Phorest vs Simple Salon:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Simple Salon had more branded searches than Phorest among salon booking software in Australia. Simple Salon had about 1,900 branded searches, while Phorest had 1,600. Simple Salon made up 5.1% of all salon booking software searches we track, and Phorest accounted for 4.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about salon booking software, Phorest appeared in three of the five answers and Simple Salon in two. Simple Salon was mentioned before Phorest in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Simple Salon, about 19% more searches than Phorest
Who does AI mention more?
Phorest, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Simple Salon in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Simple Salon, named ahead of Phorest in 2 of 3 answers
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Top salon booking software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Phorest was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Simple Salon was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Simple Salon was listed before Phorest in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Fresha1st
Square Appointments2nd
Timely3rd- Simple Salon4th
- Phorest5th
Kitomba6th
Vagaro7th
Shortcuts–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Fresha4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Square Appointments4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Phorest3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Timely3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Kitomba2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Simple Salon2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Vagaro1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Shortcuts0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about salon booking software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best salon booking software in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which booking app is best for a small hair salon?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What software should a beauty salon use for bookings and payments?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“salon software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hair salon software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 23, 2026.
Is Phorest or Simple Salon more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Phorest and Simple Salon by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight salon booking software we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for Simple Salon, Phorest. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Fresha | Kitomba | Simple Salon | Square Appointments | Phorest | Vagaro | Shortcuts | Timely |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 68.8% | 11.2% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.08% |
| Nov 2025 | 69.8% | 11.3% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.3% | 0.05% |
| Dec 2025 | 74.3% | 9.9% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 1% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 68.9% | 9.2% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 3.3% | 4.8% | 1.5% | 0.03% |
| Feb 2026 | 70.7% | 9.4% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 1.3% | 0.08% |
| Mar 2026 | 66.9% | 13.3% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 2.5% | 1.5% | 0.05% |
| Apr 2026 | 70.9% | 9.4% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.4% | 0.05% |
| May 2026 | 69.1% | 9.2% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 4.1% | 2.5% | 1.5% | 0.13% |
| Jun 2026 | 71.5% | 9.5% | 6.3% | 5% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 0.98% | 0.11% |
| Jul 2026 | 72.5% | 9.6% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 0.03% |
| Aug 2026 | 72.4% | 9.6% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 0.05% |
| Sep 2026 | 72.3% | 9.6% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 0.03% |
How has the Phorest and Simple Salon comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Simple Salon was ahead of Phorest in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Phorest’s share of searches among salon booking software in Australia moved from 2.5% to 4.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1K to 1.6K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Simple Salon’s share of searches among salon booking software in Australia moved from 7.4% to 5.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 1.9K.
How did search popularity change for Australia salon booking software in September 2026?
2 changes
Simple Salon’s share of searches among salon booking software in Australia has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 6.3% to 5.1% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Phorest in Australia rose 60% over 12 measured months, from 1K to 1.6K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Phorest’s and Simple Salon’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Phorest
1 branded search term
- phorest
Simple Salon
1 branded search term
- simple salon
Other head-to-heads among salon booking software
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