Fresha alternative for salons and barbershops
Two salons had the same $612 day.
Same clients, same services, same eleven appointments. The only difference is what happens to the money after the last chair is swept.
prices verified Jul 14, 2026 · US pricing, in USD · Fresha’s pricing page · part of our salon software comparison
the short version
Who should switch — and who shouldn't.
Switch to DaySync if
you're paying per team member and 20% (minimum $6) for every new marketplace client. DaySync is $25/month flat at any team size, and clients from your own link stay yours — there are no marketplace fees because there's no marketplace.
Stay on Fresha if
the Fresha marketplace genuinely feeds you clients you couldn't reach otherwise, or you need built-in card payments — both are real Fresha strengths DaySync doesn't have.
19:00 · both salons
The same day, rendered twice.
The day on Fresha
Fresha dropped its subscription-free model in early 2025. Today it charges $19.95/month for independents or $14.95 per bookable team member, plus a one-time 20% commission (minimum $6) on each new client from the marketplace, plus processing. Rates verified on Fresha's pricing page; this day's marketplace mix is an example.
The day on DaySync
Pro is $25/month flat — the same on a $200 day and an $840 day. The Free plan is $0 for one person, with up to 5 services on the booking page.
No cherry-picking: on a slow month, a small percentage can cost less than $25 — the pricing table lays out both sides.
side by side
The conventional table, kept honest.
| Fresha | DaySync | |
|---|---|---|
| Price · 1 person | $19.95/mo | $0 — the Free plan |
| Price · 3 team members | $44.85/mo | $25/mo flat |
| Price · 5 team members | $74.75/mo | $25/mo flat — same at any size |
| Pricing model | $19.95/mo solo or $14.95 per team member/mo + 20% one-time new-client marketplace fee (min $6) + processing | Free to start · Pro $25/month flat — the price never rides your revenue |
| Online booking | Yes — via the Fresha marketplace and your profile | Yes — your own link, no client app or account needed |
| Shared team calendar | Yes | Yes — with roles: admin, receptionist, team member |
| Team size | Unlimited — at $14.95 per bookable member per month | Free: 1 · Pro: unlimited |
| Takings & commission | Yes, with built-in POS | Per-member percentages, counted from booked work |
| Client notifications | Email + SMS ($0.02/message after 100 free) | Email confirmations + reminders, automatic — no SMS |
| Card payments | Built in | Not built in — you keep your existing terminal |
| Marketplace audience | Yes — a real discovery channel | No marketplace — your clients come from your own link, and stay yours |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android — one set of data, always in sync |
Where Fresha is genuinely stronger today, the table says so. Competitor figures verified Jul 14, 2026 against their pricing page; re-checked quarterly.
DaySync is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Fresha. Product names and trademarks belong to their owners.
the product
What you'd actually be looking at.
Schedule — the whole floor in one timeline
Online presence — your booking page, live
the honest part
What you give up by switching.
- A marketplace. DaySync has none — if Fresha sends you brand-new clients, that discovery channel doesn't come with you. Your bookings come from your own link, bio and QR code — there's no marketplace fee, because there's no marketplace.
- SMS reminders. DaySync confirmations and reminders go out by email automatically — there is no SMS. If your clients only answer texts, that's a real difference.
- Built-in card payments. DaySync records payments and counts takings and commission, but doesn't process cards — you keep your existing terminal.
the move
Switching is a week of overlap, not a leap.
- Export your client list from Fresha — that data is yours, and you should own a copy whatever you decide.
- Set up DaySync: services, team, working hours. It takes minutes, not an afternoon — and the Free plan means no card and no clock while you evaluate.
- Put your new booking link in your Instagram bio and Google profile. Old bookings keep their dates on Fresha; new ones arrive on DaySync, and every client card fills itself from the first visit.
- Run both for a week. When the last old appointment is done, close the old account — nothing is lost in between. Moving a big client book? Write to us and we'll help you bring it over.
questions
Before you switch.
- Is Fresha still free?
- No. Fresha ended its subscription-free model in early 2025. As of July 2026 it charges $19.95/month for independents or $14.95 per bookable team member per month, plus a one-time 20% new-client fee (minimum $6) on marketplace bookings, plus payment processing.
- Does DaySync charge anything like Fresha's 20% new-client fee?
- No. DaySync has no marketplace, so there's nothing to charge a marketplace fee on. Clients book from your own page and stay yours. Pro is $25/month flat, and the Free plan covers one person.
- What does a 5-person salon pay on Fresha vs DaySync?
- $74.75/month in Fresha subscriptions (5 × $14.95) before any new-client fees or processing — versus $25/month flat on DaySync.
- What do I give up by leaving Fresha?
- The marketplace. If brand-new clients find you through Fresha search, that discovery channel doesn't exist on DaySync — your bookings come from your own link, bio and QR code. Fresha's built-in card payments are also real; DaySync doesn't process cards.
- Can I move my Fresha client list to DaySync?
- Export your client list from Fresha so you own a copy — that data is yours. Adding a client takes seconds, and every card fills itself from the first visit. Moving a big book? Reach us via the contact page and we'll help you bring it over.
Also comparing: Booksy · Vagaro · all ten on the comparison page · full cost table on salon software pricing
19:00
Keep the day. Lose the cut.
free to start, no card · Pro is a flat $25/month, no per-seat pricing · also runs in the browser