I’m Kayla. I run a small bodywork studio, and I also build sites for other therapists. I’ve used these tools in real life—bookings, gift cards, late clients, the whole mess. Some builders were smooth. Some made me want to scream into a towel.
If you want the blow-by-blow version of that project, you can read my full story of how I built six different massage sites right here.
Here’s what I learned, with real examples. Short, honest, and a bit nerdy where it helps.
What Matters for a Massage Site (from the table, not the brochure)
- Simple online booking that you can tweak fast
- Mobile speed (most folks book from their phone in the parking lot)
- Clear service list, prices, and a “Book Now” button that pops
- Deposits, no-show rules, and auto reminders
- Gift cards and packages, because holidays
- Basic SEO for local search (maps, hours, reviews)
- Intake forms that don’t confuse people
You get the idea. Let me explain how each builder handled that.
If you want a broader look at how the major site platforms stack up beyond massage work, check out the independent breakdown at Website Builder Awards.
My Top Pick: Squarespace + Scheduling (Acuity)
I used this for my own studio site, Cedar & Sun Massage, in Portland. I built it on Squarespace 7.1 using the Rally starter design. I made the buttons big and warm (rust and cream). I kept the menu tiny: Services, About, Book, Gift Cards.
Then I added Scheduling (Acuity) for bookings. (I used Acuity here.)
Why I liked it
- The booking flow felt clean. Fewer clicks. Fewer swear words.
- I set a $25 deposit, a 24-hour cancel window, and text reminders. No-shows dropped, like a rock.
- Packages and gift cards were easy. I sold 18 digital gift cards the first December. My phone buzzed all week.
- SEO basics were baked in. I added a “Massage for Desk Workers” page, wrote a short Q&A, and saw more “neck pain” searches hit my site.
- Intake forms loaded fine, and I got fewer call-backs with missing info.
What bugged me
- Spacing can get weird. I had to nudge margins a lot.
- The Scheduling embed needed a tiny CSS tweak so the button matched my theme.
- You pay for Scheduling on top of the site. That part stings a bit.
My setup notes
- Template: Rally (7.1)
- Scheduling plan: Growing plan first; later I upgraded for packages
- Payments: Stripe; deposits turned on; auto reminders via SMS and email
- Time spent: About 6 hours to launch; another hour for photos
- Result: Bookings went from 3–4 per week online to 8–10 in two months
Tip: If you need a BAA for health data, check Squarespace Scheduling’s Powerhouse plan. You can find more on it at Squarespace Scheduling. It can offer that. Always confirm for your state.
Runner-Up: Wix with Wix Bookings
I used Wix for my friend’s spot, Blue Fern Massage, in Tulsa. I started with the Wix “Massage Therapist” template, then tweaked it. Big homepage button. Short list of services. A quick FAQ.
I saw the same quick-win vibe when I tested a stack of builders for life coaches—visual thinkers really do better with tools that show changes instantly.
Why it shined
- The editor is very visual. Drag, drop, done.
- Wix Bookings handled workshops too. We ran a couples massage class and filled 8 seats in a week.
- Gift cards and tipping were simple. People tipped online more than in person, which surprised me.
- The client sees their upcoming visits right away. That reduced “Wait, when is my next one?” calls.
Where it tripped
- On mobile, it felt a bit heavy when I stacked too many apps. I cut the slideshow and it sped up.
- You need a Business plan for payments and bookings. That’s not cheap if you’re brand new.
- The built-in SEO panel is okay. But I had to clean up page titles by hand. URLs can look clunky.
My setup notes
- Plan: Business Basic
- Apps: Wix Bookings, Wix Forms, Gift Cards
- Time spent: 5 hours to launch, 1 hour to fix mobile spacing
- Result: 12 gift cards sold at Valentine’s Day; 1 late cancel thanks to reminders instead of 6 the month before
Extra income idea: Some massage pros now run live, camera-based “stretch with me” or “self-massage” classes that rely on streaming platforms rather than traditional booking widgets. If you’re curious how a cam-first site structures performer profiles, tipping, and real-time chat, this detailed Camster review walks through the tech setup, payout model, and viewer expectations—handy intel if you’re weighing whether aspects of that model could fit (or definitely don’t fit) your own remote-session plans.
For therapists in smaller towns who still lean on classified-style directories to fill slow spots, it’s helpful to study how those listings handle local targeting, rates, and client screening. One good case study is the regional page for Skip the Games in Fond du Lac—it shows how independent providers highlight specials, verify age, and funnel first-time inquiries quickly, offering practical ideas for crafting concise service blurbs and clear boundaries on any client-facing site.
If you’re very visual and want “what I see is what I get,” Wix feels good in your hands. Just keep the site lean so it loads fast.
For a deeper look at pure WYSIWYG options, I put three of the big names through their paces and shared an honest, hands-on review that might help you decide.
Best Free Start: Square Appointments (Booking Site)
When I did pop-up chair massage at a local market, I used Square’s free booking site. No full website at first—just a clean page with my services and a big button.
Why I recommend it
- The booking page is free. You only pay card fees.
- Text reminders work well. Folks showed up on time more often.
- It connects with Square POS, so checkout is one brain.
The limits
- Design is basic. Fonts and colors are fine, but it won’t win awards.
- Intake forms are light. Good for simple needs, not complex health notes.
- Blogging or deep SEO? Not here. It’s a booking site first.
If you’re building a community or charity page instead of a studio, you might like my breakdown of the best free website builder for nonprofits.
My setup notes
- Plan: Free
- Add-ons: I connected a custom domain later
- Result: Took me 40 minutes. Bookings were steady for events. Zero no-shows at the Saturday market, which felt like magic.
If money’s tight, start here. Later, link it to a full site. Owners of short-term rentals who need booking calendars and map widgets might like my roundup of the best website builders for vacation rentals, where I show what I actually use for my own Airbnb side gig.
For Full Control: WordPress + Amelia
I built a site for a two-room clinic using WordPress, the Kadence theme, and the Amelia booking plugin. Hosting was on SiteGround. This was for a team with lots of blog content and tight SEO goals.
Why it’s strong
- Crazy control. Fast pages, custom SEO fields, rich blog posts.
- Amelia handled staff calendars, buffers, and packages.
- We added a “book now” bar that followed you down the page. Clicks jumped.
Where it bites
- Updates. Plugins can fight. One Stripe webhook failed, and I missed two payments before I fixed it.
- You must handle backups, caching, and spam.
- It takes more time. Not great if you’re solo and busy rubbing shoulders all day.
My setup notes
- Theme: Kadence; Plugin: Amelia; Host: SiteGround GrowBig
- Time spent: 10–12 hours plus ongoing care
- Result: Best Google results of any site I built. Most work, too.
If you love tinkering, go this way. If you don’t, skip it.
If you’re curious about something that sits between a theme-based system and full code, check out how building three real sites with Octane Website Builder felt in practice.