Real prices. Real tools. Checked.
Toolchecked is an independent directory of software and AI tools for salons, spas, barbershops, nail and lash studios. This page explains exactly how we collect pricing, how we score tools, how our cost calculator works and how we make money. If something here is unclear, or you think we got something wrong, tell us.
How we collect and check prices
Every price on Toolchecked comes from a source we can point to. For each pricing data point we record:
- Last checked date – the date an editor last confirmed the price. It is shown next to the pricing on every listing.
- Source – usually the vendor’s public pricing page, terms of service or help documentation. We link to it where possible.
- Screenshot – an editor saves a dated screenshot of the source, so we can show what the price was on the day we checked it.
Data supplied by vendors
Vendors can send us their pricing and plan details. We welcome this, but vendor-supplied data is never published as-is. An editor checks it against a public source or other evidence before it goes live. If we can’t verify a figure, we don’t publish it, or we clearly mark it as unverified.
When data becomes stale
Software pricing changes often. We treat any price that has not been checked in the last 90 days as stale. Stale data is flagged on the listing and queued for a re-check. We would rather show you an honest “this may be out of date” than an old price presented as current.
Editorial scores (0–10)
Each tool gets an editorial score from 0 to 10. Scores are set by our editors based on factors such as:
- Pricing transparency and total cost of ownership
- Features that matter to salons, spas, barbershops, nail and lash studios
- Fees that are easy or hard to find (for example, new-client or marketplace fees)
- Contract terms, cancellation and data export
- How well the tool fits the business types it claims to serve
Scores cannot be bought. Paying for a listing upgrade, taking part in an affiliate program or advertising with us has no effect on a tool’s score or its position in our rankings.
The 12-month cost calculator
The monthly price on a vendor’s homepage is rarely what you end up paying. Our calculator estimates the total cost of a booking and POS tool over 12 months for a business like yours. It includes:
- Per-staff fees – charges for each additional team member, chair or calendar.
- Marketplace new-client fees – commissions some platforms charge when a new client books through their marketplace.
- Card processing – the percentage and fixed fee per card transaction.
- SMS add-ons – costs for text reminders and marketing messages beyond any included allowance.
- AI add-ons – the published price of an AI receptionist add-on, included only if you select it.
- Setup fees – any one-time onboarding or setup fee, added once to the 12-month total.
Taxes, hardware and promotional discounts are not included. If you choose yearly billing, the vendor’s official published annual discount is applied.
You enter details such as team size, card revenue, average ticket and new clients from marketplaces, and the calculator applies each vendor’s published rates.
When a vendor doesn’t publish its card rate
If a vendor does not publish its card processing rate, the calculator uses a fallback rate of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Any figure based on this fallback is marked “est.” so you know it is an estimate, not the vendor’s actual rate.
The calculator is a guide, not a quote. Always confirm final pricing with the vendor before you sign up.
The Toolchecked badge
Vendors that meet our verification criteria can display the Toolchecked badge on their own website. The badge:
- Is dated – it shows when the vendor was last verified.
- Is valid for 120 days – after that it must be renewed through a fresh check.
- Links to the vendor’s profile on Toolchecked, so anyone can see the data behind it.
The badge criteria cannot be bought. A vendor earns the badge by meeting the criteria, not by paying for it.
How we make money
Toolchecked is free for salon owners to use. We earn money in a few ways, and we want you to know what they are.
Affiliate links
Some links to vendor websites are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links are marked with rel="sponsored" in our code, as search engines recommend.
Verified and Featured listings
Vendors can pay for listing upgrades:
- Verified – an upgraded listing with additional details confirmed directly with the vendor.
- Featured – extra visibility in a niche. There are a maximum of 3 Featured slots per niche, and Featured placements are clearly labelled.
What money never changes
None of these – affiliate links, Verified listings or Featured listings – affects editorial scores or rankings. A tool that pays us is scored the same way as a tool that doesn’t.
Found wrong data?
If you spot a price, fee or feature that is wrong or out of date, please report it here. Every report is reviewed by an editor.