Shortcuts vs Square Appointments:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Square Appointments had more branded searches than Shortcuts among salon booking software in Australia. Square Appointments had about 1,900 branded searches, while Shortcuts had 480. Square Appointments made up 5.1% of all salon booking software searches we track, and Shortcuts accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about salon booking software, Square Appointments appeared in four of the five answers and Shortcuts in none.
Who do people search for more?
Square Appointments, about 4 searches for every 1 for Shortcuts
Who does AI mention more?
Square Appointments, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Shortcuts in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Square Appointments, the only one of the two named
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Top salon booking software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Square Appointments was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Shortcuts did not appear in any of the five answers.
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 Shortcuts or Square Appointments more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Shortcuts and Square Appointments 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 Square Appointments, Shortcuts. 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 Shortcuts and Square Appointments comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Square Appointments was ahead of Shortcuts in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Shortcuts’ share of searches among salon booking software in Australia moved from 1.4% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 570 to 480.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Square Appointments’ share of searches among salon booking software in Australia moved from 6.1% to 5.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 1.9K.
How did search popularity change for Australia salon booking software in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Square Appointments in Australia fell 20.8% over 12 measured months, from 2.4K to 1.9K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Shortcuts in Australia fell 15.8% over 12 measured months, from 570 to 480 in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Shortcuts’ and Square Appointments’ 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.
Shortcuts
2 branded search terms
- shortcuts salon software
- shortcuts software
Square Appointments
1 branded search term
- square appointments
Other head-to-heads among salon booking software
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