Is GlossGenius worth paying for when Fresha is free?

GlossGenius's flat $24–$48/month fee can be a better deal than Fresha's 20% new-client fee if marketplace traffic generates meaningful bookings. A single $200 new-client booking through Fresha costs $40 in fees — more than GlossGenius Standard for the month. If you drive your own bookings through Instagram, referrals, or Google, GlossGenius's branding and card reader inclusion make it the better value. If you rely on marketplace discovery for new clients, Fresha's free base + paid-on-results model works in your favor.

Does Vagaro work for barbershops?

Yes — Vagaro supports barbershops and works well for multi-chair shops that need staff management and POS. GlossGenius also serves independent barbers. Fresha is popular in the barbershop segment too, particularly for new shops using the marketplace to build clientele. All three can handle appointment booking, deposits, and client management relevant to barbershops.

Does Fresha charge anything for existing clients who rebook?

No — Fresha only charges the 20% marketplace fee for new clients who book through the Fresha marketplace for the first time. Repeat clients and clients you bring to the platform yourself are not subject to the fee. After a client books through Fresha once and becomes part of your client base, all future bookings from that client are fee-free.

Can I take deposits with GlossGenius to prevent no-shows?

Yes — GlossGenius supports deposit collection at the time of booking to reduce no-shows, a common pain point for beauty professionals. Vagaro and Fresha also support deposit or prepayment options. This is a standard feature across all three platforms rather than a differentiator.

Does Vagaro have a fitness studio module?

Yes — Vagaro serves gyms and fitness studios in addition to salons and spas. It supports class scheduling, memberships, and fitness-specific reporting. If your business is a fitness studio or yoga studio rather than a beauty business, Vagaro may be the best fit of the three — GlossGenius and Fresha focus primarily on beauty and wellness rather than fitness.

Salon Booking Software Comparison

GlossGenius vs Vagaro vs Fresha: Best Booking Software for Salons and Beauty Pros (2026)

GlossGenius is the best choice for independent beauty professionals and solo stylists who want a polished, branded booking experience with a card reader included. Vagaro is the strongest option for salons, spas, and fitness studios that need a full POS with marketplace visibility and multi-staff scheduling. Fresha is the right pick if you want a genuinely free platform and access to a marketplace that drives new clients — though the 20% fee per new marketplace client adds up as you grow.

See Comparison Table

Side-by-Side Comparison

GlossGenius and Vagaro charge flat monthly fees; Fresha is free for the base platform but takes a 20% cut of bookings made through its marketplace by new clients. The right choice depends heavily on whether you want marketplace traffic or prefer driving your own bookings. Pricing verified: GlossGenius May 2026, Vagaro May 2026, Fresha May 2026 via vendor sites.

Criteria	GlossGenius	vagaro	fresha
Monthly cost	$24/month (Standard); $48/month (Gold)	$30/month (1 user); $40/month (2 users); $90/month (7+ users)	Free (base); 20% per new marketplace client booking
Card reader included	Yes — card reader included with all plans	Not included — hardware purchased separately	Payment processing at 1.29% + $0.20 per transaction; no free hardware
Marketplace for new clients	No dedicated marketplace	Yes — listed on Vagaro marketplace	Yes — listed on Fresha marketplace (20% fee for new clients)
Branded booking page	Yes — custom branded page on all plans	Yes — booking widget and page included	Yes — booking page included
Team / multi-staff support	Yes — team features on Gold plan ($48/month)	Yes — tiered by number of staff	Yes — staff management included
POS capabilities	Basic payments and client management	Full POS with inventory, reports, and retail	POS with inventory management
Best fits	Solo stylists, estheticians, nail techs, independent barbers, massage therapists	Salons, spas, gyms, fitness studios, wellness centers	New salons, barbershops, tattoo studios, any beauty business wanting zero monthly cost
Instagram and Google integration	Instagram booking integration	Google Calendar sync	Google, Instagram, Facebook booking integration

GlossGenius

Best for solo beauty pros who want a premium booking brand

Independent hair stylists, nail techs, estheticians, and massage therapists who want a sleek branded booking page and a card reader included from day one

Standard $24/month. Gold $48/month. Card reader included.

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vagaro

Best full-suite POS for salons and spas

Salons, spas, fitness studios, and gyms that need a robust POS, marketplace listing, staff management, and payroll integration at a per-seat price

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fresha

Best free platform with marketplace-driven new clients

New or budget-conscious beauty businesses that want zero monthly cost and access to a client marketplace — and are comfortable with the 20% per-new-client fee

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Buyer Checklist Before You Commit

Are you a solo practitioner or do you manage a team of stylists or therapists?

Do you want a marketplace to drive new bookings, or will you handle your own marketing?

How important is having a hardware card reader included without extra cost?

Do you need retail inventory tracking and POS for product sales?

Is a branded booking page — with your business name and colors — important to your brand?

What percentage of your revenue comes from new clients vs repeat clients each month?

Do you need payroll integration for staff at a location with multiple providers?

Are you comfortable paying a per-booking fee to get marketplace traffic, or do you prefer a flat monthly cost?

Frequently Asked Questions

Pick the right tool for your team

Most of these tools offer a free trial or free plan — start with the one that best matches your use case above.

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