Fresha built its base as free salon software, then introduced per-member subscription fees in many regions.
Salon marketplace
← All comparisonsPatron vs Fresha
Fresha lures you with a low base price, then takes a 20% one-time commission on every client who books through its marketplace, and it quietly ended its “free forever” plan. Patron has no marketplace and no per-client fees.
Head-to-head
Line by line.
FreshaPatron
Monthly priceIndependent $19.95 · Team $14.95/member$23.99/mo solo · $43.99 + $12/artist for shops
Marketplace commission20% one-time on new marketplace clients (min $6)✓None, we never resell your clients
Built for tattooingNo, salon-first✓Yes, from the ground up
AI Instagram-DM intakeNo✓Yes, AI turns DMs into structured requests
Reference annotation canvasNo✓Yes, mark up reference photos in-app
Consent / waiver formsNo (salon-generic)✓Included
Own your client listMarketplace sits between you and clients✓None, we never resell your clients
FreshaPatron
Monthly price
Independent $19.95 · Team $14.95/member
$23.99/mo solo · $43.99 + $12/artist for shops
Marketplace commission
20% one-time on new marketplace clients (min $6)
✓None, we never resell your clients
Built for tattooing
No, salon-first
✓Yes, from the ground up
AI Instagram-DM intake
No
✓Yes, AI turns DMs into structured requests
Reference annotation canvas
No
✓Yes, mark up reference photos in-app
Consent / waiver forms
No (salon-generic)
✓Included
Own your client list
Marketplace sits between you and clients
✓None, we never resell your clients
Fresha pricing · verified July 2026
Independent $19.95/mo (solo); Team $14.95/mo per bookable member; online payments 2.79% + 20¢; 20% one-time commission on new marketplace clients (min $6); no free plan.
From the field
What artists note about Fresha.
Reviewers report a 20% new-client commission and slow or unresponsive support.
The bottom line
Fresha's sticker price is bait; the marketplace commission is where it earns. Patron's flat subscription with no commission is more predictable, and it's actually built for tattooing.
Compare Patron with
Comparisons use Fresha's publicly published pricing and features, verified July 2026. Numbers change, so confirm current pricing on each vendor's site. Sources in the competitive analysis.