ShearCRM vs Fresha
Fresha is 'free' — until you count the per-transaction fees and what you give up to get it.
Fresha's pitch is zero monthly subscription, which is genuinely appealing when you're starting out. But 'free' is funded by higher per-transaction fees and a marketplace where you don't fully own the client relationship — the platform promotes other salons to your clients. The math often flips: at real volume, a flat ShearCRM subscription with processor-direct pricing costs less than Fresha's per-transaction cut, and your client list stays yours.
At a glance
| ShearCRM | Fresha | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/mo | Free subscription |
| Processing fee | 0% cash discount or interchange+ | High per-transaction % |
| Funding speed | Same-day available | Varies |
| Contract | Month-to-month | Month-to-month |
| Support | Real humans, same-day (Ohio) | Chat & email |
Feature by feature
| Capability | ShearCRM | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Is your payment processor (no middleman markup) | Yes | No |
| 0% cash discount / dual pricing built in | Yes | No |
| Same-day funding | Yes | Varies |
| Purpose-built for hair salons | Yes | Yes |
| Solo / single-chair plan | Yes | Yes |
| Month-to-month, no long-term contract | Yes | Yes |
| You own the client list (no rival marketplace) | Yes | No |
| Local US-based human support | Yes | Varies |
| Built-in business coaching & consulting | Yes | No |
| Pricing model | Flat subscription + processor-direct | High per-transaction % |
| No marketplace promoting rivals | Yes | No |
Where Fresha falls short
'Free' is paid for in transaction fees
The missing subscription resurfaces as a higher per-transaction percentage. As your volume grows, that can quietly cost more than a flat monthly plan.
You don't own the client relationship
Clients live inside Fresha's marketplace, which actively promotes other salons. The relationship you built can be marketed away from you.
Depth gaps in reporting and inventory
As a low-cost tool, Fresha is thinner on customization, reporting, and proper inventory tracking than a purpose-built mid-market platform.
Why salons choose ShearCRM over Fresha
- Predictable flat subscription plus processor-direct pricing — often cheaper than Fresha's per-transaction cut at real volume.
- Your client list and booking page are yours — no marketplace promoting competitors.
- 0% cash discount option can eliminate card processing cost entirely.
- Deep reporting, inventory, and analytics built for a real salon, not a free tier.
- Same-day funding and same-day local support.
Ready to switch from Fresha?
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