Vagaro is a powerful all-in-one platform for salons and spas. But tattoo studios have specific needs that generic platforms don't address well.
| Feature | InkFlow | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/mo (Free plan) | $23.99/mo (1 calendar) |
| Additional Providers | Included in plan | $10/user/month |
| Tattoo-Specific | ✅ Purpose-built | ⚠️ Salon roots |
| Digital Waivers | ✅ Included in all plans | ❌ +$10/mo add-on |
| Deposit Collection | ✅ At booking | ✅ Available |
| Commission Splitting | ✅ Auto-calculated | ✅ Available |
| Aftercare Automation | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Not available |
| Inventory Tracking | ✅ Ink, needles, supplies | ✅ Available |
| Client CRM | ✅ 360° history + tags | ✅ Basic CRM |
| Payment Processing | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.75% (card-present) |
| POS Hardware | ❌ Not needed (links) | ✅ PayPro $300+ (terminal) |
| Free Trial | ✅ No credit card | ✅ Available |
| Portfolio Gallery | ✅ Artist profiles | ❌ Limited |
| Setup Complexity | ✅ 5 minutes | ⚠️ Weeks to configure |
Vagaro is a capable platform — if you run a salon. For tattoo studios, you'll pay extra for waivers ($10/mo), deal with features designed for haircuts and facials, and spend weeks configuring workarounds.
InkFlow was built from the ground up for tattoo studios. Digital waivers included, commission tracking designed for shop setups, aftercare automation that keeps clients coming back. And it integrates with your existing Stripe account — no extra hardware or contracts.