Booking software prices are surprisingly hard to compare. Some charge a flat monthly fee, some charge per team member, some take a cut of new clients, and some are "free" because the client pays a fee instead. This guide puts the five platforms UK barbers use most into plain English.
We took every price from the provider's own UK pricing page on 30 October 2026. Prices change, so always check the link before you sign up. We've tried to be fair: each of these platforms suits some shops well.
A note on us: NipRound also sells booking for barbers, so we have an interest. That's why we've stuck to the providers' published prices and linked to every source.
At a glance
| Platform | Monthly fee | New-client or booking fees | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booksy | £40 + VAT, plus £5 per extra team member | Optional "Boost": 30% of a new client's first visit (min £5) | biz.booksy.com |
| Fresha | Independent £14.95; Team £9.95 per bookable team member (ex VAT) | 20% one-off commission on new clients from the Fresha marketplace (min £4); returning clients free | fresha.com |
| Nearcut | "Free for You": £0, client pays a booking charge (£1.50 in Nearcut's example); or a quoted subscription with 30-day trial | No commission | nearcut.com |
| Square Appointments | Free £0; Plus £29; Premium £69 (per location) | None listed; card fees from 1.75% in person | squareup.com |
| Setmore | Free for up to 4 users; Pro shown as US$12 + US$5 per user (annual billing) | None listed | setmore.com |
Card processing fees are extra on all of them if you take payments through the platform.
What each one is like
Booksy
The most common platform among UK barbers in our research — 427 of the 8,036 shops we checked (study). Booksy's strength is its client app and marketplace, which can bring new clients. The flat fee is the highest here, and Boost (optional) takes a share of new clients' first visits.
Best for: shops that want marketplace exposure and are happy to pay for it.
Fresha
A lower base price with a per-team-member model, plus a one-off 20% commission when a new client finds you through Fresha's marketplace. Clients who come back, or who book through your own link, don't trigger that fee.
Best for: small teams who want a low fixed cost and accept a marketplace fee for new clients.
Nearcut
Barber-focused, with a model where the shop can pay nothing and the client pays a small booking charge instead. That's attractive for cash flow, but think about how your clients feel about paying a fee to book.
Best for: shops that want zero fixed cost and whose clients don't mind a booking fee.
Square Appointments
A genuinely free tier for solo use, with paid tiers adding features. Strong if you already use Square for card payments.
Best for: shops already in the Square ecosystem.
Setmore
A general-purpose booking tool with a free plan for small teams. Prices on its page are shown in US dollars. Less barber-specific, but simple.
Best for: very small shops wanting a free, basic diary.
Worked example: a three-chair shop
To show how the models differ, here's an illustrative shop: 3 barbers, 10 new clients a month arriving via the platform's marketplace, average first visit £20. We've used list prices and ignored VAT and card fees for simplicity.
| Platform | Fixed per month | Marketplace fees (10 new clients) | Rough monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booksy (base + 2 extra users, Boost on) | £50 | 10 × £6 = £60 | ~£110 |
| Booksy (Boost off) | £50 | £0 | ~£50 |
| Fresha Team (3 × £9.95) | £29.85 | 10 × £4 = £40 | ~£70 |
| Nearcut "Free for You" | £0 | £0 (clients pay) | £0 to you |
| Square Free | £0 | £0 | £0 (+ card fees) |
Your real costs depend on how many new clients actually come through a marketplace — for many shops it's few, in which case the fixed fee matters most.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Who owns the client relationship? Can you export your client list if you leave?
- Are clients sent to a marketplace where competitors appear alongside you?
- What happens to fees as the team grows?
- Does it work with your website and Google profile, or only inside its own app?
- Is there a contract or notice period?
Where NipRound fits
NipRound builds websites with online booking for barbers, with reminders built in: £19.99 a month per location, no setup fee, and your first 2 months free. Your site goes live the same day on a free nipround link, and your own domain follows within 2-3 days. Want confirmations and reminders through Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp? Add Social for £20 more a month. We're a new company and we'd love your feedback: nipround.co.uk.
Prices taken from each provider's official pricing page on 30 October 2026. Worked example is illustrative. NipRound is a provider of booking software.