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 salon gaining 20 new marketplace clients a month at an average service price of $80. With a 20% commission on each new client's first booking, that's $16 per client, or $320 a month going to the platform for as long as the marketplace keeps sending clients. Compare that to a flat $25/month subscription with no commission.
| Cost model | Monthly cost (20 new marketplace clients, $80 avg) |
|---|---|
| 20% commission on new marketplace clients (e.g., Fresha) | $320/month |
| Flat-rate subscription (Bella Solo) | $25/month |
| Difference | You keep $295 more per month |
The commission is charged on each new marketplace client, so the cost climbs with exactly the growth you were hoping for; Booksy charges 30% and Treatwell 35% on the same event.
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 is unpredictability as much as cost. 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 credits, online booking, payments, deposits, CRM, core reports |
| Starter | $67 | Up to 3 team members, 200 SMS credits |
| Professional | $99 | Unlimited team members, 500 SMS credits, + memberships, loyalty, forms, reviews |
Payment processing
Card payments are processed through Stripe at 1.65% + A$0.30, plus Bella's 1% platform fee: 2.65% + A$0.30 all in (2.9% + $0.30 plus 1% in the US). 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 new marketplace clients | From $49.45 AUD/month inc GST (US$19.95), plus commission |
| Timely | No commission | From $42 AUD/month per staff member, exc GST |
| Square Appointments | No commission | Free tier (limited), paid from $40 AUD per location |
| 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 (20% one-time on new marketplace clients, per fresha.com/pricing) - 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.
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