Updated October 5, 2026
Askie vs Fresha
Fresha does more. It runs your front desk, counter payments, retail and payroll, and its marketplace can send you new clients for a one-time 20% fee. Askie does less and usually costs less, with no marketplace and no per-staff pricing. Want one system for the whole business? Pick Fresha. Want clients who stay yours, on a booking page with no marketplace around it? Pick Askie.
Which one fits your salon
Choose Fresha if
- You want checkout, counter card payments and retail in the same system as your calendar. Fresha has a full POS and sells card terminals. Askie has neither.
- You're new or just moved, and people who've never heard of you need to find you. Fresha's marketplace can do that. You pay the 20% fee once per new client. Returning clients carry no fee.
- You run payroll, staff commissions or stock from your booking software. Fresha covers pay runs, timesheets and inventory.
- Your clients often book several services in one visit. Askie books one at a time.
Choose Askie if
- You want a storefront of your own. Your booking page shows your business and nothing else.
- You want your clients to stay yours. Their details run your bookings and reminders. They're never used to introduce them to another salon.
- Your clients come from Instagram, Google and word of mouth, and repeat business is the plan.
- Your team is growing. Askie prices by appointments, so a new stylist doesn't add CA$19.95 a month.
- You take payments online and want them in a Stripe account you own and log into yourself.
What each one costs
Prices in CAD, before tax, from each company's own pricing page.
| Fee | Fresha | Askie |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | CA$29.95/month for a one-person business (Independent) or CA$19.95/month per bookable team member (Team), 7-day trial. | Plans are sized by appointments, not staff: Solo CA$29, Growth CA$79, Scale CA$149. Unlimited staff on every plan. |
| Extra staff | CA$19.95 per bookable team member per month on the Team plan. | Unlimited staff at no extra charge. |
| Commission | 20% one-time commission on brand-new clients who discover the business via the Fresha marketplace, minimum CA$6 per client. No fee on returning-client bookings. | No commission on any booking. |
| Card processing | 2.79% + CA$0.20 online; 2.29% + CA$0.20 in person (+CA$0.15 per Tap to Pay authorization). | Stripe's standard Canadian rate, 2.9% + CA$0.30 per domestic card payment. Payments go to your own Stripe account and Stripe bills you directly; Askie adds nothing on top. |
| Contract | Monthly subscription; no long-term contract. | Monthly; cancel anytime. |
Fresha pricing verified October 6, 2026 from Fresha's pricing page. Askie pricing from our pricing page. Every Fresha fee, line by line: Fresha pricing in Canada.
Monthly cost by team size
Subscription and marketplace fees only. The Fresha columns change with how many of your appointments are brand-new clients from Fresha's marketplace, at a CA$60 average first visit. Don't use the marketplace? Read the 0% column.
| Team | Fresha0% marketplace clients | Fresha10% marketplace clients | Fresha25% marketplace clients | Askie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo150 appointments/mo | CA$29.95 | CA$209.95 | CA$479.95 | CA$29Solo plan |
| 3 staff450 appointments/mo | CA$59.85 | CA$599.85 | CA$1,409.85 | CA$66.50Solo plan |
| 8 staff1200 appointments/mo | CA$159.60 | CA$1,599.60 | CA$3,759.60 | CA$149Scale plan |
Add-ons costs aren't included for Fresha. Askie has no feature restrictions. Numbers don't include sales lost to competitors due to marketplace promotions run by your competitors. How that works.
Want your own numbers? The booking software cost calculator takes your team size, volume and the features you need, and the full Fresha pricing breakdown covers add-ons and processing. To check whether the marketplace fee is worth it for you, try the marketplace commission calculator.
Who else can reach your clients
Every client who books you online on Fresha needs a Fresha account, and that same account books every other business on Fresha. This applies to clients you won yourself, with or without a marketplace fee.
- 1
Your client books you with a Fresha account
Fresha's help centre says clients "need to create or log in to a Fresha client account to book and confirm an appointment online." It lists no exception for your own booking link, website or Instagram, where the marketplace fee doesn't apply. Source
- 2
The same account finds other salons
Fresha's customer app invites people to "discover the best hairdressers, salons, spas and more near you" and book them. Source
- 3
Fresha can recommend other businesses to them
Fresha's privacy policy says it "may use an email address and/or a phone number that you have provided to Partners when booking with them as a controller," and "may analyse your booking history, browsing behaviour and account information to recommend services, Partners, products and offers." Partners are the businesses on Fresha. Source
- 4
Another salon pays Fresha for your client
If your client books a new salon through the marketplace, that salon pays Fresha the 20% new-client fee. You brought the client to Fresha, someone else pays for the introduction, and you may not see that client again. Source
What Fresha does protect
Your client list is yours
For the clients in your Fresha account, Fresha's data protection terms name your business as the controller of their data and Fresha as the processor that holds it for you. Source
You can book clients without an account
If a client doesn't want a Fresha account, you can add the booking to your calendar yourself with their name and mobile number. Source
On Askie
Askie has no marketplace and no client app. Clients book on a page that shows only your business, with no account to create. We use their details to run your bookings and reminders, never to market another business to them.
How booking marketplaces work, and what they cost an established business: the marketplace truth.
Feature by feature
Each row says what has to be true to count. “Not listed” means we couldn't find it on Fresha's pages. It may still exist.
| Feature | Fresha | Askie |
|---|---|---|
| BookingFresha source: fresha.com/for-business/features | ||
| Online booking pageClients can book without calling, from a link or page the business shares. | IncludedClient booking app, direct links, Facebook and Instagram. | IncludedNo app or client account required. |
| Multi-staff calendarOne calendar view with separate columns or schedules for each team member. | Higher plan onlyNeeds the Team plan (CA$19.95 per team member). | IncludedUnlimited staff on every plan. |
| WaitlistClients can join a list for a full day or time, and the business can offer them an opening. | Included | IncludedClients join a waitlist and your team offers them an opening. |
| Instagram / Google bookingA booking link or button that works from Instagram and Google Business Profile. | Included | IncludedGoogle and Instagram booking links, plus website and QR code. |
| Cancellation policy & no-show protectionA published cancellation window plus at least one enforcement tool: a fee, a deposit, or a card on file. | IncludedCancellation policies with fees, plus upfront payments and deposits. | IncludedCancellation windows, deposits and cancellation charges, set per service. |
| PaymentsFresha source: fresha.com/for-business/features | ||
| Online paymentsClients can pay by card when they book or after the visit, inside the platform. | Included | IncludedThrough Stripe. Payments land in your own Stripe account, which you log into and control. Askie helps you connect it. |
| In-person paymentsCard payments at the chair or counter through the platform, using a reader or tap-to-pay on a phone. | IncludedTap to Pay on phone, plus card terminals from CA$189. | Not offeredNo built-in POS or card reader. Keep using your own terminal at the counter. |
| Deposits & prepaymentsThe business can require money upfront to confirm a booking. | Included | IncludedPer service, as a percentage or a fixed CAD amount. |
| Gift cardsClients can buy and redeem gift cards through the platform. | Included | Not offered |
| Packages & membershipsPrepaid bundles or recurring memberships that clients redeem against visits. | Included | Not offered |
| Client communicationFresha source: fresha.com/pricing | ||
| SMS remindersAutomated text-message appointment reminders. included means usable at normal volume with no separate add-on. | Included100 texts a month free, then paid. | IncludedWhatsApp, SMS and email reminders on every plan. |
| Email remindersAutomated email confirmations and reminders. | IncludedEmail notifications are free. | Included |
| WhatsApp messagingBooking confirmations or conversations with clients over WhatsApp. | Paid add-onWhatsApp confirmations, CA$0.06 to CA$0.12 each. | IncludedMeta bills the WhatsApp number directly; Askie credits it back. |
| Rebooking campaignsBuilt-in outreach that invites past clients back to book, automated or sent in one step. | IncludedCampaigns and promotions; marketing emails are 50 a month free, then paid. | IncludedRebooking invites are included in every tier. |
| Marketing & reviewsFresha source: fresha.com/pricing | ||
| Google Reviews integrationReview requests send clients to the business's Google Business Profile, not only to a review page inside the platform. | Paid add-onGoogle Rating Boost add-on, CA$20.95 per location per month. | IncludedReview requests go to your Google Business Profile. |
| In-platform reviewsClients can leave ratings or reviews that appear on a profile the platform hosts. | Included | Not applicableReviews live on your Google Business Profile, not on an Askie profile. |
| Customer loyalty programBuilt-in points or visit rewards, not via a third-party integration. | Paid add-onClient Loyalty add-on, CA$79.95 per location per month. | IncludedDefine loyalty tiers based on visits or spends |
| Email marketingSend promotional email to a client list from inside the platform. | Included50 emails a month free, then paid. | Not offeredComing soon. |
| Promotions & dealsDiscounts, flash sales or limited-time offers the business can create and publish. | Included | Not offeredComing soon. |
| Data ownership & exportFresha source: fresha.com/for-business/features | ||
| Client list exportThe owner can download their client list (names and contact details) without contacting support. | IncludedExcel or CSV from Clients > Clients list > Options. Saved card details can't be exported. | Not offeredAvailable on request. Ask us and we'll send you your full client list. |
| Client data importClients can be brought in from another system by spreadsheet, tool or assisted migration. | IncludedClient list import from a spreadsheet. | IncludedWe do the import for you. Send us your export files and we load them into your account. |
| API or bulk data accessDocumented API or bulk data connector for the business's own data. | Paid add-onData Connector add-on, CA$305 per location per month. | Not offered |
| MarketplaceFresha source: fresha.com/pricing | ||
| Marketplace discoveryThe business is listed in a consumer marketplace run by the platform, where new clients can find it. not_applicable means the platform has no marketplace. | Included20% one-time fee on brand-new marketplace clients, minimum CA$6. | Not applicableAskie has no marketplace. |
| Enhanced marketplace visibilityPaid or promoted placement inside the platform's marketplace, beyond a standard listing. | Included | Not applicable |
Fresha features verified October 6, 2026. Askie features verified October 5, 2026.
The real differences
Where Fresha is stronger
- Payments at the counter. Full POS, Tap to Pay on a phone and card terminals from CA$189.
- Card processing built in, at 2.79% + CA$0.20 online and 2.29% + CA$0.20 in person.
- The back office. Inventory, an online product store, payroll, timesheets and staff commissions.
- Gift cards, memberships and packages, sold and redeemed inside Fresha.
- Several services in one booking, so a client can book a cut and colour together.
- Getting found. The marketplace and the Fresha client app put you in front of people searching nearby.
- Self-serve exports. You can download your client list, appointments and service menu yourself.
Where Askie is stronger
- No marketplace and no client app. Your clients' details are never used to point them at another salon.
- Clients book you directly, on a page that shows only your business, with no account to create.
- Every feature on every plan. Google review requests, loyalty, WhatsApp reminders and deposits are in Solo, same as Scale. Plans differ only in how many appointments and rebooking invites they include.
- Pricing by appointments. From CA$29 a month, with unlimited staff on every plan.
- No commission. Ever. No fee on any client, new or returning.
- Payments go to your own Stripe account. You log into Stripe directly, so payouts and payment history don't depend on Askie.
Moving from Fresha
Export everything before you cancel, and open each file to check it. These steps follow Fresha's own help centre.
- 1
Client list
Go to Clients, then Clients list, then Options, and choose Excel or CSV. In the phone app, tap Clients, then the three dots. Source
- 2
Appointments
Go to Sales, then Appointments. Set the date range to cover your full history and click Export. Choose Excel or CSV, not PDF, so the file can be imported.
- 3
Service menu
Go to Catalog, then Service menu, then Options, and choose Excel or CSV. Source
- 4
Reports for your accountant
Reports export one at a time as PDF, CSV or Excel. Some reports need Fresha's Insights add-on. Source
What stays behind
Saved cards
Fresha keeps card details encrypted and doesn't let anyone export them. Clients will add a card again the first time you take a deposit. Source
Fresha reviews and your marketplace listing
These belong to Fresha's marketplace and stay there. Reviews on your Google Business Profile aren't affected.
Client notes, forms and files
We didn't find an export for these in Fresha's help centre. Ask Fresha support before you cancel, and copy anything you can't lose.
Gift card, membership and package balances
We didn't find an export for these either. List any open balances before you leave so you can honour them.
On the Askie side
Send us your exported files and we'll import them into your Askie account, then walk through the result with you before you share your new booking link. There's no self-serve tool. We do it one-to-one. Tell us what's in your export and we'll confirm what comes across.
Common Questions
Is Fresha cheaper than Askie?
For one person, they're close: CA$29.95 for Fresha Independent against CA$29 for Askie Solo. With a team, Fresha charges CA$19.95 per team member and Askie charges by appointment volume, so Askie usually costs less. Fresha's online card rate is lower than Stripe's standard rate, which narrows the gap if most of your revenue is paid by card online.
Does Askie charge a commission like Fresha?
No commission. Ever. Askie charges a flat monthly plan sized by appointment volume (Solo, Growth and Scale), with no per-staff fees and no marketplace. If you take payments online, Stripe charges its own processing fee and bills you directly.
Can Fresha market other salons to my clients?
Your client list belongs to your business under Fresha's data protection terms. But clients need a Fresha account to book you online, even through your own link. Fresha's privacy policy lets it use the contact details they gave you and recommend other businesses based on their booking history. If one of them books another salon through the marketplace, that salon pays Fresha the new-client fee. Askie has no marketplace and never uses one business's clients to market another.
Can I take my clients with me if I leave Fresha?
Yes. You can download your client list from Fresha as Excel or CSV. Saved cards stay behind, and we didn't find an export for client notes or forms, so ask Fresha support before you cancel. Send us the files and we'll import them into Askie for you.
Can Askie take payments at the counter?
Not yet. Askie takes online payments and deposits through your own Stripe account. At the counter, keep using the card terminal you already have.
Keep reading
- Fresha pricing in CanadaFees and worked scenarios in CAD, with sources.
- Compare costs for your teamEnter your team size and volume to see each platform’s bill.
- Askie for hair salonsStylist-specific services, long appointments and repeat visits.
- Askie for barbershopsChair-level scheduling, walk-ins and repeat-visit booking.
The door is open
Ready to leave Fresha? Bring your booking page with you.
Paste your Fresha link. We'll pull in your services and hours so you can check them, then your Askie page is ready to share. One month free.
No commission. No marketplace. Your customer data stays yours.