The short answer
Booksy is a booking app and client marketplace for barbers and beauty pros. Walk-Ins Welcome runs the walk-in line for barbershops, salons and small clinics.
Booksy's waitlist is for fully booked days: clients join it in the Booksy app, get a text with a link if a slot opens, and book it themselves. It isn't a line of walk-ins waiting right now. Walk-Ins Welcome is that line, with no app for customers, and your page shows you as taking walk-ins only after someone on your team taps "I'm here." A shop that books some clients and takes walk-ins can use both.
Side by side
| Walk-Ins Welcome | Booksy | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Walk-ins | Booked appointments and finding new clients |
| Free plan | Yes: 500 finished visits a month per location | No, 14-day trial |
| Price | Free, or one plan at $39 per location a month (at launch) | $29.99 a month, plus $20 for each extra staff member |
| New-client fees | None | Boost: 30% of a new client's first visit, up to $100 |
| Live walk-in line with wait times | Yes | Not found on Booksy's pages |
| Waitlist | Walk-ins join the line now | Fully booked days; clients join in the Booksy app |
| When customers see "open" | Only after a team member taps "I'm here" | Not described on Booksy's pages |
| Customer app needed | No, a phone browser | For the waitlist, yes |
| Kiosk and waiting-room TV | Free | Not found on Booksy's pages |
| Card payments | Not yet | Yes |
Walk-Ins Welcome prices are our launch plan. Booksy facts are from its own pages on the date at the top.
Where Booksy is stronger
- New clients. Booksy's marketplace puts your shop in front of people searching for a barber. That's its biggest draw.
- Payments. Card readers, Tap to Pay and fast payouts are built in.
- Booking. Appointment booking for every barber in the shop, which Walk-Ins Welcome doesn't do yet.
- Name recognition among barbers and clients.
Where Walk-Ins Welcome is stronger
- A real walk-in line. Walk-ins scan a QR code or tap a link, see how many are ahead and the wait, and follow their place. No app to download.
- Free for walk-ins. No monthly fee to run your line, and nothing per extra barber.
- No cut of your new clients. We don't take a share of your visits.
- "Open" means someone's there. Your page says "taking walk-ins" only after a barber taps "I'm here," and stops when they close for the day.
- Waiting-room TV and kiosk, free, so the shop can see the line by ticket number.
Choose Booksy if
- Most of your clients book ahead.
- You want a marketplace to bring in new clients and you're fine with its fees.
- You want booking and payments in one app.
Choose Walk-Ins Welcome if
- Walk-ins fill a big part of your day.
- You want walk-ins to see the wait before they come in, without an app.
- You'd like to keep Booksy for bookings and add a free walk-in line next to it.
Walk-Ins Welcome is opening soon. See how other apps compare, or leave your email below and we'll tell you the day it opens.
