DaySpark and Fresha are both booking and client management platforms popular with hair salons — but they’re built with different business models. Fresha pairs a consumer marketplace with per-stylist subscription fees and a commission on new client bookings. DaySpark was built for appointment-based service businesses that want flat-tier pricing, per-stylist scheduling, client notes, and payments working together without marketplace fees eating into every new booking.
This comparison breaks down how the two platforms compare across the factors salon owners ask about most.
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Plans and pricing
DaySpark has three tiers:
- Essential ($49/mo monthly, $40/mo annual) — up to 3 staff, 1 location, online booking, email reminders, client notes, packages, memberships, payments and checkout
- Growth ($89/mo monthly, $75/mo annual) — up to 10 staff per location, multi-location, email and SMS reminders (SMS requires a $5/mo add-on, US and Canada only), user roles and access controls
- Professional ($129/mo monthly, $105/mo annual) — up to 20 staff per location, staff commission tracking, all Growth features
All plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. No booking commissions or marketplace fees.
Fresha charges a per-staff subscription — roughly $10–$15/month per team member (pricing displayed in local currency; check Fresha’s site for your region). The more significant cost is the marketplace commission: Fresha charges 20% on new client bookings made through its marketplace, with a minimum of $6 per booking. Returning clients who rebook through your direct link are not charged a commission. Online payment processing is an additional 1% + ~$0.20 per transaction on top of standard card fees.
Example — 5-stylist salon getting 15 new marketplace clients per month at $100 average:
- Fresha subscription: ~$50–$75/month (5 staff × $10–$15)
- Marketplace commission: ~$300/month (15 × $20)
- Total: ~$350–$375/month before payment processing
The same salon on DaySpark Growth: $89/month flat, no commission on any booking.
Edge: DaySpark for predictable costs and no commission on new clients. Fresha’s subscription looks low until marketplace volume adds up.
At a glance
| DaySpark Essential | DaySpark Growth | Fresha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $49/mo | $89/mo | ~$10–$15/staff/mo + commission |
| Staff limit | 3, 1 location | 10 per location | Per-staff pricing |
| Online booking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Per-stylist selection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Consumer marketplace | No | No | Yes |
| Commission on new clients | No | No | 20% (min $6/booking) |
| Email reminders | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMS reminders | No | Yes (+ $5/mo add-on) | Yes |
| Client notes/formulas | Yes | Yes | Basic |
| Deposits at booking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Packages and memberships | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Multi-location | No | Yes | Yes |
| User roles | No | Yes | Limited |
Scheduling
DaySpark: Scheduling is built around real-time team availability across stylists. Services are assigned to specific stylists, clients see only open slots that match the selected service and stylist, and bookings are confirmed immediately. Front desk gets a shared calendar view for coordinating walk-ins alongside online bookings.
Fresha: Fresha’s booking flow is clean and fast, with stylist selection and a straightforward multi-staff calendar. Setup is quick and the client-facing experience is polished. For simpler salon operations — a handful of stylists with standard service menus — it handles scheduling well.
Edge: Roughly even on core per-stylist booking. DaySpark for salons that need a shared front-desk view to coordinate walk-ins alongside online bookings across a larger team.
Automated reminders
DaySpark: Email reminders are included on all plans. SMS reminders are available on Growth and Professional plans and require a separate SMS add-on ($5 USD/month for 125 messages in the US; $6.50 CAD in Canada). Together, the two-channel reminder sequence meaningfully reduces no-shows — especially important for long color appointments.
Fresha: SMS and email reminders are included without a separate add-on. Reminder timing is configurable, and the setup is straightforward.
Edge: Fresha for salons that want SMS reminders included without an add-on. DaySpark for salons that want email reminders on every plan and are willing to add SMS on Growth for a small monthly fee — with the trade-off being no marketplace commission on any booking.
Client notes and formulas
DaySpark: Client profiles include notes for color formulas, developer ratios, preferences, allergy information, and visit history. Any stylist can pull up a client’s record at check-in and see what was done last time — critical for color consistency across a team.
Fresha: Fresha supports basic client profiles and notes. For salons where formula tracking and detailed visit history are central to the service — especially color-focused shops — the notes functionality is more limited than purpose-built salon platforms.
Edge: DaySpark for color-focused salons that rely on detailed formula records and visit history at every appointment.
Marketplace and new client discovery
Fresha: This is Fresha’s most significant advantage for salons still building their client base. The Fresha marketplace gives your salon a listing alongside other local businesses, which can drive new client bookings — especially valuable for newer salons without a strong social following or Google presence.
DaySpark: DaySpark does not have a consumer marketplace. Bookings come through your own booking page, embedded on your website, Instagram bio, or Google Business Profile, or via a direct link you share. You own the client relationship fully — no comparison shopping window next to your listing — but discovery depends on your own marketing.
Edge: Fresha for new client discovery if marketplace traffic is a priority and you’re willing to pay 20% per new booking. DaySpark for salons that prefer owning the client relationship and drive traffic through their website, Google, or social channels without giving up a cut of every new client.
Payments and pricing model
DaySpark: Integrated payments and checkout on all plans. Deposits and card-on-file at booking. Packages and memberships with automated billing. Standard payment processing fees apply; no commission on bookings regardless of source.
Fresha: Payment collection and deposits are supported. Payment processing includes an additional 1% + ~$0.20 per transaction. The 20% marketplace commission applies only to new clients booked through Fresha’s marketplace — direct rebookings through your link are commission-free.
Edge: DaySpark if you want a flat monthly cost with no variable commission layer. Fresha if marketplace discovery is worth the commission trade-off — but run the math at your actual new-client volume and average service price before committing.
Which is better for your salon?
Choose DaySpark Growth if:
- You’re getting enough direct bookings that marketplace commissions would cost more than a flat subscription
- Your team is 1–10 stylists and you want predictable monthly pricing as you grow
- Color formulas and detailed client notes are important to your operation
- You drive bookings through your website, Google, Instagram, or social — not a marketplace
- You want packages and memberships with automated billing
Choose DaySpark Essential if:
- You’re a solo stylist or a team of up to 3 at one location
- You want solid scheduling, email reminders, client notes, packages, and memberships at a lower starting price
- You plan to grow into SMS reminders and multi-location when ready
Choose Fresha if:
- Marketplace discovery is a meaningful part of your new client acquisition and you’re early-stage with limited marketing reach
- You’re a solo operator or very small team where per-staff subscription fees stay low
- SMS reminders included without an add-on is a priority on a tight budget
- Your average service price is low enough that the 20% commission is manageable (e.g., $30–$50 services vs. $120+ color appointments)
Both platforms will keep your calendar filled and your appointments organized. The real question is whether Fresha’s marketplace commission model or DaySpark’s flat subscription makes more financial sense at your booking volume — and whether you need the deeper client notes and team coordination that DaySpark provides.
Before you decide, run this quick calculation: multiply your monthly new marketplace bookings by your average service price by 20%, then add Fresha’s per-staff subscription. Compare that total to DaySpark’s flat monthly rate. For a full walkthrough, see Is Fresha worth it for salons?. For other platforms, see Fresha alternatives for hair salons. For most established salons with steady direct traffic, the flat subscription wins.
DaySpark offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required — it takes about an hour to set up with your actual services, stylists, and availability, and you’ll know whether it fits before you commit.
