When it comes to selecting a free website builder for your beauty business, two major contenders stand out: Faces and Square. Each offers unique features tailored to different business needs. Faces, renowned for its digital consent and booking system, simplifies paperwork for practitioners and offers a free, personalised website builder. It’s ideal for managing appointments and client data securely.
On the other hand, Square provides a comprehensive suite of tools, including an SEO-enhanced website builder and diverse payment options, catering to a broader range of business operations. This article compares the two, helping you decide which website builder best suits the unique needs of your beauty business. Let’s delve into the specifics of Faces and Square to guide your choice.
1. Faces
| Free |
| £0, only charges a 4.4% commission on deposits for appointments |
| Free, personalised website builder feature Online bookings & paymentsDigital consent forms Secured client database Social media sync Buy Now, Pay Later payment options Special offers |
Faces is a digital consent and booking system designed for practitioners to transition to a paperless environment. It simplifies the creation of treatment consent forms, storing all client consent forms in one place for easy access. Compatible across various devices like desktops, tablets, and mobile phones, Faces ensures flexibility and convenience.
Pros:
- Customisable Templates: Variety of easily adjustable templates.
- User-Friendly: Simple interface for beginners.
- SEO Integration: Enhances search engine visibility.
- Social Media Integration: Easy linking to social platforms.
- Free Use: Cost-effective for new/small brands.
Cons:
- Limited Design Flexibility: Fewer advanced design options.
- Basic E-commerce Features: Not suitable for complex online stores.
- Limited SEO Customisation: Basic SEO tools.
- No Advanced Analytics: Lacks detailed business analytics.
The platform allows for customisation of consent and aftercare forms with over 800 templates and includes features for sending appointment reminders and marketing messages directly to clients. It prioritises security and compliance, securely saving client data, adhering to GDPR and HIPPA standards, and offering data export options when needed.
Faces Features
- Personalised Branding: Tailor your website to mirror your unique style.
- Online Bookings & Payments: Streamline scheduling and introduce easy payment methods.
- Digital Consent Forms: Optimize workflow with efficient form management.
- Secure Client Database: Keep client information safe and secure.
- Social Media Sync: Integrate all social media profiles for a cohesive online presence.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Provide flexible payment options to clients.
- Special Offers: Engage your audience with exclusive, irresistible deals.
- News & Blog Section: Keep your audience informed and engaged with regular updates.
- Device Compatibility: Faces works seamlessly on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
- Customisation: With over 800 templates, create and brand consent and aftercare forms specific to your business needs.
- Marketing Tools: Send appointment reminders and marketing messages directly to clients.
- Data Compliance: Ensure GDPR and HIPPA compliance, and securely store client data.
- Unlimited Storage: Store unlimited consent and aftercare forms.
- Multi-Clinic Management: Manage multiple clinics from a single platform.
- Real-Time Booking System: Efficiently manage client bookings and events in real-time.
- Business Development: Access industry services to grow your business.
- SMS Reminders: Send SMS appointment reminders to clients.
Faces also facilitates the management of multiple clinics and client bookings through a real-time booking system, providing tools like its free website builder to enhance business operations. Its communication features include real-time access to client data and the ability to manage all client bookings and events, both online and offline. Faces integrates seamlessly into daily clinic life, allowing practitioners more time for care rather than paperwork management, and continually updates its services to improve client experience.
2. Square
| Free | Plus | Premium |
| £0 | £20/month | £64/month |
SEO-enhanced website builder Seamless integration with Square POS Social media sales capabilities Diverse payment options (Google Pay, Apply Pay, AfterPay, Cash App Pay, Square Pay and more) | Access to all Free plan features Enhanced site customisation options QR code ordering systemPersonalised ordering experience Advanced item settings PayPal integration Subscription management Complimentary domain for one year | Access to all Plus plan features Lower processing rates Real-time delivery rates |
Square is a dynamic platform offering diverse tools and solutions to shape the future of businesses. It enables businesses to reach more customers online through a free store that syncs with inventory and social media, helping meet customers wherever they shop. Square facilitates remote business operations with its Virtual Terminal and Square Invoices, making remote work and payments efficient.
Pros:
- Customisation Flexibility: Tailor your site to match your brand.
- User-Friendly Interface: Accessible even for those with little technical knowledge.
- Mobile Responsiveness: Enhances shopping experience for mobile users.
- Diverse Payment Options: Broadens customer payment preferences.
- Free Plan Available: Suitable for startups or small businesses.
Cons:
- Limited Theme Options: May not cater to all aesthetic needs.
- Learning Curve: Some features may require time to master.
- Dependence on Square Ecosystem: Best suited for those already using other Square products.
- Potential Additional Costs: Advanced features may require a paid plan.
- Limited Customisation in Free Plan: May need to upgrade for full customisation options.
The platform also ensures safe in-person selling with contactless payment options at the point of sale. Square Stand’s smooth checkouts, built-in payments, and customer-driven checkout processes exemplify their commitment to innovative solutions.
Moreover, Square provides extensive tools for every business challenge, including payment processing, checkout links, custom invoices, eGift cards, specialised POS systems for restaurants and retail, marketing, loyalty programs, dashboard analytics, and integrated EPOS software. The platform also supports contactless payments via iPhone or Android phones, further broadening its utility.
Additionally, Square offers business insights from experts, sharing valuable advice and tips for business growth. This comprehensive suite of tools and services makes Square a versatile choice for businesses seeking to streamline operations and enhance customer engagement.
Square Features
- Variety of Themes: A range of themes to suit different brand styles.
- Customer Data Integration: Track sales history, loyalty points, and more in one place.
- Multi-location Management: Handle orders from various locations on a single website.
- Inventory Sync: Online and in-store inventory and orders stay aligned.
- Staff Management Options: Admin access for employees with team-based permissions.
- Seamless Integration: Works smoothly with Square POS.
- Mobile-Optimised Design: Ensures a user-friendly experience on mobile devices.
- Customisable Product Highlighting: Special components to showcase specific products.
- Sales Event Planning: Schedule and promote product drops and sales.
- Shipping Discounts: Access to best-in-class shipping rates and tools.
- In-store Pickup and Local Delivery: Options for convenient order fulfilment.
- Diverse Payment Methods: Includes Square Pay, Apple Pay, Cash App Pay, and Google Pay.
- Afterpay Integration: Offers buy now, pay later options.
- SEO Tools and Social Integrations: Maximise online visibility and sales.
- Personalised Promotions and Loyalty Programs: Encourage repeat business.
Conclusion
While Square provides versatile business solutions, Faces stands out as the best choice for practitioners and aesthetic brands looking for a free website builder. Its free access with a minimal commission on deposits makes it highly affordable. The platform excels in offering a free, personalised website builder feature, which simplifies the creation of a strong online presence. Its strengths in online bookings, payments, and integration of digital consent forms streamline the operational aspects of a business.
While it has some limitations in design flexibility and advanced features, Faces’ comprehensive offerings, particularly in client management and branding, make it an excellent choice for those prioritising ease of use and cost-effectiveness.
Learn how to create a website for free using Faces, a trusted ally for UK beauty and aesthetic businesses.