--- 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" publication_date: "2026-10-21" --- # Inspire Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on October 21, 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/)[Gym Management](https://www.capterra.com/gym-management-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://www.g2.com/products/inspire-by-stx/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## 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. [4.7 (3,684)](https://www.capterra.com/p/153752/Vagaro/reviews/) Starting Price $59 Flat Rate, Per Month Starting Price $23.99 Flat Rate, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.2 (30) Ease Of Use 4.6 (3,681) Value For Money 3.9 (20) Value For Money 4.6 (3,290) Customer Service 4.3 (29) Customer Service 4.6 (3,310) ## Inspire alternatives Highest Rated [4.9 (354)](https://www.capterra.com/p/187593/Mangomint/reviews/) Starting price $130.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 99% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.8 (351)](https://www.capterra.com/p/174830/GlossGenius/reviews/) Starting price $24.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 95% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.8 (1,173)](https://www.capterra.com/p/268055/Goldie/reviews/) Starting price $19.99 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 97% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.4 (296)](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 [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 salon, spa, and beauty business owners, managers, and directors who oversee appointments, staff, and daily operations. Front-desk coordinators and reception teams rely on it to schedule clients and manage bookings, while service providers such as colorists and massage therapists track appointments and client services. Answer based on 28 reviews Overview ### What company size and specific industries is Inspire built for? Inspire is designed for appointment-based businesses of any size that need to track client records, process payments, manage inventory, market to customers, and report on retention, productivity, and goals. It fits service-oriented companies such as salons, clinics, spas, and other customer-facing operations. Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Inspire? Inspire includes appointment scheduling, class management, booking management, and online booking for client reservations. It also offers payment processing, recurring billing, POS, and invoicing, plus client portals, access controls, attendance tracking, reminders, reporting, and SMS messaging for customer communication and business administration. Pricing ### How much does it cost and what fees or limitations are included? Inspire starts at $59 per month for the Solo plan, with Lite at $69, Basic at $129, Enhanced at $199, and Advanced at $259. The Welcome App and Client App for iOS/Android are included free for 3 months, while the STX Welcome App costs $20 per 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 for point-of-sale workflows, Marketing 360 for marketing management, and Textel for business texting. These catalog integrations cover retail, marketing, and communication use cases within the Inspire platform. Getting Started and Support ### What training and onboarding options does Inspire offer? Inspire provides live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos for training. Live online sessions and webinars support guided instruction, while documentation and videos provide self-paced reference material for users learning the product and reviewing setup or feature details as needed. 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 staff as patient and helpful, with quick responses and remote troubleshooting that resolves issues fast. Some feedback is mixed, with occasional frustration when requests for changes are met with firm refusals. Answer based on 5 reviews ## Features AI summary Based on 2,183 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 reviewers value most: **Appointment Scheduling**, **Calendar Management**, and **Confirmations/Reminders**. Together, these capabilities help salons book services efficiently, keep staff calendars organized, and reduce missed appointments through timely client notifications, allowing teams to manage daily operations with less manual work and deliver a more consistent customer 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 Counts reflect reviews available in this feed. 5(17) 4(5) 3(6) 2(1) 1(1) Mentioned topic Recent reviews first, then most helpful VR Verified Reviewer Owner Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "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 15, 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. 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. Sandra H. Owner/colorist Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Our long relationship with STX" 5.0 May 17, 2017 We have been with STX since 1993! I didn't know much at all about computers, but I knew I needed to automate the salon. The tech support has always been amazing (I spent long phone calls with Brenda!) I have never had any glitchy software or viruses. It has always been super easy to teach new staff members. Love my STX! I am never tempted to change software! Pros Consistency, good support, ease of use Cons I would like some additional report options and some of the benefits of Beacon without loosing what I love about STX 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. RE Reviewer Spa Director Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Gets the job done " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 January 20, 2018 Pros What I really like most about the STX software is that the calendar is very simple to read and color coordinated for all appointments. It makes it very easy to navigate through the booking system to find an appointment or future availability. The transaction list for employees is also very helpful as it gives you a breakdown of service prices, add ons like products or tips, and it monitors the cash drawer amount. This makes things very easy to work with on a regular basis. The mobile site is also a great perk and very helpful. Cons Besides the occasional technology issues there really isn't something I like least about the software. 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. RE Reviewer owner Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "A terrible experience for our new business" 1.0 Overall Rating 1.0 1.0 Ease of Use 1.0 1.0 Features 1.0 1.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 1/10 June 17, 2019 Pros we thought is was best suited for our industry Cons We tried this product for the first few months of our business being open. We had nothing but issues and a huge lack of support on their end to help us solve the problem. Clients were being sent the wrong appintment dates and showing up with no one to take care of them. Our prices and info kept changing so we had to constantly go back in and fix it. It was nothing but issues and costed us so much money which we could not afford as a small business. Finally the President of the company called us to apologize because there seemed to be a 'glitch' in just our program. We lost clients and money over this and were hoping to get some of our money back. We didnt and now are stuck in contracts with their partner companies that will end up costing us thousands over the next couple year. Very disappointing that STX would not reach out to help cover some of the costs their company brought on us. 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. RE Reviewer Front Desk Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "Stx review" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 5/10 April 4, 2019 Pros The system is user friendly. Comes with a lot of features. Cons The software seems to be falling behind. A lot of different salon softwares seem to be more advanced. We do not want to fall behind. 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. RE Reviewer Salon coordinator Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "STX is easy to use for the most inexperienced t the most experienced! " 5.0 May 17, 2017 Pros Ease of use and visually easy to see. I like the totals report for balancing st the end of the day. I also love the feature of being able to send an email confirmation at any time. I like the customizing features also Cons Running specific reports are sometimes tricky. Also, cash in/out to balance is a bit confusing as well 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. RE Reviewer Assistant Manager Used the software for: 1-3 years ### "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 31, 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. RE Reviewer Owner Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "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 6, 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 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. RE Reviewer Owner Used the software for: Less than 1 year ### "Glitchy and not easy to use" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 2.0 2.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 3/10 May 17, 2017 Everything has too many steps. The click and drag feature on the app and computer was too sensitive, now almost impossible to use on both. If you have to cancel appointment, you have to go to a different screen, If you have to reschedule appointment you cant change the date easily. Its hard to see a week view on your phone. To sign in they ask you to verify every time. They have to find away to simplify on the app, like Millennium. Pros Week view Cons On the app click on the client option doesnt have good features, needs to be simpler to move, cancel, modify and book multiple services 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. Katie D. Operations Manager Used the software for: 3-5 years ### "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 21, 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. [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 [Vagaro vs Inspire](https://www.capterra.com/compare/153752-195805/Vagaro-vs-STX-Software) [Mangomint vs Inspire](https://www.capterra.com/compare/187593-195805/Mangomint-vs-STX-Software)