loci vs Fresha
Your clients. Your data. Zero commissions. Ever.
Fresha's marketplace charges 20% commission on new client bookings. loci helps you get discovered organically and keeps 100% of your revenue yours.
The real cost
Fresha's 20% commission adds up fast
Calculate exactly how much you're paying Fresha for new client bookings you could get through your own brand.
Annual commission cost to Fresha:
$9,600
That's $800/month just for the privilege of being on their marketplace
At loci: $0 commission. Ever. Your booking page is yours. Your clients are yours.
Client ownership
Who owns your client data?
It sounds like a simple question. But the answer determines everything about your business independence and growth.
On Fresha's Marketplace
When a client books through Fresha, whose client is it really?
- •Fresha owns the client relationship
- •You can’t access their email directly
- •If you leave Fresha, can you contact them?
- •Fresha can change commission rates or policies
- •You’re dependent on their marketplace to keep them
With loci
Your clients are always yours. Full stop.
- •You own 100% of the client relationship
- •Direct email, SMS, and direct messaging access
- •Export your data anytime, no penalty
- •Loyalty programs, marketing, and repeat bookings are all yours
- •Build your own brand, not a marketplace
Feature comparison
The honest side-by-side
Here's exactly how loci and Fresha compare across the features that matter most to salon owners.
| Feature | loci | Fresha | Impact on your business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | $29–$149 | $19.95–$149+ | Fresha charges a monthly subscription plus per-transaction and commission fees |
| Marketplace commission | Never | 20% per booking | Fresha takes a cut of your new clients. loci doesn’t. |
| Payment processing | 2.6% flat | 2.29% + $0.20 | loci’s flat rate is simpler; Fresha’s $0.20 per transaction adds up |
| Client data ownership | 100% yours | Fresha’s marketplace | Your direct relationship with clients is everything |
| Multi-location | Native | Yes | Both support multiple locations |
| Service versioning | Yes | No | Price changes won’t break old appointment records |
| AI features | Deep | Basic | loci has AI intake forms, intelligence dashboards, staff insights |
| Booth renter support | Native | Partial | loci built for independent stylists; Fresha has limits |
| SMS messaging | 2-way | Yes | Both have SMS; loci’s 2-way is more conversational |
| Loyalty programs | Built-in | No | Reward repeat clients without third-party apps |
| Custom forms | Yes | Yes | Both support intake and custom forms |
| Design quality | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | loci is purpose-built for beauty; Fresha is more generic |
| Geographic focus | USA (expanding) | 120+ countries | If you’re outside the US, Fresha wins. loci is US-focused. |
| Marketplace discovery | SEO-optimized pages | Millions of new connections annually | Fresha’s marketplace is powerful but costs 20%. loci is organic. |
| Contract required | None | None | Both are month-to-month (flexible) |
Being honest
Where Fresha wins (and why it doesn't matter as much)
We're not going to pretend Fresha doesn't have real strengths. Here's what they do well \u2014 and why loci's approach is better for salon owners who want to own their business.
International presence (120+ countries)
Fresha operates globally. loci is US-focused (for now). If you have salons outside the US, Fresha is the clear choice.
loci is expanding internationally in 2026. If you’re US-based, this doesn’t matter.
Massive marketplace discovery (millions of new connections annually)
Fresha’s network brings real new client volume through their booking feed. That’s powerful.
But you pay 20% per marketplace booking. At 50 new clients/month, that’s $4,800/year. With loci, those same clients find you through Google, your website, and word-of-mouth — and you keep 100%. Build your own brand.
Lower per-transaction processing rate (2.29% vs 2.6%)
Fresha’s payment processor has a slightly lower percentage rate.
But Fresha also charges $0.20 per transaction PLUS 20% commission on marketplace bookings. At scale, loci’s 2.6% flat rate is simpler and cheaper.
Google Gemini & ChatGPT integrations
Fresha integrated AI for discovery and client outreach.
loci built AI as a first-class citizen: intake forms that replace JotForm, client intelligence dashboards with 15+ metrics, staff insights. AI that understands salons, not just a third-party wrapper.
The loci approach
Get discovered your way. Own your clients.
Instead of paying Fresha 20% for marketplace clients, loci gives you the tools to get discovered organically through channels you own.
SEO-optimized booking pages
Your loci booking page ranks on Google for your location and services. No Fresha middleman. Clients find you directly.
Reserve with Google
Clients can book straight from Google Search and Maps. Your booking page, your client relationship, 100% of the revenue.
Your branded experience
Custom colors, fonts, and messaging. Your salon’s voice, not a generic marketplace. Clients remember where they booked.
No marketplace dependency
No algorithm changes. No commission rate hikes. No waiting for Fresha to approve your profile. You control your discovery.
Build YOUR brand, not Fresha's.
The best clients find you because of you \u2014 not because of a marketplace algorithm.
A cautionary note
The "free to paid" pivot
Here's what happened to Fresha users in 2025, and why loci's model is built differently.
Fresha went from free to paid \u2014 and salon owners felt burned
Free until 2025, then paid subscription
Fresha built user base on “free” platform. Then switched to mandatory paid subscriptions with transaction fees and commissions. Many salon owners felt they were bait-and-switched.
Limited free support channels
Phone support is available only as a paid add-on ($14.95/month). Free users rely on help articles and community forums, with users reporting extended wait times for email responses.
Excessive notifications
Salon owners report clients receiving 4+ reminder notifications in 30 minutes. It feels spammy and damages your client relationship.
Commission rate is permanent
The 20% commission isn’t going down. It’s Fresha’s core revenue model. And if marketplace pressure increases, rates could go up.
loci's commitment
Transparent from day one. The price you see is the price you pay. $29, $79, or $149. No hidden fees. No commissions. No surprises. And if support issues come up, we respond within 24 hours.
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Real questions from salon owners considering the switch from Fresha to loci.
“But I get clients from Fresha’s marketplace. Won’t I lose those?”
You’ll get the same clients through Google Search, Maps, and your own website when you optimize with loci. Those “Fresha clients” are still people looking for your services in your area. At 20% commission, ask yourself: did those clients really find you through Fresha, or were they already looking for your salon anyway?
“Fresha’s processing rate is lower (2.29% vs 2.6%). Isn’t that better?”
On the surface, yes. But add the $0.20 per transaction fee plus the 20% commission on new marketplace bookings. At realistic volumes, loci’s 2.6% flat rate is both simpler and cheaper. Plus, no commission ever.
“What if I need international support? loci is US-only.”
You’re right. Fresha supports 120+ countries. loci is currently USA-based with international expansion in progress through 2026. If you operate salons outside the US today, Fresha is your platform.
“Can I import my Fresha data to loci?”
Yes. loci has built-in import presets for all major competitors, including Fresha. Your client data, appointment history, and service catalog transfer cleanly.
“What happens to my clients if I switch?”
Your clients stay yours. We don’t own them — you do. When you import to loci, all your client data comes with you. They’ll book on your new loci booking page. No clients are lost.
“Does loci have a mobile app for clients?”
Clients book through your web booking page on mobile (fully responsive). We don’t require a separate app download. This actually increases booking rates because there’s less friction.
“What if I want to leave loci down the road?”
Your data is always yours. Export your client list, appointment history, and settings anytime with no penalty. No lock-in contracts. No data hostage situations.
“Does loci work for booth renters?”
Absolutely. loci is the only salon software built for booth renters from the ground up. Separate payment routing, privacy isolation, lease generation, and rent tracking.
Competitor pricing verified as of February 2026. Prices may change — visit each provider's website for current rates.
Ready to own your client relationships?
Switch from Fresha to loci. Import your clients in minutes. Same great experience, zero commissions, 100% of your revenue stays yours.