web/app upgrades. |
| Multi-staff pricing & add-ons | Flat workspace pricing: US$20/mo (up to 3 staff) or US$29/mo Pro (up to 5 staff), save 2 months annually. | Base calendar price scales per bookable staff member, with separate monthly add-ons for several features. |
| Memberships & prepaid session packs | Included in FavCRM Pro—digital wallet passes, session balances, automatic deduction, and renewal tasks. | Supported within salon memberships/packages, tied to Vagaro’s checkout flow. |
| CRM pipeline & messaging | Full client CRM, deal stages, follow-up tasks, RFM segments, and official WhatsApp Business API inbox. | Appointment-book first; marketing text/email campaigns and forms often billed as feature add-ons. |
| AI & MCP integration | Open OAuth 2.1 MCP endpoints with Approval Guard for Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor. | Closed platform without external MCP server access. |
Frequently asked questions
How does FavCRM pricing compare to Vagaro as my team grows?
Vagaro increases its base monthly fee with each additional bookable calendar and charges extra monthly fees for several add-on modules. FavCRM Pro is US$29/month flat (or US$290/year) for up to 5 team members—including CRM, bookings, memberships, and session packs.
Does FavCRM list other salons or studios to my clients?
No. FavCRM is software for your business, not a consumer marketplace. Your Branded Client Portal shows only your services, your schedule, and your brand.
Can I start with just CRM or just online booking first?
Yes. FavCRM is modular—start on Starter ($0 forever) for client CRM, or Simply Booking (US$20/month, 1-month free trial, no card at signup) for online scheduling, and upgrade to Pro only when you want session packs and full team workflows.