Fresha vs Square Appointments
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Salon & Spa Management Software (2026). Last verified June 10, 2026.
The short answer
Square Appointments ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #3) for Salon and spa owners managing appointments and clients. Flawlessly integrates booking and payments within a trusted, easy-to-use ecosystem.
At a glance
| Fresha | Square Appointments | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #3 / The 11 Best Salon & Spa Management Software (2026) | #1 / The 11 Best Salon & Spa Management Software (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| Best for | Best free booking platform | All-in-one booking & payments |
| Pricing | $ ($0, pay-per-feature) | $$ ($0 to $99+/mo) |
| HQ | London, UK | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2015 | 2009 |
Fresha
Unbeatable free core platform, ideal for new salons and independent stylists.
www.fresha.com/See full entry in The 11 Best Salon & Spa Management Software (2026)
Square Appointments
Flawlessly integrates booking and payments within a trusted, easy-to-use ecosystem.
squareup.com/us/en/appointmentsSee full entry in The 11 Best Salon & Spa Management Software (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.