- While Vagaro is a popular choice for scheduling and POS, its payment features aren’t built for the larger, multi-session procedures common in medical aesthetics.
- Alternatives like Mindbody, Zenoti, and Boulevard offer comparable spa management software, while Cherry stands alone as the only financing platform built for aesthetic treatment.
Vagaro is one of the most well-known all-in-one business management platforms for wellness providers. It offers appointment scheduling software, POS and payment processing, client management, and marketing automation in a single cloud-based, mobile-friendly system.
For med spas and wellness businesses comparing platforms, differentiators often come down to usability, automation, add-ons, pricing tiers, and integrations. Vagaro performs well in these areas, but like many salon and spa management software, it has some limitations — particularly around advanced marketing tools, customization, and built-in financing.
And that last piece is often the most critical. While features like booking systems and marketing automation help bring clients through the door, the biggest barrier to treatment acceptance is almost always affordability. Many patients delay or decline procedures because of upfront costs. Studies show that practices offering flexible financing options can increase conversion rates, treatment acceptance, and revenue.
For med spas, integrating healthcare-focused financing alongside strong business-management tools can have a greater impact on growth than any single software feature. The following Vagaro alternatives combine the operational power of all-in-one platforms with flexible, transparent financing — giving patients more ways to say “yes” and helping practices scale sustainably.
1. Cherry
Cherry is a financing platform that helps providers make care accessible while optimizing their payment operations. Unlike retail BNPL options such as Affirm, Afterpay, or Klarna, Cherry is built specifically for healthcare, with higher loan amounts, longer terms, and integrations at the point of care.
Patients can apply in 60 seconds through a mobile-friendly application and, with just a soft credit check, receive an instant approval decision without hurting their credit score. Qualified borrowers can access up to $35k (double Affirm’s loan limit) in financing with true 0% APR options and extended terms up to 60 months, all without deferred or retroactive interest.
For providers, Cherry improves both cash flow and efficiency. Practices receive funds within two to three business days and benefit from high approval rates across diverse credit profiles, with no setup or monthly fees, as well as the lowest merchant fees in the industry. What’s more, Cherry approvals are exclusive to the practice, meaning funds can only be used where the patient applied.
Additional features, like a centralized payment dashboard, give staff real-time visibility into applications, approvals, and payouts, while automated reminders and role-based access simplify team workflows. Cherry also integrates with leading EHR (Electronic Health Record), EMR (Electronic Medical Record), and POS (point of sale) systems like Nextech, Symplast, and PatientNow, as well as Allē, the aesthetics loyalty program from Allergan Aesthetics.
Key Takeaways
- Financing options: True 0% APR options for qualified borrowers; instant approval decisions via soft credit check; no deferred, compounding, or retroactive interest; loan amounts up to $35,000 for high-cost and bundled procedures; repayment options from guaranteed zero-interest Pay-in-4 to extended plans up to 60 months.
- Pricing and monthly fees: No setup or monthly subscription costs; industry’s lowest merchant fees, starting at 1.7%.
- Ease of use: Mobile-friendly 60-second application with instant approval decisions; easily connects with EHR, EMR, and POS systems; dedicated customer support.
- Add-ons & integrations: Integrates directly with popular healthcare POS and practice management systems; fits easily into existing billing and patient-communication workflows; compatible with Allē, the loyalty program from Allergan Aesthetics.
- Specialization: Purpose-built for the healthcare and wellness industry; 80%+ approval rates; funding delivered to providers within 2–3 business days; exclusive approvals strengthen client relationships.
2. Boulevard
Boulevard is a cloud-based management platform designed for med spas, salons, and wellness studios that want to elevate the client experience. It brings appointment booking, client communication, POS, marketing automation, and staff management together in a sleek, modern interface that’s scalable based on business needs.
Patients enjoy streamlined booking experiences, automated appointment reminders, and easy online payments, while providers benefit from advanced charting tools that allow them to upload before-and-after photos, record injection notes, and track treatment history. Boulevard’s Google integration (Reserve with Google) is especially valuable to providers, making it easier for potential clients to find and book appointments directly from search results.
Boulevard also offers Boulevard Capital, which provides business funding based on sales performance. While the platform doesn’t include patient-facing financing, third-party BNPL options can be connected through its payment processing integrations.
Key Takeaways
- Financing options: Boulevard Capital for business-owner funding; no native patient-financing feature; optional integrated payments through third-party BNPL connections.
- Pricing and monthly fees: Flexible pricing model starting at $158/month per location for Essentials; med spa and enterprise bundles can reach $421/month.
- Ease of use: Sleek, modern interface with automated notifications, reporting, and workflow tools; minimal learning curve and strong functionality for front-desk operations.
- Add-ons & integrations: Connects with Google (Reserve with Google), Facebook Book Now, QuickBooks, Shopify, and Zapier for automation and payment syncing.
- Specialization: Designed for high-end med spas and wellness studios prioritizing client experience, automation, and analytics.
3. GlossGenius
GlossGenius offers a mobile-first, all-in-one platform that blends online booking, POS, and marketing tools into a clean, user-friendly interface. It’s particularly popular among independent med spa providers and small wellness businesses who want to streamline operations without high costs or technical complexity.
Customers appreciate GlossGenius’s flat 2.6% processing rate and the simplicity of its mobile design — especially useful for solo providers managing bookings, waitlists, payments, and marketing on the go. It also offers HIPAA-compliant client profiles, photo storage for treatment progress, and built-in integrations with Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna for patient financing.
Key Takeaways
- Financing options: Built-in BNPL through Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna; providers are paid in full while clients pay over time; suitable for low-cost procedures but not bundled or large purchases.
- Pricing and monthly fees: $24/month (Standard) or $48/month (Gold); ~2.6% standard card processing; ~6% BNPL transaction fee.
- Ease of use: Intuitive mobile app with quick setup and user-friendly automation.
- Add-ons & integrations: Integrates with Stripe for payments and Google Calendar for booking sync; also links with Instagram for social scheduling.
- Specialization: Perfect for small med spas, solo practitioners, and fitness businesses wanting affordable all-in-one software that scales to specific needs.
4. Mindbody
Mindbody is one of the most established business management systems for fitness studios, spas, and wellness centers. It combines appointment scheduling, POS, marketing automation, and membership management in a powerful platform that scales easily for growing practices.
Service providers consistently praise its robust reporting tools, integrated marketing campaigns, and client retention feature set that help boost engagement. The platform’s Mindbody app connects millions of users to fitness and wellness providers worldwide, helping med spas attract new clients through organic discovery.
Although it doesn’t offer patient financing, Mindbody Capital supports business-owner funding, and its Stripe-powered payments can enable BNPL options like Klarna in supported markets.
Key Takeaways
- Financing options: Mindbody Capital for business financing; no direct patient-financing program; BNPL available via Stripe (Klarna) where supported.
- Pricing and monthly fees: Starts at $99/month per location; pricing structure scales with automation, analytics, and multi-location tools.
- Ease of use: Comprehensive but intuitive once implemented; backed by strong training and customer support.
- Add-ons & integrations: Offers an extensive Mindbody Marketplace with ClassPass, Google, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and Zapier integrations for email marketing and analytics.
- Specialization: Ideal for fitness studios, med spas, and wellness centers that need enterprise-grade automation and growth tools.
5. Mangomint
Mangomint is known for its modern, automation-driven design and minimalist interface that removes unnecessary complexity. Users often highlight its speed, intuitive interface, automated SMS messaging features, and responsive customer support as standout advantages over competitors.
The platform merges appointment scheduling, POS, inventory management, and staff permissions into one system that simplifies day-to-day business operations. Though Mangomint doesn’t include native financing, its Stripe integration allows practices to activate BNPL options like Affirm, Afterpay, or Klarna.
Key Takeaways
- Financing options: No native financing; supports BNPL via Stripe integration (Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna); suitable for low-cost procedures but not bundled or high-priced treatment.
- Pricing and monthly fees: Starts at $165/month (Essentials); advanced plans add marketing and team management.
- Ease of use: Exceptionally intuitive design; minimal learning curve and responsive customer support.
- Add-ons & integrations: Uses a Stripe-powered payments system with direct QuickBooks Online integration for accounting and inventory tracking.
- Specialization: Built for med spas and salons seeking automation, real-time workflows, and a premium user experience.
6. Fresha
Fresha offers a free version and low-cost plans that make it especially attractive for small businesses and startups. Its cloud-based system includes appointment scheduling, automated reminders, inventory management, and marketing automation — all in an accessible interface with no long-term contracts.
User reviews on Capterra frequently cite Fresha’s transparent pricing and no-show protection tools, which automatically charge cancellation fees to help protect revenue. While Fresha doesn’t currently support patient financing, it integrates well with major payment processors and is often praised for its clean dashboard and easy setup.
Key Takeaways
- Financing options: No native or public BNPL/patient-financing program.
- Pricing and monthly fees: Starts at $19.95/month (Independent plan); free version available with per-transaction fees; higher tiers available.
- Ease of use: Cloud-based interface with automated reminders and easy online booking.
- Add-ons & integrations: Connects with social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook for online booking; built-in POS supports major credit-card and digital-wallet payments.
- Specialization: Ideal for small or single-location businesses seeking essential features at a cost-effective price point.
7. Zenoti
Zenoti is an enterprise-level platform built for multi-location med spas, salons, and wellness chains that need scalability and automation. It integrates scheduling, POS, marketing, memberships, and loyalty programs into one powerful ecosystem.
Providers appreciate Zenoti’s robust reporting suite, enterprise permissions management, and Zenoti Payments, which supports Affirm, Afterpay, and Klarna for BNPL. The financing checkout is built into the POS and takes less than 10 minutes for clients to complete. Reviews highlight Zenoti’s ability to centralize operations across multiple sites without sacrificing personalization or speed.
Key Takeaways
- Financing options: Built-in BNPL via Zenoti Payments (Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna); ~5.9% BNPL transaction fee.
- Pricing and monthly fees: Starts around $400/month per location; enterprise pricing available.
- Ease of use: Comprehensive enterprise suite with dedicated onboarding and training.
- Add-ons & integrations: Supports Zapier and Shopify integrations; provides open APIs for connecting POS, CRM, and marketing systems.
- Specialization: Designed for multi-location med spas and wellness enterprises needing scalability, analytics, and automation.
Summary for Providers
While Vagaro offers strong scheduling, marketing automation, and POS tools, its financing options are limited to Affirm. Other software solutions — like GlossGenius, Zenoti, Mindbody, and Mangomint — rely on retail-oriented BNPL providers such as Klarna or Afterpay, which aren’t tailored to healthcare workflows or long-term patient financing. These solutions lack the extended terms, higher loan limits, true 0% APR options, and integration with Allē that med spas often require.
Cherry stands out as the only purpose-built healthcare financing platform offering a 60-second application with a soft credit check, true 0% APR for qualified borrowers, instant credit decisions with an 80%+ approval rate, and the lowest merchant fees in the industry.
For providers aiming to expand access to care, reduce cancellations, and grow revenue, flexible financing may be the single most effective way to drive new patient conversions and long-term loyalty. Find out how Cherry can transform your practice. Claim your complimentary demo here.
