A Fresha alternative is salon software that handles your bookings without Fresha’s fee structure. The short version: PandaCue, Booksy, Vagaro, GlossGenius, Square Appointments, Mangomint, and Boulevard all do the job, but the real monthly cost is very different.
I write about salon software for a living, and Fresha is the name I hear most from owners who thought they were paying nothing.
This is an honest look at seven alternatives, with real tradeoffs for each. Pricing figures were last verified in October 2026.
- PandaCue
- Booksy
- Vagaro
- GlossGenius
- Square Appointments
- Mangomint
- Boulevard
Why salons look for a Fresha alternative
Fresha built its name as the free option. That changed in 2025, when the subscription-free model was retired. Now you pay a monthly subscription and, if you use its marketplace, a 20% one-time commission on every new client’s first booking.
For a solo provider filling chairs through the marketplace, that commission can be the single biggest line on the bill.
A $120 haircut from a new client hands $24 to Fresha before card processing. Do that ten times a month and the “free” software costs more than most paid plans.
It is not all bad. The marketplace genuinely sends clients to salons, and subscription rates are among the lowest in the category.
But if your chairs are already full or you book mostly through your own channels, you are paying for discovery you do not need.
The 7 best Fresha alternatives in 2026
1. PandaCue
PandaCue is the all-in-one option. Online booking, scheduling, payments, client records, and automated reminders live in one system, so there is no add-on stack to assemble and no per-feature upsell.
The difference owners notice first is ownership of the client relationship. Bookings come through your own branded pages, not a marketplace that takes a cut of new clients.
It is built for beauty businesses specifically: the calendar handles booth rental and walk-ins, and client profiles remember each regular’s service history.
The honest tradeoff is that PandaCue is newer than the decade-old names on this list, so its third-party integration ecosystem is smaller. If you run on five external tools, check compatibility first.
2. Booksy
Booksy is the marketplace heavyweight. It pairs salon software with a consumer app where clients discover nearby salons, plus a marketplace ad system called Boost that pushes your listing to more searchers.
That discovery is the whole argument for Booksy. Few platforms deliver new clients like it does.
The tradeoff is control: the client found you on someone else’s app, and Boost placements carry per-booking fees. Model those marketplace costs before comparing prices.
3. Vagaro
Vagaro is the full ecosystem pick. Booking, POS, inventory, a payroll add-on, and built-in marketing live under one roof. Plans start around $23.99 a month per bookable calendar.
The tradeoff is add-on creep. The base plan is generous, but marketing texts and extra features are paid extras, so the real monthly total can surprise you.
We reviewed the numbers in detail in our Vagaro alternatives guide. Model the full cost before you compare it to anything else.
4. GlossGenius
GlossGenius is the solo provider favorite. The Standard plan starts at $24 a month, card processing is a flat 2.6%, and email and text marketing are included instead of sold separately.
The tradeoff is scaling. The jump from Gold ($48) to Platinum ($148) is steep once your team grows, and multi-location management is limited. It is built for independents first and teams second.
Tired of paying per new client?
PandaCue gives you booking, POS, client records, and marketing in one place, with no marketplace commission.
5. Square Appointments
Square Appointments is the obvious pick if you already run on Square. The free plan covers one location, and the card readers and POS hardware your team already knows just work. Paid plans start around $49 a month per location.
The tradeoff is that it is general-purpose software, not beauty-first. Marketing tools and no-show protection need the paid plan.
6. Mangomint
Mangomint is the premium pick for growing teams. Since August 2026, everyone pays $120 a month per location plus $10 per user, with all core features included. Owners consistently praise how fast the interface feels.
The tradeoff is the extras. Phone, payroll, and marketing credits cost more on top, and the platform is clearly built for multi-provider teams.
7. Boulevard
Boulevard is the luxury option. Its booking flow, self-check-in, and Precision Scheduling feel designed for premium salons where the client experience is the brand. Plans start around $158 to $176 a month per location.
The tradeoff is commitment. Expect an annual contract and no self-serve free trial, and features like forms and QuickBooks integration are paid add-ons. It earns its price for high-end salons.
How to choose the right Fresha alternative
Start with total cost, not the headline price. Add the subscription, card processing on your real volume, and any marketplace commission on new clients. Fresha’s $14.95 plan with ten new marketplace clients a month is not a $14.95 bill.
Then decide how much discovery matters to you. If you need new clients finding you, a marketplace has real value.
If your chairs are already full, you are paying for discovery you do not need. A direct-booking platform keeps more of each appointment.
Finally, compare feature lists side by side. Our guide to the 12 features every salon software must have gives you the checklist, and our walkthrough of how salon booking software works shows what to test during each free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fresha really free?
Not anymore. Fresha retired its subscription-free model in 2025. You now pay a monthly subscription, starting around $19.95 for a solo provider, plus a 20% one-time commission on new clients who find you through its marketplace.
Which Fresha alternative is best for a solo stylist?
GlossGenius at $24 a month is hard to beat for one chair, and PandaCue bundles bookings, payments, and marketing in a single plan.
Can I keep my client list if I leave Fresha?
In most cases, yes. Export your client data from Fresha before you cancel, and import it into the new system during setup.
Most platforms, including PandaCue, help with the import so regulars keep their history. Read our primer on what salon management software is to see which data matters most.
Do Fresha alternatives have marketplaces?
Some do. Booksy runs the largest salon marketplace of the group, and Vagaro and GlossGenius have their own discovery features.
PandaCue and Square Appointments take the opposite approach: your clients book through your own branded pages, and nobody takes a cut of a new client. Our Booksy alternatives review compares the models side by side.
What does it cost to switch?
The software switch itself is usually cheap. Most platforms offer a free trial or onboarding help, and your biggest cost is a few hours of setup and training.
The expensive mistake is switching without checking. Run a trial booking from your phone first, because a clunky client experience costs more than any monthly fee.
Fresha alternatives at a glance
| Competitor | Best for | Key strength | Pricing hint |
|---|---|---|---|
| PandaCue | Beauty businesses wanting an all-in-one system | Bookings through your own branded pages, not a marketplace; no per-feature upsell; booth rental, walk-ins, client service history | — |
| Booksy | Owners who want marketplace discovery | Consumer app discovery plus Boost marketplace ads deliver new clients | Boost placements carry per-booking fees; no plan prices stated |
| Vagaro | Owners wanting a full ecosystem | Booking, POS, inventory, payroll add-on, and built-in marketing under one roof | From about $23.99 per month per bookable calendar; marketing texts and extras paid |
| GlossGenius | Solo providers and independents | Email and text marketing included; flat 2.6% card processing | Standard from $24 per month; Gold $48, Platinum $148 |
| Square Appointments | Businesses already running on Square | Free plan covers one location; Square readers and POS hardware just work | Free plan for one location; paid plans from about $49 per month per location |
| Mangomint | Growing multi-provider teams | Fast interface; all core features included | $120 per month per location plus $10 per user; phone, payroll, and marketing credits extra |
| Boulevard | Premium salons where the client experience is the brand | Booking flow, self-check-in, and Precision Scheduling for premium salons | From about $158 to $176 per month per location; annual contract, no self-serve free trial; forms and QuickBooks extra |
Keep every dollar of every appointment
PandaCue puts booking, payments, client records, and marketing on one platform. No marketplace taking a cut of your new clients.