The verdict for nail technicians: Vagaro is solid software, but at $50/month it costs $2,013 over 3 years. Nexa does most of what Vagaro does for $279 once. For solo nail technicians and small teams, Nexa is the better deal.
Nexa: $279. Once. You keep $1,734. And you own it — no more "we're updating our pricing" emails.
| Feature | Vagaro | Nexa |
|---|---|---|
| Invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| CRM | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Full Accounting | ✗ | ✓ (SIMPL) |
| Task Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $50/mo | $279 once or 3 × $99 |
| 3-Year Total | $2,013 | $279 |
| You own it? | No — stop paying, lose access | Yes — forever |
Vagaro plus whatever else you're paying for:
Email yourself this comparison?
The math doesn't lie.
Nail Technicians deal with unique challenges that generic software was not built for: Vagaro takes a cut AND charges monthly — double dipping. No-shows killing income when you only have 6-8 appointment slots per day. Managing deposits for appointments to reduce no-shows. Tracking product costs per service (acrylics, gel, nail art supplies). Clients booking through DMs, texts, and the app — impossible to keep straight. Vagaro charges $50/month on top of these daily realities. The median nail tech earns $33,000/year — $600/year in software subscriptions is a significant percentage of that income, paid every year, forever.
Nexa is $279 once. Invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, accounting — all connected, built for nail technicians. You own it like you own your UV/LED curing lamp.
It's noon and your 1pm just texted she's running late. Your 2pm wants to add gel extensions — but did she put down a deposit? You're trying to manage bookings, deposits, and your product inventory while doing a full acrylic set. Vagaro charges you $25/month plus a booking fee every time someone schedules online. You're paying to give people the privilege of paying you.
Real nail technicians near you who run their business on Nexa — book directly, no platform fee. Are you a nail tech? Post your business and get found in your area — $2.99 one-time. Or browse every nail tech on Nexa →
For solo nail technicians and small teams, yes. invoicing, scheduling, CRM, time tracking, task management, and full accounting — all for $279 once. Vagaro may be better if you have a large team (10+) or need enterprise-specific features.
Vagaro has features like Affordable for salon/spa industry and Online booking marketplace that some businesses rely on. For most solo nail technicians, these aren't dealbreakers.
At $50/month, Nexa pays for itself in 5.6 months. After that: $600 saved every year.
Yes. Nexa is $279 as a one-time payment, or 3 payments of $99 ($297 total). Either way it's a one-time purchase — no subscription, no recurring fees ever.
Own your tools. Stop renting your software.
Get Nexa — $279 Once