Look professional before another monthly bill makes sense
Give clients online booking, automatic reminders and secure deposits while your business is still small. It is not a trial or a stripped-down demo—Slotivo stays free for solo owners and two-person teams.
£0 for 1–2 staff · No marketplace commission · Set up from your phone
Booked through your link
New client · Friday, 3:00pm
Reminder scheduled automatically
£0
per month
What's Actually Included, Free
No watered-down "free tier" — the same booking engine paid teams use.
📅 Online Booking
A branded booking page clients can use 24/7, plus a widget you can embed on your own site or link from Instagram.
🔔 Automatic Reminders
Unlimited email reminders sent ahead of every appointment, cutting no-shows without you lifting a finger.
💳 Deposits & Card Capture
Take upfront deposits via Stripe to secure bookings — protection from no-shows from day one, not a paid add-on.
How Slotivo's Free Plan Compares
Free doesn't always mean free — here's how the "free" plans stack up.
| Factor | Slotivo (Free) | Booksy / Fresha (Free) | Vagaro (Free Trial) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost for 1-2 staff | Free forever | Free, but commission-based | Free trial only, then paid |
| New client commission | 0% commission | Up to 20-35% on marketplace clients | No marketplace, but no free tier |
| Card required to start | No | No | Usually yes |
| Reminders included | Unlimited | Limited / paid add-on | Limited during trial |
| Your own branded booking page | Yes | Shared marketplace profile | Yes, once paid |
| What happens after you grow | Flat monthly fee, unlimited staff | Per-staff surcharges | Per-staff subscription |
Disclaimer: Competitor pricing, features, and commission terms are based on public information as of June 2026 and may have changed. Booksy, Fresha, and Vagaro are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Slotivo is not affiliated with any of them. See our detailed platform comparisons for specifics.
Free Software for Every Kind of Small Team
Whichever chair, room, or client book you run, the free plan covers it.
Free Barber Appointment App
Built for one or two-chair barbershops
Free Booksy Alternative
No new-client commission, ever
Free Fresha Alternative
Skip the 20% commission cut
Free Vagaro Alternative
No trial, no add-on fees
Free Hairdresser Booking App
Built for solo stylists & small salons
Barbershop Booking Software
Full feature breakdown
Salon Booking Software
For hair, beauty & nail businesses
Nail Salon Booking
Custom infill durations
Compare Every Platform
Slotivo vs Fresha, Booksy & more
“I run a one-chair barbershop and didn't want to pay for software before I even had a second employee. Slotivo's free plan is the real thing — no trial countdown, no card on file.”
Marcus Reid
Owner, Reid's Barbershop (Leeds)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slotivo actually free, or is it a free trial?
It is free forever for salons, barbershops, and studios with 1-2 staff — not a time-limited trial. There is no card required to sign up, and you keep full access to online booking, reminders, and deposits for as long as your team stays at 2 staff or fewer. If you grow past 2 staff, plans start at a flat monthly fee with no per-seat surcharges.
What is included in the free plan?
Online booking, a branded booking page, automatic email reminders, calendar management, and client records are all included on the free plan — the same core booking engine paid teams use, not a stripped-down version.
Why is free salon software free — what is the catch?
Slotivo takes no percentage commission from your service price. Standard Stripe card-processing fees apply only when you take payments online. We can offer the free tier because most solo stylists and 2-person teams cost us very little to serve — larger teams upgrading to a paid plan is what funds the platform.
How is this different from free plans on Booksy, Fresha, or Vagaro?
Marketplace apps like Booksy and Fresha often give away the software but take a commission (sometimes up to 20-35%) on new clients booked through their marketplace, or charge extra per staff member once you grow. Slotivo’s free plan has no marketplace commission at any point, and the only thing that changes when you outgrow it is a flat monthly fee for unlimited staff — never a per-seat charge.
What happens when my salon grows past 2 staff?
You will be prompted to upgrade to a flat monthly plan that covers unlimited staff — no per-seat pricing, no new commission structure. Your bookings, client history, and settings carry over automatically; nothing is lost or reset.
Start Free. Stay Free Until You Grow.
No credit card, no trial countdown. When you outgrow 2 staff, it's a flat £10/mo for the whole team — never per seat.
Free forever for 1-2 staff. No credit card required.