Glamly vs Square
Which booking platform is best for your beauty business? Both Glamly and Square let beauty professionals accept bookings, manage clients and take payments. The biggest difference is what they're built for. Square is part of a wider commerce ecosystem, while Glamly is purpose-built for beauty professionals who want simple, predictable booking software.
This comparison is based on publicly available information at the time of writing. Features and pricing may change. If you spot anything out of date, please let us know.
Which platform is right for you?
Neither platform is objectively better. The right choice depends on whether you're looking for an all-in-one business ecosystem or booking software designed specifically for beauty professionals.
✦ Choose Glamly if…
- You run a beauty business and want software built specifically for your industry
- You want simple fixed pricing
- You already attract clients through Instagram, TikTok, referrals or repeat bookings
- You want a booking page centred around your own brand
- You want everything you need without unnecessary complexity
◈ Choose Square if…
- You already use Square for payments or point of sale
- You want your booking software integrated into a wider commerce platform
- You sell retail products alongside appointments
- You want one ecosystem for payments, bookings and in-store sales
- You're happy using software built for many industries rather than just beauty
Glamly vs Square — the key differences
Both platforms include online booking, client management and appointment scheduling. The biggest differences are business focus, pricing structure and ecosystem.
Purpose-built beauty software vs a wider business platform
Square Appointments and Glamly solve similar problems, but they're designed from different starting points.
Square's approach
One platform for your whole business
Square is part of the wider Square ecosystem.
If you already use Square for payments, card readers, point of sale or retail sales, adding appointments can make sense because everything works together.
For businesses selling products as well as appointments, this integrated approach can be valuable.
Glamly's approach
Built specifically for beauty professionals
Glamly isn't trying to be software for every type of business. It's built around how beauty professionals actually work.
Most beauty businesses need:
- Online booking
- Deposits
- Client profiles
- Appointment reminders
- Promotions
- A professional booking page
That's exactly what Glamly focuses on.
- Your own branded booking page
- Fixed monthly pricing
- Fast setup
- Beauty-first experience
- Everything you need without unnecessary complexity
The key question is simple: do you need an entire business ecosystem, or do you simply need excellent booking software built for beauty professionals?
Understanding Square pricing vs Glamly pricing
Both platforms offer online booking and appointment management. The difference is how they're packaged.
Glamly pricing
per month — every feature included
Everything included. No tiers. No hidden extras. No surprises.
30-day free trial · No credit card needed · Cancel anytime
Square pricing
pricing
plans based on business requirements
Square offers different plans depending on your business requirements and how you use the wider Square ecosystem.
If you're already invested in Square's payment and retail tools, the integration may be valuable.
If you're primarily looking for booking software for your beauty business, it's worth considering whether you need the additional ecosystem.
For a full breakdown of Glamly's pricing and everything included, see our pricing page.
Powering beauty businesses every day ♥
Real lash technicians, nail techs, hairdressers and beauty therapists running their businesses with Glamly every day.
Why beauty professionals look for a Square Appointments alternative
Most people searching for a Square alternative aren't unhappy with Square. They're simply looking for software that's built specifically for beauty businesses.
Many beauty professionals comparing Square Appointments alternatives are looking for booking software that's purpose-built for salons, beauticians, nail technicians and lash artists rather than a general business platform.
Common reasons people switch
- They don't need a full commerce platform
- They want software designed specifically for beauty professionals
- They want simpler pricing
- They mainly need appointment management rather than a full commerce platform
- They want a cleaner booking experience
- They want software that's easier to learn
What Glamly offers instead
- £12/month flat pricing
- Beauty-first design
- Free migration support
- 30-day free trial
- Purpose-built for beauty professionals
Moving your business to Glamly
Your clients, services and business information are valuable. You shouldn't have to rebuild everything from scratch.
Glamly provides migration support to help make switching straightforward and get you taking bookings quickly.
Glamly vs Square Appointments — frequently asked questions
Is Glamly cheaper than Square Appointments?
Glamly costs £12/month with every feature included. Square offers different plans depending on your business needs and how you use the wider Square ecosystem.
Can both platforms take deposits?
Yes. Both platforms support deposit collection and online booking.
Can clients book online with both platforms?
Yes. Both platforms allow clients to book appointments online.
Does Square Appointments work with Square Payments?
Yes. Square integrates with the wider Square ecosystem, including payments and point of sale.
Can I use Square Appointments without Square POS?
Yes. Square Appointments can be used as standalone booking software without a Square point-of-sale setup. However, it's worth noting that Square is primarily built as a commerce platform — if you don't need POS, inventory or retail features, you may be paying for more than your business actually uses.
Can I switch from Square to Glamly?
Yes. Glamly offers migration support and a 30-day free trial so you can get set up before making the switch.
Which platform is best for beauty professionals?
If you're looking for booking software designed specifically for beauty professionals with simple pricing, Glamly may be a better fit. If you're already invested in the wider Square ecosystem and want bookings integrated with payments, retail and point of sale, Square Appointments may be the better choice.
See how Glamly compares to other platforms
Evaluating more options? We have dedicated comparison pages for all major booking software platforms used by UK beauty professionals.
Start taking bookings today
Free for 30 days. No credit card needed.
Start your free trial →Already comparing platforms? See all comparisons