Comparison · 2026
Lokal360 vs Booksy.
Your own system versus SaaS for a salon.
The verdict in 1 sentence
Booksy is cheaper for a one-person business with fewer than 100 clients a month. Your own Lokal360 system pays off for a studio with 3 or more specialists, or for any business where client before/after photos are part of the service (podiatrist, dermatologist, aesthetic medicine, tattoo).
- Booksy: ~130 PLN / specialist / month (1,560 PLN/year), a subscription with no end, data on Booksy's servers
- Lokal360 System Mini: 3 999 PLN one-off + 149 PLN/month care, data on your server
- When it pays off: 1 specialist, year 4 (Booksy cheaper). 3 specialists, year 2 (Lokal360 cheaper). 5+ specialists, year 1 (Lokal360 clearly cheaper).
- The key for premium beauty: client before/after photos on your own server (GDPR compliant). Booksy has no such option in its Polish subscription
Comparison table
| Dimension | Booksy | Lokal360 System Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 0 PLN, 1 day | 3 999 PLN, 7-10 days |
| Monthly cost | 130 PLN / specialist | 149 PLN / whole business |
| 5-year cost (3 specialists) | 23,400 PLN | 12 939 PLN |
| Commission per reservation | 0% (direct), 5% (from the Booksy marketplace) | 0% |
| Client data | Booksy servers (US/EU) | Your server (Supabase EU) |
| Client before/after photos | Not available as standard | Yes, GDPR compliant |
| The system shows competitors | Yes ("Similar salons") | No |
| Traffic from the app | Yes (the Booksy app, ~30% of traffic) | No (you need your own traffic) |
| SMS / email reminders | Included in the subscription | +0.08 PLN / SMS, email free |
| Online payments | + Booksy Pay 1.9% | + Stripe 1.4% or Przelewy24 1.5% |
| Look and feel customisation | Standard, few options | Full (the code is yours) |
| Data export | CSV (limited history) | Full access to the database |
| Vendor lock-in | High (switching = losing data) | None (open, your code) |
ROI in 4 scenarios
Scenario 1: Solo beautician, 80 clients / month
Booksy: 130 PLN × 60 months = 7,800 PLN / 5 years. Lokal360: 12 939 PLN / 5 years. Verdict: Booksy is cheaper by ~5,200 PLN. At this scale your own system does not pay off, unless you need before/after photos (premium beauty, podiatrist).
Scenario 2: A studio of 3 specialists, 250 clients / month
Booksy: 130 × 3 × 60 = 23,400 PLN / 5 years. Lokal360: 12 939 PLN / 5 years. Verdict: Lokal360 saves ~10,400 PLN and pays for itself in year 2. Plus your own data and before/after photos.
Scenario 3: A chain of 5 specialists (or 2+ locations)
Booksy: 130 × 5 × 60 = 39,000 PLN / 5 years. Lokal360 Standard: 4 499 PLN to start + 23 940 PLN of care = ~28 439 PLN / 5 years. Verdict: Lokal360 saves ~15,000 PLN. Plus a shared database, reports for each location, permissions for staff.
Scenario 4: Podiatrist / dermatologist (sensitive photos)
Patient before/after photos plus a treatment plan are sensitive medical data. In its Polish subscription Booksy has no option to store medical photos securely in line with GDPR. The legal risk: a leak of medical data means a fine from the data protection authority of up to 2% of your turnover. Lokal360 keeps the photos on your server (Supabase, data in Europe), with a full access history and GDPR compliant. Verdict: Lokal360 regardless of scale, because the cost of losing medical data outweighs any saving.
When Booksy is the better choice
- A one-person business, fewer than 100 clients / month. At this scale your own system does not pay off.
- No traffic or website of your own. Booksy draws clients from the app (~20-30% of new clients for small salons).
- You do not want to deal with maintenance. Booksy works without your involvement, Lokal360 needs monthly technical care.
- A standard way of working, if what Booksy offers covers all your needs, there is no point building your own system.
When Lokal360 is the better choice
- A studio of 3 or more specialists, it pays for itself in year 2.
- Client before/after photos, premium beauty, podiatrist, dermatologist, aesthetic medicine, tattoo. A value that is hard to put in money terms.
- An industry with sensitive data, a medical practice, dermatologist, psychologist. Data on your server.
- An unusual way of working, a treatment plan, a staged process, a link to accounting software.
- A chain or several locations, a shared client database, permissions, reports for each location.
- Control over your business. Your business, your data, your future. Booksy can raise prices, change the terms or be bought by a competitor.
FAQ
Can I use Booksy and Lokal360 side by side?
Yes, that is the strategy I recommend at the start. Booksy draws new clients from the app, Lokal360 handles returning ones directly. Over time it naturally shifts from 30% Booksy to 70% Lokal360.
What about the client database I already have in Booksy?
You export a CSV file from the Booksy panel (clients, visit history, contacts). I upload it into the new system in 1-2 hours. Before/after photos, unfortunately, Booksy does not let you fully export in its Polish subscription, so only the new ones will remain.
How long does the migration take?
7-10 working days for the Mini package, 10-14 days for Standard with payments. We move over gradually: both systems run in parallel for 2-4 weeks, then we switch to the new one.
What about marketing? Booksy brings traffic.
Yes, but it costs a 5% commission. Lokal360 requires building your own traffic: a website, a Google Business Profile and reviews. The all-in-one bundle: Local visibility and Reservation system.
What if the system stops working a year from now?
The code is yours and you have it on hand. The technology is popular, so it is easy to find another developer. By comparison: if Booksy goes under or changes its terms, you have a problem.
Think about whether your own system makes sense for your salon
A 15-minute call, we will check the real ROI for your scale. No pressure, if Booksy is the better choice, I will say so plainly.
Drop me a line and I will tell you what I can do for your business
Website, your own booking system, a 360° tour, ongoing care, separately or together. I will call and tell you straight what makes sense in your case. No obligation.
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