Softwr

Scheduling & Booking · head to head

Fresha vs Google Chat

Fresha logo

Fresha

Scheduling & Booking

Free salon and spa software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Chat logo

Google Chat

Communication & Collaboration

AI-powered team messaging and collaboration

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fresha has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fresha fresha charges a 50 percent one time commission on each new client booked through its marketplace, subject to a minimum fee per client; Google Chat not sold as a standalone product; it is included only with paid Google Workspace subscriptions (Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus)

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fresha and Google Chat actually diverge.

Attributes where Fresha and Google Chat differ
AttributeFreshaGoogle Chat
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
CategoryScheduling & BookingCommunication & Collaboration
Founded2015Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Fresha

  • Online booking
  • Appointment management
  • Client database
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Staff scheduling
  • Marketing tools
  • Reports & analytics

Only in Google Chat

Nothing recorded that Fresha does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Fresha

  • Running appointment booking and point of sale for salons and spasnot Google Chat
  • Attracting new clients through the Fresha consumer marketplacenot Google Chat
  • Sending appointment reminders and marketing campaigns to clientsnot Google Chat

Google Chat

No use cases recorded yet. See the Google Chat review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Fresha

  • Fresha charges a 50 percent one time commission on each new client booked through its marketplace, subject to a minimum fee per client
  • Online card payments carry a 4.90 percent plus fixed fee per transaction charge on top of the subscription
  • Only 20 SMS or WhatsApp notifications and 50 marketing emails are free each month; everything beyond that is billed per message
  • Team and Enterprise plans are quoted as custom rates with no published figure
  • Add ons such as Team Connect and Insights are billed per team member per month on top of the plan
  • Enterprise pricing applies to businesses with 20 or more team members

Google Chat

  • Not sold as a standalone product; it is included only with paid Google Workspace subscriptions (Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus)
  • Gemini AI features inside Chat, including message summarization and conversation insights, are limited to Business and Enterprise tier Workspace plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Fresha

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited appointments
    • Unlimited staff
    • Online booking
  • Payments (Add-on)$2.19/transaction
    • Card payments
    • Contactless payments
    • Online payments
  • Marketing (Add-on)$0.01/message
    • Email campaigns
    • SMS marketing
    • Automated messages

Google Chat

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Chat review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Fresha if

  • You need online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want appointment management.
Fresha review

Choose Google Chat if

Nothing in the data separates Google Chat from Fresha on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Google Chat review

Questions people ask

Is Fresha or Google Chat better?
Neither clearly leads. Fresha starts at Free and Google Chat at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fresha or Google Chat?
Fresha has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fresha and On request for Google Chat.
Does Fresha or Google Chat run on more platforms?
Fresha runs on Web, Ios, Android. Google Chat runs on Web.
Can I use Fresha for free?
Yes. Fresha has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Chat starts at On request.
What is Fresha best used for?
Fresha is most often used for running appointment booking and point of sale for salons and spas, attracting new clients through the fresha consumer marketplace, sending appointment reminders and marketing campaigns to clients. Of those, running appointment booking and point of sale for salons and spas and attracting new clients through the fresha consumer marketplace are not what Google Chat is typically brought in for.
What can Fresha do that Google Chat cannot?
Fresha covers Online booking, Appointment management, Client database, Point of sale.
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