Free salon booking apps: what is really free
“Free” can mean three different things: a plan with no fee, a trial of a few days, or no upfront cost but a commission on new clients. Here we line up what the official pages say, without a ranking built to make someone win.
Comparison written by Saloria, one of the products compared. Alphabetical order; data from the official pages checked on 6 November 2026, which may vary by country and plan.
What is free for the salon
| Service | No fee | Commissions | What is included for free |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresha | No, 7-day trial | One-time fee on new marketplace clients | Independent €19.95 a month; Team €13.95 per team member |
| Saloria | Yes, no expiry | None | Calendar, booking, email reminders, one-page website, limited showcase |
| Setmore | Yes | Not stated for bookings | Up to 4 users, “Book Now” button |
| Square Appointments | Yes (US pricing) | On payments | Booking site, reminders, calendars |
| Treatwell | Free start; monthly fee to check | 25% on new clients’ first bookings, 2% on prepayments | Calendar and marketplace listing |
Official sources checked on 6 November 2026
How to read this comparison
We looked at five services often mentioned by salons and reported only what their pricing pages state on 6 November 2026. Saloria is one of the products compared: we say so up front and do not put it first by default. The table is in alphabetical order.
No fee and no commission
Saloria Free, Setmore Free and Square Free have no monthly fee. Saloria takes no commission and also includes a one-page salon website; Setmore Free covers up to 4 users; Square Free is tied to Square payments, which carry processing fees.
Commission on new clients
Treatwell states a 25% commission on the first bookings of new clients brought by its marketplace, 0% on repeat bookings and 2% on online prepayments. Its pricing page shows Starter and Advanced plans that you can start for free and mentions a monthly fee whose amount does not appear in the text we checked. The benefit is visibility to new clients; the cost grows with the clients the platform brings.
Free trial, then paid
Fresha in Italy lists an Independent plan at €19.95 a month and a Team plan at €13.95 a month per bookable team member, with a 7-day trial. Its marketplace charges a one-time fee on new clients and nothing on returning clients.
How to get started
- Write down how many team members need to receive bookings.
- Estimate how many new clients come from a marketplace today.
- Work out fees and commissions for a typical month.
- Try booking from your phone before choosing.
Discover Saloria features
Learn more with the guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free booking app for a hairdresser?
It depends on what you need. If you want new clients from a platform, marketplaces such as Treatwell or Fresha bring visibility in exchange for commissions. If clients already find you and you want a calendar with no cost, Saloria Free, Setmore Free and Square Free have no monthly fee. The guided consultation, face and hair analysis, reports, matching and indicative AI previews are included in every plan; Free includes 10 consultations a month.
Are commissions charged on returning clients?
For Treatwell and Fresha, the official pages state commissions on new clients from the marketplace and none on returning clients. Saloria charges no commission.
Does a free calendar have limits?
Yes, every free plan does: number of users, calendars, features or ties to payments. Saloria Free uses a single calendar and one device; per-professional calendars start with Basic.
Why isn’t Saloria ranked first?
Because this page is written by Saloria: alphabetical order and data from official pages are more useful than a one-sided ranking.
Saloria editorial team. Data checked on 6 November 2026 on the official pages listed. Features not described in those sources are not assumed to be missing.