Blog / Comparison
Squire alternatives for barbershops in Canada
Squire is built for barbershops, like Zelko. Here's how the two compare on pricing, features and fit, and when each one is the better choice.
Squire is one of the few platforms built only for barbershops, and it's a serious product. It's popular with larger and multi-location shops, especially in the US. If you're a smaller or independent shop in Canada, it's worth knowing the alternatives. Here's an honest comparison with Zelko.
A note on pricing: Squire publishes several tiers. Aggregator sites in 2026 list plans from about $30 to $250 a month, with paid add-ons, and they don't all agree. Check Squire's pricing page for current numbers and currency.
What Squire does well
- Barbershop-first. Booking by barber, commission and booth rent, built around how shops run.
- Built for scale. Higher tiers cover multi-location groups, with reporting and operations features to match.
- Payments and POS. Squire offers in-person payments alongside booking.
- A branded client app on some plans, for shops that want their own app in the App Store.
Why some shops look elsewhere
- Price at the top end. The tiers that unlock the full feature set cost much more than the entry plan.
- More than a small shop needs. Features built for large groups add complexity for a 1 to 5 chair shop.
- US-first. Shops in Canada often want CAD pricing, Interac support and local help.
Squire vs Zelko
| Squire | Zelko | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Barbershops, with a focus on larger shops and groups | Barbershops, from solo barbers to a full crew |
| Pricing | Several tiers, roughly $30 to $250/month (reported) | $29/month up to 3 barbers, $49/month unlimited, CAD |
| Client booking | Web and app | Your link in any browser, no account |
| Commission and booth rent | Yes | Yes, on Pro |
| In-person payments | Yes | Zelko Pay and Zelko Terminal in early access |
| Website | Landing pages as an add-on (reported) | Free site at yourshop.zelko.ca, custom domain on Pro |
| Built in | United States | Canada |
When Squire is the better choice
If you run several locations, need deep operations reporting, or want a branded app in the App Store today, Squire is built for you. It's also further along on in-person payments: Zelko's tap to pay and countertop terminal are still in early access.
When Zelko is the better choice
If you're an independent barber or a shop with up to a full crew in one location, and you want simple pricing in CAD, a booking page clients can use without an account, and commission and tip splits worked out for you, Zelko is built for that. Setup takes about 10 minutes and the trial is 14 days with no credit card.
Try the booking page or read how to choose a booking app in Canada.
