Is free salon software worth it?
Free salon software can work for solo practitioners just starting out, but most growing salons find free options limiting. Common trade-offs include marketplace commissions (15-30% on bookings), restricted features, or advertising on your booking page. Calculate the true cost before assuming "free" is cheaper.
How "free" software makes money
Software companies need revenue to operate. Free salon software typically makes money through:
Marketplace commissions
Some platforms run marketplaces where clients discover salons. In exchange for this exposure, they charge a percentage of bookings made through the marketplace—typically 15-30% of each booking. For busy salons getting significant marketplace traffic, these fees can exceed what you'd pay for a subscription-based alternative.
Upselling to paid tiers
Basic features are free, but useful capabilities like SMS reminders, advanced reporting, or multiple staff support require upgrading to a paid plan.
Transaction fees
Higher payment processing fees than standard rates, or fees on every booking regardless of how the client found you.
Advertising and branding
Your booking page may show the platform's branding or advertisements. Some free plans don't allow custom branding.
When free makes sense
Free options can work if you:
- Are a solo practitioner just starting out
- Have very low booking volume
- Don't need features like SMS reminders
- Don't mind marketplace commissions (because you need the exposure)
- Can live with limited customisation
When free costs more than paid
Calculate your actual costs:
Scenario: A salon doing $8,000/month in services, with 30% of bookings from a marketplace charging 20% commission.
Marketplace commission: $8,000 × 30% × 20% = $480/month
Compare that to a paid subscription at $50-80/month with 0% commission. The "free" option costs 6-10x more.
Questions to ask about free options
- 1What percentage do they take on marketplace bookings?
- 2Are SMS reminders included or extra?
- 3Can I use my own branding?
- 4What features require upgrading to paid?
- 5What are the payment processing fees?
- 6Can I export my client data if I leave?
The upgrade trap
Some free software is designed to lock you in:
- You build your client database on their platform
- As you grow, free becomes insufficient
- Upgrading is expensive, but leaving means losing data or client relationships
- You end up paying more than if you'd started with good software
Ask about data export before you commit. You should always be able to leave with your client data.
Making the decision
For a fair comparison:
- 1List the features you actually need
- 2Calculate total monthly cost including commissions and per-feature fees
- 3Compare against subscription-based alternatives
- 4Consider where you'll be in 12 months, not just today
Starting with genuinely affordable software often costs less over time than "free" options with hidden fees.
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