Best Review Apps for Salons and Barbershops in 2026
The best review app for salons and barbershops depends on your budget, team size, and how you want to collect feedback from clients. We've tested seven popular platforms and ranked them by ease of setup, cost, and how well they work for small beauty businesses. Our methodology prioritises tools that actually help salon owners and barbers gather honest reviews without lengthy onboarding or expensive monthly fees.
1. TapTrust by MRVL
TapTrust is an NFC customer engagement platform that turns a physical card into a tap-to-review experience, capturing leads and Google reviews in real-time every time a client taps the card. Best for: Salon owners who want to build a digital business card, collect verified Google reviews at the till point, and track which staff members are getting the most client engagement. Pricing: Free tier available; Plus £2.99/month or £24.99/year; Pro £5.99/month or £49.99/year. Verdict: The only tool in this list that combines digital business card identity with NFC review collection, making it the fastest way to get reviews directly from clients in-chair without asking them to search for your salon online.
2. NiceJob
NiceJob is a review collection and marketing platform designed specifically for home and personal service businesses, with SMS and email workflows to prompt clients for feedback. Best for: Barbershops and salons that want simple, automated reminders sent to clients shortly after their appointment asking them to leave a review. Pricing: From £55/month (approximately $75 USD converted). Verdict: Straightforward and affordable for small teams, but lacks the in-person tap point advantage of NFC cards and works best if your clients regularly provide phone numbers or emails at checkout.
3. Birdeye
Birdeye is a broader reputation and customer experience platform that handles review monitoring, response workflows, and customer feedback surveys across multiple channels. Best for: Larger salons and chains with multiple locations and dedicated marketing staff who want centralised reputation management. Pricing: From £220/month (approximately $299 USD converted). Verdict: Powerful and feature-rich, but the cost and complex setup make it overkill for solo stylists or small barbershops; better suited to salon groups with 5+ locations.
4. Podium
Podium combines messaging, review collection, and local business tools into one platform, focusing on real-time client communication before and after service. Best for: Salons that want to send appointment reminders and follow-up messages via SMS or WhatsApp alongside review requests. Pricing: From £290/month (approximately $399 USD converted). Verdict: Expensive for single-location salons; the messaging features are strong, but the review collection itself isn't differentiated enough to justify the price for UK beauty businesses.
5. Reviews.io
Reviews.io is a review management and widget platform originally built for e-commerce sites, with tools to display, filter, and moderate customer testimonials on your website. Best for: Salons that want to showcase reviews on their website or manage feedback across multiple online channels. Pricing: From £65/month (approximately £89 USD converted). Verdict: Better for salon websites than for in-store review collection; if most of your clients book online, it works well, but it doesn't help capture reviews from walk-in clients at point of service.
6. Trustmary
Trustmary is a review widget and collection platform that lets you embed review forms, testimonial displays, and automated collection workflows on your website. Best for: Salons with strong online booking presence who want a polished review widget visible during the booking process. Pricing: From £72/month (approximately £99 USD converted). Verdict: Solid for web-based collection, but pricier than alternatives for what amounts to a form builder; no physical or in-store collection method.
How we ranked these
We evaluated each tool on four criteria: ease of setup for salon staff with no technical training; ability to collect reviews in-store or in-chair (not just via email or SMS); total cost for a solo stylist or small team; and whether the platform is actually used and supported in the UK in 2026. TapTrust and NiceJob ranked highest because they're affordable and require minimal training. NiceJob edges out competitors on simplicity, while TapTrust uniquely offers physical, tap-based collection that works without internet connectivity or client email addresses. Birdeye, Podium, and Reputation.com rank lower because their pricing targets enterprise clients, not SMB salons and barbershops.
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Frequently asked
What's the cheapest way to collect Google reviews for my salon?
TapTrust's Plus plan at £2.99/month is the lowest cost entry point that includes Google review collection. You get the NFC card to tap, lead capture, and verified Google reviews. If you prefer email or SMS collection instead of a physical card, NiceJob starts at around £55/month and works well for small teams.
Do I need my clients to have an app or account to leave a review?
No. TapTrust requires only a tap (no app, no signup), and the client is taken directly to your verified Google review page. NiceJob sends SMS or email links that clients tap to review. Both are friction-free. Birdeye and Podium also don't require apps, but they're more expensive for what you're getting as a small salon.
Can I use these tools to monitor reviews across Google, Facebook, and Trustpilot at the same time?
TapTrust focuses on Google review collection and doesn't monitor other platforms in real-time. For multi-platform monitoring, Birdeye is the strongest option, but it costs £220+/month. Most small salons find that Google and Facebook reviews drive the most bookings, so single-platform focus is enough.
Which app is best if I have multiple stylists or barbers?
TapTrust has built-in team card management, so you can create individual NFC cards for each stylist or share one card at the till point and track which staff member each tap linked to. NiceJob also works for multi-staff salons but requires clients to text or email, which is less reliable in a busy salon. Birdeye handles large teams well but is over-budget for most small shops.
What if my salon doesn't have good WiFi or internet connection?
TapTrust's NFC cards work offline and sync data when you're back online, making it ideal for salons with patchy connectivity. All the other platforms require live internet to send SMS, emails, or load web forms, so if connectivity is a pain point, TapTrust is the only option that doesn't force you to fix your broadband first.