OpenSlot vs Fresha
A Fresha alternative with no new-client commission.
Fresha combines booking software with a consumer marketplace and in-salon payments. OpenSlot is just your own booking page, with flat pricing and no commission. Here is how they compare.
Free plan, no card required. Paid plans from £12 a month.
Marketplace or your own page
Fresha's marketplace can send you new clients who are browsing for a treatment nearby. For that introduction it charges a one-time commission on each new marketplace client. Bookings through your own direct link, Facebook or Instagram are not charged that commission.
OpenSlot is not a marketplace. It will not find you new clients, but it never takes a commission either. Every client who books through your OpenSlot page is your client.
OpenSlot and Fresha side by side
Fresha figures as published on fresha.com/pricing on 20 October 2026, shown excluding VAT. Check their site for current figures.
| OpenSlot | Fresha | |
|---|---|---|
| One person | Free, or £12 a month (Solo) | £14.95 a month (Independent) |
| Five staff | £29 a month (Team) | £49.75 a month (5 × £9.95 per team member) |
| Online card payments | Through your own Stripe account at Stripe's rates | 1.40% + 25p per transaction |
| New clients from a marketplace | No marketplace | One-time 20% commission, minimum £4, per new marketplace client |
| Bookings from your own link | No commission | No commission |
| In-salon card terminals and till | No | Yes |
| Contract | Monthly, cancel any time | See Fresha's terms |
Fresha is a trademark of its owner. OpenSlot is not affiliated with Fresha.
Choose Fresha if
- You want to be listed on a consumer marketplace to attract new clients
- You need card terminals, a till and retail stock in the salon
- You run a large team and want salon-specific features such as product sales and payroll tools
Choose OpenSlot if
- Most of your clients find you through Instagram, Google or word of mouth
- You want one flat monthly price instead of a fee per team member
- You want card payments at booking to go through your own Stripe account at Stripe's rates
- You want a simple booking page you can set up in minutes
A Fresha alternative for tattoo shops
Tattoo sessions are often long, so one no-show can cost an artist most of a day. OpenSlot lets you list each session type with its own length and price, and take a deposit at booking on Solo or Team. The deposit goes to your own Stripe account, and OpenSlot takes no commission.
If your clients already find you through Instagram or word of mouth, you may not need a marketplace at all. Put your booking link in your bio and take deposits there.
OpenSlot does not have consent forms, intake forms or design uploads. The booking form takes a name, email, phone number and an optional message, so keep consent forms and design references where you hold them now.
- Free consultations next to paid sessions, on Solo or Team
- Buffer time around each session for setting up and cleaning down
- Deposit, lateness and age rules in your booking terms, agreed before the booking is confirmed
- A flat £29 a month for up to five artists, rather than a fee per artist
Does OpenSlot charge a commission on new clients?
No. OpenSlot has no marketplace and takes no commission on any booking. You pay a flat plan price, and Stripe charges its standard card fees on payments you take.
Is Fresha still free?
According to Fresha's pricing page on 20 October 2026, plans start at £14.95 a month for one team member, plus payment processing fees and a commission on new marketplace clients.
Can I move my salon from Fresha to OpenSlot?
Yes. Add your treatments and staff hours in OpenSlot, then swap the booking link in your Instagram bio, Google profile and website.
Is OpenSlot a good Fresha alternative for tattoo shops?
It suits tattoo shops that want deposits at booking, no commission and their own booking link. It does not handle consent forms or design uploads, and it will not list your shop on a marketplace.
Will I lose marketplace clients if I leave Fresha?
Possibly. OpenSlot does not list your business on a marketplace. Some salons keep a marketplace listing for discovery and use their own booking page for regular clients.
Your time, open for business
Keep every booking, and every client.
Create an account, add a service and share your link. Most businesses are ready in about ten minutes.