Fresha vs Timely

Fresha9.4Visit Timely8.6Visit

Higher score Fresha #1 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software 9.4/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Fresha

vs

Timely #7 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software 8.6/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Timely

• Fresha fits best

  Salons wanting scheduling plus business tools

• Timely fits best

  Salons wanting mature scheduling tools

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Side by side

Feature	Fresha 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Timely 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.6
Ranking	#1 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software	#7 in Salon Appointment Scheduling Software
Best for	Salons wanting scheduling plus business tools	Salons wanting mature scheduling tools
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	—	$26/user/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	7 days	14 days
Free trial length	7 days · no card needed	14 days · no card needed
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Phone, Docs · 24/7	Live chat, Community, Docs
Compliance	GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA	2FA
Integrations	6 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Fresha 1/6 · Timely 1/6
Online self-booking	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Automated reminders	✓	✓
Cancellation controls	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Staff calendars	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Appointment payments	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
External calendar sync	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Staff accounts	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free plans cover solo businesses and teams of any size. Combines booking, reminders, payments, POS, client records, and inventory. Supports group appointments and automatic team assignment.	Two-way Google Calendar sync with online booking and appointment reminders Collects deposits and cancellation fees alongside online and in-person payments Adds staff controls, inventory, reporting, and digital consultation forms
Cons	Communications, marketplace acquisition, payment processing, and add-ons may cost extra. Calendar sync exports appointments but is not documented as two-way. The breadth of business tools may exceed the needs of salons seeking scheduling alone.	No free plan; Build starts at $26 per staff member monthly Advanced tools such as waitlists and digital forms require higher plans Elevate and Innovate plan prices are not specified here
Our verdict	Fresha brings salon appointment scheduling together with tools for day-to-day business operations. Its Independent plan is for one-person businesses, while Team supports multiple team members and unlimited staff. Both include calendar… Read the review →	Timely brings appointment booking, payment collection, and salon management into a cloud-based product for hair, beauty, wellness, and other appointment-based businesses. Its tools span online booking pages, an appointment calendar, client… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Fresha — where it wins

  • Free plans cover solo businesses and teams of any size.
  • Combines booking, reminders, payments, POS, client records, and inventory.
  • Supports group appointments and automatic team assignment.

  Where it doesn't

  • Communications, marketplace acquisition, payment processing, and add-ons may cost extra.
  • Calendar sync exports appointments but is not documented as two-way.
  • The breadth of business tools may exceed the needs of salons seeking scheduling alone.

• Timely — where it wins

  • Two-way Google Calendar sync with online booking and appointment reminders
  • Collects deposits and cancellation fees alongside online and in-person payments
  • Adds staff controls, inventory, reporting, and digital consultation forms

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; Build starts at $26 per staff member monthly
  • Advanced tools such as waitlists and digital forms require higher plans
  • Elevate and Innovate plan prices are not specified here

• Fresha9.4/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A broad salon booking and operations suite with free Independent and Team plans.

  Visit FreshaFull verdict →
• Timely8.6/10 · 14-day trial

  A mature scheduling toolkit for salons, with payments, staff controls, and client records.

  Visit TimelyFull verdict →