Square Appointments vs. Mangomint – Clash of the new-school salon and spa softwares.
Which will you choose?
In this comprehensive comparison, I will provide you with all the necessary information to make an informed decision between Square Appointments and Mangomint.
Square Appointments, a subsidiary of the financial services giant Square, Inc., continues to evolve its platform with new features like their Square Go marketplace app and enhanced scheduling capabilities including Gantt view calendars and improved manager approval workflows.
Square has carved a respectable niche among solopreneurs and small teams, especially with its free basic plan for individuals running their businesses single-handedly.
On the opposing side stands Mangomint, which has established itself as the highest-rated salon software platform, distinguished by its sophisticated design and innovative features like Automated Flows for personalized marketing and comprehensive payroll processing.
Since its inception in 2017, Mangomint has consistently earned top marks in customer satisfaction across review platforms, distinguishing itself through its commitment to creating an “invisible” software experience – tools so intuitive and efficient they seamlessly blend into daily operations.
While Square Appointments brings a breadth of utility suitable for a diverse clientele, Mangomint prioritizes perfection in every feature it offers and innovates on the core functionalities of salon and spa software to provide something entirely fresh to the industry.
At a glance, it may be hard to choose between these two platforms. Let’s dig a little deeper and take an in-depth look at each so you can get a clear idea of which is the best option for you.
Here is a breakdown of everything you will learn in this post:
Square Appointments vs Mangomint
Let's kick off with an overview of the two platforms we're diving into today.
Square Appointments
Mangomint
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., Canada, Australia, Japan, the UK.
U.S. and Canada
Key features
- 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
- 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
A Double-Click on Each System
Let’s take a closer look at each platform and compare their offerings in this Square Appointments vs. Mangomint guide.
Square Appointments At a Glance
Overall score
Square Appointments is a cloud-based appointment scheduling software for salons, spas and really any other local service businesses.
It integrates with the full suite of local business solutions from Square which makes it one of the most complete business management solutions on the market.
At the same time, it is free for individuals and has therefore quickly become one of the most popular platforms for one-person businesses like beauty booth renters and individual professionals.
Pros and Cons
- Free for individuals
- Well-designed, easy to use, interface
- Integration with the full suite of Square applications for endless possibilities
- Robust core business management (inventory, reports, and client data)
- Limited flexibility when designing online booking page, booking widget, e-mails and other aspects that you may want to adapt
- It gets a bit expensive for the growing team that expands with more locations
Mangomint At a Glance
Overall score
Mangomint represents a new generation of salon software that’s reimagining what these tools should feel like in 2025, consistently earning the highest user satisfaction ratings in the United States & Canada.
The platform has recently expanded its feature set to include sophisticated marketing automation, integrated payroll processing, and enhanced client communication tools while maintaining its core focus on user experience and design excellence.
Every little detail of this software has been designed to perfection – making it incredibly intuitive and easy to use. It also offers intelligent automations that reduces time spent managing your appointments and business operations.
Mangomint’s vision is to make salon software invisible—so smart and easy to use that it essentially disappears into your day-to-day operations. Their recent addition of Automated Flows for personalized marketing and enhanced integrated forms with image markup capabilities demonstrates this commitment to seamless operation. This focus on user experience, combined with their comprehensive feature set, is why they remain my #1 recommendation in 2025.
Pros and Cons
- Modern, easy-to-use, interface
- 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 that allow for integrations
- Highest-rated customer service on the market
- Not for solopreneurs. Only teams.
- Higher entry-level price than most other salon & spa software
- Only available in the United States & Canada
Square vs. Mangomint: Key Differences & Capabilities
Square Appointments takes a modular approach to business tools, allowing you to connect the pieces you need as you grow. Their interface is user-friendly, and they offer a comprehensive suite for managing bookings, inventory, reports, and client information.
While the free solo plan is attractive, costs can add up quickly as you add features and team members. Their new Square Go marketplace app helps with client discovery and booking, adding value for businesses looking to grow their client base.
Mangomint focuses on delivering a premium experience through intuitive design and innovative features. Recent additions include comprehensive payroll processing, two-way texting capabilities, and sophisticated marketing automation through their Automated Flows feature. The platform maintains its commitment to exceptional customer support, with hands-on onboarding that typically has new salons up and running within 30 days.
Mangomint serves the United States and Canada only, whereas Square Appointments is available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, the UK, Ireland, France and Spain.
Both systems is also on our list of the best salon and spa software right now.
Square Appointments vs Mangomint
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
Core Features Comparison
Square Appointments has enhanced its feature set with new capabilities like Gantt view calendars for better schedule visualization and improved manager approval workflows. Their hardware remains industry-leading, with some of the most modern and professional-looking payment equipment available. However, their modular approach means navigating between different apps for different functions, which some users find complex. Those looking to tailor their online booking to match their brand’s unique aesthetic might still find the templated designs restrictive.
Mangomint has built their brand on improving the core elements of salon and spa scheduling software while continuously innovating. The platform offers sophisticated features like client self-checkout, an Intelligent Waitlist for automatically filling cancellations, and Express Booking that streamlines phone bookings. Their newest addition, Automated Flows, creates personalized client communication sequences based on appointment history, purchases, and preferences, taking their automation capabilities to a new level.
Mangomint has continued to innovate rapidly, now offering a comprehensive suite of features that rivals industry veterans. Their integrated forms feature allows for sophisticated documentation with image markup capabilities, while their full-service payroll processing handles all tax calculations, payments, and filings. The platform now includes advanced marketing tools with both email and SMS capabilities, plus two-way texting for seamless client communication.
Square Appointments has a website builder and integrates with Wix as well. Mangomint does not offer a website builder. Instead, they allow you to create branded online booking tools that live right on your existing website (as well as a Shopify integration), so your clients can book and browse your offerings all in one place.
Feature Comparison
Mangomint offers more sophisticated features than Square Appointments. Let's go through what these features are and where they differ.
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Square Appointments
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Mangomint
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| Online Booking | Square Appointments | Mangomint |
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Website booking widget Note Can you integrate the entire online booking experience directly into your website? |
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Branding control Note Can you customize the look and feel of the booking experience to fit your brand? |
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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? |
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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? |
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| Two way SMS communication |
Note Clients can confirm appointments by replying to SMS |
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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? |
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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 |
Note Supports integration with SMS marketing platforms |
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| 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 | ||
Integration Capabilities & Third-Party Apps
As your business grows, you may need to connect additional software tools for more capabilities. Square’s modular approach means you can add features like marketing, payroll, and advanced reporting as separate components, though this can increase both costs and complexity.
While Square Appointments does have integrations with other Square products and third-party apps, custom options are more limited.
Mangomint stands out here with extensive integration capabilities, including both direct integrations with essential business tools like Quickbooks and Shopify, and the ability to build custom integrations through webhooks for more specialized needs.
Integrations
These platforms both offer third-party integrations.
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Square Appointments
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Mangomint
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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 |
The Square App Marketplace offer a lot of integrations. Some popular examples are:
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Pricing Plans & Costs Compared
Square Appointments maintains its appeal to solo entrepreneurs with a free base plan, but costs can accumulate quickly when adding features.
Comparatively, Mangomint doesn’t offer a single-user option, instead focusing on businesses with teams. While their entry price point is higher than Square’s free baseline, their all-inclusive approach often provides better value for growing salons and spas. Their pricing includes features that would require multiple add-ons with Square, such as integrated forms ($50/month with Square) and two-way texting ($75/month with Square).
The choice between these platforms often comes down to business size and growth plans. Solopreneurs with basic needs will find Square’s free plan attractive, while growing teams may prefer Mangomint’s more comprehensive approach.
Square’s modular pricing means you can start small and add features as needed, but costs can escalate quickly. Mangomint’s higher initial investment includes a more complete feature set and may offer better long-term value for established businesses.
Square Appointments vs Mangomint Pricing
Square pricing starts lower than Mangomint, but prices get competitive as you compare feature for feature.
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Square Appointments
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Mangomint
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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 read more about our experience testing these software suites, check out our comprehensive reviews of Mangomint and Square Appointments.
However, if you’re interested in hearing firsthand accounts from everyday business customers, take a look at the user review scores below.
User Reviews Compared
Let's compare scores for these systems on the major user review sites.
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Square Appointments
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Mangomint
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What Alternatives Should You Consider?
Square Appointments and Mangomint are both great choices for entirely different types of businesses.
If you’re still not sure if either is the right choice for you, take a look at these alternatives and see if they’re a better fit for you:
Booker also offers a massive client marketplace and supports small and large teams with its simplistic approach to booking software.
GlossGenius is a great option and my recommended alternative for independent professionals.
Booker vs GlossGenius
A quick comparison of the two alternatives.
Booker
GlossGenius
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
- Premium beauty-inspired interface design
- Professional-looking website in just a few clicks
- Integrated payment and card reader with customizable design
- Affordable, transparent, flat fee pricing
Conclusion
I hope this comparison was helpful in your search for the right salon and spa software for your business!
For more great software alternatives, see my list of the best salon and spa software of 2025.
