Comparison
SalonBook vs Fresha (2026): Pricing, Fees & Features Compared
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Fresha is a salon and spa platform built around a consumer marketplace: your business is listed on fresha.com, the software costs $19.95/mo for one person or $14.95 per team member per month, and Fresha charges a one-time 20% commission on each new client who finds you through the marketplace. SalonBook is a booking and business platform with no marketplace: you pay a flat plan price, keep 100% of every booking, and get a public website included on every plan.
Every Fresha price on this page was taken from fresha.com/pricing on September 6, 2026. Where we could not verify a Fresha detail from an official source, we say so rather than guess. SalonBook prices are our own published plans as of the same date.
The short version: Fresha wins on solo entry price and on marketplace discovery. SalonBook wins on flat pricing, zero commissions, annual billing, and a website with custom domain included rather than sold as add-ons.
Feature comparison
| Feature | SalonBook | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: $0/mo for 1 staff and 5 services, with online booking, calendar, client list, email confirmations and a public website with theme studio (better) | None. Fresha removed its free tier in 2025; the entry plan is Independent at $19.95/mo |
| Solo paid plan | Pro $39/mo, or $348/yr (~$29/mo billed annually) | Independent $19.95/mo (better) |
| Annual billing | Yes: Pro $348/yr (~$29/mo), Enterprise $828/yr (~$69/mo) (better) | Not offered; monthly billing only |
| Price for 3 staff | Pro $39/mo or ~$29/mo billed annually (covers up to 3 staff) (better) | Team plan: 3 x $14.95 = $44.85/mo |
| Price for 6+ staffTie | Enterprise $89/mo or $828/yr (~$69/mo), unlimited staff | Team plan: 6 x $14.95 = $89.70/mo; Enterprise custom pricing at 20+ team members |
| Free trial | 14 days, no contract (better) | 7 days, no card required |
| ContractTie | None; cancel anytime, no setup fee | None; cancel anytime |
| Marketplace / new-client commission | None. SalonBook has no marketplace, so there are no commission, per-booking or per-client fees (better) | 20% one-time commission on each new marketplace client, minimum $6 per client; returning clients are free |
| Payment processingTie | Use Stripe, Square or PayPal at their published rates; SalonBook adds no markup | In-person 2.29% + $0.20 (Tap to Pay adds $0.10); online 2.79% + $0.20; keyed 3.30% + $0.20; Klarna 5.99% + $0.30 |
| Online bookingTie | Included on every plan, including Free | Included on all plans |
| Deposits and no-show feesTie | Pro: deposits plus cancellation and no-show fees | Not verified in our September 2026 review; check Fresha's current feature list |
| WaitlistTie | Pro: waitlist with auto-book when a slot opens | Not verified in our September 2026 review |
| SMS reminders and messagingTie | Pro: SMS + email reminders at 24h and 1h, plus follow-ups | 100 free SMS/WhatsApp messages per month, then $0.02 per SMS; 50 free marketing emails per month, then $0.02 each |
| Intake and consent formsTie | Pro: intake and consent forms with e-signature | Not verified in our September 2026 review |
| Loyalty, memberships and gift cards | Pro: loyalty, referrals, gift certificates and memberships included (better) | Client Loyalty add-on: $59.95 per location per month |
| Branded website | Included on Free (public website + theme studio); Pro adds all 10 templates and custom CSS (better) | Smart Website add-on: $15.95/mo |
| Custom domainTie | Pro: custom domain with automatic SSL, no add-on | Not verified; Fresha does not publish custom-domain details for its Smart Website add-on |
| SupportTie | In-app chat + email (support@ocmpro.com); replies within 24 hours | Email + chat on the base plan, hours not published; phone, chat and email via Premium Support at $14.95/mo |
Green cells mark the stronger option for that row. Rows marked "Tie" are effectively equivalent.
Pricing
Pricing side by side
| Scenario | Fresha | SalonBook |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 staff) | $19.95/mo (Independent) | $0/mo on Free (1 staff, 5 services), or Pro $39/mo / ~$29/mo billed annually |
| 3 staff | 3 x $14.95 = $44.85/mo (Team) | Pro $39/mo, or $348/yr (~$29/mo) |
| 6 staff | 6 x $14.95 = $89.70/mo (Team) | Enterprise $89/mo, or $828/yr (~$69/mo), unlimited staff |
| Plus 10 new marketplace clients at $80 avg ticket | 10 x 20% x $80 = $160 one-time commission (minimum $6 per client) | $0 commission; SalonBook has no marketplace |
Fresha charges per team member, so the crossover depends on team size. Fresha is cheaper for a solo ($19.95 vs $39) and for a 2-person team paying monthly ($29.90 vs $39). SalonBook is cheaper at 3 staff ($39 vs $44.85) and from 7 staff up ($89 vs $104.65). At 4 to 5 staff, Fresha's $59.80 to $74.75 undercuts SalonBook Enterprise at $89/mo, and at exactly 6 staff the two are within a dollar of each other. Marketplace commission sits on top of these figures for Fresha: each new marketplace client costs 20% of the first visit, minimum $6.
Payment processing is separate for both. Fresha publishes 2.29% + $0.20 in person and 2.79% + $0.20 online. SalonBook connects to Stripe, Square or PayPal and you pay their published rates directly; SalonBook adds no processing markup.
Verdict
Choose SalonBook if…
- You want a free plan to start: SalonBook Free is $0/mo for 1 staff and 5 services, with online booking and a public website. Fresha has no free tier.
- You do not want to pay a 20% commission (minimum $6) on new clients. SalonBook has no marketplace and no per-client or per-booking fees.
- You run a 3-person team: SalonBook Pro is $39/mo, or ~$29/mo billed annually, versus $44.85/mo on Fresha Team.
- You want to pay annually: Fresha bills monthly only, while SalonBook Pro is $348/yr and Enterprise $828/yr.
- You want a branded website, loyalty program, intake forms and custom domain in the plan price rather than as add-ons (Fresha: Smart Website $15.95/mo, Client Loyalty $59.95 per location per month).
Choose Fresha if…
- You are a solo professional who wants the lowest paid entry price: Fresha Independent is $19.95/mo, less than SalonBook Pro at $39/mo or ~$29/mo billed annually.
- You want new clients to find you through a consumer marketplace and are comfortable paying 20% on the first visit of each one. SalonBook has no marketplace and does not send you clients.
- You want booking, marketplace and payments from one vendor at Fresha's published 2.29% + $0.20 in-person rate.
- Your team is 4 to 5 people paying monthly, where Fresha's $14.95 per member ($59.80 to $74.75) is less than SalonBook Enterprise at $89/mo.
Bottom line: Fresha is the lower-priced option for a solo who values marketplace exposure and accepts the 20% new-client fee. SalonBook is the lower-priced option for teams of 3, for anyone who wants annual billing, and for salons that want a website, domain and client tools included with no commission on any booking.
Try SalonBook free for 14 days, no card and no contract.
Start free with SalonBookFrequently asked questions
Is Fresha free?
No. Fresha removed its free tier in 2025. As of September 6, 2026, fresha.com/pricing lists Independent at $19.95/mo for one person and Team at $14.95 per team member per month, with a 7-day free trial. SalonBook offers a permanent Free plan for 1 staff and 5 services.
Does Fresha charge commission?
Yes, on marketplace bookings. Fresha charges a one-time 20% commission, minimum $6, on each new client who books you through the Fresha marketplace; returning clients are free. SalonBook has no marketplace and charges no commission on any booking.
Can I use my own domain with Fresha?
We could not verify custom-domain support for Fresha's Smart Website add-on ($15.95/mo) from official Fresha pages as of September 2026, so confirm with Fresha directly. SalonBook Pro includes a custom domain with automatic SSL at no extra charge.
How much does Fresha cost for 3 staff?
On the Fresha Team plan, 3 team members cost 3 x $14.95 = $44.85/mo, billed monthly, before marketplace commission and processing fees. SalonBook Pro covers up to 3 staff for $39/mo or $348/yr (~$29/mo).
Can I switch from Fresha to SalonBook?
Yes. Export your client list and services from Fresha as CSV, import or recreate them in SalonBook, and run both systems during a 2-week overlap so existing appointments finish cleanly. Then update your booking links on Google Business Profile and Instagram to point to your SalonBook site.
Which is better for a solo stylist, Fresha or SalonBook?
It depends on how you get clients. Fresha is cheaper for a solo on a paid plan ($19.95/mo vs SalonBook Pro at $39/mo) and offers marketplace discovery at a 20% fee per new client. SalonBook costs less if the Free plan covers you (1 staff, 5 services), includes a branded website, and never charges commission.
Fresha is a trademark of its respective owner. SalonBook is not affiliated with or endorsed by Fresha. Information about Fresha comes from its public website as of September 6, 2026; please verify current details with the vendor.