Side by side
The numbers that matter
| Feature | Vagaro | Pronto |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on bookings | 0% — no commission | 0% — no commission |
| Pricing model | $30–85/mo, scales per calendar | Flat rate by team size, $0–79/mo |
| Contracts | None — cancel anytime | None — cancel anytime |
| Self-hosted option | Not available | Yes — MIT license |
| WhatsApp / Telegram reminders | Not available natively | Both included, free |
| Free plan | No — trial only | Yes — free forever |
Verify current rates at vagaro.com/pricing — updated regularly by Vagaro.
Real numbers
What you actually pay per month
Pronto
Starting at $0/month
✓ Free plan: $0/month — 1 staff, 100 clients
✓ Starter: $19/month — 5 staff, unlimited clients
✓ Pro: $39/month — 15 staff, unlimited
✓ Agency: $79/month — multi-location
✓ 0% commission, always
✓ Self-hosted: free forever
Vagaro
$30–85/month, by calendar
→ Price scales with the number of calendars (staff) on your account
→ Roughly $30/month for a solo calendar, up to ~$85/month for larger teams
→ 0% commission — same as Pronto
→ No long-term contracts — same as Pronto
→ No self-hosted option — cloud only
→ No free plan — trial only
Verify current rates at vagaro.com/pricing
Vagaro and Pronto are the two closest competitors here — neither charges commission, and both skip long contracts. The real difference is hosting: Vagaro is cloud-only, while Pronto can run free on your own server, or on a simple flat-rate cloud plan starting at $19/month.
Common frustrations
What business owners
say about Vagaro
Pricing scales with every calendar you add
Vagaro
Charges per calendar, roughly $30/month for one and up to ~$85/month for a larger team — growing your staff means recalculating your bill.
Pronto
Flat pricing by plan tier — the Pro plan covers up to 15 staff for $39/month, no per-calendar math.
No self-hosted option — you're on their cloud
Vagaro
Cloud-only, with no way to run it on your own server. Your data lives entirely on Vagaro's infrastructure.
Pronto
Self-host for free under the MIT license, or use the cloud version — your choice, either way.
No free plan to start with
Vagaro
Offers a trial period, but no permanent free plan — you'll need a card on file before your trial ends.
Pronto
Free plan forever — no credit card required, no trial clock ticking.
No WhatsApp or Telegram reminders
Vagaro
Sends reminders by SMS and email only — no native WhatsApp or Telegram support.
Pronto
Sends free reminders via WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and Email — all four included.
Being fair
Where Vagaro has
a real advantage
A more mature marketing and add-on ecosystem
Vagaro has been building its platform for over a decade, with a marketing suite, membership tools, and a consumer-facing app for client discovery. Pronto focuses on the essentials — booking, POS, CRM and notifications — without the broader marketing toolkit Vagaro offers on higher tiers.
Built-in payment processing
Vagaro includes integrated card payments (Vagaro Pay) out of the box. Pronto's POS accepts cash, card and bank transfer — but Pronto does not process card payments directly. You will need a separate payment terminal.
Questions
Got questions?
Does Vagaro charge commission like other booking platforms?
No. Vagaro does not charge commission on bookings — same as Pronto. The two platforms are closest on pricing model, with the real differences being hosting options and per-calendar pricing versus flat-rate plans.
Is Pronto cheaper than Vagaro?
It depends on team size. Vagaro charges roughly $30/month for one calendar, scaling up with each additional calendar to around $85/month. Pronto uses flat plan tiers — the Starter plan covers up to 5 staff for $19/month regardless of exact headcount.
Can I self-host instead of using Vagaro's cloud?
Yes. Pronto can be installed on your own server under the MIT license, giving you full control over your data and no monthly fee at all. Vagaro is cloud-only with no self-hosted option.
Can I send WhatsApp reminders with Pronto, unlike Vagaro?
Yes. Pronto sends automated reminders via WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and Email at no extra cost. Vagaro's native reminders are limited to SMS and email.
Does Vagaro offer more marketing tools than Pronto?
Yes, honestly — Vagaro has a more mature marketing suite, membership tools and a consumer-facing app built up over more than a decade. Pronto focuses on the core essentials — booking, POS, CRM and notifications — without the broader marketing toolkit.
Does Pronto have a free plan like Vagaro's trial?
Pronto has a permanent free plan with no credit card required and no expiration. Vagaro offers a trial period, after which a paid plan is required to continue.