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Pronto vs Fresha — zero commission, self-hosted

Fresha removed its free plan in 2025 and charges 20% on new marketplace clients on top of a monthly subscription. Pronto starts at $0 and charges zero commission — ever.

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✓ $0 free plan ✓ 0% commission ✓ Self-hosted option

TL;DR — which one should you choose?

Choose Pronto if…

✓ You want a free plan with no monthly fee
✓ You want zero commission on all bookings
✓ You want WhatsApp and Telegram notifications included
✓ You want your data on your own server
✓ You don’t need a consumer marketplace

Choose Fresha if…

→ You want access to Fresha’s 130,000+ business marketplace
→ You want built-in payment processing
→ You need a more established platform with more integrations

Feature by feature comparison

Feature Pronto Fresha
Monthly subscription$0 free planFrom $19.95/mo (no free plan)
Commission on bookings0%20% on marketplace new clients
Min commission per clientNone$6 minimum
Self-hosted option✓ Docker, MIT✗ Cloud only
Open source✓ MIT license✗ Proprietary
WhatsApp notifications✓ Native, included✗ Not available
Telegram notifications✓ Native, included✗ Not available
Email notifications✓ Included✓ Included (allowance then paid)
Client books without account✓ Name + phone✗ Fresha account required
Offline POS✓ PWA offline✗ Requires internet
Consumer marketplace✗✓ 130,000+ businesses
Built-in payment processing✗✓ 2.19% + $0.20/transaction
Prices based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Verify current rates at fresha.com/pricing.

What business owners say about Fresha

💸

The 20% fee catches businesses off-guard

Fresha’s marketplace commission applies to every new client — minimum $6 each. A salon attracting 20 new clients a month through the marketplace pays $120+ in fees on top of the monthly subscription.

🔒

Clients belong to Fresha, not to you

Fresha requires clients to create a Fresha account to book. Your clients see other businesses on the platform every time they open the app. When you leave Fresha, your marketplace reviews and discovery stay with them.

📨

No WhatsApp or Telegram reminders

Fresha sends SMS and email reminders — but WhatsApp and Telegram are not available natively. For businesses in Europe, LatAm or Southeast Asia where WhatsApp is primary, this is a significant gap.

☁️

Your data is in their cloud

There is no self-hosted or export-friendly option. If Fresha changes pricing, shuts down, or is acquired, your client history is at risk. Pronto lets you own your data completely.

Where Fresha has a real advantage

An honest look at where Fresha genuinely beats Pronto.

The marketplace is real

Fresha has 130,000+ businesses and millions of active consumers searching for beauty and wellness services. If you are a new business that needs organic client discovery, the Fresha marketplace can genuinely bring new clients to your door. Pronto does not offer a marketplace.

Built-in payment processing

Fresha includes integrated card payments out of the box. Pronto’s POS accepts cash, card and bank transfer — but Pronto does not process card payments directly. You will need a separate payment terminal.

What you actually pay per month

Pronto
Starting at $0/month
  • ✓ Free plan: $0/month — 1 staff, 100 clients
  • ✓ Starter: $19/month — 3 staff, unlimited clients
  • ✓ Pro: $39/month — 15 staff, unlimited
  • ✓ Agency: $79/month — multi-location
  • ✓ 0% commission on all bookings
  • ✓ Self-hosted: free forever
Start free →
Fresha
From $19.95/month
  • → Individual: ~$19.95/month
  • → Team: ~$14.95/month per staff member
  • → 5 staff = ~$75/month subscription
  • → + 20% fee on each new marketplace client (min $6)
  • → + Payment processing: 2.19% + $0.20/transaction
  • → No free plan — 7-day trial only

Verify current rates at fresha.com/pricing

Real-world example

A 3-person salon attracting 15 new clients/month through Fresha’s marketplace pays: ~$45/month subscription + ~$90 in new client fees = $135+/month before payment processing. The equivalent Pronto Starter plan costs $19/month with zero commission.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pronto a free alternative to Fresha?
Yes. Pronto has a free plan with no monthly subscription and no commission on bookings. Fresha removed its free plan in 2025 — the current Individual plan starts at $19.95/month, plus a 20% commission on every new client who books through the Fresha marketplace.
Does Fresha charge commission?
Yes. Fresha charges a 20% one-time fee on every new client who books through the Fresha marketplace, with a minimum of $6 per client. This is on top of the monthly subscription fee. Pronto charges zero commission on any bookings.
Can clients book without creating an account?
With Pronto, yes — clients book with just a name and phone number, no account required. With Fresha, clients must create a Fresha account to complete an online booking. This adds friction and means Fresha owns the client relationship, not your business.
Is there a self-hosted alternative to Fresha?
Yes. Pronto is the only open-source, self-hosted alternative to Fresha. Install it with one command on your own server: docker compose up -d. Your client data stays on your server — not in Fresha’s cloud. Pronto is licensed under MIT.
Does Pronto have WhatsApp notifications like Fresha?
Yes. Pronto includes native WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and Email notifications at no extra cost — confirmation, 24h reminder, 1h reminder, post-visit message and reactivation. Fresha does not offer native WhatsApp or Telegram notifications.
What does Fresha cost per month in 2026?
As of 2026, Fresha’s Individual plan costs approximately $19.95/month. The Team plan costs approximately $14.95/month per bookable team member — a 5-person team pays around $75/month on subscription alone, before the 20% marketplace new client fee and payment processing fees.
Can I switch from Fresha to Pronto?
Yes. Export your client list from Fresha and import it into Pronto’s CRM. You can run both in parallel during the transition. The Pronto SaaS at trypronto.app takes minutes to set up, or self-host on your own server with one command.
Where does Fresha have an advantage over Pronto?
Fresha has a large consumer marketplace with 130,000+ businesses and millions of active clients searching for beauty and wellness services. If you are a new business that needs client acquisition through a marketplace, Fresha can deliver foot traffic. Pronto does not have a marketplace — clients find you through your own channels.

Ready to stop paying Fresha’s fees?

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