The main event · Reviewed September 2026
LVL2Tattoo-native
VagaroSpa schedulerVagaro runs spas. LVL2 runs tattoo shops.
Vagaro is a salon, spa, and fitness scheduler. Its US pricing page currently advertises $23.99/mo for one location as a limited-time offer; additional employee calendars and premium features cost extra. LVL2 adds tattoo-native booking, intake, deposits, flash, convention, and studio workflows.
Vagaro public pricing & pages + LVL2 repo-verified data
TALE OF THE TAPE
Round by round, side by side.
Reviewed September 22, 2026 · Vagaro US pricing/support pages · confirm region, offer, and add-ons before choosing · LVL2 rows repo-verified
THE DECIDING ROUNDS
Where the fight is actually won.
Death by add-ons
Vagaro currently advertises a limited-time US base offer of $23.99/mo for one location. Additional calendars and premium features are priced separately, and the total varies by country and setup. Verify the current quote before choosing. LVL2 includes its listed features at the selected plan.
Spa software, not tattoo software
Vagaro serves 220,000 salon, spa, and fitness pros. They added a tattoo page, but the platform was built for facials and haircuts. No stencil tools, no flash workflow, no convention mode.
Generic AI vs tattoo AI
Vagaro's AI writes service descriptions and generates forms. LVL2's Assistant drafts the text replies and holds the slot until you approve, generates tattoo concepts, creates stencils, and LVL2b0t is trained on tattooing and art theory.
GIVING VAGARO ITS DUE
Where Vagaro takes the round.
Vagaro is a well-established platform with 220,000 professionals. If you run a salon or spa alongside your tattoo work, its broad beauty-and-wellness feature set is useful. The POS works, the booking calendar works, intake forms are available (as an add-on), and there's payroll for studios with employees.
But if you're a tattoo artist, you're paying for a platform built for a different industry — and nickel-and-dimed for features that should be included. LVL2 gives you the same booking simplicity with everything included, plus 50+ tattoo-specific tools Vagaro was never designed to have.
PURSE & FEES
More features. Less money. No commissions.
LVL2
Free: Free forever · 9.9% booking fee on deposits; payer can be client, artist, or split
Plus: $39/mo + 4.5% on client deposits only
Pro: $99/mo · zero LVL2 booking fees
Every feature on this page is included at every tier. No add-on fees. Deposits run through Stripe.
Vagaro
US base: $23.99/mo for one location (limited-time offer shown)
Additional calendars: $10/mo each in the US, up to seven licenses
Processing: 2.2%–3.5% + $0.10–$0.19 per transaction
Pricing varies by country, calendar count, offer, and premium features; verify the current total for your setup.
FAQ
Common questions.
Is LVL2 or Vagaro better for tattoo artists?
It depends on the shop. Vagaro documents salon, spa, fitness, and booking workflows; LVL2 documents tattoo requests, intake, deposits, flash, and studio workflows. Compare current feature availability and total cost for your region.
How much does Vagaro really cost?
Vagaro currently shows a limited-time US offer of $23.99/mo for one location. Additional calendars and premium features cost extra, and pricing varies by country and setup. Verify the current total directly. LVL2 Free is $0/mo for artists.
Does Vagaro have tattoo-specific features?
Vagaro documents booking and intake capabilities for service businesses. LVL2 documents tattoo-specific request, deposit, flash, and studio workflows. Confirm the current capabilities that matter to your shop before choosing.
Does LVL2 handle expense tracking and taxes?
Vagaro documents expense and reporting tools; confirm the current accounting integrations and pricing for your region. LVL2 documents expense tracking and reporting in its workspace.
Who built LVL2?
A tattoo artist who still tattoos every single day. Not a spa software company.