Fresha markets itself as "free booking software" for salons. Addagio positions itself as the commission-free alternative for direct bookings. Both serve beauty businesses — but they work very differently under the hood.
This comparison covers real pricing (including hidden costs), feature differences, and which platform makes more sense depending on your salon's stage and goals.
Fresha Pricing: What "Free" Actually Costs
Fresha's core software is genuinely free — no monthly subscription. But the business model relies on transaction fees and paid features that add up quickly:
- •Payment processing: 2.19% + $0.20 per transaction (mandatory if you accept card payments through Fresha)
- •New client fee: 20% commission on the first appointment from any client acquired through the Fresha marketplace
- •No-show protection: $0.99 per SMS sent (confirmation and reminder messages)
- •Blast campaigns: Starting at $0.02 per SMS or email sent
- •Boost (marketing): Variable cost per new client acquired
For a salon doing $8,000/month in revenue with 40% new clients from the marketplace, the real monthly cost breaks down to roughly:
| Cost Item | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Payment processing (2.19% + $0.20) | ~$207 |
| New client commission (20% of first visit) | ~$640 |
| SMS reminders (200 messages) | ~$198 |
| **Total** | **~$1,045/month** |
That is far from free.
Addagio Pricing: Flat and Predictable
Addagio offers two plans:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Commission | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $0/month | 5% per booking | New salons testing direct bookings |
| Pro | $29/month | 0% | Established salons wanting maximum margin |
On the Pro plan at $8,000/month revenue, your total platform cost is $29. That is a 97% saving compared to the Fresha scenario above.
On the Starter plan, the same revenue costs $400/month (5%) — still less than half of what Fresha charges in practice.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fresha | Addagio |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking page | Yes | Yes |
| Calendar management | Yes | Yes |
| Automated reminders | Paid (SMS) | Included (WhatsApp + email) |
| Payment processing | 2.19% + $0.20 | Stripe direct (2.9% + $0.30 or your negotiated rate) |
| Client marketplace/discovery | Yes (20% commission) | No |
| Branded booking page | Limited branding | Fully branded with custom domain support |
| Product sales | Yes (POS) | Yes (online shop) |
| Staff management | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-location | Yes | Coming soon |
| QR code booking | No | Yes |
| WhatsApp booking link | No | Yes |
| Template designs | Generic | 50+ industry-specific templates |
| Commission on repeat clients | No | No |
Where Fresha Wins
Client discovery. Fresha operates a marketplace where new clients find salons near them. If you are a new salon with no existing clientele, this discovery feature is genuinely valuable — even at 20% commission on first visits. You are paying for marketing, essentially.
Point of Sale. Fresha offers an integrated POS system for in-salon product sales. If you sell shampoo, styling products, and accessories alongside services, their POS is a strong feature.
Staff management at scale. For salons with 5+ stylists, Fresha's staff scheduling, commission tracking, and performance reporting is mature and well-built.
Where Addagio Wins
Direct bookings without commission. If you already have clients (from Instagram, Google, walk-ins, referrals), Addagio lets you accept their bookings without paying a percentage. You keep your revenue.
Brand ownership. Your Addagio page looks like YOUR business, not a marketplace listing. Custom colors, your own domain, your portfolio front and center. Clients remember your brand, not the platform.
WhatsApp and QR code booking. Addagio generates QR codes and WhatsApp booking links — two channels that Fresha does not offer. Perfect for salons that get clients from physical locations, Instagram stories, or local marketing.
Predictable costs. $29/month is $29/month whether you do $5,000 or $50,000 in bookings. No surprises.
The Dual Strategy: Use Both
Here is the honest take — many successful salons use BOTH platforms:
- 1.Fresha for client discovery (marketplace) and POS for walk-in product sales
- 2.Addagio for direct bookings from Instagram, Google, QR codes, and repeat clients
New clients find you on Fresha (you pay 20% once). Then you move them to your Addagio booking page for all future appointments — paying $0 in commission from that point forward.
This is the strategy that maximizes both growth AND margins.
Who Should Choose Fresha?
- •Brand-new salons with zero existing clientele who need discovery
- •Salons that rely heavily on walk-in POS product sales
- •Multi-location businesses that need unified staff management across branches
Who Should Choose Addagio?
- •Salons with an existing client base (Instagram followers, regulars, referral network)
- •Solo stylists or small teams who want to keep maximum revenue
- •Beauty professionals who want a portfolio-first booking page
- •Businesses that market via WhatsApp, QR codes, or social media DMs
FAQ
Can I migrate my clients from Fresha to Addagio?
Yes. Export your client list from Fresha and share your new Addagio booking link via email or WhatsApp. Most salons see 60-80% of regulars switch within 2-3 months when you offer the direct link consistently.
Does Addagio have a marketplace like Fresha?
No. Addagio is a direct booking tool, not a marketplace. You drive your own traffic through Instagram, Google Business Profile, QR codes, and word of mouth. The tradeoff: no discovery, but also no 20% commission.
Which has better payment processing rates?
Addagio connects to your own Stripe account, so you get whatever rate Stripe offers you (typically 2.9% + $0.30, but negotiable for high volume). Fresha uses its own processor at 2.19% + $0.20 — slightly cheaper on the processing fee, but the overall cost is higher because of marketplace commissions and SMS fees.
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