Hustl vs Fresha
Fresha isn’t free anymore. Hustl still is.
Hustl.it publishes this comparison and may benefit if you choose Hustl.it. Fresha pricing last verified July 2026.
For years Fresha was the answer to “what’s the free booking software for salons?” — but that ended in 2025, when Fresha dropped its subscription-free model. Today Fresha costs $19.95/mo for independents (or $14.95 per bookable team member on Team plans) with a 7-day trial, and it charges a 20% commission (minimum $6) on the first appointment of every new client who finds you through its marketplace.
Hustl.it offers a free starting plan for service businesses — online booking, deposit controls, card payments, a client CRM, a booking page, and a local marketplace listing at $0/mo, with no card required. Full website tools are paid.
The short answer
If the reason you are comparing is price, Hustl.it wins outright: Fresha no longer has a free plan, and its marketplace takes 20% (minimum $6) of every new client’s first appointment, while Hustl.it is free forever with a marketplace listing included. Fresha remains an excellent, polished product for established salons and spas that can treat the subscription and commission as a client-acquisition cost. For everyone who chose Fresha because it was free — Hustl.it is the platform that still is.
Hustl vs Fresha: side-by-side
| Feature | Hustl.it | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — $0 monthly subscription; 5% platform fee + Whop processing on sales | No — dropped its free model in 2025; 7-day trial |
| Starting price | $0/mo Free; paid plans $44.99/mo (Premium) and $149.99/mo (Max) | $19.95/mo solo; $14.95 per bookable team member (Team) |
| New-client marketplace fee | Marketplace listing included on the free plan | 20% of first appointment (min $6) for marketplace-sourced clients |
| Booking website builder | Yes — booking page free; full website + custom domain on paid plans | Booking profile & link; no full website builder |
| Deposits & no-show protection | Yes — require a deposit to lock the slot | Yes — deposits & cancellation fees |
| Card payments | Yes — processed through Whop; payout timing shown in the connected account | Yes — 2.79% + 20¢ online, 2.29% + 20¢ in person |
| Client CRM | Yes — unlimited clients on the free plan | Yes |
| Marketplace profile | Yes — publish a listing for local discovery; traffic is not guaranteed | Yes — Fresha marketplace (with new-client commission) |
| Best for | Service pros who want free, all-in-one & no commissions | Polished salons & spas using Fresha’s marketplace |
When to choose Hustl.it
Choose Hustl.it if you want a free starting plan with booking, deposit controls, payments, a CRM, a booking page, and a marketplace listing, without a new-client marketplace commission.
When to choose Fresha
Choose Fresha if you run an image-conscious salon or spa that wants the slickest client-facing booking experience and marketplace exposure, and the per-team-member pricing plus new-client commission fits your economics.
About Fresha
Fresha is a polished salon and spa platform with a large consumer marketplace, strong POS and payments, and one of the cleanest client-facing experiences in the industry. Since 2025 it is subscription-based: $19.95/mo for a solo Independent plan, $14.95 per bookable team member on Team plans, and custom Enterprise pricing, with a 7-day free trial. US processing is 2.79% + 20¢ online and 2.29% + 20¢ in person, and new clients acquired through the Fresha marketplace incur a one-time 20% commission (minimum $6) on their first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fresha still free?
No. Fresha ended its subscription-free model in 2025. It now costs $19.95/mo for a solo Independent plan or $14.95 per bookable team member on Team plans, with a 7-day trial — plus a 20% commission (minimum $6) on the first appointment of new clients from its marketplace. Hustl.it remains free forever.
What is the best free Fresha alternative?
Hustl.it is a natural free Fresha alternative: online booking with deposits, Whop-powered payments, a client CRM, a free booking page, and a local marketplace listing within the free-plan limits — without a monthly subscription.
Does Fresha charge commission on bookings?
Fresha charges a one-time 20% commission (minimum $6) on the first appointment of each brand-new client who discovers you through the Fresha marketplace. Returning clients and clients booking through your own links are commission-free. Hustl.it’s marketplace listing is included on its free plan.
Launch your service business free
Get a booking site, card payments, and a client CRM in one place — and get listed on the Hustl Marketplace so local customers can find you. No credit card required.
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