Pricing comparison
| Plan / Feature | Vagaro | Mindbody |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $30/mo (solo) | $139/mo |
| 5-staff price | $70/mo | $279/mo |
| Card processing | 2.75% swiped | 2.75% swiped |
| Online booking | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Membership billing | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| App marketplace | ✗ No | ✓ Yes — key differentiator |
| Annual savings (5 staff) | Save $2,508–$5,148/yr | Baseline |
Who wins, scenario by scenario
✓ Choose Vagaro if you are...
- A salon, spa, nail bar, or barbershop
- Under 10 staff and cost-conscious
- A new or growing business watching margins
- Switching away from Mindbody to cut costs
- A solo esthetician or massage therapist
- Running a small yoga or Pilates studio
✓ Choose Mindbody if you are...
- A fitness studio that needs app marketplace discovery
- A multi-location enterprise with complex reporting
- Already established with a strong Mindbody client base
- Running class packs, series, and complex scheduling
- Willing to pay for enterprise integrations
Feature-by-feature verdict
Booking UX: Vagaro wins — Faster staff interface, easier client-facing flow, lower training friction.
Membership billing: Draw — Both handle recurring billing, auto-renewals, and membership pauses. Mindbody has more class pack logic.
Payment processing: Draw — Both charge ~2.75% swiped. Vagaro's flat monthly fee makes the total cost much lower.
Client app / discovery: Mindbody wins — The Mindbody app has millions of active users searching for classes and appointments. Vagaro has no equivalent marketplace.
Reporting: Draw — Both offer revenue, retention, and staff performance reports. Mindbody has more enterprise depth.
Integrations: Draw — Both integrate with Mailchimp, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, and social platforms.
Overall cost: Vagaro wins — $840–$2,508/year cheaper at comparable feature tiers.
How to switch from Mindbody to Vagaro
- Export your Mindbody data: client list, appointment history, membership details. Mindbody provides CSV exports.
- Contact Vagaro's migration team (free) — they'll import your client records and set up your service menu.
- Set a go-live date 2 weeks out — run both platforms in parallel during the transition week.
- Notify your clients by email and text 1 week before switching with your new booking link.
- Cancel Mindbody after all outstanding memberships and class packs are migrated or honored.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vagaro better than Mindbody?
For most salons, spas, and small studios — yes. Vagaro is $30–$70/month versus Mindbody's $139–$499/month, with comparable booking and membership features. Mindbody's advantage is its client marketplace, which matters more for fitness studios than salons.
What does Vagaro cost?
$30/month for 1 staff, $40 for 2, $50 for 3, $60 for 4, $70 for 5+. Payment processing is 2.75% swiped or 3.5% + $0.15 keyed. First month free.
What does Mindbody cost?
Starter: $139/month. Accelerate: $279/month. Ultimate: $499/month. Plus payment processing fees on top. Most growing studios land on the $279 plan.
Can I switch from Mindbody to Vagaro?
Yes — Vagaro's migration team helps import clients, appointments, and memberships for free. Most businesses complete the switch in 1–2 weeks without losing clients.
Does Vagaro have an app like Mindbody?
Vagaro has a branded consumer app where your clients can find and book you, but it does not have Mindbody's scale marketplace with millions of active users. If discovery through Mindbody's app is bringing you new clients, factor that in before switching.
Not sure which platform fits your business?
Describe your current setup in one text. We'll tell you whether Vagaro is a clear win or if Mindbody's marketplace is actually worth the premium — honest, no pitch.
Text PJ Now →