Best Tattoo Booking Software in 2026: 10 Apps Compared

We make Maelo, so we are not neutral. Here is how we compared, and where others do better. Every competitor price below comes from that company's own website, checked on 6 October 2026. Prices change, so check each site before you decide. We have not tested every app hands-on; this compares what each company publishes.

How we ranked them

Most lists rank on everything at once. We ranked on what matters to a solo artist doing custom work.

Maelo is the only app on this list whose own pages show all six. Every other app here misses at least one on its own published pricing or help pages. That does not make them bad. It means they were built for a different artist, and we say who below.

The quick comparison

Prices from each company's pricing page on 6 October 2026. "$" means the page did not name a currency. Vagaro and Fresha only showed us UK pricing; theirs differs by country.

"Not listed" means we could not find it on that company's own pages. It does not mean the feature is missing.

What a busy month costs

Venue's default puts its fee on your client, so on Venue your own take-home can be higher while your client pays more. Our full working is in Maelo vs Venue Ink.

The ten, ranked

1. Maelo

Best for: solo artists who quote custom work and want deposits first.

Price: no monthly bill. 5% of each deposit plus Stripe processing; on the final payment, Stripe processing only. You choose how much of the deposit fee your client covers, from none of it to all of it. How fees work.

• Your form, your call. Add, remove and reorder questions yourself, with reference photos, size, placement and dates that grey out the days you are closed. Booking form guide.
• Quotes that fit tattoos. Fixed, hourly or range pricing, split a piece over several sessions.
• No-show fees. Charge the fee your client agreed to, to the card they paid their deposit with, when you switch it on.
• Client Hub. Your client signs in with an email link and sees dates, quotes, payments and messages in one place. What clients see.
• Calendars both ways. Google, Apple and Outlook. Move a booking in your own calendar and Maelo updates it. Calendar sync.

Where others do better: reminders are email and push only, no SMS. No buy now, pay later. No chargeback cover. Studio tools are still coming soon, and there is no import tool for your old client list yet.

2. Venue Ink

Best for: artists happy for clients to pay a booking fee, who want text reminders.

Price: Solo is free to use, with 10% on card deposits and payments, processing included, charged to clients by default. You can pay it yourself or split it evenly. Solo Pro is US$50 a month for 5%. A deposit under $25 still carries a $2.50 fee. Venue pricing.

• Strengths: automatic text reminders, Affirm and Klarna at checkout, chargeback protection on eligible payments, shared event links for flash days with other artists, a human concierge to set you up, and studio plans available now.
• Limits: its FAQ says form changes go through their artist concierge, and self-editing is in progress. Its payments FAQ says charging a card for a no-show is "not yet" available. The 10% applies to the final payment too. Venue FAQ.

3. InkDesk

Best for: artists who want one flat price and no fee on deposits.

Price: $35 a month, or $25 a month billed yearly. No InkDesk fee on deposits; Stripe processing applies. 30-day free trial. InkDesk pricing.

• Strengths: each client is a project with references, notes and messages together. Email, Instagram and WhatsApp messages in one inbox. Digital waivers and reminders included.
• Limits: you pay the subscription in a slow month too.

4. Porter

Best for: busy studios that want card readers, commission splits and payroll.

Price: Artist Essentials $35 a month, Artist Pro $65, Studio Pro $250. 30-day trial on artist plans. Porter pricing.

• Strengths: POS hardware, free data transfer, automated commission splits and 1099s, SMS and email marketing on Pro.
• Limits: waivers and consent forms start on the $65 plan. Card rates are not on the pricing page.

5. Tattoo Studio Pro

Best for: walk-in shops and teams.

Price: Solo $29 a month or $239 a year; Crew $69 a month for up to 5. Every feature on every plan. TSP pricing.

• Strengths: walk-in queue, point of sale, digital consent forms, unlimited SMS reminders, a Mac app, and a free client import.
• Limits: a monthly bill for a solo artist, and payment fees are not on the pricing page.

6. Square Appointments

Best for: artists already on Square, and the lowest raw card fees here.

Price (Canada): Free C$0, Plus C$35, Premium C$85 a month per location. 2.8% + 30¢ online, 2.5% for credit in person. Square pricing.

• Strengths: hardware, retail and a huge payments setup. On the Free plan, lower total fees than Maelo in every Canadian scenario we priced.
• Limits: cancellation fees, Google Calendar sync and text confirmations need Plus. Deposits are taken when the client books online, not when you book for them. Square deposits.

7. GlossGenius

Best for: artists who also offer beauty services and like a polished look.

Price (US): Standard US$28 a month (US$24 billed yearly), Gold US$56. Flat 2.6% processing. GlossGenius pricing.

• Strengths: one flat card rate with no extra for tap, card on file or manual entry. Free data transfer.
• Limits: forms and waivers start on Gold. Built for salons first.

8. Booksy

Best for: being found on a marketplace.

Price (US): US$29.99 a month plus tax, plus US$20 per extra team member. Optional Boost: a one-time 30% of a new marketplace client's first visit, up to $100. Booksy pricing.

• Strengths: marketplace exposure, custom forms and waivers, free reminders, 14-day trial.
• Limits: a monthly bill, plus US$20 for each extra team member.

9. Vagaro

Best for: multi-service studios that want one salon-style system.

Price: the UK page shows from £20 a month, with extra calendars at $10 each. We could not load US or Canadian prices from here. Vagaro pricing.

• Strengths: forms, 1,000 free marketing emails a month, and card hardware.
• Limits: salon-first, and you will want to price your own country's plan.

10. Fresha

Best for: studios that want marketplace bookings.

Price (UK page): £14.95 a month for one person. A one-time 20% commission on new marketplace clients, minimum £4. Online card payments 1.40% + £0.25. Fresha pricing.

• Strengths: low UK card rates, no fee on returning clients, a client booking app.
• Limits: we could only see UK pricing, so check yours. Aimed at salons and spas.

Honourable mention: Jotform or Google Forms, plus your DMs

Most artists start here. A form collects the brief; dates, deposits, reminders and the back and forth all happen somewhere else, usually Instagram. Jotform's free plan allows 5 forms and 100 submissions a month, then paid plans start at US$39 a month. Jotform pricing. If you are still here, our free booking form templates and calculators are a good first step.

How to choose

• Solo, custom work, deposits first: Maelo.
• Want clients to cover the fee, need text reminders or pay later: Venue Ink.
• Prefer one flat monthly price: InkDesk or Tattoo Studio Pro.
• Running a studio with staff and a counter: Porter or Tattoo Studio Pro.
• Already on Square, or want the lowest card rate: Square Appointments.
• Want marketplace clients: Booksy or Fresha.

Best test: run the same sample enquiry through your top two, on the phone you work from.

Prices and features checked on each company's own website on 6 October 2026. Prices change; check each company's site for current pricing. Spot something out of date? Tell us.