Boulevard vs Phorest: Which salon & spa management platform is right for you?

Whether you’re a spa, Med Spa, or luxury salon, you’ll want intuitive and reliable front desk software and a client management system that doesn’t break the bank. As the owner of a massage studio (with 30+ years under my belt) and deep experience with salon and spa teams, I know the pain of a clunky checkout, failed client communication, and outdated systems that stifle growth. 

I love a platform where my job gets easier and I can spend more valuable time with my clientele. You probably feel the same way! I’ve tried both Boulevard and Phorest, and suffice it to say sometimes the subtle comparisons can tip the scales when making this all-important decision. 

For businesses looking to manage busy schedules, improve client communication, and get more value from their software investment, where do you even start? Both Boulevard and Phorest have similarities including solid booking, client-facing tools, and customizable marketing options. There are also some important differences, which I’ll get into below.

Bottom Line Up Front

Boulevard is a luxury salon and spa platform intended to create premium, seamless client interactions. It’s best suited for businesses where a premium feel, smart client booking and customizations are appreciated. 

Phorest was built for salons and spas by a spa receptionist. Its strength lies in a well-rounded management platform and a customizable client app as an add-on. It’s best suited for businesses looking for solid tools for everyday use including an emphasis on smart scheduling and loyalty perks. 

Boulevard vs. Phorest At a Glance

Feature	Boulevard	Phorest
Pricing	$140-$328/mo currently	Custom quote only
Online Booking	Self-booking + AI-predictive scheduling	Online booking with deposits + Reserve with Google
Client Experience Tools	AI chat assistant, AI email design, unified client profiles	Branded booking app, 2-way SMS chat, loyalty program
Med Spa Add-Ons	ePrescribe + Advanced Charting	Premium Consultations (face-mapping, markup)
Online Retail	Shopify, Zapier integration + retail management	Built-in online store + gift cards + retail management
Marketing	Customizable email campaigns, SMS texting	Monthly-refreshed templates, customizable

Phorest vs. Boulevard: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Pricing and Value

I always prefer to use software that’s both slick and affordable and then optimize my tools of choice, instead of paying for cookie-cutter features that I won’t use. 

Boulevard has plans that grow with your business. With transparent pricing on their website for their Essentials, Premier and Prestige plans, current summer prices (at time of writing) range from $140-328 monthly with add-ons like advanced marketing customizations. They shine in their cross-platform integrations, so it truly feels like an all-in-one experience.   

Phorest’s plan details are slightly less transparent, requiring a custom quote from their sales team. They feature four tiers: Starter, Grow, Complete Advantage & Elite. Their add-ons feature options like the TreatCard Loyalty program and HIPAA compliant Med Spa add-ons.

Phorest offers a solid business platform with plenty of features to customize your package with them. From the custom app to the marketing features, most businesses will find the basics and more available on a monthly or annual contract basis. 

When choosing a new software, I want to know that I can depend on it for years to come while I grow my business. And that’s where Boulevard comes in first for me here. It’s a long term investment, so I want a platform optimized to grow with my business.

Scheduling and Appointments

Boulevard has Precision Scheduling which optimizes the client visit from start to finish. Especially with multi-service appointments, this comes in handy for us.

It touts a slick booking overlay that clients can toggle back and forth, which keeps clients on our site which encourages booking and retail sales. 

For an intuitive client booking experience, Boulevard delivers with a custom booking widget integration everywhere. Even on Socials and Shopify. Clients have an integrated experience from website to socials to Shopify, so they’ll feel at home whether on desktop or mobile. And with their self-booking overlay, clients will be tempted to stay on your site to shop for retail and add more services.

Phorest not only has a branded app as an add-on, but the smart scheduling features like Boulevard has. They offer a dependable platform for scheduling and client reminders. Choosing Phorest means you’ll have client loyalty points features and easy scheduling integrations.

If you like the idea of having smart scheduling for multi-service sessions and custom companion booking apps for appointment management or client check-in, Phorest will be for you. 

The Client Experience

Clients, understandably, want a comfortable, reliable, VIP experience. Thankfully, both of these platforms have customizable client experiences that cover all the basics. 

Boulevard supports every touchpoint before, during, and after the appointment. With two-way texting clients feel like they don’t need to go far to get connected to our business. 

And with Boulevard’s custom marketing and messaging tools, clients can reach us from our site, retail integrations, and all of our socials with the swipe of a screen. 

With Phorest, two-way texting is a valuable add-on feature. For me, visiting multiple locations each day, being connected on the go is a game changer. 

With Phorest’s custom app experience, clients really like using their phones for booking and check-in features. With the idea of multi-site integrations and smooth VIP-like client interactions, Boulevard shines here with their all-in-one approach.

Marketing

Boulevard offers customizable on-brand email, which is great for customer groups looking to prevent generic messaging. Even at their first tier they’ll provide customized text messages, 500 emails per month and handy email campaign reporting. 

Inside Boulevard booking, payments, charting, prescriptions, and marketing all live in the same patient/client profile. Here you’ll get not only customizations but hands-on support for migration and training. 

Phorest touts the benefits of a full marketing suite in their first tier which includes a library of templates and free images with campaign reports. They also feature co-branded marketing campaigns. 

Other Features Worth Mentioning

Boulevard:

• EPrescribe platform for upscale Med Spas
• Onboarding Specialist including Boulevard Academy 
• HIPAA compliant 
• Customizable reports & records
• Retail and Stock Integrations with Shopify and others

Phorest:

• Med Spa face mapping
• Business Representative to help you get on board
• Retail management
• Video consultations (included from the Starter tier up) 
• Retail management (online store + sell gift cards online) 

Med Spa Features

For MedSpas, both platforms have add-on tiers that your clients will respect, including services like video consultations, face mapping, HIPAA compliant records and structured treatment plans.

A note: Boulevard offers ePrescribe as a seamlessly integrated add-on, which is not offered by Phorest. This will take your MedSpa to the next level securely and safely. 

Final Thoughts

Most of us salon and spa owners are creatives. We want to focus on our clients and are looking for tools that make our lives easier and see our profits grow. To me, it’s a game changer for clients to feel connected to us and cared for even when we’re closed for the day. 

Through all of it, what makes it worth showing up every day always comes back to our clients’ experience with us. We need to have a modern online booking experience for our valued clientele, and systems that are easy enough for the whole staff to use every day.  

For growing teams who want all the basics plus great add-ons to boost sales directly in Shopify and others, Boulevard delivers a slick, modern experience for all of your medical, spa and retail operations. 

Choose Phorest if you’re a solid small team of multiple locations, needing to stay lean and grow. Phorest may be the better fit for businesses prioritizing loyalty programs, retention-focused marketing, and established salon management workflows.