Comparison · NeonO vs Phorest
Looking for a Phorest alternative in Canada?
Phorest is a quote-based enterprise salon platform with contracts and onboarding fees. NeonO publishes its price, bills in CAD, and starts with a free trial.
Phorest suits larger, multi-location salon groups that want a managed, consultative relationship and will commit to a contract.
You cannot compare a price you have to ask for.
Phorest does not publish a straightforward price list — you book a demo, get quoted against your salon's size, and commonly sign a term with onboarding fees attached. For a large group with a change-management budget, that is a reasonable way to buy software. For an independent or a two-location shop, it means weeks of sales calls before you know whether you can afford it. NeonO's price is on the pricing page, the trial is free, and there is no term to sign.
NeonO vs Phorest, side by side.
| NeonO | Phorest | |
|---|---|---|
| Price transparency | Published on the pricing page, in CAD | Quote-based after a sales demo |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel any time | Typically a fixed term commitment |
| Onboarding fee | None. Migration support is included | Onboarding and training commonly quoted as a one-off cost |
| Time to first booking | Free trial, self-serve, no scheduled onboarding programme | Demo, quote, then a scheduled onboarding programme |
| Payment processing | 2.69% + $0.25 card-present, 2.99% + $0.30 online (CAD, all-in) | Processing via their payments product, rates quoted per account |
| Canadian fit | Built in Canada, CAD billing, provincial tax logic, local support | Ireland-headquartered, strong EU/UK/US presence |
| Best fit | Independents to mid-size groups who want to self-serve | Larger groups wanting a managed, consultative rollout |
| Client data ownership | Yours, exportable in standard formats any time | Exportable, subject to your contract terms |
Phorest details are summarised from their own publicly published pricing and policy pages, last checked August 10, 2026. Vendors change terms — confirm current details on their site before you decide.
Where Phorest is the better choice.
No platform wins every shop. If these matter more to you than what is above, stay where you are — switching software you do not need to switch is its own kind of expensive.
What NeonO costs, in Canadian dollars.
NeonO
$24.99/mo CAD
per seat, per month, CAD — seats 8 and up are free
- Card-present: 2.69% + $0.25 per card-present transaction (CAD)
- Online: 2.99% + $0.30 per online transaction (CAD)
Moving from Phorest takes about a week.
Step 1
Export your clients, services and appointment history from Phorest.
Step 2
We import and reconcile them, then show you a preview before anything goes live.
Step 3
Set each chair's pay structure — rent, commission, hourly or a hybrid.
Step 4
Switch your booking link over and retire the old subscription.
Everything included
Zero paywalls. The advertised price is the price.
Most platforms advertise a low base plan, then charge again for the booking website, the reminders, the marketing, the reports and every extra chair. By the time the shop actually runs, the bill has doubled or tripled. NeonO puts all of it in the plan.
Industry Benchmark · four common add-ons elsewhere
$75 – $230/mo extra
NeonO, everything in
$24.99/mo, add-ons $0
Ranges are illustrative industry benchmarks for add-ons commonly sold by salon platforms. They are not any named vendor's published price — check your current provider's plan page for their exact figures.
Questions owners ask before switching.
How much does Phorest cost?
Phorest quotes per salon after a demo rather than publishing a simple price list, and onboarding is typically a separate one-off charge. You will need to speak to their sales team to get a number for your specific size.
Is NeonO a good fit if I have multiple locations?
Yes. Each location keeps its own calendar, staff, menu and reporting, with a roll-up view for owners and shared client records across the group. If you run a large group that wants dedicated account management, Phorest's consultative model may still suit you better.
Do I have to sign a contract with NeonO?
No. NeonO is month to month with a free trial, and your data exports in standard formats whenever you want it.
What about migrating years of client history?
That is the normal case, not the exception. Export clients, service history and notes, and we import and reconcile them with you, with a preview before go-live.
Try it against your own numbers.
Start a free trial, import your client list, and run a week in parallel before you cancel anything.