Best Fresha Alternatives for Independent Beauty Pros
Comparing the best Fresha alternatives for solo nail, lash, brow and beauty professionals — from commission-free booking links to full salon platforms.
Fresha works well for solo beauty pros who lean on its marketplace for new client discovery. If that's not what you're using it for — if your bookings mostly come from your own following — the commission and platform overhead can feel like a poor trade. Here are six alternatives worth knowing, covering a range of trade-offs between simplicity, cost and features.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Marketplace / discovery | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| makeabook.ing | Solo beauty pros with their own following, wanting a flat-fee booking link | No | Never |
| Booksy | Beauty pros wanting optional marketplace promotion | Yes | Only when optional Boost brings a new client |
| Vagaro | Salons and spas wanting broader operations software | Yes, directory listing | Subscription and payment-processing costs apply |
| GlossGenius | US-based independent beauty pros wanting POS + booking + marketing in one | No | No, subscription-based |
| Acuity Scheduling | Beauty pros wanting a flexible, general-purpose scheduler | No | No, subscription-based |
| Square Appointments | Beauty pros already using Square for payments | No | Payment processing fees apply |
Pricing, commission structures and marketplace terms change — verify directly with each provider before deciding.
1. makeabook.ing
Best for: solo nail, lash, brow and beauty pros who already build their client base through Instagram, referrals and repeat bookings, and don't want a cut taken out of bookings that didn't need a marketplace to happen.
A single link — services, prices, availability — with no marketplace and no commission, ever. Free for the first 20 bookings a month, then a flat £19/month unlimited.
Read the full makeabook.ing vs. Fresha comparison →
2. Booksy
Best for: beauty pros who specifically want marketplace-style discovery, similar to Fresha.
Booksy is one of the closer direct competitors to Fresha, with its own consumer-facing marketplace and direct booking links. Its optional Boost feature charges a one-time commission when Boost brings a new client; bookings from your own link and marketing are commission-free.
Read the full makeabook.ing vs. Booksy comparison →
3. Vagaro
Best for: beauty businesses with multiple staff, or solo pros who want the option to grow into a team-based structure using the same tool.
Vagaro includes a marketplace listing in its subscription, with pricing that scales as employee calendars are added. Payment processing and optional premium features can add to the base subscription, so compare the complete setup you would use.
Read the full makeabook.ing vs. Vagaro comparison →
4. GlossGenius
Best for: independent US-based beauty pros wanting booking, in-person payment processing and marketing tools bundled into one platform.
No marketplace and no commission model, but a broader (and typically pricier) feature set than a plain booking link — POS, card payments, and client marketing campaigns are all included. Worth checking current availability if you're outside the US.
Read the full makeabook.ing vs. GlossGenius comparison →
5. Acuity Scheduling
Best for: beauty pros who want a flexible, highly configurable scheduler and don't need marketplace discovery.
No commission, no marketplace — a subscription tool with deep customisation options (intake forms, packages, class scheduling). More setup effort than a purpose-built booking link, but a capable option if you want that flexibility.
Read the full makeabook.ing vs. Acuity Scheduling comparison →
6. Square Appointments
Best for: beauty pros already using Square for in-person card payments.
No marketplace, no commission on bookings, though standard payment processing fees apply to transactions through Square. A natural fit if you're already inside the Square ecosystem; a less obvious one if you're not.
Read the full makeabook.ing vs. Square Appointments comparison →
How to choose
- Bookings mostly come from your own following, and you want the simplest, lowest-cost option? makeabook.ing.
- You rely on marketplace search for new clients? Fresha or Booksy — accept the commission as the cost of that discovery.
- You're running or planning a team? Vagaro.
- You want booking, in-person payments and marketing bundled together? GlossGenius (US) or Square Appointments (if already on Square).
FAQ
What's the best Fresha alternative with no commission?
makeabook.ing charges a flat subscription (free up to 20 bookings/month, then £19/month unlimited) with no commission, regardless of client source. Acuity Scheduling, GlossGenius and Square Appointments are also non-commission, subscription-based options, though pricier or narrower in scope respectively.
Is there a Fresha alternative that still helps with new client discovery?
Booksy is the closest like-for-like — a marketplace app similar to Fresha, with a similar commission model on marketplace-sourced bookings.
Do any of these alternatives require my clients to create an account?
makeabook.ing doesn't require one. Marketplace-style tools (Booksy, Vagaro's directory) typically involve clients booking through the platform's own app or account system.
If your clients already know you, they don't need a marketplace to book you. Create your free booking link — no commission, ever.