Is Tattoo Booking cheaper than Square Appointments?

Square charges per staff member on its paid tiers, so a multi-artist shop's bill scales with headcount. Tattoo Booking is a flat $29.99/month per studio no matter how many artists you have. Check Square's current pricing page for their latest per-seat rate.

Can I keep taking card payments in the shop?

Yes. Deposits and balances run through Stripe online, and any Stripe reader works at the counter if you want to swipe in person.

How do I move my clients over?

Export your client list as a CSV and import it into Tattoo Booking. Bookings already on the books can be re-entered or imported the same way. Most studios finish in under an hour.

What if it doesn't work for my studio?

There's a 7-day free trial and no contract — cancel from your dashboard at any time.

square appointments alternative for tattoo artists

Square Appointments Alternative for Tattoo Artists

Square Appointments is a solid general booking tool — it just wasn't built for a tattoo shop. There's no tattoo consent form, no medical screening, no healed-photo aftercare, and the cost climbs every time you add a chair.

Who Square Appointments is right for

Square suits salons and barbershops with short, fixed-length services and a busy front counter. If that's your shop, stay where you are.

Signs it's time to switch

You're paying per staff member for artists who share one studio subscription
Your consent forms and medical screening still live on paper
Deposits are collected outside the booking flow, in DMs or by bank transfer
Full-day and multi-session sittings don't fit the service-length model

Square Appointments vs. Tattoo Booking

Feature comparison between Square Appointments and Tattoo Booking
Feature	Square Appointments	Tattoo Booking
Billing model	Per seat / per calendar — cost rises with each artist you add	$29.99/month per studio, unlimited artists and clients
Tattoo consent form + medical history	Not included — generic intake at best	Built in, editable, signed on the client's phone
Deposit required before a slot locks	Prepay possible, not deposit-first by design	Slot only locks once the deposit clears
Ink, needle, and session notes	Free-text notes	Structured session records with photo timeline
Healed-photo aftercare follow-ups	No	Day 3 / 14 / 30 queue
Flash board clients can claim	No	Yes, bookable in one step
Full-day and multi-session sittings	Awkward — service-length model	Native session types with their own deposit rules

Square Appointments's plans and fees change — check their pricing page for current numbers before you decide.

Switch in an afternoon

$29.99/month per studio. Unlimited artists.

Import your client CSV, set your deposit rules, publish your booking link. 7-day free trial, then $29.99/month. No contract, cancel anytime.

Open your studio See what's included

Frequently asked questions

Is Tattoo Booking cheaper than Square Appointments?: Square charges per staff member on its paid tiers, so a multi-artist shop's bill scales with headcount. Tattoo Booking is a flat $29.99/month per studio no matter how many artists you have. Check Square's current pricing page for their latest per-seat rate.
Can I keep taking card payments in the shop?: Yes. Deposits and balances run through Stripe online, and any Stripe reader works at the counter if you want to swipe in person.
How do I move my clients over?: Export your client list as a CSV and import it into Tattoo Booking. Bookings already on the books can be re-entered or imported the same way. Most studios finish in under an hour.
What if it doesn't work for my studio?: There's a 7-day free trial and no contract — cancel from your dashboard at any time.