Gildra vs Vagaro
The Vagaro alternative for the gilded era.
Vagaro starts at $30 a month plus $10 for each extra calendar, then sells the rest as add-ons. Gildra is built for independent artists — you only pay when you get paid.
$0.99 + card processing per transaction · No subscription, ever
Built for independents
Out with the old. In with the gilded.
Most salon software is built for the salon that employs you. Gildra is built for the artist who rents a chair and runs their own book.
Built for the salon
Booksy · Vagaro · Boulevard
- ✕Built around payroll and commission splits
- ✕A monthly bill, booked or not
- ✕Artists left to find a chair on their own
Your chair. Their system.
Built for the artist
Gildra
- ◆Pay only when you get paid
- ◆Clients find you, commission-free
- ◆Rent a chair, or collect rent on autopilot
Your chair. Your business.
Pricing
No subscription. No add-ons.
Gildra
$0.99
per transaction, plus Stripe card processing of 2.9% + 30¢. $0 per month.
- ◆On a $100 service: $4.19 in fees. You keep $95.81
- ◆No subscription, tiers, or add-ons
- ◆Cancellations, rescheduling, and reminders included
Vagaro
$30/mo
plus $10/mo per extra calendar ($23.99 intro rate for 6 months), plus processing and add-ons.
- ◆No-show and cancellation fees need the $10/mo Online Shopping Cart add-on
- ◆Fill My Books: 20% of a new client’s booking (opt-in)
- ◆$360 a year before your first booking
Side by side
Gildra vs Vagaro, line by line.
| Feature | Gildra | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | ✓$0, ever | —$30/mo + $10 per extra calendar |
| Platform fee | ✓$0.99 per transaction | None, but paid add-ons from $10/mo |
| Card processing | ✓2.9% + 30¢ per card (Stripe, at cost) | ✓2.6% + 10¢ in person; 3.5% + 19¢ online and card on file |
| New-client commission | ✓None | None by default; 20% with Fill My Books (opt-in) |
| Client marketplace | ✓Clients search by service, city, and date | ✓Vagaro app and site |
| Online booking site | ✓gildra.xyz/@you — portfolio + live calendar | ✓Vagaro profile; MySite website +$20/mo |
| Cancellations & rescheduling | ✓Your cancellation policy + rescheduling | Cancellation policies; no-show fees need a $10/mo add-on |
| Reminders | ✓SMS confirmations and reminders | ✓Email, text, and push reminders included |
| Find & rent a chair or suite | ✓Chairs, suites, rooms — hourly to monthly | —Not offered |
| Booth rent collection (salon owners) | ✓Automatic, on your schedule | ✓Included; card 3.5% + 19¢, bank 1% |
FAQ
Making the switch from Vagaro
Exactly how much does Gildra charge?
Two things, only when you get paid: a $0.99 Gildra fee per transaction, and Stripe’s card processing fee of 2.9% + 30¢, which we pass through at cost. On a $100 service that’s $0.99 + $3.20 = $4.19, and you keep $95.81. No monthly fee, no setup fee, and no commission on new clients.
How much does Vagaro cost compared to Gildra?
Vagaro is $30 per month for one calendar ($23.99 for the first six months), plus $10 per month for each additional calendar, up to seven. Add-ons are extra — for example $10 per month for the Online Shopping Cart that no-show fees require, and from $20 per month for text messaging. Card processing is 2.6% + 10¢ in person and 3.5% + 19¢ online or on file. Gildra has no subscription. Each transaction costs $0.99 plus Stripe card processing of 2.9% + 30¢, passed through at cost — so on a $100 service you pay $4.19 in total and keep $95.81.
Does Vagaro charge a fee for new clients?
Not for standard Marketplace bookings. Its opt-in Vera Fill My Books program charges 20% of the cart when a new client books through it (5% for returning clients on deals). On Gildra, every client costs the same: $0.99 plus Stripe card processing.
Can I move my clients from Vagaro to Gildra?
Yes. Set up your Gildra booking site at gildra.xyz/@yourname, add your services, prices, and hours, then share the link with your clients.
Can salon owners collect booth rent with Vagaro?
Yes — Vagaro includes rent collection when you process payments with Vagaro (3.5% + 19¢ by card, 1% by bank). What it doesn’t do is help artists find a chair: there’s no way to list your spaces for independent artists to discover and rent. Gildra does both — artists search chairs, suites, and rooms by the hour, day, week, or month, and rent is collected automatically.
It’s time for a modern makeover
Would it be crazy to keep more of every appointment?
Drivers got Uber and Lyft. Hosts got Airbnb. Independent artists get Gildra.
Made by salon owners, for salon owners.
More comparisons: Gildra vs Booksy · Gildra vs GlossGenius · Gildra vs StyleSeat · Gildra vs Square
Vagaro pricing and features as published by Vagaro and checked September 2026; they can change at any time, so confirm on Vagaro pricing, Vagaro plans & add-ons, Vagaro processing rates. Vagaro, Booksy, Boulevard, Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb are trademarks of their respective owners; Gildra is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. Gildra’s only fee is $0.99 per transaction. Card processing (2.9% + 30¢) is charged by Stripe and passed through at cost; other payment methods, such as bank transfers, have different Stripe rates.