Timely is one of the best-known salon platforms in Australia and New Zealand. ZibaDesk is the newer Sydney-built challenger taking the same audience seriously — but with a different philosophy on pricing, languages, and ownership of your client data. Here's a fair head-to-head for AU salon owners deciding between them in 2026.
The Short Answer
Timely is a polished, mature platform with a great UI and strong AU/NZ presence. Its pricing, however, scales per location and the higher-tier features (memberships, advanced reporting, marketing) sit behind premium plans. ZibaDesk gives you every feature included, at less than a third of Timely's mid-tier price, plus 8-language UI for diverse Australian salons.
Pricing at a Glance
| Pricing | ZibaDesk | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | A$19.99/mo (Pro) | ~A$30/mo (Build) |
| Mid plan | A$39.99/mo (Ultra) | ~A$53/mo (Elevate) |
| Top plan | Concierge (custom) | ~A$91/mo (Innovate) |
| Per-location pricing | Single price covers your business | Each location billed separately |
| Memberships & packages | Included on Ultra | Innovate plan only |
| Marketing & campaigns | Included | Top tier only |
| Free trial | 45 days | 14 days |
For a 2-location salon group on Timely's mid plan, expect A$106/month just for the subscription. The same business on ZibaDesk Ultra pays A$39.99/month and unlocks every feature — including memberships and marketing campaigns that Timely reserves for its top tier.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ZibaDesk | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking page | Yes | Yes |
| POS for in-person checkout | Yes — works offline | Cloud-only |
| Staff scheduling | Unlimited staff included | Yes |
| Memberships & packages | Included on Ultra | Top plan only |
| Marketing & SMS campaigns | Included | Top plan only |
| Loyalty programme | Built-in | Built-in |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory & products | Yes | Yes |
| AI pricelist import (photo → services) | Yes | No |
| UI languages | 8 (incl. Arabic, Persian, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese) | English only |
| iOS / Android native app | Yes | Yes |
| Xero accounting | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp reminders | Yes | No |
| AU/Sydney support hours | Yes | Yes (NZ-based, AU hours) |
Where Timely Wins
Timely has a beautifully refined UI, an established brand among AU and NZ salon owners, and a well-tuned client booking experience. Its reporting is mature, its support is regional, and salon owners who have used it for years tend to stay loyal. If budget is no concern and English-only is fine, it's a comfortable choice.
Where ZibaDesk Wins
- Significantly lower cost. Same features at less than half the monthly price — savings that compound over years.
- One price covers your whole business. No per-location billing, no multiplying the bill as you grow.
- Every feature on every plan. Memberships, campaigns, loyalty, gift cards — no premium upsells.
- Real multi-language. 8 fully translated UIs including right-to-left Arabic and Persian — unmatched in the AU market for Sydney's diverse salons.
- Offline-capable POS. Keep selling and processing during internet outages — Timely can't.
- AI pricelist onboarding. Snap a photo, get your services list built in seconds — no manual data entry.
- WhatsApp reminders. Reach clients on the messaging app most Australians already use.
Our Honest Verdict
Choose Timely if: you're a long-time Timely user, you're brand-loyal, you operate in English only, and the polished UI justifies the higher monthly cost for your team.
Choose ZibaDesk if: you want the same features at a fraction of the cost, you serve a multilingual clientele, you need offline POS, or you're growing into multi-location and don't want your bill to scale with you.