Booker vs. Boulevard – two popular salon management software options worth comparing if you’re in the market for a new system.
Booker, now owned by industry giant Mindbody, has been around since 2007 and is known for its simplicity and ease of use. It’s a straightforward platform focused on appointment scheduling, client management, and marketing tools to drive new appointments.
Boulevard, founded in 2016, is a fast-growing newcomer that bills itself as the “first and only client experience platform.” It puts client and user experience at the forefront with polished design and robust features tailored to businesses focused on exceptional service.
In this guide, I’ll examine key factors like features, pricing, support, and ideal user to help you understand which software suite is a better bet for your business: Booker or Boulevard.
Read on to find out which platform is the best choice for your salon’s needs.
Here’s what you’ll find in this Booker vs. Boulevard comparison:
Booker vs Boulevard
Let's kick off with an overview of the two platforms we're diving into today.
Booker
Boulevard
Overall score
Note
The overall score considers ease of use, customer service, features, user ratings, and cost. Scores are determined solely by our editorial team.
Average price
Note
Assumes you run a business with a mid-size team and have activated the more common add-ons. What you will pay will be lower or higher than this. See the separate section about pricing for full details.
Who is it for
Ease of use
Customer Service
Countries
Available almost worldwide
U.S.
Key features
- Two-way messaging available (only on Ultimate and Ultimate Plus)
- AI chatbot feature to help with scheduling (only on Ultimate Plus)
- Integrated payments through MindBody Payments (US & Canada only)
- Mindbody Explore Marketplace listing included with all subscriptions
- Easy-to-use interface
- Excellent online booking
- Integrated email marketing suite
- Highly detailed custom reports [on Premiere and above]
A Double-Click on Each System
Let’s cover what these systems are and look closer at the pros and cons of Booker vs. Boulevard.
Booker At a Glance
Overall score
Booker by Mindbody, is a subscription-based salon and spa software that has existed in some form since 2007. Booker is headquartered in San Luis Obispo CA, and is available nearly worldwide.
Booker’s strengths lie in its new client acquisition opportunities and integrated marketing capabilities.
While Booker’s lowest-tier plans are relatively affordable compared to the competition, they lack many of the noteworthy features that make Booker an attractive option, putting them somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to price-to-feature comparisons.
Pros and Cons
- Straightforward pricing
- Enhanced new client acquisition opportunities through MindBody Explore marketplace
- Integrated email marketing suite (on higher-tier plans)
- No free trial
- Must commit to a minimum 12-month contract before ever using the software
- US-based customer support only available to Ultimate and Ultimate Plus plans (outsourced on Starter and Accelerate plans)
Boulevard At a Glance
Overall score
Boulevard is an up-and-coming cloud-based beauty and wellness software that offers a strong toolset of core features like appointment booking and POS, as well as advanced marketing features and two-way messaging.
It natively integrates with over a dozen apps, including Quickbooks, Instagram, Shopify, and more.
It is quite a pricey option, however, coming in at a starting price of $175 for the lowest-tier plan, which we (and Boulevard themselves) don’t recommend as it lacks some of Boulevard’s best reporting, marketing, and inventory features.
Boulevard offers a free trial, but they require a 12-month minimum contract to sign up, so make sure you are 100% sure about your choice before signing up.
Pros and Cons
- Client data that you can actually use to boost client retention and sales
- Can integrate with a large number of third party applications
- Precision Scheduling™ tech to fill the best gaps on the calendar first
- Well designed & easily-searchable help center
- High price-point across all plans
- Essentials plan lacks many of the best features Boulevard offers
- Boulevard Professional mobile app is buggy & has low ratings on iOS & Android
- Marketing suite can’t differentiate between bookings from emails vs other factors (you may end up paying more)
How Do They Compare? Strengths and Weaknesses of Booker vs. Boulevard
When we put Booker against Boulevard, it’s clear they cater to different preferences in salon management.
Booker is recognized for its user-friendly interface that makes training staff straightforward. It’s known for being a reliable option that doesn’t overwhelm users with too many complex features (although it does offer quite a few).
Boulevard, on the other hand, is appreciated for its modern design and smart scheduling features that aim to maximize efficiency. Its interface is clean and contemporary, which is a big plus for salons that prioritize a polished image and user experience.
However, both systems have their downsides. Especially in comparison to newer software options like Boulevard, Booker seems outdated in its design.
Both options have a moderate entry price point, but you will need to shell out a few hundred dollars on top of that to get their most attractive features.
Boulevard has faced some criticism for its mobile app performance, with many reports of buggy experiences. Likewise, some users report that they find certain tasks in the desktop app, such as managing staff schedules, less than intuitive.
Booker’s mobile app is no better, though. As a longtime user of Booker in my salon in the 2010s and having recently tested and reviewed it here at The Salon Business, I can attest that the experience is still glitchy at best, with frequent logouts and improperly synced calendars being longtime issues that still plague the app.
Ultimately, the choice between Booker vs. Boulevard will hinge on what a salon values more: the ease and familiarity of Booker or the sleek, modern approach of Boulevard.
Booker vs Boulevard
Let's kick off with an overview of the two platforms we're diving into today.
Ease of use
Design
Customer service
Pricing
Calendar and appointment management
Online booking
Point of sale and check out
Client data
Client communication
Inventory management
Team Management
Payroll
Marketing support
3rd party integrations
Mobile and tablet apps
Booker vs. Boulevard: Features
Breaking down the features of Booker and Boulevard shows that both platforms are tailored more toward teams rather than individuals, mainly due to their pricing structures. Booker, part of the Mindbody ecosystem, aligns closely with Mindbody’s feature set and pricing tiers.
Booker’s marketing features are broadly competitive with Boulevard’s, with tools like an email campaign builder and access to a client marketplace via Mindbody Marketplace, highly valuable features for client outreach and retention.
While Boulevard does not offer a client marketplace, it comes equipped with a more feature-rich marketing suite and more highly-detailed reporting capabilities than Booker.
Boulevard’s Precision Scheduling™ technology is a standout online booking feature that Booker currently has no answer for, designed to help salons optimize their calendars and fill appointment slots more efficiently.
Booker vs Boulevard
Booker or Boulevard? Let's go through what these features are and where they differ.
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Booker
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Boulevard
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| Online Booking | Booker | Boulevard |
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Website booking widget Note Can you integrate the entire online booking experience directly into your website? |
Note Not included by default. Requires custom web development and API access fees. |
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Branding control Note Can you customize the look and feel of the booking experience to fit your brand? |
Note Not included by default. Requires custom web development and API access fees. |
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No-show protection Note Can you store credit card details and charge deposits to reinforce your cancellation policy? |
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Service customization Note Can clients adapt their service when they book, and can this change the price and duration of the booked appointment? |
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Free from account creation Note Can clients book without having first to create an account with the software? |
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Integrated gift cards Note Can you sell digital gift cards as part of the booking process? |
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| Calendar and Appointment Management | ||
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Customize notification messages Note Can you change the text sent to your clients as part of appointment reminders and other messages? |
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Customize notification timings Note Can you change when reminders and other messages go out to your clients? |
Note Full customization not available. Options are limited to: 2 Days Before, 1 Day Before, and Same Day. |
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| Client waitlist management | ||
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Rooms and resource scheduling Note Can you manage equipment, rooms, and other resources required to complete a service? |
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Repeat appointments Note Can you schedule clients for recurring appointments? |
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Time block Note Can you block out time on your calendar? |
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Processing time Note Can you allow for double booking of service providers by accepting appointments during service processing time? |
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Duration and price by staff Note Can you adapt the price and time needed for a service based on who is performing the service? |
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Automated check-in Note Can clients check in to their appointments themselves? |
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| Point of Sale/ Check out | ||
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Tablet compatible Note Can you run the POS on any tablet or do you need special hardware? |
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Dedicated POS hardware Note Does the system provider offer hardware to improve the check out expereince? |
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Self check out Note Can clients check out from their appointment themselves? |
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Route payments to renters Note If you have booth renters in your business, can you route payments directly to them? |
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Cards on file Note Can you store credit card details and charge the customer later? |
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Integrated payments Note Does the software offer a first-party payment processing solution? |
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| Client Data & Communication | ||
| SMS Notification | ||
| Email Notificition | ||
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Dedicated business SMS number Note Do you get a business phone number that your messages and notifications are send from? |
Note Available on Ultimate & Ultimate Plus plans only |
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| Two way SMS communication |
Note Available on Ultimate & Ultimate Plus plans only |
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Forms Note Can you create intake forms, store SOAP notes, and have clients sign your forms? |
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Client notes Note Can you store notes about clients on their profile? |
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Client files and images Note Can you store files and image on in the client’s profile? |
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| Inventory and Product Types | ||
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Inventory tracking Note Will the system keep track of stock levels, notify you when it’s time to re-order? |
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Purchase orders Note Can the system create automatic purchase orders for you? |
Note Not available on Essentials plan. |
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| Retail | ||
| Memberships | ||
| Packages | ||
| Gift cards | ||
| Team Support & Payroll | ||
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Fully integrated payroll Note Can you run payroll and cut paychecks directly through the software? |
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3rd party payroll integration Note Does the software allow you integrate and share data with a 3rd party payroll solution (e.g. Gusto, ADP, Paychex, etc)? |
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| Payroll reports | ||
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Commission support Note Can you track and report on commission for service, retail, and other product types? |
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Multi-location support Note Does the system have specific support for businesses with multiple locations |
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Booth renter support Note Can the system help with rent collection, payments, and other booth renter management tasks. |
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| Marketing Support | ||
| Email marketing | ||
| SMS marketing | ||
| Website builder | ||
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Client marketplace Note Does it offer a platform where potential clients can browse businesses using the software? |
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Add-on offers Note Can you promote service add-ons/upsells as part of the online booking flow? |
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| Cloud & Mobile App Access | ||
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Full-featured mobile app Note Can you access all software features in the mobile app? |
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| Web browser | ||
| iPad | ||
| iPhone | ||
| Android | ||
Integrating with Other Platforms for Additional Features
One area where Booker and Boulevard differ significantly is in platform integrations. Boulevard offers more out-of-the-box integrations.
Boulevard enables integration with popular tools like Shopify, Facebook Book Now, Instagram, and more. This allows Boulevard users to easily expand capabilities without additional development costs.
Meanwhile, Booker can integrate with many apps via its open API, but this requires web development expertise and licensing fees in order to accommodate.
Booker vs Boulevard
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Booker
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Boulevard
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Custom integrations Note Does the platform allow you to create new integrations to support your business-specific needs? |
Note On Enterprise plan only. |
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Native integrations Note Built-in integrations that you can activate as needed |
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Pricing
When it comes to pricing, both Booker and Boulevard offer a tier-based structure where the more you pay, the more features you unlock. Booker’s entry-level plans are reasonably priced when compared to the broader market, but they do lack some of the platform’s standout features, which are reserved for higher-tier plans.
Boulevard also starts with an accessible entry price, but as with Booker, the most compelling features require investment in more expensive plans.
Comparing the two directly, neither Booker nor Boulevard pulls ahead significantly in terms of value for money.
If low cost is important to you, then you will be better off with another alternative on my top salon and spa software list.
Booker vs Boulevard Pricing
Both apps are similarly priced.
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Booker |
Boulevard |
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| Average Price | ||
| Trial Options | ||
| Minimum contract length | ||
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Plans
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| Plans | ||
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Add-ons
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| Add-ons | ||
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Credit card fees
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| Credit card fees | ||
What Do Users Think of These Platforms?
To get a better understanding of each platform’s user experience, check out what real users have to say about Booker and Boulevard across review sites and app stores.
Booker vs Boulevard
Let's compare scores for these systems on the major user review sites.
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Booker |
Boulevard |
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What Booker and Boulevard Alternatives Should You Consider?
Booker and Boulevard are two great options for many businesses. If you’re still unsure if either is right for you, check out these alternatives:
Mangomint is the highest-rated software for salons and spas. If you have a team and want the best customer service in the industry, I highly recommend you give this alternative a try.
Square Appointments is a popular alternative to Booker, and offers a bit better value as well, making it a great choice for independent professionals on a budget.
Mangomint vs Square Appointments
A quick comparison of the two Booker and Boulevard alternatives.
Mangomint
Square Appointments
Overall score
Note
The overall score considers ease of use, customer service, features, user ratings, and cost. Scores are determined solely by our editorial team.
Average price
Note
Assumes you run a business with a mid-size team and have activated the more common add-ons. What you will pay will be lower or higher than this. See the separate section about pricing for full details.
Who is it for
Ease of use
Customer Service
Countries
U.S. and Canada
U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, the UK.
Key features
- Modern, intuitive, and easy to use
- Smart automations that help cut down on time spent managing business operations
- Open data ownership and no contracts (you’re not locked into anything)
- Can integrate with any other platform who allows for integrations
- Highest-rated customer service on the market
- Large amount of native integrations with other apps
- Comprehensive, easy-to-use, marketing tools
- Best looking POS hardware on the market
- Free, sophisticated, website builder and online store
Conclusion: Booker, Boulevard, or neither?
I hope this comparison of Booker and Boulevard has helped you in your quest for the right salon and spa software.
For more alternatives, don’t miss my list of the best salon and spa software for 2024.
