Certxa vs Vagaro
Vagaro's advertised price covers one calendar. Here's what a real multi-staff nail salon actually pays on each platform — with real numbers, not marketing claims.
What each plan actually costs
Vagaro's core pricing model charges per bookable calendar (per staff member), with add-ons billed separately. Figures as of August 2026 — verify current pricing directly with each provider before switching.
Certxa $9 – $49/mo ⭐ |
Vagaro From $24–$30/mo + add-ons |
|
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | ||
| Base price (1 staff) | Solo — $9/mo ($7 annual) | $24–$30/mo (1 bookable calendar) |
| Pricing structure | Flat monthly plans | Per-calendar (per staff member) |
| Unlimited staff / calendars | ✓ on Professional ($22/mo) | – (each calendar adds to the bill) |
| 4-staff salon w/ website + text marketing | $22/mo flat | ~$110/mo reported, before processing fees |
| Fees | ||
| Setup fee | None | None advertised |
| Card processing | 2.7% + $0.05 + $0.60/txn in-person, 2.9% + $0.30 + $0.60/txn online | 2.2%+ (add-on), 2.2%–3.5% reported real-world |
| Text/SMS marketing | Included (200/mo+) or usage-based add-on | $20/mo add-on |
| Branded mobile app | Not offered | $100/mo add-on |
| Payroll | Included | $34 + $5/employee add-on |
| Free trial | 60 days | 30 days, no card required |
| Features | ||
| Self-service check-in kiosk | ✓ | – |
| AI phone receptionist | Available now (Autumn, usage-based) | Third-party integration only |
| Built-in POS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online booking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client management / CRM | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branded website builder | ✓ Included | Add-on |
Vagaro figures are based on Vagaro's publicly published pricing and independent third-party pricing breakdowns as of August 2026. Real-world costs vary by salon size and add-ons selected on both platforms — always confirm current terms directly with the provider before making a switch.
Where Certxa is different
One flat price, not per-seat
Certxa's Professional plan is $22/mo flat with unlimited staff and calendars. On Vagaro, every additional staff member's calendar adds to your bill — a real cost difference for any salon with more than one or two technicians.
No add-on maze
Text marketing, a branded app, and payroll are core parts of Certxa's plans. On Vagaro, each is a separate line-item add-on — $20/mo, $100/mo, and $34+$5/employee respectively.
AI receptionist built in
Autumn, Certxa's AI receptionist, is available today as a native usage-based add-on. Vagaro has no native AI phone answering — it requires a separate third-party integration.