Altegio is a feature-rich system for salons with scheduling, a client database, stock, finances and payroll. The price depends on the number of staff and only drops noticeably when you pay a year upfront. SmartBook is online booking and a CRM for salons and studios with simple plans based on team size and every feature included in every plan. Here is how they compare in the UK.
In short
- Altegio suits larger salons and chains that need stock control, financial accounting, an open API and help with setup.
- SmartBook suits salons, studios and independent professionals who want booking, a client database, packages, loyalty points and payroll for a small price without paying a year upfront.
Monthly cost
| Staff | SmartBook | Altegio |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 people | 6 € | €29.99 + VAT |
| 3 people | 6 € | €44.99 + VAT |
| 5 people | 6 € | €74.99 + VAT |
| 10 people | 18 € | €149.99 + VAT |
Altegio: net prices for 1 month; Altegio charges UK customers in euros. If you pay for 12 months, Altegio adds 9 months free, which works out at about €17.14 a month for 1-2 staff and €42.85 for 5 staff (from the Altegio pricing page for the United Kingdom, without a promo code, checked 26.09.2026). SmartBook: shown in euros for a like-for-like comparison; in the UK the plan for up to 5 staff costs £5 a month, up to 40% cheaper when you pay for six months or a year, see pricing.
Terms
| SmartBook | Altegio | |
|---|---|---|
| How the price works | Plan by staff limit: up to 5, up to 10, up to 50 | Per staff member |
| Commission on bookings | None | None |
| Features | All included in every plan | All included |
| Free trial | 21 days, up to 10 staff, no card | 7 days |
Features
| SmartBook | Altegio | |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking, schedule and client database | ||
| Loyalty programme | ||
| Staff payroll | ||
| Stock and products | No | |
| Open API | No | |
| Help with setup and data migration | Self-service client import from CSV or Excel, chat support | Included in the price |
Every SmartBook plan includes packages, gift cards, loyalty points, payroll and commission, multiple locations, client segments and an RFM report, deposits and automatic review requests.
When Altegio is the better choice
- You run a chain of salons and need stock, financial accounting and API integrations.
- You want someone to set the system up for you and train your team.
- You are happy to pay a year upfront to get a lower price.
When SmartBook is the better choice
- You have up to 5 staff: the SmartBook plan costs less than Altegio for one or two people.
- You don't want to pay a year upfront just to get a fair price.
- You want a simple system you can set up yourself in one evening.
How to switch from Altegio to SmartBook
- Sign up for SmartBook: 21 days of full access for free, no card needed.
- Export your client list from Altegio to a file, or ask Altegio support for an export.
- Upload the file to SmartBook: Clients section, import from CSV or Excel.
- Add your services, staff and working hours, then put your booking link on Instagram, Google and your website.
- Let your regular clients know the new booking link.