All beauty professionals know that running a successful business means more than just providing great services—it’s about keeping costs low, maintaining an organized schedule, and having full control over your client details. 

Managing these challenges on your own can be overwhelming, and without the right tools, they can quickly impact your business’s growth and profitability. 

When choosing a booking and payments system for your salon business, you should focus on ease of use, affordability, and specific features for your niche. 

That’s where Goldie comes in—an affordable, flexible, and easy-to-use Fresha alternative that lets you keep more of what you earn. 

In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between Goldie and Fresha and help you decide which platform is the right fit for your business. 

Why look for a Fresha alternative?

◽️ Commission fees on payments – Fresha charges higher commissions on payments, which can be costly for small businesses. Below you’ll see a comparison of Goldie vs Fresha’s payment fees based on the US market.

◽️ Commission fees on new clients - Fresha requires a 20% commission fee for every new client coming from marketplace.

◽️ Control over client data – Fresha uses client data for its marketplace, potentially directing clients to competitors.

◽️ Mandatory payment processing – Fresha forces users to process payments through its system, limiting flexibility and adding extra costs (2.29% plus $0.20 for each transaction when processing payments in-person)

◽️ Customization & features – Fresha is a more general booking system, lacking niche features for beauty professionals like Siri Shortcuts for hands-free scheduling, AI social media post generator, clients being available to upload photos, and more. 

◽️ Client communication costs - Fresha's Independent plan includes 20 free automated text notifications per month, with an additional charge of $0.02 per text after that. In the Team plan, each team member receives 100 free text notifications per month, after which texts cost $0.04 each. Goldie, on the other hand, provides 500 free messages with the Pro plan and 750 free messages with the Pro Plus plan. Users can also purchase extra messages at $2.99 for 50 messages or $14.99 for 250 messages, offering a more flexible and cost-effective solution for client communication.

Is Fresha no longer free?

Fresha used to promote themselves as a completely free booking platform for beauty and wellness businesses, with no subscription fees. However, they have transaction fees on payments, and they take a commission on new clients booked through their marketplace. While this can be useful for salons looking to gain exposure, it also means you’re giving up a percentage of your earnings.

Now, Fresha requires a $9.95 monthly fee per team member, in addition to the existing transaction fees and commissions:

• Payment processing fees: Fresha charges different transaction fees depending on the type of payment and region, typically ranging from 2.29% to 3.30% per transaction.
• Marketplace commission: Fresha takes a 20% commission on new clients booked through their marketplace.
• SMS reminder costs: Users get 100 free SMS reminders, but if they exceed this limit, they are charged $0.04 per additional message. 

What about Goldie app’s fees?

Goldie offers flexible pricing options to suit different budgets, ranging from a completely free plan to advanced subscriptions designed to help professionals manage and grow their business effortlessly.

• Subscription plans:
  
  • Starter – Free (no card required)
  • Pro Plan – $19.99/month (includes 500 free SMS)
  • Pro Plus Plan – $39.99/month (includes unlimited team members and 750 free SMS)
• Payment processing fees:
  
  • 2.6% + $0.30 per transaction
• SMS reminder costs:
  
  • Pro and Pro Plus plans include free SMS messages, covering most businesses' needs.
  • If additional SMS reminders are required, they can be purchased at:
    
    • $2.99 for 50 messages
    • $14.99 for 250 messages

Which option is more cost-effective?

Goldie stands out as a more budget-friendly choice compared to Fresha, as it doesn’t charge a per-team-member fee or take a commission on new client bookings. This allows salons to retain more of their earnings.

Feature Comparison: Best Fresha Alternative

When choosing between Goldie and Fresha, it’s important to compare their features to see which platform better suits your business needs. Here’s how they stack up:

◽️ Scheduling: Both platforms offer similar scheduling functionality, allowing beauty professionals to manage appointments with ease.

◽️ Reminders: While both provide automated reminders, the difference lies in the number of free messages included. Goldie offers more SMS reminders in its subscription plans, whereas Fresha limits the free messages and charges per additional text.

◽️ Online Booking vs. Marketplace: Goldie provides a direct online booking system, allowing professionals to take appointments without interference from competing businesses. In contrast, Fresha operates a marketplace model, where salons may compete for visibility alongside others on the platform.

◽️ Forms: Both platforms offer client intake forms with similar capabilities for gathering important client details before an appointment.

◽️ Payments:

- Goldie Card Reader: $60 (US only)

- Fresha Terminal: $499

◽️ HIPAA Compliance: Fresha is HIPAA-compliant, making it a preferred option for businesses that handle sensitive health-related client data. Goldie does not currently offer HIPAA compliance.

◽️ Integrations:

- Both platforms support Reserve with Google, Facebook, and Instagram bookings.

- Goldie integrates with Stripe for fast and secure payment processing.

◽️ Other niche-specific features:

- On-the-Go friendly features: Goldie is ideal for mobile professionals, offering location-based booking where clients can enter their address when scheduling an appointment.

- Custom website branding: Goldie provides online booking themes, logo customization, and brand colors, allowing beauty pros to personalize their booking experience.

- AI Policy & Terms generator: Available in Goldie, helping professionals create clear booking policies and terms.

- Communication: Fresha sends both email and SMS reminders, while Goldie focuses solely on SMS reminders for direct and instant client communication.

If you're looking for a booking system that’s simple, affordable, and gives you full control, Goldie is a great alternative to Fresha. Goldie keeps things hassle-free, making it easy to manage your schedule, accept payments, and stay connected with clients without unexpected costs.

What Goldie’s clients are saying 

Read more testimonials here

How to Switch from Fresha to Goldie

To start using the Goldie app, all you have to do is contact us at support@heygoldie.com, mentioning that you want to migrate, and our team will take care of the rest for you.

What happens next?

• Account setup

Once you reach out, our support team will guide you through the process of setting up your Goldie account.

• Data migration

We’ll assist you in transferring your essential business data from Fresha to Goldie.

• Confirm & start booking

Once your data is imported and your settings are customized, you’re ready to start using Goldie!