Comparison
Klippa vs Fresha
Fresha is one of the best-known names in salon booking, and for good reason — it popularised subscription-free software and a large consumer marketplace. But the model that makes Fresha attractive on day one is also where Australian salon owners tend to have questions later: how you're charged, who owns the client relationship, and what happens to a booking when no one can get to the phone.
Klippa takes a different approach — flat monthly pricing in Australian dollars, your client list firmly yours, and an optional AI receptionist (AnswR) that answers calls when you're with a client. This page lays out the real differences so you can decide which fits your salon. Where we mention Fresha's terms, we've kept to what's publicly documented and dated it, because marketplace pricing changes — always confirm the current terms on Fresha's own site.
| Feature | Klippa | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plans (AUD, incl GST), no per-head surcharge | Subscription-free; transaction & new-client marketplace fees (verify current terms) |
| Online booking | Branded booking page + embeddable website widget | Booking page plus the Fresha consumer marketplace |
| Owning / exporting your client list | Full export of clients & history any time | Marketplace-centric; confirm export options |
| No-show protection | Deposits, cancellation policies, automated SMS reminders | Deposits & cancellation fees available (verify settings) |
| AI phone receptionist | AnswR add-on; included on Enterprise | Not offered |
| Free data migration | Free CSV import + assisted migration | Self-serve import |
| Support & hosting | Australian-made, Australian-based support | Global support operation |
Fresha details last checked May 2026. Verify current terms on Fresha's website.
Pricing model: flat plans vs marketplace fees
Klippa charges a flat monthly subscription per salon, in AUD and inclusive of GST, with generous staff caps and no per-head surcharge. You know your software bill before the month starts, and adding another stylist doesn't change it until you cross a plan tier.
Fresha is positioned as subscription-free: the core booking software has no monthly fee, and Fresha instead earns through transaction-based charges — most notably fees connected to new clients booked through its marketplace, plus card processing. For some salons that trade-off is excellent; for others, variable per-booking costs are harder to forecast than a flat plan. The honest answer to "which is cheaper" depends on your mix of repeat versus new-from-marketplace clients, so it's worth modelling both against your own numbers.
Payments and no-show protection
Both platforms support online payments and deposits. Klippa runs payments through Stripe with deposits, cancellation policies and no-show fees you control, and processing rates that step down as you move up plan tiers.
If reducing no-shows is your main reason for adopting software, focus less on the brand and more on the specifics: can you require a deposit on the services that hurt most when missed, enforce a cancellation window, and automate the SMS reminders that actually prevent no-shows? Klippa is built around those controls; confirm Fresha's current deposit and fee settings suit your services.
Who owns the client relationship
This is the difference that matters most over time. With Klippa, your clients are yours — you can export the full list and history at any time, and clients book through your own branded page or a widget embedded on your website, not a shared marketplace.
Fresha's marketplace is a genuine acquisition channel, which is a real benefit. The trade-off is that clients who find you there are discovering you inside someone else's directory alongside other salons. Neither model is wrong — but if building a directly-owned client base and brand is your priority, weigh that up.
AI phone answering with AnswR
Missed calls are missed revenue, and they happen most when you're mid-service. Klippa offers AnswR, an AI phone receptionist that answers calls 24/7 in a natural Australian voice, checks live availability, books the appointment straight into your calendar and texts a confirmation — available as an add-on and included on the Enterprise plan.
This is a category Fresha doesn't offer. If your salon loses bookings to voicemail during busy periods, it's worth pricing the recovered appointments against the add-on cost.
Support, hosting and the fine print
Klippa is Australian-made with Australian-based support, prices shown in AUD inclusive of GST, and data handled under Australian privacy expectations. For salons that want to speak to someone in their own timezone, that matters.
Fresha operates globally with a large support operation. Both are credible; the question is simply which support model and timezone suit how you run your day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Klippa or Fresha cheaper for a small salon?
It depends on your client mix. Klippa's flat monthly plan gives you a predictable bill regardless of how many bookings you take. Fresha has no subscription but charges transaction-based fees, including for new clients booked via its marketplace, so your cost moves with volume. If most of your clients are repeat regulars, a flat plan is usually easier to forecast; if you rely heavily on marketplace discovery, model both against your own numbers.
Can I move my client data from Fresha to Klippa?
Yes. Klippa offers free CSV import for client data and our team can assist with the migration, so you can bring across your client list and history rather than starting from scratch.
Does Klippa charge commission on bookings?
No. Klippa uses flat plan pricing with no per-booking commission and no new-client marketplace fee. You pay your plan, plus standard card processing on payments you take.
Does Fresha have an AI phone receptionist like AnswR?
Not that we're aware of as of May 2026. AnswR — Klippa's AI receptionist that answers calls, books appointments and sends confirmations — is a Klippa offering. Always check competitors' current feature lists, as products change.