--- title: "Inspire Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about Inspire Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Salon products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/195805/STX-Software/" page_type: "product" language: "en" --- # Inspire Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on August 20, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Inspire ## What is Inspire? Inspire by STX Salon Software gives owners the tools to book, manage, and grow without juggling multiple platforms. Automate client emails for birthdays, cancellations, and rebooking reminders so no one slips through the cracks. Offer fully customizable online booking where you control which stylists accept new clients, require deposits, and set scheduling rules that protect your team's time. Built-in goal tracking shows real-time progress adjusted to the calendar so your team always knows where they stand. Required post-service booking ensures color clients leave with a blowout or cut on the schedule. Reporting covers rebooking rates, client retention, and forecasting. Integrated payments offer rates well below Square with dedicated support and Clover compatibility. Includes a worker app, check-in kiosk, rewards program, gift cards, and unlimited training. ## What is Inspire used for? [Salon](https://www.capterra.com/salon-software/)[Spa](https://www.capterra.com/spa-software/)[Fitness](https://www.capterra.com/fitness-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 30 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 73% Neutral 20% Negative 7% Starting price $59 Flat Rate, Per Month Free trial not available Free version not included Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Inspire?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://www.stxsoftware.com/&name=Inspire) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Inspire 4.2 (30) VS. [5.0 (344)](https://www.capterra.com/p/187593/Mangomint/reviews/) Starting Price $59 Flat Rate, Per Month Starting Price $130 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.2 (30) Ease Of Use 4.9 (344) Value For Money 3.9 (20) Value For Money 4.8 (331) Customer Service 4.3 (29) Customer Service 5.0 (337) ## Inspire alternatives [4.7 (3,653)](https://www.capterra.com/p/153752/Vagaro/reviews/) Starting price $23.99 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 94% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.4 (278)](https://www.capterra.com/p/172058/Meevo-2/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 85% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.8 (349)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174830/GlossGenius/reviews/) Starting price $24.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.6 (389)](https://www.capterra.com/p/180087/Boulevard/reviews/) Starting price $176.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 92% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/195805/STX-Software/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Inspire Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Inspire? Inspire is most used by small business owners, salon managers, and front-desk teams that need to run daily operations smoothly. Executives and operations leaders use it to track business performance, while service providers and coordinators rely on it for scheduling, client management, sales activities, and streamlined appointment workflows. Answer based on 28 reviews Overview ### What company size and specific industries is Inspire built for? Inspire is designed for small to mid-sized businesses that book appointments, manage client records, take payments, track inventory, and market to customers. It fits service-based businesses that need reporting on client retention, productivity, and goals, especially those handling recurring appointments and customer relationships. Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Inspire? Inspire offers appointment scheduling, class management, booking management, and wait list management for calendar-based operations. It also includes payment processing, billing and invoicing, recurring subscription billing, and POS tools, plus client portal, access controls and permissions, SMS messaging, marketing automation, and reporting features. Pricing ### How much does it cost and what fees or limitations are included? Inspire starts at $59/month for the Solo plan, followed by Lite at $69, Basic at $129, Enhanced at $199, and Advanced at $259. Included addons Welcome App and Client App for iOS/Android are free for 3 months, while the STX Welcome App costs $20/month. Answer based on 4 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Inspire integrate with? Inspire integrates with 3 third-party platforms: Clover, Marketing 360, and Textel. These catalog integrations cover point-of-sale, marketing, and messaging needs, giving Inspire connections to core business tools without requiring separate integration layers. Getting Started and Support ### What training and onboarding options does Inspire offer? Inspire provides live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos for team training. Live online sessions and webinars support guided instruction, while documentation and videos offer written and visual reference materials for self-paced learning and review. Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Inspire offer? Inspire provides Email/Help Desk, FAQ/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support, and Chat. Users describe support as generally helpful and patient, with quick answers in some cases, though a few note that requests for fixes or changes can be met with firm limits. Answer based on 5 reviews ## Features AI summary Based on 2,154 Salon reviews Capterra data shows that buyers of salon software rank the following features as their top priorities: - **Appointment Scheduling** (**65%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Calendar Management** (**56%**) - **Confirmations/Reminders** (**55%**) Inspire supports all three features that reviewers value most: **Appointment Scheduling**, **Calendar Management**, and **Confirmations/Reminders**. Together, these capabilities help salons book services efficiently, keep staff schedules organized, and reduce missed appointments, allowing teams to manage daily operations with less manual work and deliver a more consistent client experience. Calendar Management 5.0 (2) 50.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar Confirmations/Reminders 5.0 (1) 100.00% of 1 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Automated reminders and confirmations for booked appointments and events via text or email Online Booking 2.5 (2) 100.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Book meetings and appointments through a website or digital platform Client Database 4.7 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Electronic storage of stakeholder contact information Point of Sale (POS) 3.5 (2) 50.00% of 2 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Accept and process customer payments for products or services using hardware and software For Salons and Spas 4.5 (4) 50.00% of 4 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Specific for use in spas and salons Inspire 69 features ### All Features - Access Controls/Permissions: Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems - Activity Dashboard: Dashboard to view the status of ongoing processes, identify current incidents and track past activities - Alerts/Notifications: Alerts or notifications of various types such as pop-up messages, sounds, banners, or badges - Appointment Management: Manage various aspects of appointments including booking, rescheduling, canceling - Appointment Scheduling: Schedule appointments via a calendar - Attendance Tracking: Track the attendance of specific individuals or groups - Automated Scheduling: Automatically create schedules based on business needs or employee availability and qualifications - Barcode/Ticket Scanning: Scan barcodes to ensure accurate pricing and label tracking - Billing & Invoicing: Create, manage, and send invoices or bills to customers - Booking Management: Create, update, and manage bookings, itineraries, and reservations - Booth Rental Management: Offer to rent a booth to freelance professionals - Calendar Management: Track and manage schedules and meetings via an integrated calendar - Calendar Sync: Synchronize with other calendars to view mutual availability and schedules - Class Management: Create and schedule group classes, recurring appointments, and private sessions, etc. - Client Database: Electronic storage of stakeholder contact information - Client Management: Manage contact details and communication with clients - Client Portal: Private online space that lets businesses securely share documents and provide information access to clients - Commission Management: Tracking, calculating, and paying commissions and earnings to employees - Communication Management: Manage and track all internal and external communication conducted via calls, email, text, or chat - Confirmations/Reminders: Automated reminders and confirmations for booked appointments and events via text or email - Credit Card Processing: Accept and process credit card transactions - Customer Accounts: Record customer information, purchase history, and other notes - Customer Database: A collection of customer information such as contact details, demographics, previous interactions, etc. - Customer History: Access previous interactions or concerns to maintain customer relationships - Customer Mobile App: Platform for customers to directly manage their appointments and profile - Customer Surveys: Tool to send questionnaires to customers to gauge feedback - Customizable Branding: Add customized logos and colors to align with company branding - Customizable Forms: Customize contracts and forms to collect specific information - Customizable Reports: Alter the layout and content of reports - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Discount Management: Track products that are for sale at a reduced price or part of coupon promotions - Drag & Drop: Assemble applications and processes by dragging over and arranging pre-built components - Electronic Forms: Digital forms that are shared and accessed online - Electronic Payments: Electronically collect payments for goods or services - Email Marketing: Create and send email blasts/campaigns - Email Reminders: Reminders sent via email - Employee Management: Track employee schedules, availability, and performance across projects and tasks - For Salons and Spas: Specific for use in spas and salons - Gift Card Management: Reward loyal customers with gift cards which they can redeem for special offers and loyalty bonus - Inventory Management: Track and manage inventory levels to maintain proper supply - Loyalty Program: Offer prizes, discounts, and other incentives for customers to earn reward points on purchases and redeem them for future purchases - Marketing Automation: Automate workflows and trigger campaigns based on customer actions - Marketing Management: Plan, track, and evaluate marketing activities including promotions, customer outreach, and branding - Member Communication: Contact members listed in the database through email, SMS, social, phone, etc. - Membership Management: Database of members to track personal information of individuals and families - Mobile Access: Access software remotely via mobile devices - Multi-Location: Manage and support multiple locations - Online Booking: Book meetings and appointments through a website or digital platform - Online Store: Website through which businesses can sell goods or services over the internet - Payment Processing: Accept, record, and reconcile financial transactions - Payroll & Commissions: Track and process employee payroll (salaries, wages, etc.) and commissions on sales - Payroll Management: Manage employee salary processes, data, taxes, and records administration efficiently - Performance Metrics: A set of indicators that tracks the performance of networks, applications, systems, teams, etc. - Point of Sale (POS): Accept and process customer payments for products or services using hardware and software - Promotions Management: Design, communicate, and distribute incentives to perform a specific action - Real-Time Reporting: Active reporting of data and metrics - Recurring Appointments: Schedule repeating appointments based on a duration of time - Recurring/Subscription Billing: Automated process of charging customers at regular intervals for repeated access or use of a product or service - Registration Management: Oversee and coordinate the registration of attendees, visitors, customers, events, activities, etc. - Reminders: Timed notification for any upcoming task, deadline, appointment, or activity - Reporting & Statistics: Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns - Reputation Management: Monitor and manage customers' perceptions about a business, product, or service - Self Check-In/Check-Out: Check-in and out via a mobile device or kiosk - SMS Marketing: Send promotional campaigns or transactional messages via text messages - SMS Messaging: Send messages via SMS - Third-Party Integrations: Set up connections to third-party platforms to improve business processes - Transaction History: Record of all transactions such as purchases, deposits, withdrawals and transfers within a specific period - Wait List Management: Record, update and manage waiting lists - Waitlist Status Tracking: Track the position in queue in real-time --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 3.7 (22) 3.7 Based on 22 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 3.9 (20) [View pricing plan details](https://www.capterra.com/p/195805/STX-Software/pricing/) Solo $59.00 Flat Rate,Per Month It includes: - Automated Backups - Data Migration - Live Education - One-on-One Training - Unlimited Support - Unrestricted Access Lite $69.00 Flat Rate,Per Month It includes: - Automated Backups - Data Migration - Live Education - One-on-One Training - Payroll Reporting - Permission Sets - Preferred Service Durations - Resource Scheduling - Unlimited Support - Unrestricted Access - Worker Time Clock Basic $129.00 Flat Rate,Per Month It includes: - Automated Backups - Data Migration - Email Marketing Blasts - Live Education - One-on-One Training - Payroll Reporting - Permission Sets - Preferred Service Durations - Resource Scheduling - Unlimited Support - Unrestricted Access - Worker Time Clock Enhanced $199.00 Flat Rate,Per Month It includes: - Advanced Reporting - Automated Backups - Automated Email Marketing - Data Migration - Email Marketing Blasts - Email Marketing List Builder - Live Education - One-on-One Training - Payroll Reporting - Permission Sets - Preferred Service Durations - Resource Scheduling - Unlimited Support - Unrestricted Access - Worker Time Clock Advanced $259.00 Flat Rate,Per Month It includes: - Advanced Reporting - Automated Backups - Automated Email Marketing - Data Migration - Email Marketing Blasts - Email Marketing List Builder - Live Education - One-on-One Training - Payroll Reporting - Permission Sets - Preferred Service Durations - Resource Scheduling - Reviews - Surveys - Unlimited Support - Unrestricted Access - Worker Time Clock Value for money 3.9 (20) 3.9 Based on 20 reviews ## Integrations [ Marketing 360](https://www.capterra.com/p/148516/Marketing-360/)[ Clover](https://www.capterra.com/p/226864/Clover/)[ Textel](https://www.capterra.com/p/230612/Textel/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.3 (29) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.3 (29) 4.3 Based on 29 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.2 Based on 30 reviews Filter by rating 5(17) 4(5) 3(6) 2(1) 1(1) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent AN Anonymous User Owner Retail ### "STX Inspire Software" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 2/10 April 14, 2026 It was okay. Customer service was mediocre. Whenever we asked for a fix or suggested something to be implemented, it was met with a solid, "We can't do that". Pros Inspire was a good software. It allowed great reports for payroll, KPI's, etc. It was easy to use, easy to train staff, and basically anything that we wanted to do from the salon end of things. Cons Online booking for the guest. We got so many complaints about the difficulty of online booking. Several guests actually considered switching salons over it. Switched from [EnvisionNow](https://www.capterra.com/p/10010577/Envision-Salon-Software/) It had gotten so costly. We had been sending out guest reminders for free, and they were going to begin charging us for that service. Alternatives considered [DaySmart Salon](https://www.capterra.com/p/9167/DaySmart-Salon/) Reasons for choosing Inspire Pricing was a huge reason that I chose this software. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. KT Kath T. Owner Cosmetics ### "Thanks for the great new software " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 17, 2022 Pros The ease of use and great record keeping Cons Adding services for tickets is difficult to understand Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. ME Melanie E. Nail Shop Owner, Business Execution Consultant Professional Training & Coaching ### "Love this platform " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 June 7, 2022 The customer service far exceeds my expectations. Pros I love that the software allows you to plan a pleasurable experience for your clients. It is very robust. It is new and always developing. Cons There are some features that I would like to see such as client photo storage and also a way to use other POS systems. I do not like the way you have to cancel appointments. Switched from [Square Payments](https://www.capterra.com/p/170278/Square-Payments-Processing/) I made the switch because although square had some good options that STX did not, I saw the growth and potential in STX. Reasons for choosing Inspire It was sleek and professional Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. KY Katie Y. Owner Health, Wellness and Fitness ### "I am SO glad I made the switch after 17 years!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 June 2, 2022 I was an STX desktop user for 17 years and I was hesitant to take the leap to Inspire but I am so glad I did! It is so user friendly and my staff picked up on how to use it so quickly! Inventory is a breeze with this new system and I love that I can access it from my laptop anywhere I want! Pros Inventory is a breeze with this new system and I love that I can access it from my laptop anywhere I want! Cons The only feature missing is being able to see the full schedule on the worker app. Review source Vendor Referred - Incentive Offered: This reviewer was invited by the software vendor to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive as a thank you. AN Anonymous User Healthcare Hospital & Health Care ### "I like this company and iI wish all happiness for every member on it. " 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 August 8, 2021 This software improved everything I had problems with them. It has high features. Pros It is very easy to use and I use it to take advantage of my life and work. Cons I feel like to use this software and I advice everyone to use it. It's very easy and useful. Alternatives considered [Amazon S3](https://www.capterra.com/p/174285/Amazon-S3/) Reasons for choosing Inspire Because Amazon is one of the largest and greatest companies in the world and its products are excellent. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. LC Lauren C. Assistant Manager Cosmetics ### "Unsatisfied with software" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 4/10 December 29, 2020 Pros What I liked most was being able to always see past transactions and easy to understand. Cons The things i liked least was how it would crash often, not be able to customize a lot of things and couldn't save credit card info easily. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. II Isabella I. Reception Cosmetics ### "STX" 2.0 Overall Rating 2.0 2.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 3/10 December 22, 2020 Hard pass. Pros Its easy to use after training for about a month. Cons Its NOT user friendly. It was so difficult to learn how to use. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. KD Katie D. Operations Manager Retail ### "Katie" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 3/10 December 18, 2020 Our business was too large to use the cloud Pros That you could open multiple screens at once Cons That it crashed and when it did you have no way of seeing the books. Also it is difficult to set up open ports for accessing the hub when not on site. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AH andrea H. OWNER Design ### "Wish it had more options for employees to see booking/client info from the mobile app" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 July 29, 2019 Pros Loved how easy it is to navigate my client booking and see everything remotely on my phone. Cons Wish it had more options for employees to see booking/client info from the mobile app Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AK Amanda K. Salon Coordinator Hospitality ### "Perfect for busy salons" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 July 25, 2019 Pros The customer service is top notch! The support staff is beyond patient and will help to solve any issue or confusions you may have. I never have to wait long for help or answers. Cons Permissions and security measures can make some tasks a little more time consuming. Switched from [Mindbody](https://www.capterra.com/p/40229/MINDBODY/) We needed something that allowed us to personalize appointment options and double booking. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/195805/STX-Software/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Popular comparisons [Mangomint vs Inspire](https://www.capterra.com/compare/187593-195805/Mangomint-vs-STX-Software) [Vagaro vs Inspire](https://www.capterra.com/compare/153752-195805/Vagaro-vs-STX-Software)