AestheticsPro vs. Vagaro

Choosing between business management platforms like AestheticsPro and Vagaro often comes down to specific operational needs, including integrated payment solutions. This article provides an overview of both AestheticsPro, a platform for the medical aesthetics industry, and Vagaro, which serves the beauty, wellness, and fitness sectors. We will compare their features and pricing structures to help you determine which option aligns with your business requirements.

A quick overview on AestheticsPro and Vagaro

What is AestheticsPro?

AestheticsPro offers a cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant software platform that includes solutions for electronic medical records (EMR), marketing, scheduling, and payment processing. The company's services are tailored for the medical aesthetics industry, serving medical spas and aesthetic professionals primarily in the US and Canada.

Its offerings include an advanced medical photo solution known as AP Focus and an integrated e-prescribe function for electronic prescriptions. The platform is developed with over 30 years of software experience and incorporates 15 years of client feedback.

What is Vagaro?

Vagaro provides business management software for the beauty, wellness, and fitness industries, with no long-term contracts. The platform offers solutions for appointment scheduling, payment processing, payroll, inventory management, and marketing.

The software serves a broad range of sectors and supports booking for in-person, mobile, and live-streamed services. It also includes a public marketplace where consumers can find and book appointments with businesses on the platform.

Features of AestheticsPro and Vagaro

AestheticsPro features

AestheticsPro provides a suite of tools designed for medical spa operations, including several specialized features:

• AP Focus: An advanced medical photo solution with alignment guides, ghosting, and markup tools for consistent before-and-after imaging.
• HIPAA-Compliant EMR: An Electronic Medical Records system with a customizable form creator for digital intake and consent forms.
• Telemedicine: An integrated, HIPAA-compliant platform for conducting virtual consultations and follow-up appointments.
• E-Prescribe: A function that allows practitioners to send prescriptions to pharmacies electronically.

Vagaro features

Vagaro provides a platform with several features designed to streamline operations and enhance the client experience:

• Online Booking: Clients can book services through a business’s dedicated page, social media, or the Vagaro marketplace, which gives businesses access to millions of potential customers.
• Flexible Service Delivery: The platform supports booking for in-person appointments, mobile services where the provider travels to the client, and live-streamed virtual classes or consultations.
• Marketing and Loyalty Tools: Businesses can use integrated tools for email and text marketing, create customer loyalty programs, and sell memberships, packages, and gift certificates.
• Integrated Payments: The system includes secure payment processing with POS hardware options like the PayPro Mini and the ability to manage recurring payments for memberships.

Comparing AestheticsPro, Vagaro and Portrait Care's features

Why choose one over the other?

• A medical spa would choose AestheticsPro for its specialized, all-inclusive features designed for the medical aesthetics industry. The platform's built-in, HIPAA-compliant EMR, advanced medical photo solution (AP Focus), and e-prescribing capabilities are critical for medical practices and are integrated into its core packages. This contrasts with Vagaro's more generalist approach, which serves a broader wellness market.

• A salon, fitness studio, or solo wellness provider would likely prefer Vagaro due to its lower entry price and flexible, a la carte feature model. Starting at a lower monthly rate, businesses can add features as needed, making it more scalable for non-medical operations. Furthermore, Vagaro's public marketplace provides a significant client acquisition tool that helps businesses grow their customer base, an advantage not present in AestheticsPro's more private, clinic-focused system.

Considering Portrait Care vs AestheticsPro and Vagaro

• A provider focused on maximizing profitability and operational efficiency without upfront costs would choose Portrait Care. Unlike competitors that charge monthly fees from the start, Portrait offers a unique model combining a free core EHR with integrated services and access to over 60% savings on essential supplies. This all-in-one approach empowers you to launch and scale your practice with comprehensive support for compliance, marketing, and operations, providing a level of partnership that goes beyond just software.

What are the customers saying?

AestheticsPro reviews

User reviews for AestheticsPro indicate a range of experiences, with some users reporting issues related to device compatibility and difficulties with the patient form-filling process. Check out more AestheticsPro reviews here.

Vagaro reviews

User reviews for Vagaro frequently mention the platform's features for business management, including online booking and payment processing. Some users have noted the requirement for client credit card information for bookings and have reported occasional issues with software performance. Check out more Vagaro reviews here.

Portrait Care reviews

Portrait Care provides a robust electronic health record (EHR) platform that is available as a freemium service. The core EHR functionality is free, with optional premium add-ons for enhanced features and integrations, and some advanced add-ons are included at no extra cost for users in higher membership tiers.

It is also free to get started, unlike other software in the space. Our members often tell us they value our all-in-one platform, which gives them the tools and support to achieve financial freedom and a better work-life balance. Want to learn more? Check us out here or contact us to get started.

AestheticsPro, Vagaro, or Portrait Care: Which is the best platform for you?

Ultimately, the best platform for your business depends on your specific goals and the type of services you offer. AestheticsPro is a strong contender for its specialized medical features, and Vagaro provides excellent flexibility for a wide range of wellness professionals. However, for providers seeking a truly comprehensive solution that integrates software, essential services, and significant supply savings, Portrait Care stands out as the ideal partner to help you launch, manage, and scale your practice on your own terms.