Commission vs subscription — Fresha and Booksy take opposite approaches to charging you. Here's what that actually costs depending on your team size and client mix.
There's a third option neither mentions —0% commission with Slotivo ↓Fresha has no subscription fee but takes 20% commission on a new client's first booking. Booksy has no new-client commission but charges a subscription starting around £45/month plus £10-20 per extra staff member. A solo stylist with a small team and few new clients may prefer Fresha; a salon with steady new-client flow and a growing team may find Booksy's per-staff pricing adds up faster.
Two opposite pricing models, compared directly.
| Factor | Fresha | Booksy |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | None required | From ~£45/month for one user |
| Per-Staff Cost | None | +£10-20 per additional staff member |
| New Client Commission | 20% of first booking value | None on direct bookings |
| Payment Processing | 2.19% + 20p | Standard merchant rates |
| Marketplace Exposure | Yes, consumer app | Yes, consumer app |
| Best For | Solo stylists, low new-client volume | Salons wanting a fixed monthly cost |
Disclaimer: Competitor pricing, features, and commission terms are based on public information as of June 2026 and may have changed. Fresha and Booksy are registered trademarks of their respective owners. Slotivo is not affiliated with either company.
It depends on your team size and new-client volume. Fresha charges no subscription but takes 20% commission on a new client's first booking. Booksy charges a subscription starting around £45/month for one user, plus roughly £10-20 per additional staff member. A solo stylist with few new clients may find Booksy's subscription adds up faster; a busy salon acquiring lots of new clients through the marketplace may find Fresha's commission costs more overall.
No — Booksy's core model is subscription-based rather than commission-based on regular direct bookings. Fresha's core model is commission-based on new-client marketplace bookings rather than a subscription. They solve the same problem (client acquisition) with opposite pricing structures.
Booksy's per-staff pricing scales quickly — a team of 5 can easily exceed £90-100/month before any commission. Fresha has no per-staff subscription cost, so a larger team doesn't automatically cost more in subscription fees, though you're still paying 20% on every new client the marketplace sends you.
Yes. Both Fresha and Booksy operate consumer-facing marketplace apps where your salon appears alongside other local salons, and both can surface competing businesses to people browsing your area.
Fresha profits from a cut of your new clients; Booksy profits from a fee per staff member. Slotivo does neither — unlimited staff are included at every tier, and you keep 100% of what you charge.
Free forever for 1-2 staff. Unlimited staff on every paid plan, with no commission.
No credit card required.