Stop paying 20% on new clients
Fresha is essentially a marketplace that tithes your business. OpenChair gives you the same booking capabilities without the 'New Client Fee' tax — plus AI tools Fresha doesn't offer.
Our Take
If Fresha's marketplace is your primary new client channel, switching is a bigger decision — that traffic is real. But if most of your bookings already come from regulars, Instagram, or Google, you're paying 20% on new client bookings for nothing. On a salon taking 50 new client bookings a month at $100 average, that's $1,000 in fees every month. OpenChair gives you equivalent booking capabilities, stronger AI tools, and a hard monthly cap at A$199 — with zero commission on every booking.
Feature Comparison
The Honest Truth about Fresha
They are a solid platform, but here is where they fall short for modern growth-focused venues.
- 20% commission on every new client's first booking
- Marketplace-first model — they own your client relationships
- No AI Concierge, no waitlist auto-matching, no proficiency-tier pricing
- Dynamic Reassignment can move flexible bookings to another stylist without explicit approval — a trust trade-off some owners won't want
- Huge marketplace traffic for new client discovery
- Free to start with no subscription fee
- Good mobile app and consumer brand recognition
Make the Switch
Switch Free for 60 Days
Join the OpenChair Founding Members club. Switch from Fresha and your first 60 days are on us — plus we'll help you import your client list so no one gets left behind.
Claim OfferLimited time offer for verified Fresha customers.
Making the Switch from Fresha
Switching software feels daunting — but it doesn't have to be. Here's exactly how the transition works.
Export your client list
Download your client data from Fresha. Fresha restricts some data exports, but you can export client names, contact details, and appointment history. We'll walk you through it.
Import into OpenChair
Use our AI Booking Link Import or upload your exported CSV. OpenChair maps your services, pricing, and client details automatically — review and adjust before going live.
Set up your branded storefront
Unlike Fresha, your booking page is yours. Add your logo, choose your colours, connect your custom domain (Pro), and share the link with your clients.
Go live — run both in parallel if you like
There's no hard cut-over required. Many venues run Fresha and OpenChair side by side for a week or two, then switch their booking link once they're confident. No lock-in means no pressure.