Shopolo vs Fresha

Fresha alternative — flat-fee salon booking with no percentage on revenue

Fresha charges 20% on revenue from new client bookings via their marketplace — on top of processing fees. Shopolo charges a flat $29/month for appointment booking, gift cards, loyalty stamps, and email campaigns — no percentage taken from any booking.

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Feature	Shopolo	Fresha
Monthly fee	From $29/mo — flat, all features included	Free plan available; paid features extra
New client booking fee	None — all bookings at same flat cost	20% on revenue from new client bookings via Fresha marketplace
Fee on returning clients	None	None (only new clients via marketplace)
Service catalog	Services with prices, durations, staff	Full service menu with photos
Staff scheduling	Per-staff availability	Full team calendar
Marketplace listing	None — your own branded link	Listed on Fresha marketplace — consumer discovery
Digital gift cards	Included	Available via Fresha
Loyalty program	Included	Not natively available
Email campaigns	Included — auto-builds list from bookings	Basic marketing tools
Online ordering	0% commission	Not available
Processing fees	Stripe standard rates	Fresha Pay processing fees

Fresha marketplace fees based on publicly available pricing. Fees apply to new clients booked via Fresha marketplace. Subject to change.

The hidden cost of 'free' — percentage fees compound fast

Fresha's free plan isn't free — new client bookings via their marketplace cost 20% of revenue.

Fresha markets itself as 'free forever,' but the business model relies on taking 20% of the revenue generated by new client bookings via their marketplace. A first haircut at $80 means $16 to Fresha. Once that client books again as a returning customer, the fee drops to zero — but you pay 20% on every new acquisition through Fresha. Shopolo charges a flat $29/month with no percentage on any booking.

Shopolo includes loyalty and email campaigns. Fresha doesn't.

Retaining clients between visits is as important as the booking itself. Shopolo's loyalty program lets clients earn stamps toward a free service, and the built-in email tool lets you send promotions to your full client list — both included in the flat monthly fee. Fresha focuses on the marketplace and booking flow; loyalty and campaigns require additional tools.

The 20% Fresha fee compounds as your new client volume grows.

If Fresha drives 50 new clients per month at $70 average first booking, you pay Fresha $700/month on top of processing fees — $8,400/year. That's the hidden cost of the 'free' model. Shopolo's flat fee means your cost stays predictable regardless of how many new or returning bookings you take.

When Fresha is the right choice

Fresha's free plan is genuinely useful if you're just starting out and can't justify any monthly subscription — the marketplace discovery can fill a new stylist's calendar quickly, and the 20% fee on those early bookings may be worth the trade. As your book fills with returning clients who aren't subject to the fee, the effective cost drops. For established salons with steady repeat business who want predictable costs and a loyalty program, Shopolo is the more cost-effective choice.

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