Fresha Review 2026
Free subscription salon software — pay only a fee on new client bookings
Quick Verdict
Fresha is the best free salon software available — and it's genuinely free. There is no monthly subscription fee ever. The only cost is a 2.19% + $0.20 fee on bookings from brand-new clients (first time they book with your business). All subsequent bookings from those clients are completely free. It offers surprisingly capable tools: online booking, POS, multi-staff scheduling, inventory, memberships, and marketing automation at zero monthly cost.
Fresha Pricing (2026)
Payment processing fees also apply (1.29%–2.19% depending on card type). Fresha makes money from payment processing and new client booking fees — not monthly subscriptions.
Fresha for Business
Free forever
Full-featured salon platform with zero monthly subscription
- Unlimited staff
- Online booking
- POS & payments
- Client management
- Marketing automation
- Inventory tracking
- Memberships & packages
- Consumer marketplace
New Client Booking Fee
2.19% + $0.20 per booking
Only charged on first-time client bookings
- Applied to first booking only from any new client
- All subsequent bookings from same client: FREE
- No fee if client re-books or walks in
- No monthly cap — fee is usage-based
Complete Feature Breakdown
Booking & Scheduling
| Online Booking | |
| Consumer Marketplace(Fresha's consumer app and website) | |
| Instagram Booking | |
| Google Booking | |
| Multi-Staff Calendar | |
| Waitlist Management |
Payments & POS
| Credit Card Processing(1.29–2.19% depending on card type) | |
| Contactless/Tap Payments | |
| Tip Prompting | |
| Split Payments | |
| Gift Cards | |
| No-Show Fee Enforcement |
Business Management
| Payroll Processing | |
| Commission Tracking | |
| Inventory Management | |
| Memberships & Packages | |
| Retail Sales Tracking | |
| Basic Reporting |
Marketing
| Email Campaigns (Blasts) | |
| SMS Marketing | |
| Automated Reminders | |
| Win-Back Campaigns | |
| Birthday Offers | |
| Review Requests |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Zero monthly subscription — the only truly free full-featured platform
- Unlimited staff on the free plan — no per-staff fees
- Consumer marketplace for new client discovery
- Memberships and packages included at no cost
- Full marketing automation (email blasts, automated campaigns) for free
- Actively improving — regular feature updates and new capabilities
Cons
- No payroll processing — requires separate software
- New client fees add up quickly during growth phases
- Client-facing design less polished than GlossGenius or Mangomint
- Customer support can be slow via chat for complex issues
- Advanced analytics are more limited than premium platforms
Who Is Fresha Best For?
✅ Fresha is a great fit if...
- New salon owners wanting to minimize startup costs
- Salons with 70%+ returning client bookings (low new-client fees)
- Multi-staff salons wanting free multi-provider scheduling
- Budget-conscious salon owners who need memberships and marketing for free
⚠️ You may want to look elsewhere if...
- Salons with high new client volumes (fees become significant)
- Businesses needing payroll processing built in
- Operations wanting a premium, luxury-tier client experience
- Salons needing advanced analytics and custom reporting
See How Fresha Compares
Read our side-by-side comparisons featuring Fresha.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fresha
Is Fresha actually free?
Yes — Fresha charges zero monthly subscription fees, ever. The only cost is a 2.19% + $0.20 booking fee on the very first appointment from a new client. All subsequent appointments from that same client are completely free. For salons with mostly regular clients, the effective monthly cost is often $0–30.
How does Fresha make money?
Fresha earns revenue from two sources: (1) a 2.19% + $0.20 fee on new client bookings, and (2) payment processing fees on card transactions (typically 1.29%–2.19% depending on card type). The business model rewards Fresha when your salon grows its client base — aligned incentives.
Does Fresha have a marketplace?
Yes. Fresha has a consumer-facing marketplace (app and website) where clients can browse and book nearby salons and stylists. The marketplace is growing rapidly but is currently smaller than Vagaro's or Booksy's in the US market. It provides meaningful new client discovery, particularly in markets where Fresha has strong business adoption.
What are Fresha's payment processing rates?
Fresha's payment processing rates are typically 1.29%–2.19% depending on card type (Visa/Mastercard vs. Amex vs. premium cards). These rates are competitive — generally lower than Vagaro (2.75%) or Booksy. Fresha provides its own payment terminals or integrates with Stripe for online payments.
Can I use Fresha for a salon with multiple staff?
Yes, and this is one of Fresha's strongest advantages. Unlike many platforms that charge per additional staff member, Fresha supports unlimited staff at zero subscription cost. Each staff member gets their own schedule, client access (configurable), and individual booking calendar.
Ready to try Fresha?
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