Salon Software Pricing Comparison: What You Actually Pay

Every salon software platform uses one of three pricing approaches. Understanding these models is more useful than comparing sticker prices.

Hybrid subscription + commission (Fresha model)

Fresha moved from a free model to paid subscriptions in 2025. Plans now start at $19.95 USD/month (Individual) or $14.95 USD per team member/month (Team plan). On top of the subscription, Fresha charges a 20% commission (minimum $6 USD) on new clients who book through their marketplace, plus payment processing fees on every transaction. The subscription cost is modest, but the layered commission and processing fees mean the total cost grows with booking volume.

Per-staff subscription (Timely, Vagaro model)

A monthly fee per team member, typically with tiered plans that unlock additional features. Timely, for example, charges AUD $42–$79 per staff member per month depending on plan tier. Costs scale linearly with team size — a 5-person team on the mid-tier plan pays over $300 AUD/month. This model is predictable but penalises hiring.

Flat subscription (Bella Booking model)

A fixed monthly price regardless of team size (within plan limits) or booking volume. No commission on bookings. Costs only change if you move to a higher plan tier for more features or locations. This model rewards growth — adding staff does not increase software cost.

The advertised price is rarely the final price. These are the costs that most platforms do not prominently display.

SMS overage charges

Most platforms include a limited SMS allowance. Once you exceed it, per-SMS charges apply. For a salon sending appointment reminders, confirmations, and follow-ups, SMS costs can add $30-80/month depending on team size and booking volume.

Payment processing markups

Some platforms add a markup on top of standard payment processing fees. Check Stripe's published rates for your region at stripe.com/pricing. If a platform charges significantly more than the standard rate, the difference adds up on $10,000+/month in payments.

Feature paywalls

Features like loyalty programmes, consent forms, marketing tools, and advanced reporting are often restricted to higher plan tiers or sold as separate add-ons. Calculate the cost of the plan that includes everything you actually need, not the cheapest plan on the pricing page.

Contract lock-in

Annual contracts with early termination fees are common. A 12-month contract at $200/month is a $2,400 commitment before you know whether the platform works for your business. Monthly contracts cost more per month but carry less risk.

Platforms that market themselves as low-cost or "free" make money through layered fees. Understanding how helps you evaluate whether the model works for your salon.

Fresha originally offered a completely free platform, but moved to paid subscriptions in 2025. The base subscription is now $19.95 USD/month (Individual) or $14.95 USD per team member (Team). On top of that, Fresha's 20% marketplace commission on new client bookings (minimum $6 USD) still applies. If you run marketing campaigns to attract new clients, you are paying acquisition costs twice — once for the marketing and once as a commission to Fresha.

Layered pricing — subscription plus commission plus processing fees — makes it difficult to predict monthly costs. A salon processing $10,000/month in online bookings through Fresha pays the subscription, plus processing fees on every transaction, plus 20% on every new client booking. The total can exceed what a flat-subscription platform would charge.