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Software · head to head

Fresha vs Zen Planner

Fresha logo

Fresha

Software

Free salon and spa software

From
Free
Rated
-
Zen Planner logo

Zen Planner

Software

Member management for fitness businesses

From
$99/month
Rated
-

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; Zen Planner limited staff app features compared to desktop version
  • They diverge on capability: Fresha covers Online booking, Zen Planner covers Member management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fresha and Zen Planner actually diverge.

Attributes where Fresha and Zen Planner differ
AttributeFreshaZen Planner
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20152006

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Reports & analytics
  • Google Calendar

Only in Zen Planner

  • Member management
  • Automated billing
  • Class scheduling
  • Workout tracking
  • Mailchimp
  • SugarWOD
  • Wodify
  • Ios support

Both cover

  • Marketing tools
  • Stripe
  • Web support

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 Zen Planner
  • Attracting new clients through the Fresha consumer marketplacenot Zen Planner
  • Sending appointment reminders and marketing campaigns to clientsnot Zen Planner

Zen Planner

  • Workout trackingnot Fresha
  • Nutrition managementnot Fresha
  • Health monitoringnot Fresha
  • Fitness coachingnot Fresha
  • Wellness improvementnot Fresha

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

Zen Planner

  • Limited staff app features compared to desktop version
  • System crashes and occasional bugs reported by users
  • Integration difficulties with certain third-party platforms
  • Customers report continued charges after completed cancellation

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

Zen Planner

$99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Zen Planner 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.

Choose Zen Planner if

  • You need member management.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated billing.

Questions people ask

Is Fresha or Zen Planner better?
Neither clearly leads. Fresha starts at Free and Zen Planner at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fresha or Zen Planner?
Fresha has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Fresha and $99/month for Zen Planner.
Does Fresha or Zen Planner run on more platforms?
Fresha runs on Web, Ios, Android. Zen Planner runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Fresha for free?
Yes. Fresha has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zen Planner starts at $99/month.
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 Zen Planner is typically brought in for.
What can Fresha do that Zen Planner cannot?
Fresha covers Online booking, Appointment management, Client database, Point of sale. Zen Planner covers Member management, Automated billing, Class scheduling, Workout tracking. Both handle Marketing tools, Stripe, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zen Planner: Does Zen Planner have a free tier?

No, Zen Planner does not offer a free tier. Pricing starts at $99 per month with no free trial mentioned in their standard offerings.

Source
Zen Planner: Can Zen Planner integrate with ClassPass?

Yes. ClassPass seamlessly integrates with Zen Planner, allowing gyms to sync their schedule and avoid overbooking when offering ClassPass to members.

Source
Zen Planner: Does Zen Planner work with SugarWOD?

Yes. Zen Planner integrates with SugarWOD, making it a popular choice for CrossFit gym owners who want to manage both WOD tracking and gym operations in one system.

Source

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