Switching from Fresha? Here's What to Know
Thinking about leaving Fresha? Here's an honest look at what's changed with Fresha's pricing, what to consider when switching, and how to make the move.
Jack Cruden
Founder
Fresha built its business on a simple promise: free salon booking software, forever. For years, that promise held. Thousands of salon owners built their businesses on the platform, attracted by the zero monthly fee.
Then things changed.
What happened with Fresha's pricing
Fresha has introduced monthly fees of $9.95 per team member. For salon owners who signed up years ago on the promise of a permanently free platform, this felt like a bait and switch — and many have said exactly that in online reviews.
But the monthly fee isn't the whole picture. Fresha's pricing has always had layers that aren't immediately obvious:
- 20% marketplace commission on new client bookings, with a minimum fee of $6 per booking
- Payment processing fees of 2.29% + $0.20 per in-person card transaction
- Premium support costs $14.95/month extra for phone and live chat access
- Withdrawal fees to transfer your own earnings to your bank account
For a busy salon bringing in several new clients per week through the platform, the commission costs alone can add up to hundreds of dollars per month.
The marketplace commission issue
The marketplace commission is the most contentious part of Fresha's pricing. Salon owners are charged 20% of the first booking when a "new client" books through Fresha — but the definition of "new client" is where problems arise.
Salon owners have reported being charged marketplace fees for clients who:
- Found them through Google, not Fresha
- Were referred by existing clients
- Found them on Instagram or Facebook
- Had previously visited but weren't in the Fresha system
Disputing these charges is difficult. Multiple salon owners report being unable to get refunds even with evidence that the client didn't come through Fresha's marketplace.
What to think about before switching
Changing your booking platform is a decision worth thinking through. Here are the practical considerations:
Your client data
Before you switch from any platform, export your client list. You want names, phone numbers, email addresses, and booking history if possible. Fresha allows some data export, but it may require contacting their support team.
Active bookings
If you have future appointments booked through Fresha, plan your transition so those bookings are honoured. Most salons run both platforms in parallel for a few weeks during the switch.
Your booking page URL
If clients are used to booking through your Fresha link, you'll need to update your website, social media profiles, and Google Business listing with your new booking page URL. This is the biggest transition task, but it's straightforward.
Client communication
Let your regular clients know about the change. A simple text message or social media post is usually enough: "We've moved our online booking to [new URL]. Same services, same team, easier booking."
How TimeToBook compares
We built TimeToBook because we saw salon owners paying too much for software that should be simple.
Here's how the two platforms compare on the things that matter most:
| TimeToBook | Fresha | |
|---|---|---|
| Solo monthly fee | Free | $9.95/month |
| Per staff fee | $15/month per additional | $9.95/month per staff |
| Booking commissions | None, ever | 20% on new clients (min $6) |
| Your branding | Your logo, your colours, your URL | Fresha-branded marketplace |
| Client relationship | Direct — clients book with you | Through Fresha's marketplace |
| Support | Included at every level | Email only (phone costs $14.95/mo extra) |
| Payment processing | Not required | 2.29% + $0.20 per transaction |
What TimeToBook focuses on
TimeToBook does three things well: calendar management, online booking, and SMS reminders. We deliberately don't include POS, marketing automation, or payment processing. For most salons, those features add cost and complexity without adding much value.
Your booking page is branded to your salon — your name, your colours, your services. Clients book with you, not with a marketplace. And your data stays yours.
What TimeToBook doesn't have
To be upfront about it: TimeToBook doesn't have a consumer marketplace. Fresha's marketplace can help salons get discovered by new clients who are browsing the platform. If new client acquisition through a marketplace is important to your business, that's a genuine advantage Fresha offers.
However, if most of your new clients come through word of mouth, Google, Instagram, or your own marketing, you're likely paying marketplace commissions for clients Fresha didn't help you find.
Making the switch
If you decide to move, the process is straightforward:
- Export your client list from Fresha — names, phone numbers, email addresses
- Sign up for TimeToBook — free for solo stylists, takes about 5 minutes
- Set up your services and hours — add your services with durations and prices
- Share your new booking link — update your website, Instagram bio, Google Business listing, and Facebook page
- Let clients know — a quick text or social post to your regulars
Most salons complete the switch in under an hour.
The bottom line
Switching platforms is always a bit of effort. But if you're paying commission on clients you brought in yourself, or you've been surprised by fees you didn't expect, it might be worth the move.
TimeToBook is free for solo stylists and $15 per additional staff member per month. No commissions. No transaction fees. No surprises.
If you have questions about switching, get in touch. We're happy to help.
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