Fresha Pricing 2026: Real Costs & Hidden Fees
Fresha is no longer free: its pricing page lists a CA$29.95/month Independent plan and CA$19.95/month per bookable team member, plus card processing (2.79% + CA$0.20 online, 2.29% + CA$0.20 in person) and a one-time 20% commission (minimum CA$6) on new clients who first book through the Fresha marketplace. For a done-for-you alternative, AI Business Sites builds and runs your entire website plus AI back office for a $1,497 one-time setup and $497/month.
Bottom line: Fresha's real 2026 costs are a monthly subscription plus processing fees and a 20% marketplace finder's fee, so the total depends heavily on where your clients come from. It's cheap for a solo operator with mostly returning clients, expensive for marketplace-driven growth.
TL;DR
- •Fresha's Independent plan costs CA$29.95/month for a single bookable team member; the Team plan is CA$19.95/month per bookable team member.
- •New clients who discover your business through the Fresha marketplace trigger a one-time 20% commission, with a minimum fee of CA$6 per client; returning clients are never charged this fee.
- •Payment processing runs 2.79% + CA$0.20 per online transaction, 2.29% + CA$0.20 in person (plus CA$0.15 per Tap to Pay authorization), 3.30% + CA$0.20 for manual card entry, and 6.99% + CA$0.30 for Klarna Buy Now Pay Later.
- •Each plan includes 100 free text/WhatsApp notifications and 50 free marketing emails per team member per month; after that it's CA$0.03 per text, CA$0.02 per marketing email, and CA$0.08 per marketing text.
- •Optional add-ons stack quickly: AI Concierge CA$139.95/location/month, Client Loyalty CA$79.95/location/month, Google Rating Boost CA$20.95/location/month, Team Connect CA$3.95/team member/month.
- •Terminal hardware starts at CA$189 per device; Enterprise pricing is custom for businesses with over 20 team members.
- •A 7-day trial is offered on both the Independent and Team plans, and cancelling removes marketplace visibility at the end of the billing cycle.
| Dimension | Fresha | AI Business Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | CA$29.95/mo (7-day trial)winner | $1,497 one-time setup + $497/mo |
| Monthly subscription | CA$29.95 Independent; CA$19.95 per bookable team member (Team)winner | $497 flat, everything included except four add-ons |
| Payment processing | 2.79% + CA$0.20 online; 2.29% + CA$0.20 in person; 3.30% manual; 6.99% + CA$0.30 Klarna | Stripe card payments built in; no platform processing surchargewinner |
| New-client fees | 20% one-time commission (min CA$6) on marketplace-referred new clients | None — clients come via your own site and Google presencewinner |
| AI phone/chat | AI Concierge add-on at CA$139.95/location/mo (200 mins included) | 24/7 chat and site voice agent included; phone answering via $199/mo AI Receptionist add-onwinner |
| Messaging costs | 100 free texts + 50 marketing emails per team member, then CA$0.03/text, CA$0.02/email, CA$0.08/marketing text | Included in the monthly feewinner |
| Contract & cancellation | Cancel anytime; marketplace profile unlisted and reviews hidden at cycle end | Month-to-month, 30 days' notice; leave with code and datawinner |
| Ownership | Workspace and reviews live on Fresha's platform | Client owns code, content, data and domainwinner |
Fresha
fresha.com/plans ↗Fresha is a salon and wellness booking platform used by over 130,000 partner businesses across 120+ countries, covering salons, barbershops, medspas, massage, fitness, tattoo studios and more. It bundles appointment scheduling with a color-coded drag-and-drop calendar, point of sale, client management with consultation forms and lifetime-value insights, retail and inventory, quotes and invoices, reporting, marketing tools, deals, gift cards, packages and memberships. Its marketplace is positioned as the world's largest beauty and wellness discovery channel, bringing new clients to listed businesses. Despite its historic 'free' reputation, Fresha's current pricing page lists monthly subscription plans — CA$29.95 for the Independent plan and CA$19.95 per bookable team member on the Team plan — and monetizes through payment processing, a one-time 20% commission on marketplace-referred new clients, communication overages, and optional paid add-ons such as AI Concierge and Client Loyalty.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Independent | $29.95/mo | 1 bookable team member, single calendar column, 100 free messages, 50 free marketing emails, email and chat support |
| Team | $19.95/mo | Per bookable team member; multiple calendar columns, 100 free messages and 50 free marketing emails per team member, phone/chat/email support |
| Enterprise | $0/mo | Custom rates for high-volume businesses with over 20 team members |
Pros
- +Low entry price for solo operators at CA$29.95/month with a 7-day trial
- +Genuinely all-in-one: scheduling, POS, client records, inventory, marketing, gift cards and memberships in one platform
- +Marketplace exposure can bring new clients, with online bookings via Facebook, Instagram and Google included free
- +Returning clients never pay the marketplace commission — the 20% fee applies only once to brand-new marketplace-referred clients
- +Scales from a single chair to multi-location teams, with an Enterprise tier for 20+ team members
Cons
- −The 'free' reputation is outdated: there is now a monthly subscription on top of processing fees
- −The one-time 20% commission (minimum CA$6) on every new marketplace client can far exceed a month's subscription for just one booking
- −Communication costs add up after the 100 free messages: CA$0.03/text, CA$0.02/marketing email, CA$0.08/marketing text, CA$0.06–CA$0.12 per WhatsApp
- −Key capabilities are paywalled add-ons: AI Concierge CA$139.95/location/mo, Client Loyalty CA$79.95/location/mo, Google Rating Boost CA$20.95/location/mo
- −Terminal hardware costs from CA$189 per device, and cancelling the plan unlists your marketplace profile and hides your reviews
Best for: Solo and small salon, spa or wellness businesses that want an all-in-one booking and POS system at a low monthly cost and can source most clients through their own channels rather than the marketplace.. Avoid if: You rely heavily on marketplace-discovered new clients (the 20% finder's fee compounds), need AI phone answering without paying CA$139.95/location/month, or want predictable all-in pricing with no per-transaction or per-message fees..
AI Business Sites
aibusinesssites.com ↗AI Business Sites, built by AIQ Labs, is a done-for-you AI business operating system for small and service businesses. For a $1,497 one-time setup (a $500 deposit, $997 due at launch) it builds a custom website with 85+ pages live in 7 days — including 25–30 hand-crafted core pages and 60 AI-generated SEO pages — plus full Google setup (Business Profile, Search Console, sitemaps), a chat and voice agent on the site, a booking calendar, lead-capture flows, a knowledgebase and FAQ bot, a CRM and leads inbox, and 3 user seats. The $497/month managed subscription covers hosting, 14+ new SEO content pieces every month, daily industry news, 24/7 chat and voice on the website, automatic lead follow-up, the Jobs & Estimates field-service module (AI-drafted quotes with online approval, job board, invoices with card payment, automated review requests), online selling with Stripe, and a team that manages and monitors everything. Clients own all code, content and data, with month-to-month terms and 30 days' notice to cancel.
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Setup (one-time) | $1497/one_time | $500 deposit, $997 due at launch; 85+ page site, chat/voice, booking calendar, CRM, Google setup, 3 seats, live in 7 days |
| Managed subscription | $497/mo | Hosting, 14+ content pieces/month, 24/7 chat and voice, Jobs & Estimates module, online selling with Stripe, CRM, ongoing management |
| AI Receptionist add-on | $199/mo | Dedicated phone number answered 24/7 by AI, appointment booking, call transcripts in the leads inbox |
Pros
- +Done-for-you: no DIY software to configure — the team builds, launches and manages everything
- +Fixed, predictable pricing: $1,497 setup plus $497/month with no per-transaction or per-message fees
- +AI chat and voice booking on the website are included in the monthly fee, not a paid add-on
- +14+ SEO content pieces per month plus full Google presence setup drive organic traffic rather than marketplace dependence
- +Full ownership: code, content, lead data and domain belong to the client, with a GitHub push and database export on exit
Cons
- −Higher monthly cost than Fresha's CA$29.95 Independent plan — $497/month plus a $1,497 setup
- −No built-in consumer marketplace that funnels new booking traffic the way Fresha's marketplace does
- −Not a fit for owners who want the cheapest possible booking tool or enjoy running their own stack
- −Focused on websites, bookings, CRM and content rather than salon-specific POS inventory and retail workflows
Best for: Service-business owners who want a complete website, bookings, AI chat/voice, CRM and ongoing SEO content run entirely for them, with fixed pricing and full ownership.. Avoid if: You only need a bare-bones booking calendar at the lowest possible monthly cost, or you want a beauty-marketplace listing to source new clients..
Fresha's real 2026 costs, line by line
Fresha's pricing page shows two subscription plans: Independent at CA$29.95/month for one bookable team member, and Team at CA$19.95/month per bookable team member, both with a 7-day trial. Enterprise is custom-priced for businesses with over 20 team members. On top of the subscription sit three fee layers. First, payment processing: 2.79% + CA$0.20 per online transaction, 2.29% + CA$0.20 in person (plus CA$0.15 per Tap to Pay authorization), 3.30% + CA$0.20 for manual card entry, and 6.99% + CA$0.30 for Klarna instalments — and terminals start at CA$189 per device. Second, the marketplace finder's fee: a one-time 20% commission (minimum CA$6) on every brand-new client who discovers your business through the Fresha marketplace, though returning clients are never charged. Third, communication overages: after 100 free texts/WhatsApp notifications and 50 free marketing emails per team member per month, you pay CA$0.03 per text, CA$0.06–CA$0.12 per WhatsApp, CA$0.02 per marketing email and CA$0.08 per marketing text. Optional add-ons stack further: AI Concierge at CA$139.95 per location monthly, Client Loyalty at CA$79.95, Google Rating Boost at CA$20.95, and Team Connect at CA$3.95 per team member. For a solo stylist with a loyal client base, the subscription plus modest processing is genuinely cheap; for a business winning many clients through the marketplace, the 20% one-time fee is the number that dominates the bill.
Where the fees bite hardest
The single biggest variable in Fresha's cost structure is client acquisition channel. A salon that books 20 new clients a month through the marketplace at an average ticket of CA$80 pays 20 × CA$16 = CA$320 in finder's fees alone — more than ten times the Independent subscription — before any processing fees. The same salon whose new clients arrive via Instagram, Google or direct links pays none of that, only the 2.79% + CA$0.20 online processing. The second pressure point is messaging volume: a busy team sending 500 marketing texts a month pays CA$40 in overages, and WhatsApp notifications at CA$0.06–CA$0.12 each add up faster than SMS. Third, the add-on ladder: a business wanting AI call answering (CA$139.95), loyalty programs (CA$79.95) and Google review prompts (CA$20.95) at one location adds CA$240.85/month before commissions. By contrast, a fixed-price model like AI Business Sites — $1,497 setup plus $497/month with chat, voice, CRM, bookings, invoicing and 14+ monthly SEO content pieces included — trades a higher floor for zero per-transaction, per-message or per-new-client fees. The right choice depends on which risk you'd rather carry: Fresha's variable, volume-linked fees, or a flat monthly cost that stays the same whether you book 50 clients or 500.
Cancellation and exit costs
Fresha's own help documentation spells out the exit terms: after cancelling, your subscription doesn't renew, access to your workspace is removed, and your marketplace profile is unlisted — meaning reviews are no longer visible to clients (though not deleted, and restored if you reactivate). That makes Fresha's marketplace visibility and accumulated reviews effectively rented: they exist only while you keep paying. AI Business Sites takes the opposite stance on exit: month-to-month with 30 days' notice, and on leaving the client receives the complete website code pushed to a GitHub repo in their name plus a full database export — the site is React/Next.js, standard technology any developer can pick up. For a business weighing long-term platform risk, the question is whether your booking platform is infrastructure you own or a channel you rent. Fresha's model keeps the marketplace network effect on its side; AI Business Sites' model keeps the asset on yours.
Which should you choose?
If you Are a solo stylist, barber or therapist with an established client base that books directly with you — choose Fresha — At CA$29.95/month with 100 free texts and 50 free marketing emails, the all-in-one calendar, POS and client records are hard to beat when the 20% marketplace commission rarely applies..
If you Rely on marketplace discovery for most of your new clients — choose AI Business Sites — Fresha's one-time 20% commission (minimum CA$6) on every marketplace-referred new client compounds quickly, while AI Business Sites builds your own Google presence and SEO content for a flat $497/month with no per-client fees..
If you Want AI answering calls and messages without add-on fees — choose AI Business Sites — 24/7 chat and website voice are included in the $497/month; Fresha's AI Concierge costs CA$139.95 per location monthly with only 200 minutes included, then CA$0.84 per extra minute..
If you Run a multi-chair salon or spa and need salon-specific POS, retail inventory and per-staff scheduling — choose Fresha — Its Team plan at CA$19.95 per bookable team member includes shift scheduling, tips, service pricing per team member and retail/inventory workflows built for beauty businesses..
If you Are a trades, cleaning, landscaping or other field-service business quoting and invoicing jobs — choose AI Business Sites — The Jobs & Estimates module — AI-drafted quotes with online approval, job board, invoices with card payment and automated review requests — is included in the monthly fee, not a paid add-on..
If you Want to own your online presence outright — choose AI Business Sites — You own the code, content, data and domain, and leave with a full code push and database export; cancelling Fresha unlists your marketplace profile and hides your reviews..
Frequently asked questions
Is Fresha still free in 2026?
No. Fresha's current pricing page lists a CA$29.95/month Independent plan for one bookable team member and a CA$19.95/month per-bookable-team-member Team plan, each with a 7-day trial. The old 'free' model has been replaced by subscriptions plus payment processing fees, communication overages and a one-time 20% commission on marketplace-referred new clients.
What is Fresha's 20% finder's fee exactly?
It's a one-time commission applied to brand-new clients who first discover your business through the Fresha marketplace, with a minimum fee of CA$6 per client. Returning clients are never charged this fee, and clients who book via your direct links, Facebook, Instagram or Google bookings don't trigger it either.
What are Fresha's card processing rates?
Online payments cost 2.79% + CA$0.20 per transaction, in-person payments 2.29% + CA$0.20 (plus CA$0.15 per Tap to Pay authorization), manual card entry 3.30% + CA$0.20, and Klarna Buy Now Pay Later 6.99% + CA$0.30. Terminal hardware starts at CA$189 per device.
How much do Fresha's add-ons cost?
AI Concierge is CA$139.95 per location monthly (200 minutes and 500 messages included, then CA$0.84/minute and CA$0.06/message), Client Loyalty is CA$79.95 per location monthly, Google Rating Boost is CA$20.95 per location monthly, and Team Connect is CA$3.95 per team member monthly.
What happens to my reviews if I cancel Fresha?
Per Fresha's own help documentation, cancelling your plan removes workspace access and unlists your marketplace profile at the end of the billing cycle, so reviews are no longer visible to clients — though they aren't deleted and are restored if you reactivate your plan.
How does AI Business Sites' pricing compare?
AI Business Sites charges a $1,497 one-time setup ($500 deposit, $997 at launch) plus $497/month, which includes the 85+ page website build, hosting, 14+ monthly SEO content pieces, 24/7 chat and website voice, CRM, bookings, the Jobs & Estimates module and Stripe-based selling — with no per-transaction, per-message or per-new-client fees. Optional add-ons are Lead Generation $149/mo, Outreach $229/mo, Social Content $299/mo and AI Receptionist $199/mo.
Sources
- 1.Fresha Pricing — Plans, payments, communications and add-ons — used for: pricing, features
- 2.Fresha — Marketplace and booking overview — used for: features
- 3.Fresha homepage — platform features and scale — used for: features, reviews
- 4.Manage your Fresha plan — billing, cancellation and reactivation — used for: features
- 5.Fresha help center — plan management and cancellation effects — used for: features
- 6.Fresha help center — client reviews — used for: features
- 7.AI Business Sites — offer, pricing and platform — used for: pricing, features
Pricing verified as of 2026. Always check the vendor's site.
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