This comparison is published by Velixa, one of the services discussed. It is not an independent review. Check the provider’s official website before making a purchasing decision.
What to weigh up before moving
Before changing provider, separate subscription cost from payment, communications and new-client acquisition costs. Check how each system identifies Marketplace-acquired clients, then make sure your own direct booking links are measured consistently.
Who may prefer Velixa
Velixa may suit a salon, barber, spa or clinic wanting a direct-booking setup, a hosted site or widget, and a flat subscription that does not rise with bookable staff.
Who may be better staying with Fresha
It can make sense to stay with Fresha if its Marketplace is an important source of eligible new clients, or if its POS, retail and broader feature set already fit your team’s daily workflow.
Velixa pricing at a glance
For the direct-booking side of this comparison, Velixa currently shows £12.95 per month plus a one-off £19.95 setup fee, with all team members included.
How Fresha prices it
Fresha’s UK pricing lists Independent at £14.95 per month plus VAT for one bookable person, Team at £9.95 per bookable team member per month plus VAT, and Enterprise on request. A five-person Fresha Team subscription is £49.75 per month before VAT. Fresha also states a seven-day trial and monthly cancellation with no long-term commitment; confirm the latest UK terms before buying.
Booking, diary and client experience
Both platforms offer online booking and calendar tools. Velixa supplies a hosted booking page and an embeddable widget for a business’s own website. Fresha also offers direct booking links, social and Google booking routes, a client app and Marketplace discovery.
Velixa keeps customer profiles, notes, intake forms, loyalty activity and booking history together. Fresha also provides client management, consultation forms, reviews and reporting, making it a broad operational option.
Payments and cancellation protection
Velixa can save a customer card at booking and lets a merchant charge an eligible late-cancellation or no-show amount under its own policy. Fresha offers upfront payment and stored-card/no-show features; its published UK payment rates and any Marketplace acquisition fee are separate from its subscription and can vary by channel.
Team workflows and communications
Velixa includes staff diaries, rotas, time off, per-stylist pricing and multi-location tools. Fresha has team scheduling and resource management, while its Team subscription is priced by bookable team member.
Velixa includes email reminders and marketing campaigns; SMS uses prepaid credits. Fresha offers communications allowances followed by usage charges, so compare the allowance and message pricing your team expects to use.
Retention and repeat visits
Velixa includes memberships, prepaid packages, gift cards and loyalty. Fresha lists gift cards, packages and memberships, while products such as Client Loyalty are presented as optional paid functionality.
Your website, widget and booking links
Velixa provides a fully branded hosted website with its own content and gallery, plus a booking page and website widget. Fresha’s listed routes centre on direct booking links, social/Google booking and its Marketplace profile rather than a comparable standalone business website.
Marketplace and new-client discovery
Fresha operates a consumer Marketplace. Its UK pricing explains that an eligible brand-new client introduced through Marketplace can attract a one-time 20% fee, subject to a £4 minimum; it is not described as a fee on every appointment. Velixa does not currently operate a consumer Marketplace, but plans to release one; no launch date has been set. For now, Velixa is aimed at businesses building bookings through their own relationships and marketing.
Mobile access
Velixa provides merchant apps for iOS and Android. Fresha provides a business mobile app and a client booking app.
At a glance
Velixa is a direct-booking alternative with a flat displayed subscription and hosted website/widget. Fresha is an alternative for businesses that want a Marketplace and an extensive salon-management suite. A short parallel trial can reveal which workflow fits your staff.
Moving without disruption
Before switching, export the data you are entitled to take, map services and staff availability, agree your cancellation policy, and test direct links, reminder timing and payment onboarding. Do not assume historic reviews, Marketplace ranking or stored payment credentials transfer between providers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Velixa an alternative to Fresha?
Yes. Both provide appointment-management tools, but Velixa focuses on direct booking through a hosted site or widget while Fresha also operates a consumer Marketplace.
Does Fresha charge per staff member?
Fresha’s UK pricing lists a Team subscription priced per bookable team member. Check Fresha’s current UK pricing before purchasing because plan terms can change.
Does Fresha charge commission on every booking?
No. Fresha describes a one-time fee for eligible brand-new clients introduced through Marketplace, not a charge on every appointment. The acquisition journey and current terms matter.
Sources & verification
Official provider pricing, feature and help pages used for the factual statements above. Open the relevant source pages to verify the details directly. Information was last checked 25 August 2026 and can change.
Fresha is a trade mark of its respective owner. Velixa is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Fresha. Information on this page is based on publicly available information and was last checked on 25 August 2026. Pricing, features and terms can change. Please visit Fresha’s official website directly for current information before making a purchasing decision.