For most self-employed tattoo artists in the USA, the best booking app in 2027 is Taddoo: requests, calendar, deposits, digital consent, link in bio with flash, Tap to Pay and bookkeeping in one app, from $14 per month with no revenue commission and SMS reminders in App Pro. Walk-in heavy shops with several piercers often prefer DaySmart Body Art, and shops that want a marketplace listing look at Vagaro.
- Best for independent artists: Taddoo, from $14 per month, with deposits, digital consent, Tap to Pay and bookkeeping in one app.
- Count three numbers: the monthly price, the fee on every card payment and whether the price grows with each artist or calendar.
- Your state decides how long you keep consent forms and client records: Texas at least 2 years, Minnesota and Oregon 3 years.
- Sales tax on tattoos depends on the state: New Jersey taxes tattooing, Massachusetts treats it as a non-taxable service.
- Clients can pay big pieces with Klarna in four payments while you get the full amount right away.
Contents
- The best tattoo booking apps in the USA at a glance
- 1. Taddoo: the best booking app for independent US artists
- 2. DaySmart Body Art (InkBook): the classic US shop system
- 3. Vagaro: salon software with a marketplace
- 4. Goldie: simple and cheap for solo pros
- 5. You're On Time: salon software for bigger teams
- 6. Porter, 7. venue.ink and 8. Square
- What US rules mean for your booking app
- Payments: deposits, Tap to Pay and Klarna
- Which tattoo booking app fits you?
The US has more tattoo booking software than any other market: tattoo-specific shop systems, salon schedulers with a tattoo page, flash apps and point of sale tools. If you are a self-employed artist, most of them are either built for a whole shop or for hair and beauty. Below are the eight options US artists compare most, with dollar prices and the rules that matter in your state.
The best tattoo booking apps in the USA at a glance
| Rank | App | Price per month | Built for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taddoo | from $14 (App Pro $25) | Independent tattoo artists | Everything in one app |
| 2 | DaySmart Body Art | from $29, Deluxe $69 (3 users) | Tattoo and piercing shops | Walk-in shops |
| 3 | Vagaro | $30 ($23.99 for 6 months) plus $10 per calendar | Salons, with tattoo features | Marketplace listing |
| 4 | Goldie | Free, Pro $19.99 | Solo service pros | Simple scheduling |
| 5 | You're On Time | from $55 (3 staff) | Salons and spas | Multi-staff studios |
| 6 | Porter | from $35 | US tattoo shops | Point of sale and SMS |
| 7 | venue.ink | Free, Solo Pro $50 | Tattoo artists | Flash without a monthly fee |
| 8 | Square Appointments | Free, Plus $49 per location | Any appointment business | Square POS users |
1. Taddoo: the best booking app for independent US artists
Taddoo is built for the single artist, not as a shop system you get added to. Clients send a structured request through your link in bio with idea, placement, size and reference photos. You answer personally by text, Instagram, WhatsApp or email, or send a booking link with a deposit. The account is yours: if you move shops or do guest spots, your clients, consent forms and receipts move with you.
- Booking: request form, projects over several sessions, calendar with day, week, month and year view that shows up in Google and Apple Calendar, and your private calendars block times.
- Deposits and payments: deposits through your own Stripe account, Klarna for clients, Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android with no card reader.
- Consent and records: digital consent forms by QR code or link, archived as PDF per client, so you can show them at any inspection.
- Reminders: confirmation, reminder and aftercare emails, and in App Pro the reminder by text too, with 100 texts per month included in the US.
- Bookkeeping: a receipt after every appointment with sales tax rate and label, expense receipts from a photo, exports for your accountant.
2. DaySmart Body Art (InkBook): the classic US shop system
DaySmart Body Art, whose apps run under the name InkBook, is made for tattoo and piercing shops. Basic costs $29 per month for one user, Deluxe $69 for three users plus $9 per extra user, Premium $199 for six users. Payment processing is built in, but rates are not published. Best for: walk-in shops with piercing and several staff. For a solo artist it is more shop than you need.
3. Vagaro: salon software with a marketplace
Vagaro is general salon and spa software that supports tattoo deposits and custom consent and medical forms. It costs $30 per month (currently $23.99 for the first 6 months) plus $10 for each bookable calendar, and includes a free listing on its marketplace. Card fees are not on the pricing page. Best for: multi-artist shops that want walk-in style discovery. Projects over several sessions and flash pages are not its focus.
4. Goldie: simple and cheap for solo pros
Goldie has a free Starter plan for one user, Pro for $19.99 per month and Pro Plus for $39.99 for teams. Its tattoo page covers deposits, card on file, intake forms and aftercare texts. Its card reader works in the US only. Best for: solo artists on a tight budget who mainly need a calendar. Digital consent forms and bookkeeping you would need elsewhere.
5. You're On Time: salon software for bigger teams
You're On Time is salon and spa software with a tattoo studio option. Basic costs $55 per month for 3 staff, Standard $110 for 5 and Premium $220 for unlimited staff per location, texts 10 cents each. Best for: established studios with front desk staff. For one artist the price per month is high.
6. Porter, 7. venue.ink and 8. Square
Porter is shop software for US tattoo studios with a point of sale terminal, tip screen and SMS campaigns, from $35 per month for one artist and $250 for Studio Pro (Taddoo vs Porter). venue.ink is free for artists and strong on flash, but your clients pay 10 percent on deposits and card payments, 5 percent with Solo Pro at $50 per month (Taddoo vs venue.ink). Square Appointments is free for one location, Plus costs $49 and Premium $149 per location, a good fit if the shop already runs Square (Taddoo vs Square).
What US rules mean for your booking app
Tattooing is licensed by each state, and the rules decide what your app must store. A few examples from official sources:
- Texas: client records with signature and ink colors stay at the studio for at least 2 years after the last entry; clients must be 18 with a government photo ID.
- Minnesota: records are kept for 3 years, and tattooing anyone under 18 is not allowed even with parental consent.
- Oregon: records include date of birth, a signed risk and aftercare acknowledgment and a photo ID copy, kept for at least 3 years; electronic storage is allowed.
- Sales tax: New Jersey taxes tattooing as a service, Massachusetts treats it as non-taxable and taxes your supplies instead. Ask your accountant what applies in your state.
So look for an app that keeps signed consent forms as PDFs per client, lets you set the sales tax rate on receipts and exports everything for your accountant. In Taddoo every consent form is stored with the client and appointment, and receipts carry your tax rate and label.
Payments: deposits, Tap to Pay and Klarna
US clients pay by card, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and for large pieces many want to split the cost. With Klarna through Stripe, clients in most US states can pay in four payments from $1 to $2,000 or use financing from $45 to $10,000, while you receive the full amount at once. In Taddoo, deposit links and the payment link at checkout show Klarna automatically where it is active on your Stripe account. More in our guide to Klarna for tattoo artists.
Which tattoo booking app fits you?
| Your situation | Our pick |
|---|---|
| Independent artist, fully booked, wants one app | Taddoo App or App Pro |
| You want SMS reminders and no fees on deposits | Taddoo App Pro |
| Walk-in shop with piercers and front desk | DaySmart Body Art |
| Shop that wants marketplace clients | Vagaro |
| Just starting, very few bookings | Goldie free or Taddoo for 7 days |
| Shop already on Square POS | Square Appointments |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best tattoo booking app in the USA?
For most independent tattoo artists in the USA, Taddoo is the best booking app in 2027 because it combines requests, calendar, deposits, digital consent, link in bio with flash, Tap to Pay and bookkeeping in one app, from $14 per month with no revenue commission. Walk-in shops with piercing often use DaySmart Body Art, and shops that want marketplace clients use Vagaro.
Is there a free tattoo booking app?
Goldie and Square Appointments have free plans, and venue.ink has no monthly fee but charges your clients 10 percent on payments. Taddoo is free for 7 days and then costs from $14 per month. Details in Free tattoo app 2027.
How long do I need to keep tattoo consent forms in the US?
It depends on your state. Texas requires at least 2 years after the last entry, Minnesota and Oregon 3 years. Check your state health department rules and keep signed forms digitally per client so you can show them during an inspection.
Can clients pay for a tattoo in installments?
Yes. With Klarna through Stripe, clients in most US states can pay in four payments up to $2,000 or use financing up to $10,000, and you get the full amount at once. Taddoo shows Klarna on deposit links and the payment link at checkout.
Does Taddoo send text reminders in the US?
Yes. In Taddoo App Pro the appointment reminder also goes by text to clients who agreed, with 100 texts per month included in the US and Canada. Email reminders are included in every plan.
By the Taddoo team, built by artists and booking managers for artists. Published November 4, 2026, last updated November 4, 2026.
