Fresha vs SimplerBook

Fresha is a salon management platform with a built-in marketplace of millions of consumers. It handles everything from booking to checkout to inventory. SimplerBook does one thing well: get you a booking page that works, without marketplace commissions or Fresha branding on every screen.

Fresha is best for:

Salons and spas that want client discovery through Fresha's marketplace and need all-in-one management with inventory, packages, and POS.

SimplerBook is best for:

Solo operators who want their own branded booking page without being listed alongside competitors or paying marketplace commissions.

The bottom line

Fresha is a salon management platform with a marketplace; SimplerBook is a booking page builder you actually own.

Feature comparison

Feature	SimplerBook	Fresha
Scheduling
Booking page	Yes	Fresha-hosted only
Monthly booking limit (free)	50/month	Unlimited
Service categories	Yes	Yes
Buffer time	Yes	Processing time
Custom business hours	Yes	Yes
Walk-in mode	Yes	Yes
Customization
Custom colors & branding	Yes	No
Logo & cover photo	Yes	No
Remove platform branding	Pro ($7/mo)	No
Communication
Email confirmations	Yes	Yes
Email reminders	Yes	Yes
SMS reminders	No	~20 free/mo, then $0.05
Self-cancellation link	Yes	Yes
Payments
Online payments	No	Yes
Payment integrations	Instructions only	Fresha Pay only
Calendar
Google Calendar sync	No	1-way only
Outlook sync	No	1-way only
2-way calendar sync	No	No
Team
Team members	Pro ($7/mo)	Team plan ($14.95/member/mo)
Team management	Pro ($7/mo)	Team plan ($14.95/member/mo)
Pricing
Free plan	Yes	No
Starting paid price	$7/mo	$19.95/mo

Pricing comparison

Fresha Independent

$19.95/mo

Solo practitioners only
Fresha-hosted booking page
Email & SMS reminders
Integrated payments (2.29%+ fees)
Listed on Fresha marketplace

Fresha Team

$14.95/member/mo

per user

Multi-staff businesses
Commission tracking & timesheets
Inventory management
Marketing campaigns
Group bookings

SimplerBook Free

50 bookings per month
Branded Booking Page
Email reminders
Email confirmations
Single User

SimplerBook Pro

$7/mo

Everything in Free, plus
Unlimited bookings
Remove SimplerBook branding
Team Support
Team management tools
Loyalty rewards

Pricing verified February 2026. Check Fresha's website for current pricing.

Where SimplerBook wins

Your brand, not Fresha's

Fresha hosts your booking page on fresha.com with Fresha branding everywhere. Your clients see Fresha's logo, Fresha's layout, and competing salons in the sidebar. SimplerBook gives you a clean booking page under your name with your colors and your logo.

No account required to book

Fresha requires every client to create a Fresha account before they can book with you. That's friction that costs you bookings. SimplerBook lets anyone book by entering their name and email — no account, no app download, no signup wall.

No marketplace commissions

Fresha charges a 20% commission (minimum $6) on every new client who finds you through their marketplace. Book 10 new clients in a month and that's $60+ in fees on top of your subscription. SimplerBook has no marketplace and no commissions.

Free plan available

Fresha dropped its free plan in 2025. The cheapest option is now $19.95/month plus transaction fees, SMS costs, and marketplace commissions. SimplerBook's free plan is free forever — 50/month bookings, email reminders, full booking page.

Where Fresha wins

Built-in client marketplace

Fresha's marketplace has millions of active consumers searching for beauty and wellness services. If you're a new salon trying to fill empty slots, that discoverability is something SimplerBook can't offer.

All-in-one salon management

Fresha handles inventory, packages, memberships, gift cards, marketing campaigns, and payroll. If you need a single platform for your entire salon operation, it's hard to beat the feature depth.

Integrated payment processing

Fresha processes payments at booking and checkout — deposits, prepayments, and in-person transactions. SimplerBook only displays payment instructions.

Global availability

Fresha operates in 120+ countries with 22 languages. If you run a business outside the US or serve multilingual clients, Fresha's localization is far ahead.

Which one is right for you?

Choose Fresha if…

You want new clients to discover you through a beauty marketplace
You need inventory tracking, packages, and membership subscriptions
You're a multi-staff salon that needs commission tracking and payroll
You operate internationally and need multilingual support

Choose SimplerBook if…

You want a booking page with your own branding, not Fresha's
You don't want clients forced to create an account to book
You prefer collecting payment in person without transaction fees
You're a solo operator who doesn't need salon management features

Common questions

No. Fresha dropped its free plan in 2025. The cheapest option is the Independent plan at $19.95/month, plus 2.29% + $0.20 on every in-person transaction, plus SMS overage fees, plus a 20% commission on new marketplace clients.

Yes. Clients must create a Fresha account with their name, email, and phone number before they can book. This is a known friction point that drives some customers away.

Fresha charges 20% (minimum $6) on the first booking from any new client who finds you through the Fresha marketplace. Repeat visits from the same client are free. You cannot opt out of the marketplace.

No. Fresha requires its proprietary card terminal ($499). No third-party payment hardware is supported.

If you want marketplace discovery and don't mind Fresha's branding, Fresha brings clients to you. If you already have clients from Instagram or word of mouth and just need a booking link, SimplerBook is simpler, cheaper, and shows your brand instead of Fresha's.

Ready to simplify your bookings?

Set up your booking page in 5 minutes. Free forever, no credit card required.