Med Spa
Fresha vs Booksy for Salons & Med Spas
Fresha vs Booksy for salons and small med spas: free plans, card processing, marketplace discovery and no-show tools compared — plus which fits.
Primary recommendation: Fresha
We have not verified this tool's current pricing, so we are not quoting it. Check with the vendor.
Pros
- Genuinely free subscription — no monthly fee for the booking platform
- Large consumer marketplace — clients can discover and book through Fresha
- No credit card required to start
Cons
- Revenue model is payment processing — you pay per transaction if you use Fresha Payments
- Add-on features (inventory, marketing automation) are paid
- Less specialized for medical charting than Boulevard or Mangomint
Lean alternative: Booksy
We have not verified this tool's current pricing, so we are not quoting it. Check with the vendor.
Pros
- Strong client retention features — automated rebooking and reminders
- Built-in POS and payment processing
- Better for multi-provider scheduling at the base tier
Cons
- No free tier — monthly subscription from day one
- Marketplace discovery is smaller than Fresha's
- Payment processing rates can be higher than Fresha's
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature / Criteria | Fresha (Primary) | Booksy (Alternative) |
|---|---|---|
| Est. Monthly Cost | $19.95/mo solo ($14.95/team member for teams); 20% one-time fee on NEW marketplace clients (min $6) — checked 2026-10-21 (not independently verified) | $29.99/mo + $20 per additional user; Boost promo costs 30% of a new client's first visit (max $100) — checked 2026-10-21 (not independently verified) |
| Key Strength | Genuinely free subscription — no monthly fee for the booking platform | Strong client retention features — automated rebooking and reminders |
| Primary Limitation | Revenue model is payment processing — you pay per transaction if you use Fresha Payments | No free tier — monthly subscription from day one |
Pricing in this comparison has not been independently verified by us unless a check date is shown. Vendor pricing changes without notice — always confirm on the vendor's own pricing page before committing.
Decision Framework: Best For / Not For
Fresha: Best for teams that need Genuinely free subscription — no monthly fee for the booking platform. Not ideal if you are restricted by Revenue model is payment processing — you pay per transaction if you use Fresha Payments.
Booksy: Best for teams prioritizing Strong client retention features — automated rebooking and reminders. Not ideal if you require No free tier — monthly subscription from day one.
Verdict
Fresha wins for new businesses that want zero monthly cost and benefit from marketplace discovery. Booksy wins for established businesses that want stronger retention automation and multi-provider scheduling without per-transaction marketplace fees. If you process a high volume of payments, compare Fresha's 2.5% + $0.30 against Booksy's subscription + processing rate — the crossover depends on your average ticket size.
Common questions
- Is Fresha really free?
- Fresha's booking platform subscription is free with no monthly fee. They make money on payment processing (2.5% + $0.30 per transaction via Fresha Payments) and paid add-on features. If you use your own payment processor, the booking platform remains free.
- Does Booksy have a free tier?
- No. Booksy requires a monthly subscription from day one, with no free tier. A free trial is typically available — check Booksy's current pricing page for the latest rate.
- Which is better for a med spa specifically?
- Neither is built for medical charting. For a med spa that needs clinical documentation, Boulevard or Mangomint are better fits. Fresha and Booksy are better for the aesthetic and wellness side — facials, injectables scheduling, laser treatments where charting is lighter.
More independent comparisons
- Med Spa CRM: Boulevard vs Mangomint
- Mangomint vs Vagaro: Med Spa Software Review
- Zenoti vs Boulevard: Enterprise Med Spa Review
- Prospyr vs Boulevard: Med Spa Software Review
We are not paid by any tool listed here. If a cheaper or better option exists, that's what you'll see.
Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Pricing changes — if something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
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