Vagaro alternatives for tattoo shops · booking and payments options compared for 2026
Here are your options.
Vagaro works for plenty of businesses. If you want tools shaped around tattoo deposits, consent and long sessions, here is a neutral look at the alternatives.
Why shops look at Vagaro alternatives.
Vagaro is business software for salons, spas, barbers, fitness studios and tattoo studios. It covers booking, a point of sale, a consumer marketplace and its own card processing. Many shops run on it happily. So why do owners search for the best alternative to Vagaro for tattoo shops?
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Usually it comes down to fit. Vagaro serves many industries, and tattoo is one of them. Some tattoo shop owners prefer software built around tattoo work from the start, or want a different payment model.
What to look for in a Vagaro alternative
- Deposits as a default. On Vagaro, online deposits use the Online Shopping Cart add-on. Many tattoo tools include deposits in every plan.
- Consent forms included. Vagaro offers Forms as an add-on. Tattoo tools often include consent forms, some with ID capture.
- Pricing as you add artists. Vagaro prices by calendar. Other tools price per location, per team size or flat.
- An inbox that includes Instagram. Most tattoo leads start in IG DMs.
- Payments that fit how you price. Some shops want a posted cash price and a card price instead of a per-swipe rate.
None of this means Vagaro is the wrong choice. If it works for your shop, staying is reasonable. This page is for owners who want to compare.
What Vagaro offers now.
Here is what Vagaro lists publicly as of October 1, 2026, so you have a fair baseline.
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- Software: one location starts at $23.99/mo for one calendar, an introductory price for the first 6 months (regularly $30/mo). Each extra calendar adds $10/mo, up to $83.99/mo for 7+ calendars during the intro period (regularly $90/mo).
- Add-ons: Forms $10/mo, Online Shopping Cart for online deposits and cancellation fees $10/mo, MySite website $20/mo, text marketing from $20/mo, QuickBooks $10.
- Payments: Vagaro Merchant Services lists 2.6% + 10¢ for dip or tap for merchants under $4,000 a month, and 2.29% + 19¢ with a $10/mo charge above that.
- Hardware: a free card reader comes with a 12-month processing commitment.
Vagaro's strengths include its consumer marketplace and broad feature set. For a full side-by-side, read Revify vs Vagaro.
Five alternatives worth a look.
We make these, so keep that in mind. InkedIn Tools is the booking app built by tattooers, now part of Revify. It covers online booking from IG, Google and your site, automatic deposits charged at booking, digital consent forms, reference images stored with the booking, one inbox for IG DMs, Facebook, texts and email, reminders, aftercare and review requests, a website builder and a mobile app. Every feature is included for $99 a month with a 14-day free trial, and it is $0 a month when your shop processes at least $10,000 a month with Revify.
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1. Revify Payments + InkedIn Tools
Revify Payments is $0 a month and uses dual pricing. You post a cash price and a card price, both show on every receipt, and the client chooses. Your shop earns up to 0.75% Monthly Cash-back on card sales. You get a free terminal while you process with Revify, next-day funding and no long-term contract.
2. Porter
Porter is built only for tattoo artists and studios. Per its pricing page, Artist Essentials is $35/mo and Artist Pro is $65/mo, each with a 30-day free trial. Studio Pro is $250/mo for one location with unlimited artists and staff and a 14-day free trial. All tiers include booking and Porter Payments, with card rates shown in-app. Studio Pro adds commission splits and 1099s. See Revify vs Porter.
3. TattooPro
TattooPro is tattoo studio management software with booking, consent forms, deposits, POS, commissions and a leads pipeline. Professional is $99/mo (1-2 calendars), Growth is $199/mo (up to 5 artists) and Ultimate is $349/mo (unlimited artists), per location, with a 14-day free trial. It uses in-house processing at a flat 2.99% + 15¢. See Revify vs TattooPro.
4. Tattoo Studio Pro
Tattoo Studio Pro is made for tattoo and piercing studios and priced by team size, from Solo at $29/mo to Legion (up to 25) at $299/mo. Every feature is on every plan, including consent forms with ID capture, unlimited SMS reminders and a walk-in queue. Payments run through Stripe. It offers a 30-day free trial.
5. Square Appointments
Square serves any appointment business. The Free plan is $0/mo per location, with Plus at $49/mo and Premium at $149/mo. Payments run through Square at 2.6% + 15¢ in person on the Free plan. See Revify vs Square and our guide to Square alternatives.
Vagaro and its alternatives.
Starting price is the lowest listed plan. Multi-artist shops may need a higher tier.
| Feature | Starting price | Free trial | Consent forms | Payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vagaro | $23.99/mo promo, first 6 months (reg. $30) | Offered | Forms add-on, $10/mo | Vagaro Merchant Services, from 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Revify + InkedIn Tools | $99/mo; $0/mo with $10k+/mo on Revify | 14 days | Yes | Revify Payments, $0/month, dual pricing |
| Porter | $35/mo (Artist Essentials) | 30 days (Artist), 14 days (Studio Pro) | Artist Pro and Studio Pro | Porter Payments; rates shown in-app |
| TattooPro | $99/mo per location | 14 days | Yes | In-house, flat 2.99% + 15¢ |
| Tattoo Studio Pro | $29/mo (Solo) | 30 days | Yes | Stripe |
| Square Appointments | $0/mo per location (Free) | 30 days (Plus, Premium) | Automatic contracts at booking | Square, 2.6% + 15¢ in person (Free) |
Competitor details from public pricing pages as of October 1, 2026. Pricing changes; check each provider's site. Revify details from revifyhq.com.
Choosing an alternative to Vagaro.
Start with what is not working today and write it down. Then test two options against that list with real bookings.
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- List your must-haves. Deposits, consent, an IG inbox, multiple artists, walk-ins, commissions.
- Price your whole team, with add-ons. Add up the plan plus any add-ons you need, like forms, deposits or a website.
- Look at payments. Some tools require their own payments, some use Stripe, and Revify uses dual pricing. Ask how deposits connect to the final balance.
- Check hardware terms. Ask whether a free reader comes with a processing commitment. Revify terminals are free to use while you process with Revify, with no long-term contract.
- Plan the move. Gather your client list and upcoming appointments before you switch.
Want the bigger picture? Read our guide to the best tattoo shop software.
Get paid back every month.
Revify pays Monthly Cash-back of up to 0.75% of your card sales. Your tier depends on the card price you set.
| Card price | Monthly Cash-back |
|---|---|
| 3.0% | 0.25% |
| 3.5% | 0.50% |
| 4.0% | 0.75% |
Moving off Vagaro step by step.
A simple path for shops trying Revify and InkedIn Tools.
Gather your client list
Pull together your client list and upcoming appointments so nothing gets lost in the move.
Set up InkedIn Tools
Start the 14-day trial, add your booking link to Instagram and Google, and turn on deposits and consent forms.
Switch checkout to Revify
Revify sets up your terminal, signage and receipts. Process $10,000 a month and InkedIn Tools is $0 a month.
Good to know.
What is the best alternative to Vagaro for tattoo shops?
It depends on your shop. Porter, TattooPro and Tattoo Studio Pro are built for tattoo studios, Square serves all appointment businesses, and Revify with InkedIn Tools pairs tattoo booking with payments on the same system. We make Revify, so test at least two with a free trial.
Is Vagaro good for tattoo shops?
Vagaro works for many shops, especially ones that value its consumer marketplace. It serves many industries, so tattoo-specific steps like consent forms and online deposits are add-ons.
Does Vagaro charge for consent forms?
As of October 1, 2026, Vagaro lists Forms as a $10/mo add-on. InkedIn Tools includes digital consent forms in its $99/mo plan.
Can I keep my clients if I switch from Vagaro?
Yes. Gather your client list and upcoming appointments before you move, check your current provider's export options, then bring them into your new booking tool.
How much does InkedIn Tools cost?
InkedIn Tools is $99 a month with every feature included and a 14-day free trial. It is $0 a month when your shop processes at least $10,000 a month with Revify.
Is there a contract with Revify?
No. Revify Payments has no long-term contract and is $0 a month.
More comparisons.
Ready to compare for real?
Start the 14-day InkedIn Tools trial, or book a 15-minute demo to see booking and payments working together.
Start 14-day trial →Book a demoMerchant accounts are subject to approval. Monthly Cash-back is up to 0.75% of card sales and depends on your card-price tier.