Fresha vs Automaid

Vagaro

Square Point of Sale

Housecall Pro

Jobber

Booksy Biz

ArboStar

Compare Fresha and Automaid based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Goldie

Goldie is a comprehensive software designed for salon and beauty professionals. The platform offers appointment scheduling, automated client reminders, and integrated payment processing capabilities to help reduce no-shows and streamline business operations. Beauty professionals can manage their calendars, create branded online booking websites, and track business performance through detailed reports.

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity Scheduling is an online appointment scheduling solution that allows clients to self-schedule appointments or classes online, complete custom forms, receive confirmation notifications and reminders, and pay or donate with a credit card.

Vagaro is all-in-one software for beauty, wellness, and fitness professionals. Manage appointments, accept payments, run marketing campaigns, and grow your business all from one easy-to-use platform designed to help you save time and boost revenue.

Fresha is the world’s #1 booking software for salons, spas, and wellness businesses, trusted by millions of professionals in over 120 countries. Designed to simplify operations and supercharge growth, Fresha provides an intuitive, all-in-one platform to manage appointments, streamline payments, and

Access Controls/Permissions

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Appointment Management

Appointment Scheduling

Attendance Tracking

Automated Scheduling

Availability Indicator

Availability Management

Before & After Pictures

Billing & Invoicing

Booking Management

Booth Rental Management

Calendar Management

Calendar Sync

Class Management

Class Scheduling

Client Database

Client Management

Client Profiles

Commission Management

Confirmations/Reminders

Contact Database

Credit Card Management

Credit Card Processing

Customer Database

Customer History

Customer Mobile App

Customer Support

Customizable Branding

Customizable Forms

Customizable Reports

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Debit/Credit Card Processing

Discount Management

Electronic Payments

Email Management

Email Marketing

Email Reminders

Employee Management

Employee Scheduling

Faculty/Staff Management

Fitness Plan

For Barbershops

For Medical Spas

For Salons and Spas

For Yoga/Pilates Studios

Gift Card Management

Group Scheduling

HIPAA Compliant

In-Person Payments

Inventory Management

Inventory Tracking

Loyalty Program

Marketing Automation

Mobile Access

Mobile Alerts

Mobile App

Multi-Language

Multi-Location

Multiple User Accounts

Online Booking

Online Payments

Payment Processing

Payroll & Commissions

Payroll Management

Performance Metrics

Point of Sale (POS)

Practice Management

Price/Margin Management

Promotions Management

Ratings/Reviews

Real-Time Notifications

Real-Time Reporting

Recurring Appointments

Referral Tracking

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Rescheduling

Room Booking

Sales Reports

Scheduling

Self Service Portal

SMS Marketing

SMS Messaging

SMS Reminders

Social Media Integration

Staff Management

Task Scheduling

Third-Party Integrations

Transaction History

Treatment Packages

Website Integration

By industry, Fresha reviewers are most commonly professionals in health, wellness and fitness (33%). The most frequent use case for Fresha cited by reviewers is appointment scheduling (70%).

Users and use cases

Most reviewers indicate that Fresha delivers exceptional value for money, with its free plan and comprehensive features especially benefiting small businesses. However, some users report concerns about hidden costs, add-on fees, and potential future price increases.

Value for money

Fresha is an appointment scheduling solution with key features that include appointment management, online booking, automated confirmations and reminders, client database management, mobile access, and more.

Fresha

Web-based

iPad

iPhone

Android

Windows

Linux

Chromebook

Team

Enterprise

Massage Therapist

I have inquried about this to Fresha several times, as I use their QR code at my store to allow my clients to book an appointment, however, I still get charged for those customers, as if they intially found my services through Fresha, though this is not the case.

Business owner an aesthetician.

I will be cancelling my whole debit system and booking system with my salon with this company they like to charge everything that they absolutely can and there’s definitely just as good other companies out there for booking systems besides Fresha that does just the same.

While the fee is supposed to apply to first-time clients who find my services via the Fresha website, I'm being charged for customers who scan my in-store QR code to book.

President

It’s not a complex system which is appealing to a small business along with the cost, however there are some usability issues that could be easily be fixed if they had good product [sensitive content hidden] and tech support.

Beauty therapist

Booking & payments easy, reduces no-shows with automated reminders, and helps attract new clients.

Holistic Therapist

I follow Fresha’s own advice by sending my direct booking link, yet the system still flags client as new marketplace clients. Despite clear evidence, support refuses to refund the fees, citing rigid policy and technicalities.

small owner - salon

Fresha deleted elderly (90yr +) client medical & profile information and replaced with another younger client (early 60yr+) profile information

Manager

I wasn’t aware about this issue because normally small amount processing was working fine, until we had a more premium service like hair extensions required payment over $1000 and client did a runner, after that I realised we won’t be able to charge her.

The client calls for a reason something has come up there’s an emergency whatever the reason is we shouldn’t have to resort to tell our clients to go and do it Their selves.

Fresha outline that a charge will be incurred for first time clients, who found my services via their website.

Beauty Salon

I use it to manage my clients' appointments and have all my services organized and accessible to all my clients.

Result: no address to the frail elderly client on round the clock care to drive to their home to provide services.

Case manager

You can also be rest assured that you will not miss your appointments because it would notify you should your appointment be coming.

Stylist

I used Fresha for a lot of years and it was really good and grew fast but after a while more and more things became an extra charge and not with the monthly charge I’ve decided to leave

The charges and continually lowering of the amount of text available.

Business Owner

they tell you about that BUT they don’t tell you for every card added to the system by the client when booking **even if they cancel or you never use the card at checkout!!

Fresha charges for text messages to send to people that make appointments which as a small business you may not want to opt into.

Creative

Sometimes if you need to update the price it is hard to update it takes long time to update and when you invite the others sometimes it reject. and little over price for updating the service

Also, the reporting aspect of the fresha is very hard to navigate.

Nail tech

Sometimes I’d be paying upwards of £70 a month which in my opinion is unacceptable.

The system should provide more protection to us as a business owner. If we require their security code to charge their card, then it didn’t make sense anymore.

My clients were all able to book in with ease, they all complimented how user friendly the system is.

Overall is okay, it will be better if you offer loyalty system so we can record clients rewards or beauty bank service to deposit money.

Director

They took money from my account for clients who discovered my business independently, essentially charging me for my own customers.

I didn’t like how they said they wouldn’t charge but are now charging for Fresha but I understand why

Owner, web developer, designer

Not many options but for not experienced person that was a good thing and I think it’s still free for one person business (at least it was)

They try to cooperate with their clients, and remain positive.

founder

They have left gaps purposely for the customer to be charged regardless of whether it works for the business which in my mind is highly unethical.

It’s also very easy to get to grips with on the business end, everything is easy to find, change and personalise.

I had a great experience with Fresha and used it for the best part of a year and had absolutely no issues with the system itself.

Warehouse manager

The platform is easy and effective however it lacks customisation and customer service takes a while to respond.

Hair stylist

Access to reports, client texts, emails, marketing, and payroll?

Nail technician

The extra fees for text messages & taking payment details.

Creative Director

The Fresha team also seem to be working on the app software in the background all the time, and I appreciate that they're always looking for ways to better the experience for businesses and customers.

Technician

I was given a processing rate but then they ended up charging me 0.5% more than what was supposed to be.

We are independent so we dont have any fancy apps that book our appointments for us!

Owner

It has great functionality and up until recently it was "Free"

Marketing Manager

I really like the function of automatic appointment notifications and reminders, they have been very useful in reducing cancellations and forgetfulness.

The worst thing is the tone and attitude of the support team.

I now have immediate and total control of my finances.

I use the free version which means little contact with the fresha team.

Hairdressing manager

Easy product orders and input of stock, good client information features.

However, they have added fee after fee for their "lifetime" free clients.

It was really good, really easy to book clients in and navigate.

Take payments by the booking system only a 1.29% fee + 20p!

Also had a staff no longer working and I was charged for her because she used to be a bookable staff.

Student Registration and Logistics Coordinator

I love that my account houses all providers that I have used previously who also utilize Fresha.

Charges and Fees

Reviewers indicate that Fresha's appointment scheduling capabilities are easy to use, efficient, and save them significant time compared to manual methods. Users report that Fresha streamlines the process, making it simple to book, edit, and manage appointments for both staff and clients. They find the ability to tailor pricing and treatments valuable. Users mention that scheduling is more convenient on iPad and laptop than on phones, but overall, they feel Fresha makes managing appointments much more manageable. Of the 19 Fresha users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Appointment Scheduling, 100% rated this feature as important or highly important.

Fresha vs Automaid Comparison (2026)

Fresha

Automaid

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives