Fresha alternative: booking software without the 20% new-client fee

Looking for a Fresha alternative? Fresha's software is cheap per team member, and that is a big part of its appeal. The cost many owners notice later is the one-time 20% fee on a new client's first booking when the client comes through the Fresha marketplace. Calendia has no marketplace and takes no commission on any booking, but it also does not send you marketplace traffic. This article compares both honestly.

What does Fresha cost?

Fresha prices by location, so the amounts differ by country. According to Fresha's pricing and help pages (checked October 2026):

• A monthly price per bookable team member, set in your local currency, with a cheaper plan for a single independent member. Larger businesses (20+ members) get custom pricing. See fresha.com/pricing for your country.
• SMS: a monthly allowance of free messages per team member, then a per-message price.
• Add-ons such as client loyalty, an AI concierge and insights are priced separately.
• Marketplace fee: a one-time 20% of the first booking from a new client found through the Fresha marketplace. Returning clients are free. Fresha's help centre says the fee is non-refundable, applies even if you cancel on the client's behalf, and that the only way to avoid it is to unlist your marketplace profile, which also turns off your Fresha online booking channels.
• There is no contract: monthly, cancel any time.

What does Calendia cost?

Calendia has two billing models, and you choose one:

• Per bookable employee: a fixed monthly price for each person who takes bookings. Staff who never take bookings are free.
• Per completed booking: a small fee per completed appointment. Cancellations and no-shows are not charged.

There is no commission, no setup fee and no binding period. Loyalty, gift cards and memberships are part of the platform rather than paid add-ons. See current prices on the pricing page, where a calculator compares both models. Prices are shown excluding VAT.

Feature comparison

	Fresha	Calendia
Pricing model	Per bookable team member per month	Per bookable employee or per completed booking
Marketplace for new clients	Yes, 20% of the first booking	No marketplace, no commission
Point of sale	Yes (NF525-certified in France)	Yes, product-declared in Norway
Loyalty	Paid add-on	Stamp cards included
Contract	None, monthly	None, month to month
Data export	Clients and appointments to CSV/Excel	Free import assistance when you arrive

When is Fresha the better choice?

• You depend on the marketplace to find new clients and see the 20% fee as an acceptable marketing cost.
• You want a low software price per team member and your team is large enough for that to matter.
• You like a polished consumer app and a wide range of add-ons.
• You operate in France and need an NF525-certified till. Calendia does not claim that certification.

When is Calendia the better choice?

• Most of your bookings come from returning clients, Instagram, Google or your own website, so a marketplace fee buys you little.
• You want to stay listed nowhere and still take online bookings, without the choice Fresha describes between paying the fee and unlisting.
• You run a clinic and need journals, consent forms, care-team scoping and access logging next to your calendar.
• You want deposits, no-show fees, gift cards, memberships, payroll reports and accounting integrations in one system.

How to switch from Fresha

1. Start a free trial. You do not need a card.
2. Export your clients and appointments from Fresha (CSV or Excel) and upload them in Calendia's migration assistant. We help with the import at no cost.
3. Set up services and opening hours, and share your booking page on your website, Instagram and Google profile.
4. Run both for a week if you like, then unlist your Fresha profile and cancel.

Questions and answers

How much does Fresha charge new clients?

Fresha charges a one-time 20% of the first booking when a new client finds you through its marketplace (October 2026). Returning clients are free, and the fee is non-refundable.

Is there a Fresha alternative without commission?

Yes. Calendia has no marketplace and takes no commission on any booking. You pay either per bookable employee or per completed booking.

Can I move my data from Fresha to Calendia?

Yes. Fresha lets you export clients and appointments to CSV or Excel. Upload them in Calendia's migration assistant. The import is free and we help you check it.

Prices and terms for Fresha are taken from Fresha's public pricing and help pages in October 2026 and may have changed since. Check the provider's own pages before you decide.