Running a beauty business today takes more than great service—it takes the right technology. Both WAJ and Altegio offer salon and spa management solutions, but their approach, integrations, and business models are quite different.

If you're choosing between them, here's a side-by-side comparison that explains why WAJ is emerging as the stronger, smarter, and more scalable choice for modern salon operations.

Platform Philosophy & setup

WAJ :  Designed for modern salons, wellness centers, and spas, WAJ focuses on simplicity, speed, and smart automation. You can launch your business operations in under 24 hours with local support and no tech-heavy onboarding.

Altegio (YCLIENTS) : Built originally for the Russian market, Altegio offers a wide feature set but tends to have a more complex interface and dated user experience. Setup and customization can take time, and support is usually online-only.

Pricing & Booking Commissions

WAJ: Offers transparent pricing with no commissions on bookings. All core features—AI, WhatsApp, payroll, inventory, etc.—are included in one subscription.

Altegio: Charges per staff member per month. While the base subscription is low, costs grow fast as your team expands. Some integrations may also require additional setup.

Key Features Comparison

WhatsApp Integration & Client Communication

WAJ: Offers built-in WhatsApp messaging for confirmations, reminders, and bulk promotional campaigns. The integration is native and doesn’t require third-party services or additional setup.

Altegio: Offers WhatsApp integration through third-party services (e.g., Twilio), which may require technical setup and incur extra costs. Based on user reviews, they do offer WhatsApp support but it’s not as seamlessly integrated as WAJ’s native solution.

AI Automation & Smart Recommendations

WAJ comes equipped with an AI assistant that automates repetitive tasks, provides smart insights, and suggests upsells during client bookings. This technology helps salon owners make data-driven decisions while automating routine operations.

Altegio offers appointment automation but lacks advanced AI personalization for service recommendations or real-time insights. Their focus is more on traditional booking management rather than intelligent automation.

Financials, Inventory & Back-Office Control

WAJ includes:

Real-time financial dashboards

Expense tracking

Inventory usage by service

Payroll, tips, and commission automation

Altegio offers:

Inventory and payroll modules available

Less intuitive interface design

Not bundled with real-time financial reporting

Strong on comprehensive data management

Localized Support

WAJ: Offers in-person onboarding and training in Dubai, plus 24/7 online support with live agents who understand the local market and business practices.

Altegio: Support is mostly via email or helpdesk, with limited hands-on guidance depending on your region. While they have global coverage, local UAE/GCC support is not their strength.

Staff & Client Experience

WAJ

Unlimited team members & logins

Attendance tracking

Staff-based service pages

Client mini-profiles with booking history and self-service options

Altegio

Charges per staff seat

Limited flexibility for staff-based pages

Client portal available but less customizable

Strong comprehensive reporting features

Final Verdict: Choose WAJ If You Want Smart, Scalable, and Simple Software

While Altegio may offer a familiar toolset for those already using it, WAJ is clearly designed for the future of salon operations with more automation, zero commissions, built-in marketing, and powerful client experience tools—plus support that actually speaks your language, both locally and online.

If you’re serious about scaling your salon or spa with less manual work and more smart systems, WAJ is your best choice for modern, intelligent salon management.

Making the Right Choice

Choose WAJ if you want: modern AI-powered automation, native WhatsApp integration, transparent pricing with unlimited users, local UAE/GCC support, and a platform designed for fast-growing beauty businesses.

Choose Altegio if you're comfortable with traditional booking software, don't mind per-user pricing models, prefer comprehensive feature sets even if complex, and don't require local support or native WhatsApp integration.