Booking and scheduling
Your booking app is the most important business tool. It handles client scheduling, deposits, reminders, and (ideally) payments:
| App | Best for |
|---|---|
| Nelsy | Nail-tech specific booking, deposits, client management |
| Fresha | Free subscription + marketplace discovery |
| Booksy | Client-side app quality; marketplace |
| Google Calendar | Simple free scheduling alongside other tools |
Full comparison: best booking apps for nail techs.
Finance and accounting apps
| App | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wave | Free accounting, invoicing, and income tracking | Free |
| QuickBooks Self-Employed | Sole trader accounting, tax tracking, mileage | Paid |
| FreeAgent | UK-focused; self-employed accounting, Self Assessment | Paid |
| Spreadsheet (Google Sheets) | Manual income/expense tracking; fully customisable | Free |
| Receipt Bank / Dext | Receipt scanning and expense categorisation | Paid |
See the full expense list for what to track: nail tech expense list.
Content creation and editing apps
| App | What it does |
|---|---|
| Lightroom Mobile | Best photo editing; presets for consistent editing; free tier available |
| Snapseed | Free photo editing; selective adjustments; easy for beginners |
| CapCut | Free video editing for Reels and TikTok; popular with nail techs |
| Canva | Graphics for price lists, stories, announcements; free and paid |
| Later / Meta Business Suite | Scheduling posts in advance; free options available |
Client communication apps
| App | Use case |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business | Professional messaging; quick replies; away messages; free |
| Gmail | Professional email address for client communication |
| Your booking app's messaging | Centralised; stays in the booking context; most booking apps include this |
Organisation and productivity
| App | Use case |
|---|---|
| Google Drive | Store client cards, policy documents, price lists; accessible anywhere |
| Notion | Business planning, templates, SOPs; free for personal use |
| Notes (native) | Quick caption drafts, to-do lists, message templates |
| Google Forms | Client consultation forms; free; links directly from booking confirmation |
For managing your whole business from your phone: how to organise your nail business from your phone.
Ready to run your nail business more professionally?
Manage bookings, deposits and payments from one customisable Nelsy booking page.
Start free →Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay for business apps as a nail tech?
Most nail techs can run their business efficiently with a mix of free and low-cost apps. The only app category where paying typically makes sense early is booking software (for deposit collection and professional booking pages). Photo editing, organisation, and basic finance tracking have strong free options. Invest in paid apps when a specific feature you need isn't available free.
What's the minimum number of apps a nail tech needs?
You can run a nail business with just two apps: a booking app and Instagram. Everything else adds efficiency but isn't essential. Most experienced nail techs end up with 4–6 apps they rely on regularly: booking, photo editing, accounting/income tracking, and a content planning tool.
