Bookatu vs Fresha
Bookatu vs Fresha: the 0% commission alternative
Fresha is one of the best known booking platforms, and its headline pitch is that there is no monthly subscription. That sounds free, and for some businesses it can be a good fit. But free booking software is rarely free, so it is worth looking at where the money actually comes from before you commit.
Bookatu takes a different shape. There is a simple subscription based on how many active clients you have, and there is no commission on your bookings at all. This page lays out the difference in plain terms so you can decide which model suits the way you actually work.
Bookatu vs Fresha at a glance
Booking commission
Bookatu
0% commission on every booking, whether it came from your own link or the Discovery network.
Fresha
Markets "no subscription", but charges a marketplace commission on new clients it sends you (commonly around 20%, as of 2026, verify current pricing on their site).
Pricing model
Bookatu
One subscription based on active clients. Predictable, and it does not climb when you have a busy month.
Fresha
Free to start, then revenue comes from new-client commission, card processing, and per-member fees for some tools (around US$9.95/mo for some add-ons, as of 2026, verify current pricing on their site).
Who owns the client
Bookatu
Your clients are yours. Their details, messages and reviews stay with you, on your own booking page.
Fresha
The marketplace sits in the middle and can treat clients it introduced as its own, including charging you when they rebook.
Where the money lands
Bookatu
Deposits and sales go straight into your own Stripe account. Bookatu never holds your money.
Fresha
Payments are processed by the platform, with its own processing fees taken per transaction (as of 2026, verify current pricing on their site).
Ads for rivals
Bookatu
Nobody advertises a competitor to your client while they are booking with you.
Fresha
A marketplace can show nearby rivals to your own clients at the moment they go to book.
Leaving
Bookatu
Export your client list any time. You are never locked in.
Fresha
Contacts and reviews built on the marketplace tend to stay on the marketplace.
Competitor details are a general guide as of 2026 and can change. Please verify current pricing and availability on Fresha’s own site before deciding.
The bottom line
The honest trade-off is this. If you take very few new clients and never use the paid add-ons, a no-subscription marketplace can look cheaper on paper. But the moment the marketplace starts sending you new clients, the commission on those bookings is a cut of your revenue that grows exactly as you succeed.
Bookatu charges no commission on a single booking. You pay a predictable subscription tied to the size of your business, your clients stay yours, and the money lands in your own Stripe account rather than a platform wallet. For an owner who wants to build an independent business rather than rent access to their own regulars, that is the wedge.
Pricing on both sides changes, so check the current numbers before you decide. The structural difference does not change: a percentage of every booking versus none.
Ready to go independent?
Bookatu gives you a branded booking page, deposits, memberships, gift cards and reminders, with 0% commission on your bookings and your money in your own Stripe account.
Start freeCommon questions
Is Fresha really free?
Fresha markets itself as having no monthly subscription, but it earns from new-client marketplace commission, card processing fees and per-member charges for some tools. As of 2026, verify the current rates on their site. Free to join is not the same as free to run.
Does Bookatu charge commission on bookings?
No. Bookatu takes 0% commission on every booking, whether it came through your own link or the Discovery network where local businesses are listed. You pay a simple subscription based on your number of active clients instead.
Can I move my clients from Fresha to Bookatu?
Yes. Most booking apps let you export your clients as a CSV file, and you import that straight into Bookatu. Your clients are yours, so you can bring them across and keep every regular.
Where does my money go with Bookatu?
Into your own Stripe account. When a client pays a deposit or buys a gift card, package or membership, the money goes to you and Stripe pays it out to your bank. Bookatu never holds your money.