20%
Marketplace commission
Fresha charges a 20% one-time commission (minimum NZ$7) on every new client who books through its marketplace. That adds up fast.
NO 20% COMMISSION. EVER.
The Fresha alternative that never takes a commission.
Fresha charges a one-time commission on every new client its marketplace sends you, plus a subscription billed per team member that grows with every hire. Porchlight charges neither — one flat monthly price, no marketplace, and your clients stay 100% yours. Do the maths below with your own numbers.
Savings calculator
Fresha bills a subscription per team member, plus a one-time commission on every new client its marketplace sends you. Put in your own numbers.
NZ$60 is an example — enter your real average.
FRESHA
NZ$210/mo
subscription + commission
PORCHLIGHT
NZ$59/mo
no commission, ever
YOU KEEP
NZ$1,810/yr
every year
Fresha subscription: Independent at NZ$44.95 solo, or NZ$29.95 per team member (ex GST). Commission: 20% of the first visit, minimum NZ$7, on each new marketplace client. Porchlight plan applied: Team NZ$59/mo flat (Solo NZ$29 at 1 staff), commission NZ$0.
Why people look for a Fresha alternative
$44.95
The free plan is gone
Fresha ended its free plan in early 2025. Plans now start at NZ$44.95/month solo, or NZ$29.95 per team member (ex GST) — the bill grows with every hire.
+
Add-ons stack up
20 free texts a month, then NZ$0.18 per SMS. Loyalty is a NZ$99.95/month add-on — Porchlight includes loyalty in Team at $59 flat.
Side by side
See how we compare on the things that matter most.
| Fresha | Porchlight | |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace commission | 20% on new marketplace clients (min NZ$7) | 0% (Never) |
| Monthly pricing | $44.95 solo or $29.95 per team member (ex GST) + add-ons | $0–$59/month (flat) |
| Free plan | Removed early 2025 — 7-day trial only | Yes — own booking page, unlimited bookings |
| Client ownership | Shared via marketplace | 100% yours forever |
| SMS reminders | 20 free/month, then NZ$0.18 per SMS | 100 texts included on Solo, 250 on Team — then 15c each |
| Online booking | Included | Included |
| Payment processing | 2.49% + NZ$0.30 online | Stripe standard rates only |
| Data export | Client list yes — but not services, voucher balances, forms or photos | Clients, bookings and sales — CSV, on every tier, any time |
| NZ-based support | No | Yes |
This comparison reflects Fresha’s published pricing and plan facts as checked July 2026. Fresha is a trademark of its owner — check Fresha’s own site for current pricing and terms. We’ll always tell you the truth about both.
What your team size really costs
Fresha bills $29.95 per team member, every month. Porchlight Team is $59 flat up to 8 staff:
| Team size | Fresha, per month | Porchlight, per month |
|---|---|---|
| Just you | $44.95 (Independent) | $0 (Free) or $29 (Solo) |
| 3 staff | $89.85 (3 × $29.95) | $59 flat (Team) |
| 5 staff | $149.75 (5 × $29.95) | $59 flat (Team) |
| 8 staff | $239.60 (8 × $29.95) | $59 flat (Team) |
At 8 staff that’s $180.60/month — $2,167.20 a year — before a single commission.
Then add the commission
Fresha charges a 20% one-time commission (minimum NZ$7) on every new client who books through its marketplace. Just 10 new marketplace clients in a month at a NZ$60 average first visit = NZ$120 in commissions — on top of the subscription. Porchlight has no marketplace and charges no commission, ever.
Assumptions: monthly billing, subscription only, before add-ons and commissions, checked July 2026 on Fresha’s pricing page. Fresha prices ex GST; Porchlight prices are the final price — nothing is added. SMS costs excluded on both sides — Fresha includes 20 texts/month then NZ$0.18 each; Porchlight SMS is prepaid credits.
Who should stay with Fresha
An honest comparison cuts both ways. Fresha makes sense if:
- The marketplace genuinely brings you new clients you wouldn’t reach otherwise, and the 20% one-time fee is a price you’re happy to pay for that discovery. Porchlight has no consumer marketplace — that’s a deliberate trade-off.
- You prefer Fresha’s integrated payment processing (2.49% + NZ$0.30 online) over Stripe’s standard rates.
If most of your bookings already come from your own clients, the commission and per-member fees are paying for a marketplace you don’t need — that’s where Porchlight’s flat pricing changes the math.
Switching is a CSV, not a saga.
Export your client list from Fresha, import it into Porchlight, and your history comes with you. We’re upfront about what does and doesn’t come across — and because exports work the other way too, you’re never locked in with us either.
Need help migrating? NZ-based support — you talk directly to the people who build the product.
THE MOVE
- 1Export your data from Fresha. Download your client list from Fresha’s export tools. Note Fresha’s own limits: services, voucher balances, forms and photos can’t be exported — plan to rebuild those in Porchlight.
- 2Set up your Porchlight account. Get early access and we’ll set up your services, staff and business hours with you.
- 3Import your clients. Upload your exported client CSV — we map the columns with you.
- 4Update your booking link. Share your new Porchlight booking page with clients — update your website and social media.
One thing that can’t come with you: saved cards
For security reasons (PCI compliance), your clients’ saved card-on-file details are locked to Fresha’s payment processor. Card tokens can’t be exported or moved to a new provider — nobody can migrate them, us included. Your clients simply re-enter their card the first time they pay or book through Porchlight. It’s a one-time step, then Porchlight saves it securely for next time.
Spotted an outdated price? Competitor pricing changes — email [email protected] and we’ll re-verify and correct it. Change history: August 2026 — consolidated our separate “Switch from Fresha” page into this one. Fresha facts last verified July 2026.
Ready to stop paying commissions?
Porchlight is in early access. Get in touch and we’ll help you move across from Fresha.
Get early accessFree plan available — talk to us about paid plan setup.