Fresha vs Timely in Australia (2026): AUD Prices and Fees Compared
Fresha and Timely are both salon and beauty booking systems with payments built in, and both charge by team member. In Australia, Fresha is A$44.95 a month for one team member (Independent) or A$29.95 per team member a month (Team). Timely is $42, $65 or $79 per staff member a month (Build, Elevate, Innovate). Both are quoted excluding GST. Fresha is cheaper per person, but charges a 20% one-time commission (minimum A$8) on new clients who find you through its marketplace. Timely costs more per person, charges no new-client fees and includes 100 to 350 texts a month. Neither has a free plan: Fresha offers a 7-day trial and Timely a 14-day trial. Prices checked on each vendor’s own pricing page on 19 October 2026.
If you run a salon, barber shop, nail bar or beauty business, you’ve probably ended up comparing these two. Both are good products. The right one depends less on features and more on how your bill is calculated, so this guide works through the actual prices and fees, then shows where a simpler option fits.
Fresha vs Timely prices in Australia (2026)
| Fresha | Timely | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Independent A$44.95/month (one bookable team member). Team A$29.95 per team member a month. Enterprise custom (over 20 team members). | Build $42, Elevate $65, Innovate $79, per staff member a month |
| GST | “Rates are exclusive of 10.0% sales tax” | AUD excluding GST |
| Billing | Monthly, cancel any time | Monthly, no contracts; no annual option shown |
| New-client fees | 20% one-time commission on new clients from the Fresha marketplace, minimum A$8 per client. None on returning clients or bookings through your own link, website, Instagram or Facebook. | “No new client fees” on every plan |
| Texts | 20 automated texts free a month (per team member on Team), then A$0.06 each | 100, 200 or 350 SMS included a month by plan, then 12c each |
| Card payments (optional) | Online 1.59% + A$0.28; in person 1.29% + A$0.26 (plus A$0.12 per Tap to Pay authorisation); manual entry 1.90% + A$0.26 | In person 1.54% + 5c; online 1.80% + 30c; international cards 3.00% + 30c |
| No-show tools | Upfront payments and cancellation fees through Fresha payments | Deposits and card-on-file cancellation fees |
| Free trial | 7 days | 14 days, no credit card required |
Sources: Fresha pricing (shown in A$ from Australia) and Timely pricing (region set to Australia), both checked 19 October 2026. Prices change, so check both pages before you decide.
What would you actually pay? Three examples
These use the plan prices only, excluding GST, before any card fees, extra texts or add-ons. They’re examples, not quotes.
| Your team | Fresha | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Just you | A$44.95 (Independent) | $42 (Build), $65 (Elevate) or $79 (Innovate) |
| 3 team members | A$89.85 (Team, 3 × A$29.95) | $126 (Build), $195 (Elevate) or $237 (Innovate) |
| 6 team members | A$179.70 (Team, 6 × A$29.95) | $252 (Build), $390 (Elevate) or $474 (Innovate) |
Add 10% GST to each figure. Two things can change the picture:
- Fresha’s marketplace commission. If a lot of your new clients find you through the Fresha marketplace, each one carries a one-time 20% commission (minimum A$8). If most new clients come from your own Instagram, Google profile or website, that commission matters much less.
- Texts. Timely includes 100 to 350 SMS a month per plan. Fresha includes 20 automated texts a month (per team member on Team), then A$0.06 each. If you text every client, work out how many you send a month.
- Part-time staff. Timely says part-time staff are charged at the same rate as full-time staff. Count everyone who needs a column in the calendar.
Which is better, Fresha or Timely?
Neither is better for everyone. Based on how each one prices:
- Fresha tends to suit businesses that want a lower per-person subscription, want to be listed on a consumer marketplace to find new clients, and are comfortable with a commission on those new marketplace clients.
- Timely tends to suit multi-staff salons that text clients a lot, want SMS included, prefer no new-client fees, and are happy to pay more per staff member for that.
Use the free trials. Set up your real services and one week of real availability, book yourself a few appointments as a client, and see which one your team finds easier.
Is Timely a good booking system?
Timely is a full salon platform: online booking, payments, deposits and card-on-file cancellation fees, with SMS included in every plan. The trade-off is price, because every staff member, including part-timers, adds a full monthly fee. Timely says it started in 2011 with “3 Kiwi entrepreneurs” and is now part of the EverCommerce group (About Timely). Read recent independent reviews from businesses like yours before you commit.
Is Fresha free?
Not on its current pricing page. We found no free plan on 19 October 2026: there are paid Independent and Team plans and a 7-day trial. Some features are labelled free, such as direct booking links, bookings through Facebook and Instagram, and automated email and app notifications. They come with a paid plan, not as a free subscription. For what “free” really costs across booking systems, see our booking software cost guide.
What is the best salon software in Australia?
It depends on how you work. Payments, a marketplace and SMS come built into Fresha and Timely. If you already use Square for payments, Square Appointments is worth a look. We compare these and more, with AUD prices, in the best online booking systems for Australian small businesses.
A simpler option: flat price, set up for you
Some salons and barbers don’t need payments, a marketplace or texting built into their booking system. They want clients to book themselves 24/7 into genuinely free times, without spending weekends setting up software. That’s what InstantBookingPro does:
- A flat plan price including GST: $59, $79 or $119 a month, not per staff member, plus a one-off $149 setup.
- Set up for you: we build your branded booking page and admin console from your services, prices and hours, typically live within 24 hours.
- Clients choose their stylist (Scale plan and up for multiple staff) and book one or several services, with each person’s hours, breaks and leave respected and no double bookings.
- No commission on any client, new or returning.
To be clear about what it doesn’t do: InstantBookingPro doesn’t take payments or deposits and doesn’t send SMS, so if you need those built in, Fresha or Timely is the better fit. See it for salons and barbers, try the live booking demo, or if you’re just opening, see the starter package with a website. Starting from home? Read starting a home beauty or nail business in Australia.
Want booking without the per-staff bill? Your branded booking page, set up for you, from $59 a month including GST. Typically live within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Fresha or Timely?
How much does Fresha cost in Australia?
How much does Timely cost in Australia?
Is Fresha no longer free?
Does Timely have a free plan?
Does Fresha charge a commission?
Is there a cheaper alternative to Fresha and Timely?
Prices and fees checked on each vendor’s own pricing page on 19 October 2026. They change often; confirm current prices before you choose.
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