A Fresha alternative for UK independents

Fresha no longer has a free plan. If you started with it because it cost nothing and you are now paying a monthly subscription, here is an honest comparison with Seatbooker, including the parts where Fresha is the better product.

Fresha figures below were read from their published pricing page on 10 August 2026. Prices change, so check before deciding.

What each one costs

Fresha

No free plan, 7-day trial as of 10 August 2026

  • Independent - £14.95 / monthSingle-person businesses. 7-day trial.
  • Team - £9.95 / team member / monthMulti-person businesses. 7-day trial.
  • Enterprise - CustomOver 20 team members.

On top of that

  • New client from their marketplace: 20% one-time commission, minimum £4
  • Online card payment: 1.40% + £0.25
  • In-person card payment: 1.19% + £0.20

Seatbooker

Free for 12 months, one person, no card - then from £19 / month

  • Starter - £0One person, 12 months, no card required. Ends on 31 December 2026 at the latest.
  • Professional - £19 / monthReminders, discount codes, page themes.
  • Plus - £29 / monthExtra staff seats, priority ranking, Instagram.

On top of that

Nothing. We take no commission on your bookings, on any plan. We are not VAT registered, so there is no VAT to add either.

Figures for Fresha were read from their published pricing page on 10 August 2026, and each price above is stated on the basis its own publisher states it. Prices change, so check before deciding.

Fresha's card processing fees only apply if you take payment through them, which Seatbooker does not offer at all - see below.

Where Fresha is the better choice

Worth saying before you switch, because for some businesses the answer is that you should not.

  • You want payments and a till. Fresha takes card payments, has a point of sale and handles stock. Seatbooker does none of this. Online payments are on our roadmap and not in the product today.
  • Their marketplace brings you clients. That is what the 20% new-client commission buys, and for some salons it pays for itself. Our directory is new and small. If a meaningful share of your bookings come from Fresha's marketplace, leaving costs you those clients.
  • You run a larger team. Fresha is built for multi-chair salons with rotas, commissions and reporting. Seatbooker is built for sole traders and small teams, and Starter is one person only.
  • You need it to be proven. Fresha has years of business behind it. Seatbooker launched in August 2026. That is a real risk and you should weigh it.

Where Seatbooker suits you better

  • You are one person and you want a booking page, not a business suite. Set up takes about five minutes: add your services, set your hours, share your link.
  • You do not want to pay commission on your own clients. You keep 100% of what you earn, on every plan including the free one.
  • You would rather not hand over a card to try something. Starter asks for no card at all, so there is no trial that quietly turns into a subscription.
  • Your clients already know you. If your bookings come from Instagram, WhatsApp and word of mouth rather than a marketplace, you are paying a marketplace fee for something you are not using.

Common questions

Does Fresha still have a free plan?
Not as of 10 August 2026. Fresha's published pricing lists Independent at £14.95 a month and Team at £9.95 per team member a month, both with a 7-day trial, plus an Enterprise tier for larger businesses. There is no free subscription tier. Prices change, so check their pricing page for the current position.
Is Seatbooker free forever?
No, and we would rather say so plainly. Starter is free for 12 months with no card required, and nothing is charged when the year ends - your page simply stops taking new bookings unless you pick a plan. It is a limited offer with a fixed number of places and it closes on 31 December 2026 at the latest. After your year, plans start at £19 a month.
Do you charge commission on bookings like Fresha's marketplace fee?
No, on any plan. Fresha charges a 20% one-time commission (minimum £4) on a new client who finds you through their marketplace. We charge nothing on your bookings, and we also do not have anything like the traffic their marketplace does, which is the honest trade-off.
Can I move my existing clients over?
There is no automated import from Fresha yet. In practice most sole traders move by sharing their new booking link on Instagram, WhatsApp and in person, and letting the old diary run down. If you have a large client list, that is worth weighing before you switch.
What does Seatbooker not do that Fresha does?
Quite a lot. Fresha has card payments and a point of sale, stock and inventory, marketing tools, and a consumer marketplace with real traffic. We have none of those today. Seatbooker is a booking page, a diary and reminders, built for a sole trader who wants clients to book themselves without a phone call.

Try it free for 12 months

No card, no commission, and nothing charged when the year ends.

Start free

Or see the full pricing and how Seatbooker works.