Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Ewen Finser
As a spa or salon owner, there are lots of options out there for the right software. I spent years trying to keep costs down, until I realized I was going broke trying to save money. That’s when I started looking more toward the quality of the service I was receiving, and how much time it saved myself and my staff.
That’s why I weighed DaySmart Spa against Boulevard. I looked at how each platform’s pricing structure actually plays out at different business sizes, how booking and client experience differ, and where EMR or clinical depth matters versus where it doesn’t.
DaySmart Spa vs. Boulevard (At a Glance)
Both platforms manage basic appointments and payment processing but they fundamentally differ in terms of their software design. DaySmart Spa is highly reliable but it’s engineered for a traditional operational workflow whereas Boulevard is a modern design that focuses more on wellness and high-end, luxury support internally and externally.
Feature | DaySmart Spa | Boulevard |
Online Booking Workflow | Multi-step widget; highly functional | Single-page, frictionless; AI-optimized spacing |
Calendar Optimization | Traditional grid; manual gap filling | Precision Scheduling AI packs the calendar |
Inventory Control | Granular; strong PO and vendor tracking | Clean, visual; excellent mobile stock tracking |
Point of Sale Hardware | Third-party device integrations | Proprietary, premium client-facing terminals |
Membership & Recurring Billing | Functional; supports packages and clubs | Elite; native auto-billing and portal tracking |
HIPAA Compliance Options | Limited; requires external workarounds | Elite; native auto-billing and portal tracking |
Staff Commission & Payroll | Highly customizable legacy matrices | Modern, transparent payroll reporting dashboards |
Ease of Staff Onboarding | Moderate; requires learning software paths | Ultra-Low; intuitive, smartphone-like interface |
1. Target Audience
DaySmart Spa is built with operational utility centered on the workstation so it prioritizes modular features and steady daily activity whereas Boulevard focuses more on the client facing checkout and booking process, ideal for salons and spas.
DaySmart Spa: A Workhorse
DaySmart Spa is a pretty robust utility engine. It was designed to handle a lot of the administrative heavy lifting of traditional day spas, hair salons, and massage clinics.
The platform excels at providing a highly configurable workspace where owners can micro-manage commissions, run highly detailed local marketing campaigns, and keep operations running with predictable reliability.
And while they claim to be scalable for everything from independent solo providers to bustling, multi-station main street spas, I would say they are better suited for somewhere in the middle.
Their most basic package for independent stylists or small businesses doesn’t support a lot of advanced features beyond simple booking and their enterprise level doesn’t have enough features to support multiple locations.
Boulevard: A Luxury Experience
Boulevard was designed by people with experience working in the industry who got tired of being let down by companies like DaySmart Spa. So they designed something to fill the needs that were otherwise being overlooked or ignored, designing a luxury experience that optimizes workflow for spas and salons.
The platform is not only beautifully designed and easy to navigate without–really–any training, but it has a seamless online self booking function, a frictionless point of sale checkout system, with a lot of intelligent features that help maximize time and brand.
They have all the features you need whether you are an independent stylist or a large spa with multiple locations including advanced reporting tools, booking support, payment processing, marketing, inventory management, and some of the best client profiles and client management tools I’ve ever seen.
2. Booking and Client Experiences
One of my biggest mistakes in the past was picking something with a clunky interface–something that, tbh, required clients to create accounts with and receive marketing emails from the platform.
That was quickly revealed to be a no go.
So I looked heavily into an interface that is frictionless, functional, and flows really easily because our staff isn’t interested in a multi-step process that is overly complicated and neither are our clients.
DaySmart Spa: A Classic Workflow
DaySmart Spa provides a dependable, highly functional online booking widget but that seems to be the biggest feature it has to offer. It lets your clients choose services, pick preferred service providers, and view available date blocks all embedded within your existing website.
That’s great, but Boulevard does that too, and Boulevard does it better.
For a client booking a new service, their interface isn’t great. There are a lot of steps with a lot of dropdown menus. DaySmart Spa doesn’t feel like a sleek user experience so much as someone trying to set up an excel document for a computer class test.
Their calendar functions are fun to look at, but not fun to modify. DaySmart uses a classic grid-style appointment book. It is highly detailed, showing color-coded blocks for different service types, room assignments, and equipment constraints. However, modifying appointments or dragging-and-dropping slots on a busy weekend can quickly turn staff into cranky staff because of all the pop-up confirmations it requires.
Boulevard: Precision Scheduling & Luxury UI
Boulevard completely reimagined the booking workflow. First of all, it has the front desk feature, by far one of my favorites. This is the first thing you see when you log in whether from a desktop or on a mobile device and it is incredibly dynamic and intuitive. It has a fluid, drag and drop system with sidebar options to pull up things like messages or client histories or client profiles. You won’t have to deal with click fatigue when you are handling checkouts or other processes like bookings.
Second of all it has other unique features like Precision Scheduling. Instead of just showing a client a raw list of open times, Boulevard’s backend algorithm analyzes the internal calendar grid to identify the optimal appointment slot, and with services automatically put into the right order.
Then it displays options to the client that keep your staff’s calendars packed tight. Trust me when I say my staff loves no longer having all of those awkward 30-minute or 45-minute gaps that are too small to fill with other appointments and too long to actually take a real break.
The interface isn’t just smooth internally, it is smooth externally. It has a clean, minimalist set up on mobile devices. It reads natively inside an Instagram browser or a text message link. Clients can complete a booking, securely store their credit card information, and sign digital waivers in a sleek, single-page flow without being forced to create an account.
3. Pricing Structures
There are a lot of software pricing models out there that are deliberately obfuscated to try and force potential clients to book a demo.
I genuinely distrust companies that won’t explain what a basic pricing structure is even if that pricing structure is subject to change because of add-ons.
DaySmart Spa: Tiered Plans that Scale
Independent operators or small teams can start with the basic or deluxe plan and this scales based on the number of users and features so a small spa with only three chairs or a solo provider can pay for basic scheduling and text reminders but they won’t get all the benefits of software features like Boulevard has. Basic pricing is around $29 per month for this and $69 for the 3-chair scenario.
Once you upgrade to six employees and you incorporate things like two-way texting and payroll, then it’s going to cost around $200 per month and even still the features aren’t necessarily comparable for the price.
DaySmart Spa can, technically, scale to multiple locations, but if you have multiple locations you’re going to find a lot of friction when it comes to tracking your client profiles, gift card balances, or other loyalty programs from one location to the next.
Boulevard: Flat Rates with Add-Ons
Boulevard does not hide that it is a premium product. Its base subscription tiers (Essentials or Premier) carry a higher entry price, sometimes up to twice what a large spa will pay for DaySmart. The pricing can actually be a bit out of reach at around $150 per month for a solo provider.
However, as I said, it’s a premier product so as soon as you start to have lots of employees and multiple locations, Boulevard uses a flat subscription model per location, and offers the top tier plan to include all the features like custom digital forms, text-to-book capabilities, or automated marketing.
Boulevard is a much more seamless operation especially for enterprise level spas or those with multiple locations. Their top tier payment plan uses a fully integrated credit card processing engine, and seamlessly collects client profile data including memberships, payment history, and gift card balances across all locations no matter where you are.
I can, for example, look up a client at our first facility and see that they scheduled a float last week, and then I can process part of their membership credits toward a massage they want to book at our other location all without losing any data.
4. Clinical Depth vs. Day Spa Workflow
If you run a med spa, you’re going to need a medical EMR (Electronic Medical Record) workflow not just a traditional day spa workflow. So any company with medical-grade treatments like chemical peels, microneedling, or cosmetic injections need support for all legal requirements.
If you do not offer any of these services, and you stick to basic salon services like nail care, traditional massage therapy, body wraps, hair services, or basic aesthetics, then you don’t need any type of EMR system. instead you might need something basic like liability waivers and a way to track things like allergies or skin sensitivities.
DaySmart Spa: Basic EMR
DaySmart Spa allows for detailed document attachments, custom client fields, and basic intake tracking. However, it is not built to operate as a medical EMR. If you run any type of med spa service, you will find the lack of native anatomical mapping tools, electronic prescribing (eRx) integrations, or charting formats really frustrating–not to mention, inadequate for a lot of state medical boards.
Boulevard: MedSpa Bundle
Now, Boulevard, as I’ve mentioned, is a client-experience platform first but it has clinical adaptability. They have a dedicated Aesthetics Bundle which adds advanced capabilities to the platform, including customizable charting templates, HIPAA-compliant data storage, and better clinical form tracking.
If you have a hybrid day spa, and you only handle light medical-grade services, Boulevard will be the better choice especially because of how it maintains the elite user booking experience.
I will note though, that if you are primarily a med spa, and you do a lot of deep clinical procedures, you might not want either of these options. Try PatientNow or AestheticRecord.
5. Retail Operations & Inventory Management
We sell a lot of beauty products at checkout and online. It accounts for around 30% or more of total gross margins. So we need a way to manage that inventory so that items aren’t sitting on back shelves collecting dust when they should be posted or displayed.
DaySmart Spa: Traditional Inventory Management
DaySmart Spa’s approach to inventory is highly traditional, detailed, and proven. Basically, if you grew up working in a grocery store, you will feel right at home.
DaySmart Spa has a granular inventory tracking matrix that handles barcode scanning, automatic purchase order generation when stock hits a critical threshold, and direct vendor management profiles. This can be ideal if you sell a lot of stuff (think hundreds of individual items) and you need to keep track of your inventory to a T.
The checkout screen within the software functions like a traditional electronic cash register interface so you won’t have issues applying discounts, processing gift cards, or splitting commissions between service providers.
Boulevard: Smart Retail and Modern Point of Sale
Boulevard handles retail through a highly visual, modern point-of-sale set up.
When you go to the checkout section or click on the retail tab, not only will you/your staff be able to use hardware terminal setups (resembling sleek luxury retail registers) but your clients will be able to see a separate screen. This lets them check everything they are buying and add a tip without the pressure of someone looking over their shoulder.
Plus, the POS actively prompts staff during the checkout sequence.
For example, if I have a client who just completed an anti-aging facial, the screen might subtly remind whoever is checking them out to ask: “Would you like to restock your custom serum today?” With the client-facing screen, the clients won’t see that prompt either, which adds to the effectiveness.
If physical inventory isn’t your thing, the platform has a lot of strong upsells for automated memberships too, enhancing income and loyalty.
Making the Right Call for Your Business
If you’re a solo provider or a small team watching every dollar, and you’re comfortable with a more traditional interface, DaySmart Spa’s lower entry price is hard to ignore.
Before you commit, though, actually price out where you’ll land once you add staff, two-way texting, and payroll, since that basic plan grows quickly, and the feature set at $200/month is worth comparing directly against what Boulevard offers at a similar price point.
If client experience, a modern booking flow, and multi-location consistency matter more to you than saving on the subscription, Boulevard is worth the higher entry cost. That’s especially true if you’re running (or planning to run) more than one location, since that’s where its flat per-location pricing and unified client data genuinely pay off.
Practically, here’s how I’d approach the decision:
- Map out your actual services and locations first. A single-location day spa with no medical treatments has very different needs than a multi-location business or a hybrid med spa.
- Price both platforms at your real staff count, not the advertised entry price, since both DaySmart and Boulevard scale in cost as you add employees and locations.
- Ask for a trial or demo of the booking flow specifically, and have a staff member (not just you) test it during a busy simulated day. That’s where the day-to-day difference between the two shows up most.
- Weigh the switching cost. If you already have years of client data, gift card balances, and staff trained on one system, the better platform on paper isn’t automatically the better move for your business this year.
Software should make your day easier, not become another thing you have to manage. Whichever one you choose, pick the one that best fits how your spa actually operates.