Best Salon Booking Software: Fresha vs Treatwell Connect

Quick Verdict

Fresha is the stronger choice for most independent UK hair salon owners thanks to its genuinely free core tier and intuitive all-in-one setup. Treatwell Connect suits salons that want built-in marketplace visibility and are already comfortable paying a monthly subscription from day one. If you are just starting out or running a single chair, Fresha is the lower-risk option; if you want footfall from Treatwell's established UK client marketplace, the monthly fee may well pay for itself.

Key Differences

The most fundamental difference is cost structure. Fresha operates on a free core plan with transaction fees applied to card payments processed through the platform, meaning your costs scale with revenue. Treatwell Connect charges a fixed monthly subscription from £25 per month regardless of how busy you are, which can feel steep during quieter weeks. Another key distinction is ecosystem: Treatwell Connect ties your salon into the broader Treatwell marketplace, giving you exposure to new clients actively searching for hair services across the UK, whereas Fresha keeps you independent and drives bookings through your own channels.

Features

Both platforms cover the essentials a UK hair salon needs: 24/7 online booking, automated client reminders to reduce no-shows, and a built-in CRM to track appointment history, colour notes, and client preferences. Web and mobile app access is standard on both, so you can manage your diary from the salon floor or at home.

Fresha goes further with integrated payment processing, stock and product tracking, and a marketing suite including targeted campaigns and loyalty features — all accessible without paying a monthly fee. However, advanced reporting and deeper analytics sit behind paid add-ons, and if your salon sells a significant volume of retail products, Fresha's product-management tools may feel limited compared with a dedicated retail solution. For GDPR compliance, both platforms handle client data storage in line with UK data protection requirements, which is essential given that hair salons hold personal and payment data.

Treatwell Connect mirrors many of these capabilities — CRM, reminders, and marketing tools — and adds the significant advantage of listing your salon directly on the Treatwell marketplace. Customisation options within the platform are somewhat limited, and the pricing was originally quoted in USD on some plan pages, so always confirm your exact GBP cost before committing.

Pricing

Fresha offers a free tier that covers booking, CRM, and client communications with no monthly charge. Card payment processing incurs a transaction fee, which is worth factoring into your margins, particularly if you process a high volume of lower-value appointments such as trims or fringe cuts. Paid feature upgrades are available for salons needing advanced reporting or additional marketing tools.

Treatwell Connect starts from £25 per month. For a sole trader or a newly established salon, this is a meaningful ongoing overhead. Larger salons with multiple staff members may find the per-seat or tiered pricing more justifiable, especially if the marketplace exposure converts into regular new bookings. Neither platform directly integrates with Making Tax Digital obligations, so you will still want a separate accounting package — Xero, FreeAgent, or Sage are the natural UK choices — to handle your VAT returns and MTD compliance.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Fresha if you are an independent stylist, a small salon with one to three chairs, or a new business watching every pound. The free tier gives you professional booking and CRM tools without a fixed monthly commitment, and the transaction-fee model keeps things proportional to your income.

Choose Treatwell Connect if your salon is already established, you want to attract new clients through a recognised UK beauty marketplace, and you can confidently absorb the £25-per-month minimum cost within your existing revenue. It is also worth considering if your current client acquisition relies heavily on third-party discovery rather than repeat bookings.

Either way, pair your chosen platform with a UK-compliant accounting tool to stay on top of Making Tax Digital requirements and keep your finances clean.