Fresha vs Soloist: the real cost of free booking software in Dubai
Fresha charges 20% on new clients and 6% on online bookings. Here is what that actually costs a solo provider earning AED 15,000 per month, and how Soloist's from-0% model compares.
The hidden cost of "free" booking software
Fresha markets itself as free booking software. No monthly fee. Sounds great until you read the fine print.
Here is what Fresha actually charges:
- 20% commission on every new client acquired through their marketplace
- 6% processing fee on all online payments
- Blast messaging fees for SMS and email marketing
- Product fees for inventory management
For a solo provider in Dubai earning AED 15,000/month, here is what that looks like over 12 months.
The math: AED 15,000/month solo provider
Let us assume a typical solo provider profile:
- 60% of bookings come through online channels
- 25% of monthly clients are new (acquired through the platform)
- Average booking value: AED 250
Monthly Fresha costs:
- New client commission (20%): AED 15,000 x 25% x 20% = AED 750
- Online payment fee (6%): AED 15,000 x 60% x 6% = AED 540
- Total monthly: AED 1,290
- Annual cost: AED 15,480
That is AED 15,480 per year for "free" software.
What does Soloist cost?
Soloist uses a transparent subscription model. You pay a fixed monthly fee and choose your commission level:
| Plan | Monthly fee | Commission | Annual cost (same scenario) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | AED 149/mo | 0% | AED 1,788 |
| AI Agent | AED 249/mo | 0% | AED 2,988 |
| Marketing Pro | AED 349/mo | 0% | AED 4,188 |
Even on the most expensive solo plan, you save over AED 11,000 per year compared to Fresha.
But what about the marketplace traffic?
This is Fresha's main argument: they send you clients. But consider:
- You pay 20% for every client they send. That is AED 50 on a AED 250 booking. Forever. There is no cap.
- You are competing with every other provider on the platform. Your clients see your competitors every time they open the app.
- You do not own the client relationship. Fresha owns the client data and the booking channel.
With Soloist, you own your booking page, your client list, and your WhatsApp channel. You build direct relationships that compound over time.
The commission flexibility
Soloist offers three commission options on every plan:
- 0% commission: You pay only your subscription fee. All payment processing is handled by Stripe at their standard rate (2.9% + AED 1).
- 2.5% commission: Reduces your subscription cost. Good for providers who want lower fixed costs.
- 5% commission: Maximum flexibility with the lowest subscription commitment.
You choose what works for your business model. No surprises.
When Fresha makes sense
To be fair, Fresha can work for:
- Brand new providers with zero existing clients who need marketplace discovery
- Providers who do not mind paying 20% indefinitely for client acquisition
- Multi-location salons with complex inventory needs
When Soloist is the better choice
Soloist is built for:
- Solo providers who already have some clients (even 5-10)
- Anyone who wants to keep more of their earnings
- Providers who communicate with clients on WhatsApp
- Professionals who want their own branded booking page, not a marketplace listing
The bottom line
"Free" software that takes AED 15,000+ per year is not free. It is the most expensive option available.
Soloist gives you professional booking tools, WhatsApp integration, and AI-powered scheduling for a predictable monthly fee. No commission surprises. No competing with other providers on the same platform.
Ready to keep more of your earnings? Join the Soloist waitlist and lock in founding provider pricing.