Compare
LavaBookings vs Square Appointments.
Square is great for payments. For studio booking? There’s a reason people keep looking.
Feature
LavaBookings
Square Appts
Built for beauty/wellness
Yes, exclusively
No, generic
Per-booking transaction fee
0%
2.6% + $0.10
Team column calendar
Yes
No
Lapsed-client campaigns
Included
Square Marketing add-on
Service-level photo galleries
Yes
Basic listing
Client notes & preferences
Rich profiles
Basic notes
Booking page design
Custom branded
Square-branded
Free import from competitors
Yes, same day
No
Why studios switch from Square
Built for studios, not restaurants
Square Appointments is a small feature inside a massive POS ecosystem. It works for anyone, which means it’s optimised for no one. LavaBookings was built from day one for beauty, wellness, and creative studios.
A calendar that understands services
Square shows time slots. LavaBookings shows team columns, service colours, buffer times, and a live now-line. It’s the difference between a spreadsheet and a purpose-built tool.
Marketing that actually works
Square’s marketing is a separate paid product. LavaBookings includes lapsed-client campaigns, smart segments, and rebooking automation on every plan.