Top 10 Vagaro alternatives and Cons: Vagaro is scheduling and business management software. It is specially meant for beauty and wellness enterprise scheduling. It helps you to reach more clients from social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
Vagaro claims to support all user devices. It is mostly downloaded and used as mobile app. It also ensures extending customer support for 24/7. Thus by embedding Vagaro into your spa, salon or massage and fitness center, you can have more bookings than usual. It has got decent ratings (4+) from reviewers also.
Features
- Calendar
- Online booking
- Payments
- Notifications
- Customer tracking
- Forms
- Marketing
- Online store
- Live stream
- Invoices
- Inventor
- Memberships
- Payroll
- Website builder
Integration
- Yelp
- Gusto
- Xero
- Quickbooks
Pricing
Vagaro has free trial and free version to try. Pricing is made per number of users. Basic subscription starts from $25 per month.
Besides all these credits, Vagaro terribly fails to meet customer needs in scheduling grounds. Here is the list of serious drawbacks given by trusted and long term users of Vagaro in reviews.
CONS
Poor website integration.
When a user tries to integrate Vagaro into another site, it does not support. It never allows the user to refresh the page and try for one more time. It is highly frustrating to see the page never responds but stays still. It is not as claimed by Vagaro to integrate and support websites. It seems the software is malfunctioning and fails in basic aspects like website embedding. You need to switch some efficient software immediately.
Lots of ads
As a user, you may not prefer getting disturbed by frequent ads in scheduling page. Vagaro shows many third party ads which is irritating to the core. Many users find it highly distracting to get too many adds while seeing bookings and managing schedules. It is okay to have ads in free versions and trials. But it is unnecessary to see ads in a paid version. Even in free version, there is limit to show ads.
No customization
Vagaro while mentioning their features says that they give customized support in scheduling. In real, it is not so. You can’t even have customized page builder. You must use any of the pre designed template options given in the list. Also, you can’t have your clients and their bookings in a drop down list in a sequence. You need to click each and every booking manually every time to see the bookings. You can rather recruit a staff to handle appointments than using Vagaro anymore.
Needs update
Indeed, Vagaro has evolved much better than before. It has come out with many add on features in recent years. But comparing other market scheduling software, it is not something great. It still lacks behind in meeting futuristic needs of the users. As the beauty and wellness industry grows swiftly, you need to cope up with the speed in scheduling also. It is fine to use Vagaro for current days. But in future, you might feel Vagaro outdated and too old. Due to Covid many business transactions happen through online but Vagaro needs update to include payment platforms like Apple pay.
Struck in the middle
During appointment booking, Vagaro never saves the activity. When the users log out from the booking page, you can never expect Vagaro to keep the data. You can’t see the changes in the next time when you log in. It would be better if it saves the activity before logging out. Adding to this, it gets struck in the middle of the process. So, you need to do everything from the beginning once again. No user will need such app any more. They might think of switching to other better scheduling app.
No automation
Vagaro lists automated online bookings in features list. It actually should be removed from there. It does not even give customizable window to view scheduling page. You cannot have drop down clients list and mail management. As a user, you need to click and view everything manually.
Tough to handle
Vagaro cannot handle too many appointments on its own. When there is too many appointments, it fails to give specification in the booking page. To know bookings, you need to click every appointment individually and close it to know the bookings and booking time. On the other hand, your clients also find it frustrating to wait too long to have confirmation message or mail from Vagaro.
Poor inventory support
Inventory helps to sell products jointly with appointment bookings. It is highly in use for beauty and fitness industry. As the spa, salon or fitness center owner, you may widen your business prospect. The products you produce in relating your enterprise finds a marketing field in appointment scheduling. But with Vagaro, you get least or no support for inventory.
Lots of manual intervention needed
Long term users of Vagaro get switched to other appointment scheduling apps. There is one particular user says “Unfortunately, I’m trapped in!” You can really spend money on traditional bookings or other software except Vagaro. Since using Vagaro means doing everything manually.
Lots of loading and slow process
Page speed of Vagaro is slow. It buffers and loads to show the booking page or form to the clients. No client will sit patiently to book appointments by taking much time. They find it waste of time to book for appointments with you. It definitely gets a worst impression on your enterprise as well.
Not mobile friendly
Vagaro claims that it is a high rated mobile friendly appointment scheduling software. 90% of mobile users book appointments from their mobile. But Vagaro can only claim the support and unable to provide effective service. Many of the users installing Vagaro in their mobile feel that they lack support of Vagaro in their device.
Difficulty in payment processing
Vagaro takes too long to respond to the payment process. There is a loyal subscriber of Vagaro tells that he could not access the payment option for a while. He neither receives the money from the client for appointments nor gets any notification regarding this. Only after long waiting, payment gets transacted. This puts you in a risky situation.
Lots of clicks
As told earlier, user should click every time to know bookings. There is no simple drop down list box to show fellow other features and options. It means, people need bookings and owners provide booking page struggle with lots of clicks.
Chaotic notification system
Regarding email marketing, Vagaro sends emails to clients. But at times, many clients cannot receive mails. It is true many blocks business mails. But Vagaro causes confusion in sending notifications.
Highly inconsistent
Vagaro has numerous features. Thinking on the functioning of features, it is poor and highly inconsistent.
Unable to add up discount coupons
Clients can never claim discounts in payment option. Clients booking appointments find it unable to claim offers and price reductions on bookings.
Finding reports
Reports of bookings and appointments are not tracked. It never tracks clients and sends reports accordingly as claimed.
Tricky access
Vagaro has many features to use. Users get confused between features often. There is a user still find Vagaro features complex and tricky to use even after a year of use.
Double appointments
Clients want to extend appointment time cannot get it. But it gets booked as double appointments. Clients find clash of appointments.
Long check out process
Every time you want to see you bookings, you need to log in and log out. There is no automation. It is not easy to check out immediately but lots of clicks needed. You should close all the pages you viewed.
Are you now searching for the alternative right?
Check below to know top 10 alternatives to Vagaro.
Hupport
Hupport is top rated appointment scheduling software. Hupport is the best scheduler allows the user to customize features on every need. Hupport understands you need. There is an ever ready expert team to make add on features if you demand any.
Why Hupport?
You can have easy and quick scheduling within few seconds. It is no wonder that it gains 5 Million trusted users across the globe. Hupport ensures automation in bookings. It also gives auto updates with the service provider. Thus, as a user you need not bother any of these constant updates.
Scheduling features
- Booking page (Customizable)
- Appointment slots
- Schedule control
- Managing workflow
- Block appointments
- API integration
- Calendar management
- Embedding scheduler into websites
- Embedding scheduler into Email signatures
- Make payments
- Optimized mobile appointment page
How Hupport works?
- Showing scheduling page with simple coding
- Follow ups through multiple reminders
- 24/7 supports
- Effective website conversion
- Effective cost reduction
- Re-scheduling
- Reviews
- Reports/analysis
Supporting platforms
Hupport scheduling software supports,
- Windows
- Mobile(even androids)
- Live support
Integration
- Zapier
- Google calendar
Pricing
Hupport scheduling software is highly cost effective and economical.
- Have 14 days of free trials to get use to scheduling features
- Basic subscription starts from $10 per month
- To access advanced features, subscribe to Hupport by paying $15 per month.
Subscribe to Hupport by paying just $10 per month now!
HelmBot
HelmBot is an appointment and business management software. It gives appointment scheduling, point of sale, staff management, marketing automation and other such features. It has got 4+ ratings. HelmBot gives free trials to try but no free version is available. Basic subscription starts from $95 per month.
Features
- Automated scheduling
- Calendar sync
- Client database
- Reminders
- Discount management
- Electronic signature
- Gift card management
- Group scheduling
- Inventory management
MassageBook
MassageBook does scheduling for massage centers in specific. It also does scheduling for fitness professionals. It gives simplified appointment booking and scheduling experience. Pricing starts from $7. 50 per month.
Features
- Calendar sync
- Client management
- Email marketing
- Point of sale
- Reminders
- Website integration
DaySmart Salon
DaySmart Salon serves more than 20 years in providing beauty and wellness services. It does branding easily and automatically. It is also affordable to use this app. pricing starts from $29 per month.
Features
- Appointment management and scheduling
- Calendar sync and management
- Customizable templates
- Email reminders
- Point of sale
- Sales reports
- Third party app and social media integration
Boulevard
Boulevard is a software used by many professionals for appointment booking and scheduling. It is easy to use this app as it is found more sophisticated. It gives free demo to know features. Pricing of this app starts from $175 per month.
Features
- Client database
- Client profiles
- Confirmation/reminders
- Customer accounts
- Booking and appointment management
BookSteam
BookSteam suits all size of business. It gives customization and easy set up. It gives 14 days free trials. It has free version to use. Basic subscription starts from $19.95 per month.
Features
- Access control
- Automated scheduling
- Availability management
- Calendar management and sync
- Gift card management
- Event management
- Inventory management
- Marketing automation
Shedul
Shedul is free scheduling software. It is simple to use and flexible to customize on users’ need. It is specially built for spa and salon appointment management. It has got 4+ ratings from reviewers. Paid version starts from $39 per month.
Features
- Business page
- Wellness directory
- Google reviews
- Staff management
- Basic reporting
- Automated reminders
- Client mobile website
Mindbody
Mindbody is a software solution that does scheduling for fitness and wellness industry. This app helps in branding as it includes revenues, sales, attendance and client retention. It is meant for mobile users as it provides custom branding to experience same in scheduling with mobiles. Basic subscription starts from $129 per month.
Features
- API integration
- Appointment management
- Appointment scheduling
- Automated scheduling
- Calendar management
- Client profile and management
- Email management
- HIPAA compliant
- Mobile access
AestheticPro
AestheticPro is a medical spa management system provides flexible scheduling. With unlimited calendars, it schedules and manages appointments. It has accounting suite allows users to analyze daily transaction. This is the best app for online marketing management. Basic subscription starts from $109 per month.
Features
- ACH payment processing
- Appointment management and scheduling
- Forms management
- Gift card management
- Promotions management
- Website integration
Booker
Booker is an appointment scheduling software focuses on managing appointments and schedules. It allows you to access your account for 24/7. It is cloud based software that gives effective scheduling. Basic subscription starts from $129 per month. It has three levels of subscription.
Features
- API integration
- Appointment management and scheduling
- Booking management
- Calendar management and sync
- Employee database
- Reporting/analytics
- Website integration.
Choose any efficient alternative to experience better scheduling!