Elite Booker vs Fresha
If you are considering Elite Booker as a Fresha alternative, separate the cost of managing appointments from the cost of acquiring new clients. Fresha charges differently for a solo calendar and a team, and its marketplace fee is tied to eligible new clients.
Published by Elite Booker. Reviewed 10 September 2026. Competitor prices come from their published pages on that date and can change.
Costs and practical differences
Each row compares the same thing on both platforms, with a link to the competitor’s own published terms.
| Consideration | Elite Booker | Fresha |
|---|
| Subscription | Basic is £0 a month. Professional and Enterprise are flat monthly prices, not per team member, and every plan includes unlimited staff. | Independent: £14.95/month. Team: £9.95 per bookable team member/month. UK rates shown before tax. Official Fresha source for subscription |
|---|
| Marketplace and direct bookings | No commission on any booking. On Basic, clients pay a £0.99 booking fee when they pay online; Professional and Enterprise have no booking fee. | Eligible marketplace-introduced new clients: 20% once, minimum £4. Returning-client and direct-booking links have no marketplace booking fee. Official Fresha source for marketplace and direct bookings |
|---|
| Online payments | Take a deposit, full payment online, or payment in the salon. Stripe pays online payments into your own Stripe account and charges its standard card fees. | UK online card payments listed at 1.40% + £0.25 per transaction; other payment methods have different rates. Check tax and account terms. Official Fresha source for online payments |
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| Appointment messages | Email confirmations and reminders on every plan. SMS is an optional paid add-on; replies to texts are not handled in Elite Booker. | 20 automated messages monthly on Independent, or per team member on Team; then £0.06 per SMS. WhatsApp rates differ. Official Fresha source for appointment messages |
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| Taking client records with you | There is no automatic import from another system. During your personal setup we add your services, prices and durations with you and set your availability. | Client lists can be exported as CSV or Excel with the appropriate permission. Stored client card information cannot be exported or transferred. Official Fresha source for taking client records with you |
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Elite Booker references: published plans, SMS capabilities and deposit options.
When comparing a Fresha alternative makes sense
If most clients already know your salon, model direct and returning bookings separately from marketplace introductions. If discovery is important, weigh the acquisition service alongside its cost. For a team, count bookable staff before comparing a headline monthly price.
Before moving from Fresha
- Download an authorised client export and check the fields before arranging any import. Treat future appointments, outstanding deposits and gift balances as separate records to reconcile.
- Test a representative service, staff schedule and payment choice in Elite Booker before changing your booking links. Confirm how existing bookings will be honoured during the changeover.
Keep your current diary running until your Elite Booker booking page is ready and tested, then switch your booking link.
Questions before you choose
Is Elite Booker always cheaper than Fresha?
Not always. It depends on your team size, how many clients Fresha introduces and how you take payments. Price one normal month on both, using the rows above.
Will my Fresha reviews and payment details move across?
No. Fresha does not export stored card details, and Elite Booker does not import reviews or client records automatically. We set up your services, prices and availability with you during your trial.
Use the same trial checklist on both platforms
A headline price cannot tell you whether a system fits your salon. Record these answers for your current provider and Elite Booker before changing your booking link.
Price the same working month
Count bookable staff, direct and marketplace bookings, card transactions and reminder messages. Ask for a written total separating subscription, tax, payment charges, acquisition fees and optional extras.
Try your most demanding appointment
Choose a service with the staff, duration and payment arrangement you actually need. Look at the customer journey and the diary entry it creates: processing time, bundles and deposits work differently from one platform to the next.
Plan what will move
List client contact records, future appointments, paid deposits, gift balances and consent history separately. Elite Booker has no automatic import, so we set up your services, prices and availability with you and you decide how to bring clients across.
Choose a safe changeover point
Reconcile upcoming bookings and money already paid before replacing website or social booking links. Assign someone to check both diaries during the transition and tell clients how to contact you.
Follow the Elite Booker trial walkthroughStart your 60-day trial