Blog / Comparison
Looking for a Booksy alternative? An honest guide for barbers
Why some barbers move off Booksy, what to look for in an alternative, and how Zelko compares on pricing, client experience and who owns the client.
Booksy is one of the biggest booking platforms for barbers, and for a lot of shops it works. Its consumer app sends new clients to barbers in busy markets. But it isn't the right fit for everyone, and the reasons barbers give for leaving are pretty consistent. Here they are, along with what to look for instead.
A note on pricing: Booksy's prices vary by country and change over time. Figures below are from third-party reviews published in 2026 and are in US dollars. Check Booksy's own site for current Canadian pricing.
Why barbers look for an alternative
The bill grows with every chair
Booksy is commonly reported at a base price around US$29.99 a month, with roughly $20 a month added for each extra team member. For a solo barber that's reasonable. For a four-chair shop it adds up, and it goes up again every time you hire.
Marketplace fees on new clients
Booksy's optional Boost feature promotes your shop in its marketplace and charges a share of a new client's first visit when it brings someone in. That can be worth it for new barbers building a book. Once you're established, you may be paying for clients who'd have found you anyway.
Your booking page lives in someone else's brand
Clients book through Booksy, see Booksy's brand, and can browse other shops nearby. Some barbers want the booking page, the confirmation emails and the client relationship to carry their own shop's name.
It's built for many kinds of beauty businesses
Booksy serves salons, spas, nail studios and more. The features work, but they aren't designed around how barbershops run: commission splits, booth rent, walk-ins and the Saturday rush.
What to look for in an alternative
- Pricing that doesn't climb with every barber, or at least climbs slowly.
- Booking from a link in any browser, with no app download or account for clients.
- Deposits and reminders to cut no-shows.
- Your own brand on the booking page, emails and a simple website.
- Commission and booth rent worked out for you, if you run a team.
- An easy way to move, so you can bring your services, barbers and clients across.
How Zelko compares
| Booksy | Zelko | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Base plan plus a monthly fee per extra team member (reported) | $29/month for up to 3 barbers, $49/month unlimited, in CAD |
| New-client marketplace | Yes, with optional Boost fees | No marketplace. Your page, your clients |
| Client books via | Booksy app or web | Your link in any browser, no account |
| Your own website | Booksy profile page | Free site at yourshop.zelko.ca, custom domain on Pro |
| Deposits | Yes | Yes |
| Commission and booth rent | Varies by plan | Included on Pro |
| Built for | Beauty and wellness broadly | Barbershops only |
When Booksy is still the better choice
Be honest about what you need. If you're new, have empty chairs, and Booksy's app is popular where you are, its marketplace can be the fastest way to get bodies in seats. Zelko doesn't have a consumer marketplace, so new clients come from your own Instagram, Google profile and word of mouth.
If you already have a steady book and want lower, predictable costs, your own brand and the client relationship in your hands, an alternative like Zelko usually makes more sense.
Switching without losing clients
- Set up your new booking page and test it yourself.
- Export your client list from Booksy. Email it to us and we'll help bring it across, or add regulars as they come in.
- Update your Instagram bio and Google profile with the new link.
- Run both for two to three weeks. Reply to messages with the new link.
- Once new bookings come through the new page, close out the old one.
Want help moving? Email us and we'll walk through it with you.
