Guides · Updated October 28, 2026

What barbershop booking software really costs

The price on a booking app's homepage is rarely the price you pay. Many tools start low, then add a charge for each extra barber, a fee on clients they send you, or paid add-ons for texts and marketing.

Before you commit, work out the real monthly total for your shop. This guide shows where the costs hide and how to compare tools fairly. Prices change often, so check each provider's own site for current numbers.

The four ways booking software charges you

Base subscription: a monthly fee for the account.
Per-chair or per-staff pricing: an extra charge for each barber you add, so a growing shop pays more every time it hires.
Add-ons: paid extras such as text messages, marketing tools, or a branded booking page.
Commission or new-client fees: a cut of the first booking from clients the platform sends you, or a percentage of payments.

How to calculate your real monthly cost

Write down your numbers: how many barbers, how many texts you send a month, and how many bookings come from the platform's own marketplace versus your regulars. Then add up the base fee, a fee for every barber past the first, any add-ons you need and any new-client fees.

Do the sum for your shop today and again for the shop you want in a year. A tool that is cheapest for one chair can be the most expensive at three.

Questions to ask before you sign up

Is there an extra charge per barber or chair?
Are text reminders included, or billed separately?
Do you charge a fee or commission on new clients or on payments?
What does it cost to remove the provider's branding from my booking page?
Can I export my client list if I leave?
Is there a contract, and what happens if I cancel?

What a flat price looks like

NEXTCUT costs CA$89 per month per location. There is no per-barber fee, no commission and no per-booking fee, so adding a chair doesn't change your bill. The first month is free and no credit card is required.

It doesn't include a marketplace that finds you new clients, which is the reason there is nothing to take a cut of. You can compare it with one popular marketplace tool in our Booksy alternative guide.

Is the cheapest tool the best deal?

Not always. A very cheap tool that doesn't send reminders or help clients rebook can cost you more in no-shows and drifting clients than you save on the subscription. Count what the software does for the empty chairs, not just what it charges.

Frequently asked questions

Is there free barbershop booking software?

Some tools have free plans, usually with limits on staff, clients, text messages or features. Check what is limited and whether the paid tier changes your total once you have several barbers.

Do booking apps charge commission?

Some charge a fee on new clients who book through their marketplace, or a percentage on payments. Ask before you sign up and read the terms for any fee tied to bookings.

How much does NEXTCUT cost?

CA$89 per month per location, flat, with the first month free. No commissions and no per-barber fees.

Fill the chair before it empties.

NEXTCUT books, reminds and rebooks your clients automatically. CA$89/month per shop, first month free.