Which UK salon booking systems have an AI receptionist?

Last checked: 16 October 2026. We checked each system on its own website and linked the page we used.

Which UK salon booking systems answer the phone with AI?

Answer calls and book during the call

• Fresha (AI Concierge). Answers calls and books, reschedules and cancels in your Fresha calendar. It can transfer the call to a team member or take a message (Fresha).
• Treatwell (AI Receptionist). Answers calls and books, reschedules and cancels in your Treatwell calendar. From £69 a month. It can't take payments over the phone yet (clients pay in the salon), and Treatwell says it will answer on WhatsApp soon (Treatwell).
• Booksy (AI Receptionist, beta). Picks up and books the appointment. Current Booksy providers can request access (Booksy).
• SalonIQ (IQ Connect). Books directly into SalonIQ. SalonIQ's page says "Powered by Callpad.ai" (SalonIQ).
• Shortcuts (AI Receptionist). Checks real-time availability and writes the appointment into your Shortcuts appointment book. Powered by CallPad (Shortcuts).
• Salon Manager (AI Receptionist). Books, moves or cancels in the live Salon Manager diary while the client is on the phone. Powered by CallPad (Salon Manager).

We found no native AI phone receptionist

• Phorest. Front Desk AI handles scheduling requests and FAQs by SMS and WhatsApp (Phorest). CallPad books into Phorest in real time.
• Timely. The AI feature we found is Textie Bestie, an AI SMS writer (Timely). A CallPad integration with Timely is in the works (join the waitlist).
• Square Appointments. Square's AI voice feature takes orders, not appointments (Square support). CallPad books into Square in real time.

Running an aesthetics clinic? Pabau has an AI receptionist in its Engage add-on.

If your system already answers calls, what should you compare?

If you're on Fresha, Treatwell or Booksy, your platform's own AI may be all you need. Before you decide, check:

1. Can it book with a named stylist? Regulars usually want their own.
2. Can it take deposits? Treatwell's can't take payments over the phone yet, for example.
3. Does it book colour and extension consultations as their own appointment type?
4. What happens when a caller wants a person? Look for a transfer or a message your team can act on.
5. What does it cost each month, and is it included in your plan?

SalonIQ, Shortcuts and Salon Manager: powered by CallPad

If your salon uses SalonIQ, Shortcuts or Salon Manager, the AI receptionist built into your system is powered by CallPad. Find out more about IQ Connect, the Shortcuts AI Receptionist and the Salon Manager AI Receptionist.

All four of our published UK case studies are SalonIQ salons:

• Wilkinson Smith, Colchester. 23 hours of phone time handled in 10 months. 1 in 5 calls came outside opening hours. About 175 calls ended with the diary updated, including about 115 new bookings (case study).
• Adamson Jones, Llandudno. 752 calls answered in 10 months, 1 in 4 of them while the salon was closed. About 190 bookings, moves and cancellations (case study).
• Lime Salon Group, Dunfermline, Falkirk and Inverkeithing. 111 hours of phone time taken off the front desks, and about 670 new bookings worth an estimated £20,000+ (case study).
• Essence of Beauty, Leyton, East London. An estimated £7,000+ of appointments from about 180 new bookings in its first 16 weeks (case study).

What if your system doesn't answer calls?

You have three options: a human call-answering service, a specialist AI receptionist that books into your system, or voicemail.

Voicemail rarely saves the call. In a 2026 YouGov survey for Answer4u, 37% of UK adults said they would abandon a business call within 60 seconds, and just 6% said they would leave a voicemail rather than wait (YouGov for Answer4u, 2026). In UK small-business call data from 2016, 69% of callers who reached voicemail hung up without leaving a message (Moneypenny, 2016).

CallPad is a specialist AI receptionist. It answers every call 24/7 and books, moves and cancels in real time with a named stylist in:

• Phorest, on any plan. You request an API key from Phorest, and CallPad connects with it. See CallPad for Phorest.
• Square Appointments.

It books colour and extension consultations as consultation appointment types, and handles skin tests. CallPad books multi-service appointments and handles processing time, such as a colour plus cut with the gap while the colour develops. CallPad can take a deposit on the call, either by texting a payment link or using a card on file in your booking system. When a caller wants a person, CallPad can transfer the call to a team member or take a message. Setup takes about 10 minutes.

On Timely, CallPad can't book yet, but a CallPad integration with Timely is in the works. Join the waitlist to be first to know.

What does it cost in the UK?

Treatwell lists its AI Receptionist from £69 a month. We didn't find a published UK price for Fresha's AI Concierge or Booksy's beta.

CallPad plans are quote-based. They depend on how many stylist diaries you connect and how many hours of calls you need each month. See CallPad pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Does Phorest have an AI receptionist?

Phorest's Front Desk AI handles booking requests by SMS and WhatsApp. As of October 2026, we found no native AI phone receptionist.

Does Fresha's AI answer the phone in the UK?

Yes. Fresha's AI Concierge answers calls and books during the call.

How much is Treatwell's AI Receptionist?

Treatwell lists it from £69 a month (checked October 2026).

Who powers SalonIQ's IQ Connect?

CallPad. SalonIQ's page says "Powered by Callpad.ai".

Does CallPad work with Timely?

Not yet. A CallPad integration with Timely is in the works. Join the waitlist to be first to know.

My booking system has no AI receptionist. What can I do?

Use a call-answering service, a specialist AI receptionist that books into your system, or voicemail. CallPad books into Phorest and Square in real time.

See it for your salon

Book a demo, or hear CallPad take a call.