Booksy alternative for tattoo artists
Booksy combines scheduling with a consumer marketplace. Compare its subscription and Boost fees with tats.to before deciding which model fits your work.
Booksy combines a booking calendar with a consumer marketplace. That model suits repeat services with fixed times and prices. Custom tattoo work often begins with reference images, a quote, and a conversation before an appointment exists.
Where the money goes
As of September 15, 2026, Booksy Biz's US pricing page listed a monthly subscription of $29.99 USD for one bookable user and $20 for each additional person. Its optional Boost promotion helps people find you in the marketplace. Boost has no monthly fee of its own, but charges 30% of the first booking from a new client who finds you through it. That Boost fee does not apply to their later visits.
On an $800 day rate, four new clients from Boost would produce $960 in Boost fees, in addition to the subscription. Booksy publishes the fee, but the amount is worth calculating with your own rates before using the marketplace.
tats.to charges a flat monthly subscription, with a free plan available, and takes 0% commission on every plan. Client payments go directly to you. We do not process them or charge a processing fee.
Where the workflow differs
For custom work, you need to see the references and discuss the piece before agreeing to a time and price. Then there are deposit instructions and a consent form to send. Try that whole process when comparing software, including where the conversation and photos are kept.
| Feature | Booksy | tats.to |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on bookings | 0% on the subscription, 30% of a first Boost booking | 0% on every plan |
| Ongoing client commission | No Boost fee after the first visit | No commission at any stage |
| New clients from a marketplace | Yes, that is the model | No consumer marketplace today |
| Booking requests with reference images | Not the primary flow | The primary flow |
| Deposits | Taken through Booksy payments | Your terms, your account, never through us |
| Consent forms and e-sign | Included in the one plan | Included from Starter |
| Portfolio page | A profile in their directory | Your own page and portfolio |
What Booksy does that tats.to does not
Booksy includes two things tats.to does not currently offer.
- People already use the Booksy app to find appointments. tats.to has no consumer marketplace today, so you need to share your page and rely on people finding it. If Booksy brings you clients, include that value in your decision.
- Booksy collects card payments during booking. With tats.to, clients pay you using your usual method and you record when the deposit arrives.
If you do not need marketplace discovery or integrated card payments, compare the full Booksy cost with a flat subscription.
What the move looks like
- Claim a handle and publish a page with your work on it. The free plan has no time limit and no card, and covers ten leads or bookings a month, shared in one pool.
- Point your Instagram bio at the page instead of at your DMs.
- Set your deposit terms once. They appear in the acceptance email every client gets, in your words.
- Keep Booksy running while you try the new page. Check where your bookings come from before deciding whether to cancel it.
There is no need to move every booking at once. Run both systems for a month, track where requests come from, and switch only when the new process is working.
Questions
Does tats.to charge commission on bookings?
No. Every plan, including the permanently free one, is 0% commission. tats.to charges a flat monthly subscription and the money a client pays you never passes through the platform.
Can I try tats.to without canceling Booksy?
Yes. The free plan needs no card and has no time limit. You can publish a page and take up to ten leads or bookings a month, shared in one pool, while keeping Booksy running.
Will I lose my reviews if I leave Booksy?
Plan on leaving your Booksy reviews there. tats.to collects new reviews after completed bookings and can show them on your public page from the Starter plan up.
Does tats.to take deposits for me?
No. You choose the amount and payment instructions, and we send them in the acceptance email. Once you receive the money, mark the deposit as paid from your email or dashboard. Pro can hold the slot until payment arrives or your deadline passes.
Read next
- Square Appointments for tattoo artists
If you already use Square for card payments, its calendar may make sense too. Check how it handles custom requests before moving your bookings over.
- Vagaro for tattoo artists
Vagaro combines salon and spa software with a marketplace. Its cost grows by bookable calendar and optional feature.
- How to take tattoo deposits online
A clear deposit policy matters as much as the payment method. Write the terms first, then decide how the client will pay.