A great SalonLife alternative for independent salons

If you're comparing SalonLife and Taimli, this page breaks down pricing, features, migration, and the cases where SalonLife is still the better choice.

TL;DR: Both cover the core salon software features well. Taimli is usually the better fit for small to medium salons that want a simpler, lower-cost setup and partial multi-location support. SalonLife is usually the better fit if you need inventory management, mature multi-location support, a built-in marketplace, or you already have a setup your team genuinely likes.

SalonLife vs Taimli: an honest comparison

SalonLife is a serious product with a longer track record, broader feature set, and a larger footprint. For some salons, that alone is a good enough reason to stay.

Taimli is built for a more specific job. We made it for small salons that want booking software to feel clear, reliable, and affordable for the day-to-day work. Read the full story.

The cleanest way to think about it is this: SalonLife covers a wider operational range. Taimli stays focused on the core day-to-day workflow, with partial multi-location support where it fits small salons. If you need inventory management, mature multi-location operations, or marketplace discovery, SalonLife makes sense. If you mainly need booking, calendar, reminders, and client management for a small team, Taimli often makes more sense.

When staying with SalonLife is the better call

If any of these sound like your salon, we would lean toward staying with SalonLife for now.

Reasons to stay with SalonLife even if Taimli is cheaper

Price matters, but it is not the only cost. If switching would mean retraining staff, reworking routines, changing client-facing links, and solving edge cases during a busy period, staying with the software you already trust can be the smarter decision.

When Taimli tends to fit better

If the extra breadth in SalonLife is not essential to your salon, this is where Taimli usually starts to make more sense.

Feature comparison

This table focuses on the features that usually decide the purchase for small to medium salons, not every edge-case feature either product has.

Feature comparison: SalonLife vs Taimli (2026)
Feature Taimli SalonLife
Online booking
Calendar & team scheduling
Email & SMS reminders
Waitlist
Client management & history
Branded booking flow
Custom fields & booking approval
Payment tracking
Gift cards & invoicing
Google Calendar sync
Analytics & reports
Self-service data export
Inventory management
Multi-location support Partial
Client marketplace
Email marketing integrations

We are intentionally comparing the features most likely to matter to small salons choosing between these two tools, not listing every capability either product offers.

Data ownership

Easy to move in, easy to move out

Moving salon software is harder when exports are limited or tied to support processes. Taimli helps import usable data from SalonLife, and gives salon owners a self-service ZIP export if they ever decide to leave.

  • Export customers, bookings, services, and active staff without contacting support.
  • Use CSV files with stable export references instead of internal database IDs.
  • Cancel month-to-month. No exit fee, and standard exports are available directly in the product.

No double payment during the switch

If you move from SalonLife, Taimli is free until your current SalonLife billing period runs out. That gives you room to settle in without paying for two systems at once.

Free until you cancel SalonLife Free migration help No credit card required

What the price difference looks like

If Taimli already covers the way you run your salon, this is where the monthly difference becomes hard to ignore.

Workers SalonLife Taimli You save / year
1 worker 29€/month 9,95€/month 228,60€/year
2 workers 49€/month 19,90€/month 349,20€/year
3 workers 69€/month 29,85€/month 469,80€/year
4 workers 89€/month 39,80€/month 590,40€/year
5 workers 99€/month 49,75€/month 591,00€/year

Taimli SMS: 0.08€/SMS. SalonLife SMS: 0.084€/SMS. SalonLife prices from salon.life/pricing (monthly). Prices excl. VAT. Verified March 2026.

Ele used SalonLife for six years before Taimli.

Switching to Taimli was extremely easy and smooth. The system itself is very simple and logical to use. The reception from our clients has been positive, and we’ve received feedback that Taimli is even more convenient to use, especially when booking on a phone. Our team is very satisfied. We’ve always received help and advice very quickly with any questions, and what we’re happiest about is when the invoice arrives, because it represents a significant saving for us 🙃. We 100% recommend it.”
Ele Hansen

Ele Hansen

Ele Massaaźituba

~6 years

on SalonLife

3

workers

3,000+

bookings migrated

~30min

total migration time

We helped move Ele's full client database, booking history, and future appointments into Taimli. Her clients did not notice any disruption.

Switching from SalonLife usually takes less than an hour

Most salons are fully switched in well under an hour, and some take as little as 30 minutes.

1

Fill in the setup form

Fill in the form with your salon details. It usually takes about 5 minutes.

2

We set things up

We import your workers, services, categories, and salon details into Taimli, so your setup is mostly done for you.

3

Migration help

If you want help moving over bookings or client data from SalonLife, we will help you with that too.

Common questions

Can I migrate my data from SalonLife to Taimli?
Yes. We can move your client database, booking history, future appointments, and gift cards from SalonLife into Taimli. In most cases, you update your booking links, send us the available data, and we help make sure everything lands properly.
Is Taimli cheaper than SalonLife?
Yes. Taimli costs 9.95€ per worker per month. SalonLife costs 29€/month for 1 worker, 49€/month for 2, 69€/month for 3, 89€/month for 4, and 99€/month for 5 or more. That makes Taimli cheaper at every team size from 1 to 8 workers.
What happens to my future bookings if I switch?
They come with you. We make sure future bookings, booking history, and your client list move over properly so clients do not need to rebook. After the switch, reminders go out from Taimli instead of SalonLife.
Does Taimli support SMS reminders?
Yes. Taimli sends both email and SMS confirmations and reminders automatically. You can customize the timing of reminders, and SMS costs 0.08€ per message, the same as SalonLife.
Does Taimli have a mobile app?
Taimli works entirely in the browser and is designed to work beautifully on mobile. There's no app to download or keep updated. Your clients just open a link and book. You manage your salon from any device with a browser.
Does Taimli work for salons with multiple employees?
Yes. Taimli supports multiple workers with individual schedules, availability management, and smart features like auto-assignment and round-robin booking distribution. Each worker costs 9.95€/month, so you only pay for what you use.
What doesn't Taimli have that SalonLife does?
Taimli has only partial multi-location support and does not include inventory tracking or SalonLife's client discovery marketplace. It also doesn't have every integration SalonLife already offers, such as MailChimp. Those are the main gaps to think about before switching.
Is there a contract or lock-in period?
No. Taimli is month-to-month with no lock-in. You can cancel anytime. We'd rather earn your business every month than lock you in with a contract.
How long does the migration take?
Most migrations take less than an hour, and some take around 30 minutes. The exact time depends on how much data is involved and how cleanly you want to schedule the changeover.
Is SalonLife expensive for a small salon?
SalonLife starts at 29€/month (or 20.75€/month with annual billing) for a solo practitioner. For what you get, it's a fair product. But if your margins are tight and you mainly need core booking features, the difference between that and Taimli's 9.95€/month adds up quickly.
Can I export my data from SalonLife?
SalonLife does not currently offer self-service data exports. If you are moving to Taimli, we help work through the migration with the data you can provide. Taimli includes self-service exports, so you can download your customers, bookings, services, and active staff without contacting support.
What happens to my data if I cancel Taimli?
You can export your data before canceling. Taimli is month-to-month, has no exit fee, and standard exports are available directly in the product. After cancellation, data is deleted according to our Terms, Privacy Policy, and DPA.
Can Taimli help me leave Taimli later?
Yes. We believe portability should work both ways. If you ever choose another system, you can use the self-service ZIP export, and we will provide reasonable help understanding the exported files.
Does SalonLife have a marketplace? What is SalonLife Connect?
SalonLife Connect is a client discovery platform where new clients can browse and find salons. Taimli doesn't have a marketplace. For some salons that is a drawback. For others, it is preferable because they want bookings to come through channels they own, such as their website, Google Business Profile, or social media.
I'm a solo hairdresser. Is Taimli or SalonLife better for me?
If you're a solo practitioner who mainly needs online booking, reminders, waitlist, and client management, Taimli is often the better fit at 9.95€/month vs SalonLife at 29€/month. If you need inventory management, or you already have a SalonLife setup that works well for you, SalonLife may still be the better fit.
SalonLife vs Taimli: what's the main difference?
SalonLife is a broader platform with inventory management, mature multi-location support, and a client discovery marketplace. Taimli is a simpler alternative focused on the core needs of small salons: online booking, calendar, reminders, waitlist, client management, partial multi-location support, and a branded booking flow. In short, SalonLife offers more breadth; Taimli aims for more focus.
Is my client data safe with Taimli? What about GDPR?
Yes. Taimli is built and operated in the EU (Estonia) and is fully GDPR-compliant. Your client data is stored in the EU, encrypted in transit and at rest, and never shared with third parties. You can export or delete client data at any time.
How does the switch work? Do I run both at the same time?
We recommend a clean switch. Once your data is moved over, you go live on Taimli and stop taking new bookings through SalonLife so you don't end up managing two calendars. You can keep your SalonLife account active briefly to double-check anything historical, and Taimli is free during that overlap period.
Should I switch if my team already knows SalonLife well?
Not necessarily. If SalonLife already fits your workflow and your team is comfortable with it, staying put can be the smarter choice even if Taimli is cheaper. Switching only makes sense when the simpler product and lower cost outweigh the disruption of learning something new.
Will my staff need training if we switch from SalonLife?
Usually not formal training, but there is naturally a short adjustment period because Taimli is a different product. In practice, teams tend to get comfortable with it quickly because Taimli is built to be simple to use.
What salon booking software is best in Estonia?
If you're looking for salon software in Estonia, SalonLife and Taimli are two local options worth comparing. SalonLife is more established and broader in scope, while Taimli is simpler and more affordable for small salons. International alternatives like Booksy and Planfy exist too, but some salon owners prefer local options for easier support.

When switching is worth it

Not every salon should switch. The practical question is whether changing tools would genuinely improve your day-to-day work, or just create temporary disruption.

Probably not worth it yet

  • SalonLife already fits your workflow and your team is comfortable with it
  • You need inventory management, mature multi-location support, or SalonLife Connect
  • Switching would save some money, but not enough to outweigh the hassle right now

Worth a serious look

  • You run a small salon and mainly need booking, calendar, reminders, client management, and a clean booking flow
  • You are paying for features you rarely use and want a simpler tool with lower monthly cost
  • You want help with migration and prefer a cleaner day-to-day setup once the switch is done

There is no prize for switching software. If SalonLife is serving you well, staying put is a good decision. Taimli only makes sense when simpler and cheaper is genuinely better for your salon.

Free migration help. Free until your SalonLife billing period ends.

If Taimli looks like the better fit, you can try it.