Blog / Comparison
Zelko vs Fresha: which is better for barbershops?
An honest comparison of Zelko and Fresha for barbershops in Canada: pricing models, marketplace fees, client experience and when each one makes sense.
Fresha is a big, well-funded platform used by salons, spas and barbershops around the world. Zelko is a smaller platform built only for barbershops, in Canada. They take different approaches to pricing and to who owns the client. Here's how they compare.
A note on pricing: Fresha has been changing its pricing in 2025 and 2026, moving professionals from a free plan to monthly subscriptions in some regions. Figures below come from third-party reviews and Fresha's own announcements. Check Fresha's pricing page with a Canadian location for current numbers.
How Fresha makes money
Fresha built its name on free booking software. It earns through:
- Payment processing on card payments taken through Fresha.
- A new-client fee. Widely reported at 20% of a new client's first booking when they find you through Fresha's marketplace, with a minimum fee per booking.
- Subscriptions and add-ons. Fresha announced a move to monthly subscription plans for professionals, and charges for some marketing features.
How Zelko makes money
A flat subscription in Canadian dollars: Essentials at $29/month for up to 3 barbers, or Pro at $49/month for unlimited barbers. Zelko has no marketplace, so there's no fee on new clients. Online card payments run through Stripe at Stripe's processing rate, shown in the app before you take your first payment.
The new-client math
Say a marketplace sends you 10 new clients a month at $40 each. At a 20% first-visit fee, that's $80 a month to the marketplace, on top of any subscription. If those clients become regulars, that can be a good deal. If most of your new clients would have found you through Instagram or Google anyway, you're paying for bookings you already had.
With Zelko there's no per-client fee. The trade-off is that Zelko doesn't send you clients from a marketplace. You bring them in through your own channels.
Side by side
| Fresha | Zelko | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Subscriptions and fees, varies by region | $29 or $49/month, CAD |
| New-client fee | Reported 20% of first booking via marketplace | None |
| Marketplace | Yes | No |
| Client booking | Fresha app or web | Your link, any browser, no account |
| Branding | Fresha profile | Your shop's page and a free site at yourshop.zelko.ca |
| Built for | Salons, spas, barbers and more | Barbershops only |
| Commission and booth rent | Team features vary by plan | Included on Pro |
When Fresha makes sense
- You're new and want marketplace exposure to fill empty chairs.
- You run a mixed salon with hair, nails and spa services.
- You're happy to pay a share of first visits to get new clients.
When Zelko makes sense
- You already have a steady book and don't want to pay fees on new clients.
- You want a booking page and website under your own shop's name.
- You want pricing in CAD that stays the same as you add barbers, up to 3 on Essentials.
- You want commission, booth rent and tip splits handled in one place.
Bottom line
Fresha is a marketplace with booking software attached. Zelko is booking, payments and payouts software for barbershops, without a marketplace. Pick based on whether you need discovery or control. If it's control, try the Zelko booking page or see pricing.
