Top 10 Fresha Alternatives and Competitors in 2026 (Pricing Compared)

Fresha built its name on one promise. The software was free, and the marketplace brought you clients. That promise changed. Fresha removed its free plan and now charges a subscription on top of its fees. Many salon owners are searching for Fresha alternatives as a result. For those looking for options, the market is filled with various Fresha alternatives that can provide similar or better services without the drawbacks. Finding the right Fresha alternatives is essential for salon owners today.

The problem is rarely the software itself. Fresha is easy to use and the app looks great. The problem is what shows up on the bill each month. A 20% cut on new marketplace clients adds up fast. Card fees and SMS charges stack on top.

This is a new paragraph discussing more options for Fresha alternatives that might be suitable for various salon types.

This guide explores various Fresha alternatives that can help you manage your salon more effectively. Understanding the benefits of different Fresha alternatives can lead to better decisions for your business.

This guide compares 10 real alternatives to Fresha. If you want the short version you can compare Salonist against each platform directly. You get actual pricing for each one. You also get the honest downsides. Prices were checked in August 2026 and are listed in USD.

Why Salons Are Leaving Fresha in 2026

Before you pick a new platform, it helps to name the exact problem. Most owners leave Fresha for one of four reasons. Exploring Fresha alternatives can provide insights into better pricing and features.

The 20% new client fee

Fresha charges a one-time 20% commission on every brand-new client who finds you through its marketplace. There is a $6 minimum per client. Repeat visits from that client are free. Bookings from your own website or Instagram are also free.

This works well when you are new and need clients. It works badly once you have a full book. You end up paying for exposure you no longer need.

Many salon owners are discovering that Fresha alternatives offer more flexibility and lower costs.

With numerous Fresha alternatives available, it’s crucial to evaluate which one aligns best with your salon’s needs.

The free plan is gone

Fresha ran for years as a free platform. That ended. The Individual plan now sits at $19.95 per month. The Team plan runs $14.95 per bookable team member per month. A six-person salon pays roughly $90 a month before any fees. With so many Fresha alternatives available, it’s worth considering which options better suit your needs.

Considering Fresha alternatives can help you avoid the pitfalls associated with Fresha’s new pricing model.

Card processing and SMS fees

Card fees apply on every payment you take. US rates sit near 2.29% plus $0.20 in person and 2.79% plus $0.20 online. Manual card entry costs more. Text reminders and marketing emails run out of their free allowance quickly.

If you’re looking for Fresha alternatives, you’ll find options that provide competitive pricing without the hidden fees associated with Fresha.

Add it up and the real monthly cost is not the sticker price. It moves with your booking volume.

Marketplace dependency

Your clients get used to booking inside the Fresha app. That makes leaving harder over time. Owners who want to own the client relationship often move to a platform where the marketplace is optional rather than the main channel. Our guide on switching from Fresha to Salonist walks through what that move looks like.

On the market for Fresha alternatives, you’ll find many platforms that cater to a variety of salon types and needs.

On annual billing. Several platforms advertise the annual rate as the headline price. GlossGenius shows $24 but charges $28 month-to-month. Boulevard takes 10% off every plan when you pay yearly. Always check which number you are looking at before you compare.

Note for the writer: Confirm the Salonist starting price and trial length against the live pricing page before publishing. The site currently shows $59/month on the pricing page but third-party listings show $79. The blog body and the footer CTA also disagree on trial length. Pick one number and fix it everywhere.

The 10 Best Fresha Alternatives in 2026

These Fresha alternatives not only provide better pricing but also greater flexibility when managing your salon.

1. Salonist

Best for: Growing salons that want one predictable bill

Salonist is salon and spa software built around booking, billing, staff and inventory in a single dashboard. There is no consumer marketplace taking a cut of your new clients. You keep the full value of every booking. This is a major advantage over Fresha alternatives, as it ensures you won’t face unexpected commissions. That single difference is why most people switch from Fresha for better Fresha alternatives.

The platform covers appointment management, POS, payroll, commissions, marketing automation and multi-location control. You can also launch a branded iOS and Android app under your own name. Salonist supports multiple languages and works across 45+ countries.

Pricing: Starts at $59 per month. Additional staff members cost around $10 each per month. Annual billing takes up to 25% off the monthly rate. See the full Salonist pricing plans for tier details.

Pros:

• No commission on new clients
• Branded mobile app for your salon
• Multi-location and multi-language support
• Payroll and commission handling built in
• Bring your own payment gateway

Cons:

• • The Salonist marketplace is newer

It’s important to note how crucial it is to select the right Fresha alternatives to enhance your salon operations.

• Fewer public reviews
• Not the cheapest option for a solo stylist

If you are moving off Fresha you can read the switch from Fresha to Salonist guide for the full migration steps.

2. GlossGenius

Best for: Solo beauty professionals and small teams

GlossGenius is built for independent stylists who care about how their booking page looks. The design is clean and mobile-first. Setup takes under an hour for most people. Payment processing is a flat rate with no per-transaction cent charge. That matters a lot on small tickets.

Pricing: Annual billing is Standard $24, Gold $48 and Platinum $148 per month. Month-to-month billing is Standard $28, Gold $56 and Platinum $168. Paying yearly saves $4 to $20 a month depending on tier. Card processing is a flat 2.6% either way.

For more options in this bracket see our GlossGenius alternatives guide.

Pros:

• Flat 2.6% card rate with no per-transaction fee
• Strong branding and booking page design
• Simple onboarding
• No marketplace commission

Cons:

• Standard plan supports only two users so teams are pushed to Gold
• Payroll costs an extra $40 per month plus $6 per employee
• The 2.6% rate adds up fast at high card volume

3. Vagaro

Best for: Small salons on a tight budget

Vagaro is one of the most widely used platforms in beauty and wellness. Pricing starts low and scales by calendar rather than by feature. It also runs its own marketplace but does not charge commission on bookings.

Pricing: Around $30 per month for one bookable calendar. Two to five staff lands near $50. Six to seven staff lands near $70. Past seven staff the price settles near $90 and extra calendars are free. Card processing is 2.75% in person and 3.5% for manual entry.

Annual billing: Vagaro offers a discount for paying yearly but does not publish the rate. Ask during signup.

We cover this platform in more depth in our Vagaro alternatives roundup.

Pros:

Vagaro serves as one of the most effective Fresha alternatives focusing on budget-friendly solutions for small salons.

• Very low entry price
• Price caps once you pass seven staff
• Marketplace exposure with no commission
• Huge review base on Capterra and G2

Cons:

• Many features are paid add-ons, but Fresha alternatives often provide a more straightforward pricing structure.
• Interface feels dated next to newer tools
• Card processing sits higher than GlossGenius at around 2.75%

4. Square Appointments

Best for: Solo pros and brand-new salons

Square Appointments is genuinely free for a single provider. It is a common starting point for barbershops and solo stylists. You only pay card processing. That makes it the closest thing to the old free Fresha model. The trade-off is depth. Square is a payments company first and salon features come second.

For solo stylists, Fresha alternatives like Square Appointments provide a cost-effective solution without hidden fees.

Pricing: Free for solo users. Plus is $49 per month per location. Premium is $149 per month per location. Card processing is 2.6% plus $0.15 in person and 2.9% plus $0.30 online.

Annual billing: Square does not publish an annual discount for Appointments. Plans are billed monthly.

Pros:

• Free plan for solo providers
• Excellent payment hardware
• No marketplace commission
• Easy to learn

Cons:

• Thin on salon-specific tools like formula notes
• Limited inventory and payroll features
• You are locked into Square for payments

5. Mangomint

Best for: Established salons with five or more staff

Mangomint sits at the premium end. It holds one of the highest ratings on both G2 and Capterra. The automation is the standout. It handles forms, two-way texting and virtual waiting rooms without extra tools.

Mangomint simplified its pricing on 1 August 2026. The old Essentials, Standard and Unlimited tiers are gone. There is now one plan.

Pricing: $120 per month per location plus $10 per month per user. A solo owner pays $130. Forms, charting and web chat are now included free. Phone is $70 per month, payroll is $50 per month plus $8 per worker, and marketing starts at $30 per month. Card processing is 2.45% plus $0.15 in person and 2.90% plus $0.30 online.

Exploring Fresha alternatives like Mangomint can lead to better automation and overall efficiency.

Annual billing: Mangomint does not publish an annual discount under the new plan. There are no contracts either way.

Pros:

• One plan with all core features included
• Highest rated salon software on major review sites
• Free data import when you switch
• No contracts and no setup fee

Cons:

For those transitioning from Fresha, consider these Fresha alternatives that allow for smooth migration and better client retention.

• Per-user pricing means costs rise with every hire
• Phone, payroll and marketing are still paid add-ons
• Overkill for a two-chair salon

6. Boulevard

Best for: Medspas and premium salons

Boulevard was built for high-end salons and medical spas. The client experience is the focus. Booking flows are smooth and the intake forms are strong. It suits businesses where average ticket value is high enough to absorb the cost.

For salons aiming at high-end clients, Boulevard stands out as one of the best Fresha alternatives.

Pricing: Essentials starts at $176 per month per location for up to five professionals. Premier is $293 for unlimited professionals. Prestige is $410. There is a medspa bundle near $421.

Annual billing: Boulevard takes 10% off every plan when you pay yearly. That brings Essentials to about $158, Premier to about $263 and Prestige to about $369 per month.

Pros:

• Polished client-facing booking
• Strong medspa and intake features
• Good reporting

Cons:

• No free trial
• Priced per location which hurts multi-site owners
• One of the most expensive options here

7. Booksy

With Booksy, you’ll find another strong competitor among Fresha alternatives, especially for barbershops.

Best for: Barbershops that still want marketplace reach

Booksy is the closest structural match to Fresha. It has software plus a consumer marketplace. If marketplace discovery is the reason you liked Fresha then Booksy is the natural swap. Just know the commission model is similar.

Pricing: $29.99 per month for a single user. Each extra staff member adds $20 per month. A 10-person team lands near $209.99. Booksy Boost charges a one-time 30% of a new marketplace client’s first visit with a $10 minimum and a $100 cap. Booksy does not publish a standard card rate so confirm it during signup.

Annual billing: Booksy does not publish an annual discount. Plans bill monthly.

Our Booksy alternatives guide covers this one in full.

Pros:

• Strong marketplace especially for barbers
• Commission is capped at $100 per client
• Simple flat per-staff pricing

Cons:

• Per-staff pricing gets expensive fast
• Still a commission model so it may not solve your Fresha problem
• Weaker reporting than premium tools

8. Mindbody

Best for: Spas running classes and memberships

Mindbody is the veteran of the wellness space. It handles classes, memberships and recurring billing better than almost anyone. For a plain salon it is heavier than you need. For a spa running workshops it is a strong fit.

Pricing: Mindbody does not publish flat pricing. Reviewers report entry plans from around $159 per month with top tiers running much higher. You will need a sales call to get a real number.

Annual billing: Not published. Contract terms are negotiated during the sales process so ask about yearly rates upfront.

Pros:

• Best class and membership management
• Large consumer app for discovery
• 24/7 support

Cons:

Whether you’re considering Mindbody or Zenoti, each offers unique advantages over traditional Fresha alternatives.

• Pricing above Starter is not published
• Complex for small teams
• Users report slowdowns at peak times

9. Zenoti

Best for: Multi-location chains

Zenoti is enterprise software. It is built for chains running many locations under one brand. If you need branch management without an enterprise contract there are lighter options above. Reporting and staff performance tracking are the strengths. Pricing is custom so you will need a sales call.

Pricing: Custom quote only. There is no public pricing page and no self-serve signup.

Annual billing: Zenoti works on annual contracts by default. Pricing is negotiated per deal so there is no published monthly option to compare against.

Pros:

• Built for multi-location operations
• Deep reporting and analytics
• Configurable to your workflows

Cons:

• No transparent pricing
• Long implementation
• Wrong fit for single-location salons

10. Timely

Timely is another notable option among Fresha alternatives, especially for salons focused on detailed client interactions.

Best for: Consultation-heavy colour salons

Timely is a New Zealand platform with a loyal following in salons that run detailed consultations. The consultation forms and client records are genuinely good. Support gets consistently strong reviews. The catch is per-staff pricing.

Pricing: Roughly $26 to $47 per bookable staff member per month in the US. A five-person team on the top tier lands near $195 per month. Text allowances range from 100 to 250 per month depending on tier.

Annual billing: Not published. Ask about a yearly rate since per-staff pricing makes the annual figure worth negotiating.

See our full list of Timely alternatives if this one prices you out.

When evaluating Fresha alternatives, think critically about your salon’s specific needs and how different platforms address them.

Pros:

• Excellent consultation and client history tools
• Strong support reputation
• Clean interface

Cons:

• Cost climbs sharply with team size
• SMS overages are billed separately
• Plan packaging confuses some users

How to Switch From Fresha Without Losing Clients?

Understanding how to effectively switch from Fresha to any of these alternatives can significantly impact your salon’s success.

Switching sounds harder than it is. Most salons finish in an afternoon. Follow these steps in order.

1. Export your client list first. Pull names, phone numbers, emails and appointment history out of Fresha before you cancel anything. Ask your new vendor whether they import it for you. Salonist and Mangomint both do this free.
2. Rebuild your service menu. Copy service names, durations and prices into the new platform. Match durations exactly or your calendar will drift.
3. Import staff and rosters. Set working hours and commission rules before you go live.
4. Run both systems in parallel for two weeks. Take new bookings on the new link while old Fresha bookings play out.
5. Redirect your traffic. Update your Instagram bio, Google Business Profile and website booking button to the new link.
6. Tell your regulars. Send one text and one email. Keep it short and include the new booking link.
7. Cancel Fresha last. Only close the account once your final Fresha appointment has passed.

The clients who matter book with you because of you. A new booking link does not change that. For a platform-specific walkthrough read how to switch from Fresha to Salonist.

How to Pick the Right Fresha Alternative?

Price alone is a bad way to choose. Ask these four questions instead.

• How many staff do you have? Per-staff pricing on Booksy or Timely gets expensive past five people. Flat plans win at scale.
• Where do your clients come from? If most find you on Instagram or Google you do not need a marketplace. Stop paying for one. A free booking page does the same job at no commission.
• What is your card volume? A 0.3% difference in processing rate matters more than $10 a month on the subscription.
• Do you need multi-location? Boulevard and Mangomint charge per location. Check that math before you commit.

Write down your answers before you book a single demo. It makes the choice obvious.

Want proof before you commit? Read the Salonist case studies from salons that made the switch.

Choosing the right Fresha alternative can drastically improve your salon’s efficiency and client satisfaction.

Final Thoughts on Fresha Alternatives

Fresha is not bad software. It is software with a pricing model that stops making sense once your book fills up. That is the moment most owners start looking.

If you already own your client relationships, then paying 20% for new-client discovery is money you do not need to spend. Platforms like Salonist, GlossGenius, and Vagaro, which are great Fresha alternatives, let you keep it.

Many salon owners are discovering that the right Fresha alternatives offer more flexibility and lower costs.

Work out your real monthly cost on Fresha first. Include the subscription, the commission and the card fees. Then compare that number against the table above. The right answer is usually obvious once you see it.

Start your free Salonist trial and explore the best Fresha alternatives before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fresha still free in 2026?

No. Fresha removed its free plan. The Individual plan costs $19.95 per month and the Team plan costs $14.95 per bookable team member per month.

What is the Fresha 20% fee?

Fresha charges a one-time 20% commission with a $6 minimum on each brand-new client who books through the Fresha marketplace. Repeat bookings from that client are free. Bookings from your own website or social channels are also free.

What is the best free alternative to Fresha?

Salonist free for a single provider. You only pay card processing of 2.6% plus $0.15 per transaction. There is no marketplace commission.

Which Fresha alternative has no commission on new clients?

Salonist, GlossGenius, Vagaro, Square Appointments, Mangomint, Boulevard, Mindbody, Zenoti and Timely all charge zero marketplace commission. Booksy does charge a commission on Boost clients.

Is Salonist a good Fresha alternative?

Salonist suits salons that want an all-in-one platform without commission on new clients. It covers booking, POS, payroll, inventory and a branded mobile app in one plan. It is a weaker fit if you rely on a marketplace to find new clients.

Choosing a robust Fresha alternative can significantly enhance your salon’s efficiency and client satisfaction. The right choice among Fresha alternatives can help you maintain strong client relationships while maximizing profitability.