UK comparison · October 2026
Fresha vs Booksy: UK prices and fees compared
Fresha and Booksy are the two biggest beauty booking marketplaces in the UK. Both list you alongside other salons and charge extra when the marketplace brings you a new client, but they price very differently. Here's what a solo beauty professional actually pays with each in 2026.
Fresha vs Booksy at a glance
| Fresha | Booksy | Glamly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price (1 person) | £14.95/month + VAT (Independent) | £40/month + VAT | £14.99/month, flat |
| Extra team members | £9.95 per member + VAT (Team) | £5 per extra member | Solo plan |
| Fee on new clients | 20% of the first booking (min £4) for new marketplace clients | 30% of first visit (min £5) when Boost is on | None, ever |
| Online card fees | 1.40% + 25p (+ VAT) | 1.29% + 20p + VAT | Stripe standard rates, no Glamly fee on deposits |
| Reminders | 20 free texts a month, then 6p each | Free SMS reminders | 100 WhatsApp messages a month included |
| Marketplace | Yes, Fresha marketplace | Yes, Booksy marketplace | No, your own booking page |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days | 30 days, no card |
Taken from each platform's own UK pricing page (October 2026). Prices can change, so check their sites for the latest. Full breakdowns: Fresha pricing · Booksy pricing
Which should you choose?
Fresha suits you if…
You want the lowest subscription of the two and you're happy paying 20% on each new client the marketplace sends you. Watch text costs once you go past 20 reminders a month.
Booksy suits you if…
You want unlimited free SMS reminders and are prepared to pay £40 + VAT a month. Boost brings marketplace clients, but costs 30% of their first visit.
Neither suits you if…
You'd rather your clients book on your own page, with no competitors shown next to you and no cut on new clients. That's where a flat-price system like Glamly fits.
What a typical month costs
Example: a solo nail tech with 60 appointments a month at £40 each, 5 of them new clients found through the marketplace. Card processing fees are left out because they're similar across platforms.
Fresha
£17.94 subscription inc. VAT + 5 new clients × £8 (20%) + 40 extra texts × 6p
≈ £60
Booksy with Boost
£48 subscription inc. VAT + 5 new clients × £12 (30%)
≈ £108
Booksy without Boost
Subscription inc. VAT, no Boost fees, but no Boost marketplace clients either
£48
Glamly
Flat monthly price. No fee on new clients, 100 WhatsApp reminders included
£14.99
Want neither marketplace taking a cut?
Glamly is £14.99 a month, flat. Your own booking page, deposits, WhatsApp reminders and no fee on new clients, ever. We'll even move your clients and bookings across for you.
Start your 30-day free trial →Fresha vs Booksy: common questions
Is Fresha cheaper than Booksy?
On subscription, yes: Fresha's Independent plan is £14.95 a month + VAT against Booksy's £40 + VAT. But Fresha takes 20% of the first booking from each new marketplace client, and charges 6p a text after 20 free reminders, so a busy month with lots of new clients can cost more than the headline price suggests.
Does Booksy charge a fee for new clients?
Only through Boost, its optional marketplace promotion. When Boost brings you a new client, Booksy charges 30% of that first visit (minimum £5). If you leave Boost off, you just pay the monthly subscription.
Does Fresha charge a fee for new clients?
Yes. Fresha charges 20% of the first booking (minimum £4) when a new client finds you through the Fresha marketplace. Clients who book through your own link aren't charged this fee.
Which has lower card fees, Fresha or Booksy?
Booksy's online card fee is 1.29% + 20p + VAT, slightly lower than Fresha's 1.40% + 25p (+ VAT). On a £40 booking the difference is a few pence.
Is there an alternative to Fresha and Booksy without marketplace fees?
Yes. Glamly is a booking system for UK beauty professionals with no marketplace: clients book on your own page, there's no fee on new clients, and it's a flat £14.99 a month with deposits, WhatsApp reminders and consultation forms included. You can try it free for 30 days, and we'll move your clients and bookings across for you.
More comparisons: all booking systems compared