Shore Alternative 2026: The 5 Best Alternatives to Shore Compared

Shore is one of the most well-known salon software solutions in Germany and Europe. But "well-known" doesn't automatically mean "the best" — and certainly not "the most affordable". Many salon owners are looking for a Shore alternative because:

• Shore sits at the higher end of the price range (€49.90-129.90/month)
• Setup is complex and time-consuming
• You pay for features you don't use

In this article, we compare the 5 best Shore alternatives honestly — with prices, strengths, weaknesses, and a guide to switching smoothly.

Why Are Salons Looking for a Shore Alternative?

Before we present the alternatives, let's look at the most common reasons for switching:

• Price relative to what actually gets used
• Feature scope beyond a small salon's needs
• Effort required to set it up
• Support reachability

The most common reason is price: Shore costs €49.90 to €129.90 a month, and many small salons pay for features they never use.

Shore Pricing 2026 — What Do You Really Pay?

For comparison, current Shore plans:

Prices from Shore's public pricing page (annual / monthly billing), retrieved 1 September 2026.

For a solo salon with 1-2 staff members that only needs online booking, reminders and client management, Shore may be overdimensioned.

The 5 Best Shore Alternatives in 2026

1. Terminz — The Simplest Alternative

Best for: Small to medium salons (1-10 staff) that need everything important without the extras

What sets Terminz apart from Shore:

• Setup in 10 minutes
• Unlimited staff in all plans (Shore limits by plan)
• No hidden costs or add-on fees
• German support, German servers, GDPR by default
• 30-day free trial, no credit card required

Shore vs. Terminz feature comparison:

Who is Terminz the right Shore alternative for?

• Salons that primarily need online booking and automatic reminders
• Owners who don't have time for complex onboarding
• Studios that value a fair price-to-performance ratio

Switch to Terminz now →

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2. Treatwell — With Marketplace Bonus

Best for: Salons that actively want to attract new clients through an online marketplace

Strengths vs. Shore:

• Access to the Treatwell marketplace
• New clients find you through the app

Weaknesses vs. Shore:

• 35% commission on the first booking of every new client from the marketplace
• You become dependent on Treatwell
• Price competition with other salons on the platform

Pricing: Monthly calendar fee plus commission on new marketplace clients, current figures at treatwell.de/partners/preise

Verdict: Good for acquiring new clients, bad for long-term profitability.

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3. Phorest — The Professional Alternative

Best for: Large salons with 5+ staff and high revenue (€100k+/year)

Strengths vs. Shore:

• More features than Shore (marketing automation, loyalty programs, detailed reports)
• Excellent support
• Specifically developed for salons

Weaknesses vs. Shore:

• Even more expensive than Shore
• More complex to set up
• Overkill for small and medium salons

Pricing: quote-based, estimated from ~€100/month

Verdict: If Shore is too affordable for you, Phorest is the right choice. For most salons, it's overdimensioned.

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4. Timify — The Free Alternative

Best for: Salons on a very tight budget or just getting started

Strengths vs. Shore:

• Free basic version permanently
• Easy to use
• No commitment

Weaknesses vs. Shore:

• Limited features in the free version
• Not specifically designed for salons

Pricing: Free; Premium from €25/month

Verdict: Good as a starting point, but quickly reaches limits for professional salons.

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5. Planity — The Design-Forward Alternative

Best for: Trendy, image-conscious salons that value aesthetics

Strengths vs. Shore:

• Very attractive design
• Own booking marketplace in France/Germany
• No commission on bookings

Weaknesses vs. Shore:

• Less well-known in Germany than Shore
• Smaller community and fewer English/German tutorials

Pricing: on request — Planity publishes no price list

Verdict: An interesting option for image-conscious salons — but less widespread in Germany than Shore.

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Direct Comparison: Shore vs. All Alternatives

Which Shore Alternative Is Right for You?

You want cheaper and simpler: → Terminz — Same outcome (full appointment books, fewer no-shows), significantly lower price

You want new clients via a marketplace: → Treatwell — But watch out for the commission

You need even more features than Shore: → Phorest — When budget isn't a concern

You're just starting out: → Timify (free) or Terminz (cheapest paid option)

How to Switch Smoothly from Shore to Terminz

Switching is simpler than you think:

Step 1: Export Your Shore Data

In Shore, go to Settings → Data → Export to download your services, team and appointments as a file. Alternatively, contact Shore support — the return of your data is governed by the data processing agreement (Art. 28 GDPR).

Step 2: Create Your Terminz Account (10 Minutes)

1. Register for free at terminz.com
2. Set up your business (name, address, opening hours)

Step 3: Bring Your Data Over and Invite Your Clients

In the Terminz dashboard under “Move to Terminz” you download the templates and copy your Shore data into them: services and team first, then the appointment book. Your clients sign themselves up through your registration link, ideally with the QR code at the counter. If you would rather not do it yourself, send us the Shore export and we transfer it.

Step 4: Distribute Your Booking Link

Add your new Terminz booking link to your Instagram bio, Google Business Profile, and website. Remove the old Shore link.

Step 5: Train Your Team (30 Minutes)

Terminz is intuitive enough that 30 minutes of introduction is sufficient. No multi-hour onboarding required.

Full guide: Switch from Shore to Terminz

What Shore Does Better Than the Alternatives

Fair is fair — Shore has real strengths that not all alternatives match:

• Marketing automation — Birthday emails, campaigns etc. are more extensive than Terminz
• Maturity — Shore has been on the market for years, the product is well-tested

If you need extensive marketing automation, Shore remains a solid choice. For everything else — booking, client management, payments and POS — Terminz offers a simpler and more affordable solution.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shore Alternatives

Is Terminz really cheaper than Shore?

Terminz offers transparent pricing with no hidden costs and unlimited staff in all plans. Shore starts at €49.90/month and limits staff numbers by plan. Terminz costs €39 net per month with the POS included; in Germany the TSE module per location comes on top.

Can I take my Shore client data to Terminz?

Your appointments with your clients' names, yes; client accounts, no. At Terminz only the person themselves creates an account, through your registration link. Shore provides your data export in CSV format on request (governed by the data processing agreement, Art. 28 GDPR), and we help you transfer it into Terminz free of charge.

Will I lose bookings during the switch?

Not if you plan the switch correctly. Strategy: run both systems in parallel for 1-2 weeks, then switch to Terminz. Simply let all existing Shore appointments run out.

Does Terminz also offer a POS system?

Yes. The Terminz Terminal App runs on iPad and Android tablets and covers the whole till workflow: view today's appointments, check in clients, checkout with cash, card (Stripe Terminal) or split payment, add tips, send receipts by QR code or email, process refunds and run end-of-day cash reconciliation. No separate POS system needed.

How long does switching from Shore to Terminz take?

The technical switch (creating the account, filling in the templates, importing the data) takes 2-4 hours. We then recommend 1-2 weeks of parallel operation. After 2 weeks, you can completely cancel Shore.

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You might also be interested in:

• Salon Software Comparison 2026: The 7 Best Solutions
• Switch from Shore to Terminz: Step by Step
• Reduce No-Shows by 80%: Proven Strategies
• Online Appointment Booking: Why It's Essential in 2026