Best Booking Software With No Commission (2026)
The best commission-free booking software charges a flat monthly fee instead of taking a percentage of every booking. Bella Booking charges $25-$99 AUD/month with zero commission ever - no per-booking fees, no marketplace cut, just transparent monthly pricing plus standard Stripe payment processing.
Why commission-free matters
Commission-based booking platforms (like Fresha) charge a percentage of each booking made through their system. This might seem small per transaction, but it adds up fast:
Consider a solo practitioner doing 20 bookings per day at an average service price of $80. With a 20% commission model, that's $16 per booking - $320 per day, or roughly $7,000 per month going to the platform. Compare that to a flat $25/month subscription with no commission.
| Cost model | Monthly cost (20 bookings/day, $80 avg) |
|---|---|
| 20% commission (e.g., Fresha new client fee) | ~$7,040/month |
| Flat-rate subscription (Bella Solo) | $25/month |
| Difference | You keep ~$7,015 more per month |
Even at lower commission rates (e.g., Fresha's 20% on new clients acquired through their marketplace), the costs are substantial if any meaningful portion of your bookings come through the platform.
How commission models actually work
Commission-based platforms typically work in one of these ways:
- Marketplace commission: The platform lists your business on their marketplace and charges commission on clients who book through it (e.g., Fresha charges 20% on new clients from their marketplace)
- Per-booking fee: A flat fee charged on every online booking regardless of source
- Payment processing markup: Higher-than-standard card processing rates that include a hidden margin
- Combination: Some platforms combine a low subscription with per-booking fees that aren't obvious until you read the fine print
The issue isn't just cost - it's unpredictability. Your software bill fluctuates with your booking volume, making it harder to forecast expenses. A busy month means higher costs, which is the opposite of how scaling should work.
What Bella charges instead
Flat monthly pricing
Bella Booking charges a simple monthly subscription with no commission, no per-booking fees, and no marketplace cut. Your pricing stays the same whether you do 5 bookings a day or 50.
| Plan | Price (AUD/month) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | $25 | 1 team member, 50 SMS, online booking, payments, deposits, CRM, core reports |
| Starter | $67 | Up to 3 team members, 200 SMS |
| Professional | $99 | Unlimited team members, 500 SMS, + memberships, loyalty, forms, reviews |
Payment processing
Card payments are processed through Stripe at 2.7% + $0.30 AUD (or 3.9% + $0.30 USD for international). This is the payment processor's fee - Bella adds a 1% platform fee on top of Stripe's 1.7% base rate. There are no hidden charges beyond this.
No marketplace
Bella doesn't operate a marketplace where clients browse multiple businesses. Your online booking page is yours - clients book directly with you, and you own that relationship completely. No platform sitting between you and your clients.
Commission-free alternatives compared
| Platform | Commission? | Monthly cost (solo) |
|---|---|---|
| Bella Booking | Zero, ever | $25 AUD/month |
| Fresha | 20% on marketplace bookings | Free (but commission adds up) |
| Timely | No commission | From $35 AUD/month |
| Square Appointments | No commission | Free tier (limited), paid from $40+ |
| Vagaro | No commission | From $30 USD/month |
Several platforms besides Bella offer commission-free pricing. The key differences come down to features, pricing tiers, and whether there are hidden per-booking or per-SMS fees that inflate the actual cost.
Marketplace platforms to watch (Fresha, Booksy, Mindbody)
Zero commission is not only about the subscription line. Marketplace and discovery channels can still take a cut when a client finds you through their network - even when the “software” tier looks cheap.
- Fresha: subscription plus a documented marketplace new-client commission (commonly cited at 20% on marketplace-acquired clients) - see our Fresha alternatives page for the current verified shape
- Booksy: strong consumer marketplace presence in some markets; compare the marketplace fee path against a branded booking page you own (see Booksy alternatives)
- Mindbody: enterprise-leaning pricing and marketplace/discovery dynamics for fitness and wellness - flat booking software is often simpler if you are not running group classes
Ask every vendor: “If a new client books from your marketplace or app directory, what % or fee do I pay - and can I turn that channel off?” Then compare that answer to Bella’s flat subscription with no marketplace cut.
What to check before switching
- Total cost of ownership: Compare subscription + payment processing + SMS costs, not just the headline price
- Data export: Can you export from the app, and will they give you a full copy if you ask? Bella does both
- Online booking continuity: Will your existing booking link change? Plan to update your website and social profiles
- Client communication: Let clients know you're switching platforms and share your new booking link
- Feature parity: Make sure the new platform has the features you actually use - packages, memberships, forms, reminders
Bella offers a free trial so you can set up your services, test online booking, and confirm it meets your needs before committing.
Related features
Explore by business type
In-depth guides
Explore comprehensive guides on this topic
Related questions
Ready to try Bella Booking?
Start your free trial today. No credit card required.
Australian-owned business. Sydney-based team, with responsive support across multiple timezones.