Square is excellent at processing payments. It is not a salon management platform. There are no color formula notes, no commission payroll, no rebooking automation, and no client visit history built for salons. Santurg is.
| Santurg | Square Appointments | |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment Scheduling | ✓ Salon-native | ✓ Generic scheduling |
| Online Booking | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| POS & Payments | ✓ Salon POS | ✓ Retail POS |
| Staff Payroll Module | ✓ Commission + payroll | ✗ Not available |
| Commission Tracking | ✓ Tiered + custom | ✗ Not available |
| Color Formula Vault | ✓ Per-client history | ✗ Not available |
| Client Visit History | ✓ Full salon CRM | Basic contacts |
| No-Show Deposits | ✓ Configurable | Limited |
| Rebooking Automation | ✓ SMS at set intervals | ✗ Not available |
| SMS Marketing Campaigns | ✓ Included | Add-on extra |
| Loyalty Program | ✓ Points + punch | Square Loyalty add-on |
| Inventory Management | ✓ Full + POs | Retail inventory |
| White-Label Branding | ✓ Org-level | ✗ Not available |
| Digital Intake Forms | ✓ Custom consent | ✗ Not available |
| Built Specifically for Salons | ✓ Yes | ✗ No — retail/general |
Feature data based on published documentation as of 2026. Pricing reflects entry-level plans.
The Fundamental Difference
Square started as a card reader for coffee shops and food trucks. Square Appointments was layered on top. The result is a scheduling tool that works for simple bookings but lacks the depth a salon needs: formulas, commission splits, rebooking cycles, staff performance analytics.
Square does not send automated rebooking reminders. Without a "Time for your next appointment" text, clients drift. Salons using Santurg see 40-60% higher rebooking rates within 60 days of turning on automated reminders.
Square stores basic contact info and purchase history. Santurg stores color formulas, treatment notes, service preferences, allergies, product recommendations, visit frequency, and lifetime spend — everything a salon needs to deliver a personalized experience every visit.
Keep using Square for card processing if you want — Santurg works with your existing payment setup. But run your salon on a platform built for salons.
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Santurg processes payments through Santurg Payments (Stripe-powered), which supports tap-to-pay, chip, and swipe on most standard card readers. Contact hello@santurg.com about hardware compatibility.
Square client data can be exported and imported to Santurg in under an hour. Most salons complete the full switch in a weekend. We provide guided migration support.
Santurg charges a flat monthly subscription. Payment processing fees apply (standard Stripe rates). There are no additional per-transaction platform fees on top of payment processing.
Santurg starts at $49/month and includes all features from day one — no tiered feature gating. If you only use scheduling and POS today, the rest is there when you need it.
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