Vagaro vs. GlossGenius: Why Vagaro Doesn’t Charge Hidden Fees

Running a beauty or wellness business already comes with enough surprises. Between inventory, staffing, rent, and marketing, the last thing you need is software that slowly bleeds you dry with hidden fees.

Yet, that’s precisely what happens with a lot of the popular platforms out there today.

Some software companies, like Gloss Genius, lock “basic” tools that are non-negotiable for salons or studios, like waitlists, behind upgraded plans that don’t feel upgraded at all, just… more expensive.

Let’s break down the hidden or undisclosed fees you could pay with GlossGenius, and explore why Vagaro doesn’t do that.

What Are Hidden Fees?

Hidden fees in beauty and wellness software aren’t always obvious line items on a bill. More often, they appear as locked features, mandatory upgrades, and pricing tiers that quietly charge more for tools your business relies on every day.

The Problem with “Simple” Features That Cost Extra

Salons and spas are built on smooth experiences, from booking to checkout to follow-ups. But many software platforms treat those smooth experiences like premium add-ons.

Here’s the issue:

The features you actually use daily: waitlists, resource booking, client intake forms, reporting, marketing tools, are often hidden behind upgrades.

That means you’re paying more just to run your business... like a business. To make matters worse, the price jumps often don’t match the value.

The Real Cost of Hidden Fees

Hidden fees actively interfere with how your business operates and grows. When essential tools are locked behind higher pricing tiers, software stops being a support system and starts becoming a constraint.

1. They limit your growth

Growth should be a business decision, not a pricing penalty. But when adding a staff member, opening another room, or offering a new service requires a mandatory software upgrade, expansion becomes more expensive than it needs to be. Instead of scaling on your own terms, you’re forced to weigh opportunity against subscription costs, often delaying progress simply to avoid higher fees.

2. They create confusion

Hidden fees blur expectations. When features you assumed were standard turn out to be gated behind upgrades, it undermines trust in the platform. Pricing becomes harder to predict, budgeting gets murkier, and you’re left questioning what’s actually included versus what will cost extra down the line.

3. They waste your time

Time spent evaluating plan tiers, comparing feature lists, and recalculating costs is time not spent serving clients or growing revenue. Instead of focusing on your schedule, your team, or your marketing, you’re stuck managing software limitations, something your system should eliminate, not create.

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Does GlossGenius Have Hidden Fees?

GlossGenius is often praised for its sleek, user-friendly interface. But behind the polish, the pricing model is built to make you pay more for what should be standard.

Here’s what to look out for:

Waitlist

A waitlist is not a luxury. It’s a necessity for busy salons and studios.

But GlossGenius requires an upgraded plan to access it.

Resource Booking

If you manage multiple chairs, rooms, or equipment, you need resource booking.

GlossGenius also tucks this behind a higher tier.

Pricing Increase

What’s more frustrating is the price jump.

You don’t get a new business model or radically advanced features, you just get access to tools you should already have. So you’re forced to pay more just to operate at a professional level.

Does Vagaro Have Hidden Fees?

Vagaro is built around one simple principle:

Your business shouldn’t pay more for tools it needs to operate.

That’s why Vagaro offers all-inclusive features that cover everything a beauty or wellness business needs without forcing you into higher pricing tiers.

Here’s what that means in practice:

All the Essentials Included

Vagaro gives you access to the core tools you need to run your business efficiently:

• Online booking

• Client management

• Marketing tools

• Reporting & analytics

• Resource booking

• Waitlist

• POS & payment processing

Premium Features Are Optional

Vagaro does offer premium upgrades, but they’re designed to empower your business, not trap you into paying for basics or things you don't need. If you want advanced features, you can add them. But you don’t have to.

Vagaro vs. GlossGenius: A Pricing by Feature Breakdown

At first glance, both platforms may seem similarly priced. But once you factor in feature access, the difference becomes clear. Here’s a closer look at where GlossGenius requires upgrades for essential tools, and how Vagaro takes a more inclusive approach.

Waitlist

Vagaro: Included with standard scheduling tools.

GlossGenius: Requires an upgraded plan ($48/month), despite being essential for fully-booked businesses.

Resource Booking (Rooms, Chairs, Equipment)

Vagaro: Included and available across services without tier-based restrictions.

GlossGenius: Locked behind higher-tier plans ($48/month) to manage rooms, stations, or equipment.

Advanced Scheduling Controls

Vagaro: Base subscription includes custom availability, service timing, and buffers. Additional staff members can be added à la carte for $10/month per calendar, and any calendars beyond the first seven are 100% free.

GlossGenius: Expanded scheduling controls are tied to plan upgrades.The $48/month Gold plan is required for teams less than 10, while the $148/month Platinum plan will be needed for any teams of 10+ members.

Client Intake Forms & Custom Fields

Vagaro: Customizable intake forms and waivers can be added to Vagaro's base subscription for $10/month.

GlossGenius: Intake forms require higher-tier access: $48/month. (That's over a $20 jump for a single feature.)

Detailed Reporting & Insights

Vagaro: Sales, staff, and service reports included without forced upgrades.

GlossGenius: Staff reports are available only on higher-priced plans.

Rebooking Notifications

Vagaro: Vagaro’s automated rebooking notifications help you keep clients on the books without manual follow-up.

GlossGenius: Rebooking reminders are tied to higher-tier plans. (Even though rebooking is a core revenue driver for most beauty and wellness businesses.)

Why This Matters

On paper, GlossGenius pricing looks simple: need more robust tools? Sing up for the more robust plan. But, in practice, many businesses are pushed into higher tiers just to unlock tools they need to operate efficiently, while simultaneously paying for ones they won't even use, turning “premium” plans into a requirement, not an upgrade.

Vagaro’s approach is different: essential tools are included, and upgrades are optional, not mandatory. That is pricing transparency at its finest.

The Real Difference Comes Down to Transparency

If your software is charging you extra for features you need to use every day, you’re not being sold a system, you’re being slowly taxed; you're being treated as a consumer, not a customer.

At Vagaro, we know you deserve software that supports your business, not one that profits from your growth.

That's why we give you the tools you need without hidden fees or tiers, so you can focus on what matters most: running your business, serving clients, and scaling with confidence. Try it for 30 days, completely free.