Marketing tools shouldn't cost extra
Phorest charges a premium for their marketing suite. On OpenChair, SMS campaigns, email marketing, and AI-generated copy are all included — no add-ons, no markups.
Our Take
Phorest is one of the best-built platforms in the industry — their marketing tools are genuinely strong and their retention focus is real. The problems are structural: annual contracts, add-on pricing for email marketing, and marked-up SMS charges. OpenChair includes the same marketing capabilities in the base Pro price, with SMS overages billed at A$0.08/message (AU) — not at a markup — and never locks you into a contract. If you're paying Phorest separately for their marketing suite, running the maths on switching will probably surprise you.
Feature Comparison
The Honest Truth about Phorest
They are a solid platform, but here is where they fall short for modern growth-focused venues.
- Annual contracts with exit fees — no flexibility
- Email marketing and SMS charged as separate add-ons at markup
- No AI Concierge or native AI phone answering
- Strong marketing tools and client retention focus
- Good education resources and community
- Established in AU/NZ/UK markets
Make the Switch
60 Days Free — No Contract, Ever
Switch from Phorest and get 60 days of OpenChair Pro on us. Month-to-month billing, cancel anytime. No annual lock-in, no exit fees, no contract negotiations.
Claim OfferLimited time offer for verified Phorest customers.
Making the Switch from Phorest
Switching software feels daunting — but it doesn't have to be. Here's exactly how the transition works.
Wait for your Phorest contract to end (or negotiate early exit)
Phorest uses annual contracts. If you're near the end of your term, you can start setting up OpenChair now and switch when it expires. If you want to leave early, contact Phorest about early termination — some venues have negotiated exits, especially when switching to a competitor.
Export your client data
Request a full data export from Phorest. You're entitled to your client data. If Phorest makes the export process difficult, document the requests — we can advise on your rights regarding data portability.
Import and set up in a day
Upload your client data to OpenChair, set up your services and team, and configure your marketing automations (Reconnect, email campaigns, SMS). All marketing tools are included on Pro — no add-ons, no markups.
Go live on your terms
There's no lock-in on OpenChair. If it doesn't work for you, cancel anytime. But most Phorest switchers tell us the month-to-month flexibility alone was worth the change — no more dreading contract renewal negotiations.