In the world of salon and spa management software, the battle of Zenoti vs. Mindbody represents two strong contenders vying for the same type of customer.
In this comprehensive comparison, I will provide you with all the necessary information to make an informed decision between Zenoti and Mindbody.
Zenoti, stepping onto the scene in 2010 as ManageMySpa, has rapidly become popular in the industry, serving over 25,000 businesses with a rich suite of features. Its strength lies in detailed reporting and comprehensive customer relationship management.
Mindbody has been around since 1998, known for its robust marketing and client acquisition tools. It caters to fitness and wellness businesses with specific needs like HIPAA compliance and those who host online classes.
Zenoti excels as the choice for business owners who prioritize exhaustive control and granular insights within their management platform.
On the flip side, Mindbody stands out for businesses aiming to expand their clientele, and focuses on services such as group classes and wellness sessions, offering specialized tools to support those goals through livestreaming and video-on-demand.
Read on for an in-depth analysis and comparison of both brands so you can determine which software is the best fit for you.
Here is a breakdown of everything you will learn in this post:
Zenoti vs Mindbody
Let's kick off with an overview of the two platforms we're diving into today.
Zenoti
Mindbody
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 in nearly 50 countries worldwide
Available in 130 countries
Key features
- Integrated email marketing suite
- Two-way client messaging (via paid add-on feature: ezConnect)
- Reputation management suite (via paid add-on feature: ezRepute)
- Employee performance tracking (via paid add-on feature: ezPulse)
- Two-way messaging available (only on Ultimate and Ultimate Plus)
- AI chatbot feature to help with scheduling (only on Ultimate Plus)
- Ability to create a custom branded app and sell classes online (additional costs apply)
- Mindbody Explore Marketplace listing included with all subscriptions
A Double-Click on Each System
Let’s take a closer look at each platform and compare their offerings.
Zenoti At a Glance
Overall score
Zenoti has existed in some form since 2010, when it was initially founded as ManageMySpa, officially becoming Zenoti in 2015.
Zenoti’s features build on the blueprint established by businesses like Booker and Mindbody, and expand the customizability and capability of those features with control over even the most minute details. The level of detail in data and reporting is a step ahead of some of the other big-name competitors in the industry, and its reputation management features are rather impressive.
That said, Zenoti also falls prey to some of the same mistakes that veteran salon software companies like Mindbody and Booker are still making.
Booker, Mindbody, and Zenoti all suffer from the uglies of bad, outdated user interface design, sporting plain, drab menu systems that tuck away important features in layers of nested menus and strip out crucial information (such as icon labels) you need to find the tools you need at a moment’s notice.
Likewise, Zenoti doesn’t list their fees online, hiding their monthly pricing behind a demo/sales call just as Mindbody does.
Pros and Cons
- Can integrate with a large number of third-party applications via an open API
- Integrated payments through Zenoti Payments
- Custom reports
- Help center and Zenoti University (training) available
- No free trial
- Pricing is not transparent + high starting cost (minimum $300)
- Mobile app has low-to-mixed ratings
- Requires a 12-month contract
Mindbody At a Glance
Overall score
The company has been around in some capacity since 1998, when the company was initially founded as Hardbody Software, officially becoming Mindbody in 2001. Since then, Mindbody has exploded in popularity, raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and purchased several other companies, including Booker, Classpass, and FitMetrix. Mindbody is headquartered in San Luis Obispo CA, and is available nearly worldwide.
Mindbody’s strengths lie in its new client acquisition opportunities and integrated marketing and content monetization capabilities.
Just like its sister software, Booker, while Mindbody’s lower-tier plans are relatively affordable, they lack many of the noteworthy features that make Mindbody an attractive option, putting them somewhere in the middle of the pack when it comes to price-to-feature comparisons.
Pros and Cons
- Enhanced new client acquisition opportunities through MindBody Marketplace
- Integrated payments though MindBody Payments (US & Canada only)
- Integrated email marketing suite (on Accelerate, Ultimate, and Ultimate Plus plans)
- Ability to monetize educational classes and content
- No free trial
- Must commit to a minimum 12-month contract before ever using the software
- Stateside customer support only available to Ultimate and Ultimate Plus plans
- App interface and menus are clunky and outdated
How Do They Compare? Strengths and Weaknesses
When it comes to Zenoti and Mindbody, both platforms boast an impressive array of strengths, but they aren’t without their weaknesses either.
Zenoti, known for its comprehensive feature set, is for salon businesses that want to dive deep into analytics and leverage customer data for growth. Its expansive capabilities, however, come with a steeper starting price tag, which might deter those on the fence or with budget constraints.
Mindbody, a veteran in the space, competes with Zenoti on almost every feature. Zenoti has better reputation management capabilities and improved business insights through smart use of client data, but Mindbody offers more options for businesses that host classes online and boasts a massive online client marketplace.
Mindbody boasts a staggering number of bookings through its marketplace, underlining its capacity to drive significant business traffic.
However, users might find Mindbody’s interface to be somewhat outdated, especially when compared to newer, sleeker competitors; a fact that could be a turnoff for the aesthetically inclined or those who prioritize a modern user experience.
We found the same to be true of Zenoti’s user interface. Both software suites look and feel a bit stuck in the past, despite all the fancy features bolted onto each over the years.
Yet, despite these advantages, there’s no denying that the user experience—particularly on mobile—remains a critical area where both Zenoti and Mindbody have received poor reviews and could use further refinement, with users expressing a mix of frustration across both the Android and iOS versions for both software brands.
Zenoti vs Mindbody
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
Let’s Talk Features
Both platforms come equipped with robust features like email marketing suites, advanced appointment scheduling, POS hardware, and more.
Standouts for Zenoti include impressive reputation management tools, in-depth data analytics, and employee performance tracking capabilities.
Mindbody’s higher-end Ultimate and Ultimate Plus plans unlock premium features like an AI-powered chatbot for scheduling assistance (something that Zenoti also offers as an add-on).
Both Zenoti and Mindbody provide strong suites of software tools to manage large or complex service businesses. Zenoti rates as more innovative and fully featured, but Mindbody makes up some ground through its wider app ecosystem integrations.
Features are broadly comparable across both platforms, but Zenoti edges our Mindbody with some truly novel reputation management and analytics features.
Zenoti vs Mindbody
Let's go through what the features are and where they differ.
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Zenoti
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Mindbody
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| Online Booking | Zenoti | Mindbody |
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Website booking widget Note Can you integrate the entire online booking experience directly into your website? |
Note Available on all plans except Starter plan |
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Branding control Note Can you customize the look and feel of the booking experience to fit your brand? |
Note Available on all plans except Starter plan |
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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? |
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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? |
Note Not by default. Available through Zenoti Go add-on. |
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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? |
Note Not by default. Available through Zenoti Go add-on. |
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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 through ezConnect premium add-on for an additional fee |
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| Two way SMS communication |
Note Available through ezConnect premium add-on for an additional fee |
Note Included in Mindbody’s Ultimate software package. Optional add-on for lower-tier plans. |
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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? |
Note Can upload files to forms, but not client profiles |
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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? |
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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
Both Zenoti and Mindbody enable integration with third-party platforms to augment capabilities, but they take different approaches.
Mindbody is the clear leader when it comes to sheer integration volume thanks to over 20 years of establishing partnerships. The platform offers over 150 direct integrations through its interface alongside expanded options through its open API.
Zenoti has over 60 direct integrations but relies more heavily on API connections for additional functions.
So, for plug-and-play simplicity with the most popular apps, Mindbody is hard to beat. However, Zenoti provides great customization for niche use cases through its open API at the cost of some developer effort.
Zenoti vs Mindbody
These platforms both offer exceptional integration capabilties.
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Zenoti
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Mindbody
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Custom integrations Note Does the platform allow you to create new integrations to support your business-specific needs? |
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Native integrations Note Built-in integrations that you can activate as needed |
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Full list available in the Mindbody Partner Store. |
Pricing
Mindbody follows a more traditional software pricing model with clear monthly subscription tiers and included feature sets. Plans scale from affordable entry-level options lacking their most robust capabilities up to premium packages with every bell and AI-powered whistle.
Zenoti doesn’t disclose standard monthly fees on their site. Pricing is customized based on your business needs, and you must take a sales call with their team to get pricing information. As a potential salon customer, Zenoti offered me an entry-level package price of over $300 – considerably higher than Mindbody’s lowest tier.
If low cost is important to you, then you may be better off with one of the more affordable alternatives on my list of the best salon and spa software right now.
Zenoti vs Mindbody Pricing
Mindbody's plans start at a much lower price than Zenoti's.
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Zenoti |
Mindbody |
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| Average Price | ||
| Trial Options | ||
| Minimum contract length | ||
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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 read more about our experience testing these software suites, we invite you to explore our comprehensive reviews of Zenoti and Mindbody.
However, if you’re interested in what everyday business customers have to say, take a look at the user review scores and platforms below.
Zenoti vs Mindbody
Let's compare scores for these systems on the major user review sites.
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Zenoti |
Mindbody |
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What Alternatives Should You Consider?
If you’re still unsure if either is the right fit, consider the platforms below.
Mangomint is the highest-rated software for salons and spas. If you have a team and you want the best customer service in the industry, I highly recommend you give them a try.
Square Appointments is a popular alternative for smaller businesses, serving independent professionals on a budget with a suite of must-have features.
Mangomint vs Square Appointments
A quick comparison of the two Zenoti and Mindbody 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
I hope this comparison was helpful in your search for the right salon and spa software for your business!
For more alternatives, please read my list of the best salon and spa software of 2024.
