Softwr

Scheduling · head to head

Fresha vs Merlua

Fresha logo

Fresha

Scheduling

Free salon and spa software

From
149.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Merlua logo

Merlua

Beauty

Booking software built for beauty salons

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Merlua has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Fresha team and Enterprise pricing not publicly displayed; custom quotes required; Merlua plan prices are not published. The pricing page renders its comparison table client side and no amounts are visible on it as of September 2026, so the cost of Standard or Premium is not knowable before signup.
  • They diverge on capability: Fresha covers Online booking, Merlua covers Guest online booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 15 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fresha and Merlua actually diverge.

Attributes where Fresha and Merlua differ
AttributeFreshaMerlua
Starting price149.95/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, WordPress
CategorySchedulingBeauty
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 Merlua

  • Guest online booking
  • Services and staff
  • Calendar and availability
  • Deposits and payments
  • Email and SMS reminders
  • Branded booking page
  • Staff and client apps

What people use each for

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

Fresha

  • Salon managementnot Merlua
  • Spa schedulingnot Merlua
  • Appointment bookingnot Merlua
  • Beauty service businessesnot Merlua
  • Wellness centersnot Merlua

Merlua

  • Taking salon bookings without forcing client accountsnot Fresha
  • Cutting no-shows with deposits and remindersnot Fresha
  • Coordinating several staff members' availabilitynot Fresha
  • Running a branded booking page from an existing websitenot Fresha
  • Giving staff their schedule and earnings on their phonenot Fresha

Where each one falls short

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

Fresha

  • Team and Enterprise pricing not publicly displayed; custom quotes required
  • All pricing excludes 5% sales tax; actual cost will be higher

Merlua

  • Plan prices are not published. The pricing page renders its comparison table client side and no amounts are visible on it as of September 2026, so the cost of Standard or Premium is not knowable before signup.
  • Stripe is the only payment processor named, so a salon banking elsewhere has no alternative route.
  • Built for beauty specifically. A clinic, a gym or a barber chain wanting inventory, POS or memberships will find those absent.
  • The integration list is short next to established salon platforms: Stripe, WordPress and SMS, with no accounting, marketing or POS connections listed.
  • A new vendor with no independent review coverage, so the reliability claims rest on the vendor's own material.

Pricing, plan by plan

Fresha

149.95/month
  • Independent$149.95/month
    • Single calendar column
    • For one-person businesses
    • 7-day trial available
  • Team$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • Multiple calendar columns
    • For businesses with multiple team members
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Custom pricing
    • For high-volume businesses with 20+ team members
    • All core features

Merlua

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core scheduling with no time limit
    • Basic booking management
  • Standard and Premium$undefined/month
    • 14-day full-feature trial, no card required
    • No Merlua booking transaction fees
    • Monthly or annual billing, switchable at any time

Which should you pick?

Choose Fresha if

  • You need online booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want appointment management.
Fresha review

Choose Merlua if

  • You need guest online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress.
  • You also want services and staff.
Merlua review

Questions people ask

Is Fresha or Merlua better?
Neither clearly leads. Fresha starts at 149.95/month and Merlua at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fresha or Merlua?
Merlua has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at 149.95/month for Fresha and Free for Merlua.
Does Fresha or Merlua run on more platforms?
Fresha runs on Web, Ios, Android. Merlua runs on Web, iOS, Android, WordPress.
Can I use Merlua for free?
Yes. Merlua has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fresha starts at 149.95/month.
What is Fresha best used for?
Fresha is most often used for salon management, spa scheduling, appointment booking, beauty service businesses. Of those, salon management and spa scheduling are not what Merlua is typically brought in for.
What can Fresha do that Merlua cannot?
Fresha covers Online booking, Appointment management, Client database, Point of sale. Merlua covers Guest online booking, Services and staff, Calendar and availability, Deposits and payments.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Fresha: How much does Fresha cost?

Fresha's Independent plan starts at AED 149.95 per month (excludes 5% sales tax), which includes a single calendar column for one-person businesses. A 7-day free trial is available. Team and Enterprise plans use custom pricing based on business needs and team size.

Source
Merlua: Is there a free plan?

Yes. Merlua states it offers "a robust free tier with core scheduling capabilities so you can manage basic bookings without a time limit", separate from the paid trial.

Source
Fresha: What does the Fresha Team plan add?

The Team plan offers multiple calendar columns for businesses with multiple team members. Pricing is customized based on team size and needs. It includes all core features like scheduling, point of sale, client management, online store, and marketing tools, with a 7-day trial available.

Source
Merlua: How does the free trial work?

Fourteen days of full access to all premium features with no credit card required upfront. At the end you either pick a plan or continue on the free tier.

Source
Fresha: Does Fresha charge additional fees beyond the subscription?

Yes, Fresha offers optional pay-as-you-go add-ons including SMS messaging (AED 0.15 per message after 20 free monthly), marketing emails (AED 0.08 each after 50 free monthly), and premium features like Google Rating Boost (AED 35.95/location monthly), Team Connect, and Xero Accounting integration. Payment processing charges 4.90% plus AED 0.75 per transaction.

Source
Merlua: Does Merlua charge booking transaction fees?

No hidden booking transaction fees on the Standard or premium tiers. Standard payment processing fees from your gateway, such as Stripe, still apply.

Source
Merlua: Do clients need an account to book?

No. Clients complete bookings as guests without creating a password or a permanent account.

Source
Merlua: What happens if I cancel?

Premium features stay active until the end of the current billing period, and plans can be upgraded, downgraded or switched between monthly and annual at any time from billing settings.

Source
Merlua: What can I install it on?

A web dashboard, mobile apps for staff and clients, a WordPress plugin, and an embeddable booking widget for any site.

Source
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