Slotivo gives solo stylists and 2-person teams online booking, automatic reminders, and deposit protection at no cost — not a 14-day trial, not a stripped-down demo. Free, for as long as you're small.
No watered-down "free tier" — the same booking engine paid teams use.
A branded booking page clients can use 24/7, plus a widget you can embed on your own site or link from Instagram.
Unlimited email reminders sent ahead of every appointment, cutting no-shows without you lifting a finger.
Take upfront deposits via Stripe to secure bookings — protection from no-shows from day one, not a paid add-on.
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% — flat low booking fee | 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.
Whichever chair, room, or client book you run, the free plan covers it.
Built for one or two-chair barbershops
No new-client commission, ever
Skip the 20% commission cut
No trial, no add-on fees
Built for solo stylists & small salons
Full feature breakdown
For hair, beauty & nail businesses
Custom infill durations
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.”
Owner, Reid's Barbershop (Leeds)
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.
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.
There is a low flat processing fee on paid bookings that use card payments or deposits, similar to a card payment fee, but no ongoing subscription charge and no percentage commission taken from your service price. 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.
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.
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.
No credit card, no trial countdown. When you outgrow 2 staff, it's a flat £5/mo for the whole team — never per seat.
Free forever for 1-2 staff. No credit card required.