Fresha and ZibaDesk are two of the most talked-about salon platforms in 2026 — but they take very different approaches. Fresha calls itself "free" and earns through commissions and processing fees. ZibaDesk charges a flat monthly fee and never takes a cut of your bookings. Here's an honest breakdown of which one is the right fit for your salon.
The Short Answer
If you want zero subscription cost and don't mind paying booking commissions plus a marketplace presence, Fresha is a solid pick. If you want predictable flat-rate pricing, full ownership of your client list, offline-capable POS, and Australian support in your language, ZibaDesk is the better long-term investment — particularly for established operators evaluating hair salon software and nail salon software with a loyal repeat-client base.
Pricing at a Glance
| Pricing | ZibaDesk | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | From A$19.99/mo (Pro) | A$0 (free tier) |
| Card processing fee | Use any AU processor (Stripe, Square, Tyro) | ~2.19%–2.49% via Fresha Pay |
| New-client booking commission | None | ~20% on first-time bookings |
| SMS reminders | Included on Ultra; pay-as-you-go on Pro | Charged per message |
| Free trial | 45 days, no card required | Free forever (with fees above) |
Fresha looks free on the surface. But if you process A$30,000 a month in cards, that's roughly A$660–A$750/month in processing fees alone. Add commission on new-client bookings from the marketplace and SMS charges, and most salons end up paying significantly more than a flat-rate plan would cost.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ZibaDesk | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking page | Yes | Yes |
| POS for in-person checkout | Yes — works offline | Cloud-only |
| Marketplace listing | No (your clients stay yours) | Yes (also exposes you to competitors) |
| Staff scheduling & rosters | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory & product sales | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty programme | Built-in | Limited |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| AI pricelist import (photo → services) | Yes | No |
| UI languages | 8 (incl. RTL Arabic & Persian) | Limited RTL support |
| iOS / Android native app | Yes | Yes |
| Xero accounting integration | Yes | Via export |
| WhatsApp reminders | Yes | No |
| Australian-based support | Australia | Global team |
Where Fresha Wins
Fresha has a genuine zero-monthly-fee entry point, which is attractive if you're just starting out and have very low transaction volume. Its consumer marketplace can drive net-new clients to your door — useful if you're a brand-new business with no following. Fresha's branding and marketing polish are also a step ahead of most salon software, though specialist verticals like aesthetic clinic management tend to get less product attention there.
Where ZibaDesk Wins
- Flat, predictable cost. A$19.99 or A$39.99 per month — no surprise commissions, no per-message fees stacking up.
- You keep your clients. No marketplace listing means your competitors can't market to your customers.
- Offline POS. Process payments and check out clients even when your internet drops. Critical in busy AU shopping centres with patchy Wi-Fi.
- AI onboarding. Snap a photo of your existing pricelist and ZibaDesk builds your services list automatically.
- Real multi-language. 8 fully translated UIs including right-to-left Arabic and Persian — invaluable for Australia's diverse salon market.
- Australian support. Australian-based team, AU GST-ready, Xero integration native.
Our Honest Verdict
Choose Fresha if: you're brand-new, processing under A$5,000/month, and want zero fixed cost while you build a client base via their marketplace.
Choose ZibaDesk if: you already have regular clients, you process more than A$10,000/month, you want predictable costs, you need offline POS, or you value an Australian team that supports your language.