What is the difference between Fresha and Phorest?
Fresha is a free salon booking platform that earns revenue by charging commission on marketplace bookings and fees on payment processing. Phorest is a subscription-based salon and med spa platform with no commission on bookings and no consumer marketplace. The practical difference: with Fresha, clients who find you through the marketplace are, in part, Fresha’s clients. Fresha has visibility into that booking data and your business appears alongside competitors. With Phorest, every booking through your website, your app, or any direct channel is yours. Fresha’s model works well for salons that need new-client discovery. Phorest is built for salons and clinics that have a client base and want to grow revenue from it.
Is Fresha really free? What does Phorest cost?
Fresha does not charge a monthly subscription, but it is not free to operate. Fresha charges commission on new client bookings made through its marketplace — currently around 20% of the first booking value, though you should verify current rates directly. It also charges payment processing fees on all card transactions. Phorest charges a monthly subscription, no commission on any booking, and competitive payment processing rates. For a salon or med spa with an established client base doing significant weekly volume, the total cost comparison between a commission-plus-processing model and a subscription model is worth running against your actual numbers.
Does Phorest have better client retention tools than Fresha?
Fresha’s primary strength is discovery, getting new clients in through its marketplace. Phorest’s tools are built around keeping clients coming back. Client Reconnect uses machine learning to identify which clients are drifting from their personal booking pattern and sends personalised outreach automatically. The Treatcard loyalty program drives measurable increases in average spend. Every campaign tracks revenue directly to the register. For salons and clinics whose growth challenge is retention rather than acquisition, Phorest is the more relevant platform.
How does Phorest help with staff performance compared to Fresha?
Fresha covers the basics of staff scheduling and commission tracking. Phorest’s Staff Goals gives every team member live visibility into their own revenue targets, retail performance, and rebooking rate from their phone. When stylists and therapists can see their own results in real time, they manage their own performance rather than relying on a manager to tell them at the end of the month. Fresha does not have an equivalent performance tool for individual team members.
What kind of support does Phorest provide that Fresha does not?
Every Phorest customer gets a dedicated Business Advisor, a named person managing the account proactively. Fresha’s support is self-service and ticket-based. For a premium salon or clinic owner who expects a responsive point of contact when something goes wrong during a busy Saturday, the difference between a named advisor and a support queue is significant.
How does switching from Fresha to Phorest work?
Phorest’s migration team transfers your client data from Fresha: records, appointment history, contact details, and service notes. Moving from a commission-plus-processing model to a monthly subscription means no longer paying Fresha per new booking. For salons and clinics with an established client base, the economics of that change are typically favourable. Your dedicated Business Advisor will help you map the cost comparison before you commit.
