Certxa vs Fresha
Fresha's low subscription price comes with a marketplace commission on top. Here's what that actually costs a nail salon — with real numbers, not marketing claims.
What each plan actually costs
Fresha removed its free-forever plan in early 2025. Figures as of August 2026 — verify current pricing directly with each provider before switching.
Certxa $9 – $49/mo ⭐ |
Fresha $14.95 – $19.95/mo + commission |
|
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | ||
| Entry plan | Solo — $9/mo ($7 annual) | Individual — $19.95/mo |
| Team plan | Professional — $22/mo ($18 annual), unlimited staff | Team — $14.95/team member/mo |
| Free-forever plan | Not applicable — 60-day free trial | Removed in early 2025 |
| Fees | ||
| Marketplace commission on new clients | None | 20% (minimum $6) per new client |
| Card processing | 2.7% + $0.05 + $0.60/txn in-person, 2.9% + $0.30 + $0.60/txn online | Processing fee + 20% commission stack on new clients |
| Setup fee | None | None advertised |
| Features | ||
| Self-service check-in kiosk | ✓ | – |
| AI phone receptionist | Autumn — available now, usage-based | AI Concierge — launched May 2026 |
| Built-in POS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Online booking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client management / CRM | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branded website builder | ✓ Included | Not a core feature |
Fresha figures are based on Fresha's publicly published pricing as of August 2026. Both platforms offer their own AI phone-answering feature (Certxa's Autumn and Fresha's AI Concierge) — evaluate each directly for your salon's needs. Always confirm current terms directly with the provider before making a switch.
Where Certxa is different
No commission on your own clients
Fresha takes a 20% commission (minimum $6) on new clients who book through its marketplace. Certxa charges no marketplace commission at all — just a flat $0.60 connection fee per transaction on top of Stripe's standard rate.
Predictable monthly cost
Certxa's flat monthly plans mean you know your software cost before the month starts. Fresha's subscription-plus-commission structure means your bill scales with how many new clients book through the marketplace — harder to predict.
A check-in kiosk built in
Certxa's self-service walk-in kiosk is included on every plan — clients check themselves in, choose a tech preference, and join your live waitlist without you stopping mid-service.