Guides · Comparisons
Sway vs Phorest for UK salons
Compare Sway and Phorest on UK pricing, salon features, setup, and which suits growing studios vs established multi-chair salons.
Published 25 June 2026
Why UK salons compare Sway and Phorest
Phorest is a well-known name in UK and Irish salon software, with a full salon management suite. Sway targets owners who want modern online booking, flat pricing, and coverage across beauty and wellness without enterprise salon complexity.
Who Phorest vs Sway is best for
Phorest suits established salons that need deep client retention tools, marketing automation, and salon-specific reporting. Sway suits owners who want to launch a booking page quickly, keep costs predictable, and serve clients across beauty and wellness.
Subscription and total cost
- Phorest: subscription pricing based on salon size and plan; typically higher entry cost than lightweight booking tools.
- Sway: free tier available; Individual from £14.99/mo; Team for multi-staff with included seats.
- Neither charges marketplace commission — compare subscription and payment processing for your staff count.
Worked example: solo vs growing salon
A solo stylist can start on Sway Free with up to 50 bookings per month, then upgrade to Individual for unlimited bookings and embeds. Phorest is typically positioned at established salons with higher monthly software investment.
For a two-chair salon, compare Phorest's quoted monthly fee against Sway Team — factor in whether you need Phorest's advanced CRM or primarily need online booking and payments.
Features that matter day to day
Phorest offers deep salon CRM, inventory, and marketing tools built over years. Sway focuses on online booking, deposits, group sessions, embeds, loyalty, passes, and team scheduling with a calm client experience.
If you run complex retail inventory and salon marketing campaigns, evaluate Phorest fully. If you need a branded booking page and calendar fast, Sway is often quicker to adopt.
Switching from Phorest to Sway
Export client and service data from Phorest, set up Sway, and transition your public booking links. Larger salons may want a phased rollout per location or department — our team can help plan the move.
Side-by-side summary
The table below compares Sway with marketplace-led booking tools. Phorest is subscription salon software like Sway — use the sections above for Phorest-specific pricing and feature depth.
Sway pricing at a glance
No marketplace commission on new bookings.
Free £0/mo · Individual £14.99/mo · Team £19.99/mo (2 staff) · extra staff £7.99/seat/mo
Platform fee on online card payments only — from 0.35% on Team to 2.4% on Free. No fee on pay-at-venue bookings.
| Feature | Sway | Fresha | Booksy | Treatwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo — monthly software | £0/mo Free · £14.99/mo Individual | £14.95/mo min · 7-day trial only | £40/mo + VAT (all features) | Plan fee + marketplace commission |
| Team of 2 — monthly software | £19.99/mo · 2 staff included | ~£19.90/mo (£9.95 × 2 staff) | £50/mo + VAT (2 staff) | Limited team tools |
| Team of 5 — monthly software | £43.96/mo · 2 staff + 3 add-on seats | ~£49.75/mo (£9.95 × 5 staff) | £60/mo + VAT (5 staff) | Limited team tools |
| Marketplace commission on new bookings | None — including Sway marketplace | Up to 20% on new marketplace clients (min £4) | Optional Boost: 30% on first visit (min £5 + VAT) | 35% on first booking from new marketplace clients (+ VAT) |
| Online payment platform fee | 0.35%–2.4% on card payments · £0 on pay-at-venue (+ Stripe) | Card processing fees apply | Processing + subscription fees | Processing + booking fees |
| Free forever plan (not a trial) | ||||
| Deposits & card payments on free plan | ||||
| Your own branded booking URL | Marketplace listing only | |||
| Customers browse without an account | Sign in only at checkout | Account often required | Varies | Required |
| In-app customer messaging | Included | SMS / WhatsApp add-ons | Varies | Limited |
| Website embed on your site | £14.99/mo (Individual+) | Direct links · limited embed | Varies | |
| Gift vouchers | Individual+ | Varies | ||
| Prepaid passes | Individual+ | Packages / memberships | Varies | |
| Promo discount codes | Individual+ | Limited | Varies | Varies |
| Loyalty rewards | Individual+ | Limited | Varies | |
| Team roles, staff calendars & analytics | Included on Team (£19.99/mo) | Per-seat subscription + add-ons | Higher tiers | Limited |
| Calendar sync (Google, Apple, Outlook) | Individual+ · per-staff on Team | Varies |
Sway pricing and platform fees reflect current UK plans. Team includes 2 staff; additional seats are billed as add-ons. Competitor pricing verified June 2026 — confirm on each provider's site (Fresha, Booksy, Treatwell). VAT applies to competitor subscriptions where noted.
Frequently asked questions
Phorest pricing depends on salon size and plan. Request a quote on phorest.com/uk — it is typically positioned above lightweight booking tools.
We'll help you switch
On Fresha, Booksy, Treatwell, Phorest, Square, Timely, or something else? Tell us what you use and we'll help you move your services, staff, and bookings.
Free, no obligation. We'll email you to plan the move.
Switch from Phorest to Sway
Start free with your own booking page. Run Sway alongside your current tool for two weeks, then move repeat clients to your Sway link.
Related guides
Booking tool comparison for UK salons and wellness
Compare Sway, Fresha, Booksy, and Treatwell on UK commission, pricing, embeds, and client ownership — an honest overview for salons and wellness studios.
Why Sway is often cheaper than other booking tools
Understand Sway's flat UK pricing, no marketplace commission, and platform fee only on online payments — compared to Fresha, Booksy, and Treatwell.
How to switch to Sway from Fresha, Booksy, or another tool
Step-by-step guide to migrating your UK salon or wellness business to Sway: services, clients, payments, embed, and parallel running without losing bookings.
