While Fresha is a leading marketplace for general beauty and wellness services, its platform may lack the specialized features required by medical spas. In this guide, we'll break down what Fresha is, examine the reasons you might seek an alternative, and introduce other solutions better suited for the unique demands of a med spa.

What is Fresha?

Fresha is a marketplace platform for the beauty and wellness industry that connects consumers with local service providers. The platform offers businesses tools for appointment management, client engagement, and payment processing, while consumers can discover, book, and pay for services through a website or mobile app.

Pricing

Fresha's pricing is based on a tiered subscription model with additional costs for payment processing and optional features.

• Free Independent: Designed for single-person businesses, this plan includes one calendar, 20 free messages per month, and email support.
• $9.95 per team member monthly Team: For businesses with multiple staff members, this tier provides multiple calendar columns, more free messages and marketing emails per team member, and 24/7 phone and chat support. A 14-day free trial is available.
• Custom rates Enterprise: For businesses with over 20 team members, custom pricing is available by contacting their sales department.
• Additional Fees: Costs are incurred for payment processing (starting at 2.29% + $0.20 per in-person transaction), a 20% commission on new clients from the Fresha marketplace, and charges for extra text messages and marketing emails.
• Optional Add-ons: Features such as client loyalty programs, advanced analytics, and a Google rating booster are available for separate monthly fees per location.

Reviews

User reviews for Fresha frequently discuss the platform's operational aspects, with some users reporting issues related to payment processing, delays in accessing funds, and data privacy concerns. Check out more Fresha reviews here.

13 Best Alternatives to Fresha

1. Portrait Care

Portrait Care is an all-in-one platform providing the technology, tools, and services to help med spas and medical wellness clinics succeed. Founded in 2018, our mission is to simplify the journey for business owners and unlock their full potential.

Our comprehensive platform integrates software and essential services with exclusive supply savings, all while ensuring strict compliance and safety. This empowers med spa owners to remain independent, scale their operations, and increase profitability, ultimately bringing them greater financial freedom.

Pricing

Portrait Care offers its electronic health record (EHR) platform as a freemium service, making it free to get started. The core EHR functionality is available at no cost, with optional premium add-ons for enhanced features and integrations. Some of these advanced add-ons are included for free for users in higher membership tiers.

Features

Both platforms offer core business management tools, including scheduling, payment processing, and client marketing via email and SMS. The primary distinction lies in their focus.

‍Portrait Care provides an all-in-one system tailored to medical spas, bundling features like medical compliance, EHR, and supply savings into its platform.

In contrast, Fresha serves the general beauty and wellness industry with a marketplace model, offering many of its advanced features as optional, paid add-ons.

Reviews

User reviews for Portrait Care indicate that the platform manages administrative duties, allowing practitioners to concentrate on patient services.Our partners consistently praise our platform for empowering them to achieve their entrepreneurial goals. The consensus from injector testimonials highlights a sense of satisfaction and success, celebrating the rewards from growing their practice with our support.

Master injector and entrepreneur, Catherine Sanson, RN, found that our platform helped her get rewarded for her work, leading her to become the proud owner of Skin Sirens.

‍Check out more Portrait Care testimonials.

2. Nextech

Nextech provides integrated electronic medical record (EMR) and practice management software for specialty medical practices. The company's solutions are designed for fields including Dermatology, Med Spa, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, and Plastic Surgery.

Pricing

Nextech’s pricing is customized based on the specific needs of a practice and is not publicly listed. The company utilizes a flexible subscription-based model, and prospective customers must contact them to receive a tailored quote.

Reviews

User reviews often discuss the software's cost, citing fees for licensing, maintenance, and additional modules. Some users also find the EMR system can be confusing for practices that are not in traditional medicine. Check out more Nextech reviews here.

3. GlossGenius

GlossGenius provides business management solutions for professionals in the salon and spa industry. The platform offers a suite of tools including automated appointment scheduling, payment processing, client management, and built-in marketing.

Pricing

Here's their pricing at a glance:

• $24/month Standard Plan: 'Business essentials that make doing it yourself easy.'
• $48/month Gold Plan: 'Growth tools for entrepreneurs and teams.'
• $148/month Platinum Plan: 'Power features and customizations for scaling growth.'
• Free HIPAA Compliance: An add-on for medspa businesses requiring HIPAA coverage.
• $40/month + $6/seat Payroll: A built-in payroll service for team payments.

Reviews

User feedback often centers on the platform's customization options, payment processing, and card reader functionality. Other frequently discussed topics include marketing notifications, feature availability, and the booking process. Check out more GlossGenius reviews here.

4. Mindbody

Mindbody provides technology for businesses in the fitness, beauty, and wellness industries, positioning itself as a software provider for the boutique wellness sector. The company was founded in San Luis Obispo, California, and now operates globally.

Its platform connects businesses with consumers through management tools for daily operations and a consumer-facing app for booking services. For larger businesses, it offers scalable enterprise solutions with features for multi-location management and support.

Pricing

Mindbody's pricing begins at $99 per month per location, with costs varying based on the selected plan and business needs. Specific pricing for their Starter, Accelerate, Ultimate, and Ultimate Plus tiers is not disclosed publicly, requiring prospective customers to contact the sales team for a quote.

Reviews

User reviews often discuss the platform's complexity and steep learning curve, as well as challenges with the booking system and contract cancellations. Check out more Mindbody reviews here.

5. PatientNow

PatientNow provides practice management solutions for the elective medical industry, serving specialties such as med spas, plastic surgery, and dermatology. The company delivers technology that includes electronic medical records, practice management, and patient engagement tools.

The platform integrates digital marketing, payments, and photography management to streamline daily operations. Its software includes automated follow-ups and recall features designed to support patient retention and business growth.

Pricing

PatientNow does not publicly list its pricing and requires prospective customers to contact the company for a quote. The company offers two main solution types, a non-clinical 'Med Spa & Wellness Solution' and a clinical 'Plastics & Derm Solution', which form the basis of their packages.

Reviews

User feedback indicates a range of experiences, with some customers reporting issues related to the sales process and onboarding. Other recurring topics in reviews include concerns about insufficient functionality, particularly the lack of effective patient alerts, and disruptions to business operations. Check out more PatientNow reviews here.

6. Mangomint

Mangomint provides a software platform for salons and spas, offering tools for booking, payments, and automations. The system is designed for various business types, including hair salons, med spas, IV therapy, and wellness centers.

The platform emphasizes a modern interface and fast performance, designed to work on any device. It includes tools such as Express Booking™, a virtual waiting room, and automated workflows to manage business operations.

Pricing

Here's their pricing at a glance:

• $165/month Essentials: For teams with 2 to 10 service providers.
• $245/month Standard: For up to 20 service providers, with access to advanced features.
• $375/month Unlimited: For businesses with unlimited service providers, including all features and integrations.
• Paid Add-ons: Features like Forms & Charting, Two-Way Texting, and Payroll Processing are available for additional monthly costs.
• Additional Fees: Costs are also incurred for extra locations, payment processing, and pay-as-you-go marketing services.

Reviews

User feedback often mentions a learning curve when switching to the platform, as well as limitations in customization. Other recurring topics in reviews include issues with outsourced payroll processing and confusion regarding billing and promotional offers. Check out more and Mangomint reviews here.

7. Vagaro

Vagaro provides an online platform for booking appointments across the beauty, wellness, and fitness industries. The company serves consumers who book appointments and businesses that list their services and manage bookings.

Pricing

Here's their pricing at a glance:

• $23.99/month Just Me: The base price for one bookable calendar; costs increase for additional calendars.
• Starting at 2.2% Payments: The fee for processing payments through the platform.
• $100/month Branded App: The cost for a business-specific application for customer use.
• $34/month + $5/employee Payroll: The fee for using the integrated payroll system.
• $10-$40/month Feature Add-ons: Optional features such as Forms, a custom website, and data integrations are available for additional monthly fees.

Reviews

User reviews often address customer service interactions, software performance including slowness or glitches on certain devices, and communication during the onboarding process. Check out more Vagaro reviews here.

8. Moxie

Moxie provides tools, technology, and coaching to help aesthetic entrepreneurs launch, run, and grow their medspas. The company offers an all-in-one software suite that includes an EMR and CRM, along with services in marketing, compliance, and business coaching.

Pricing

Moxie does not publicly list its pricing information. Instead, the company offers a free 30-minute strategy session with an advisor to discuss business needs and growth opportunities.

Reviews

User reviews often discuss the company's role during the medspa launch process and the operational support provided, with testimonials frequently mentioning specific business performance metrics. Check out more Moxie reviews here.

9. Zenoti

Zenoti provides a cloud-based software platform designed for businesses in the beauty, wellness, and fitness sectors. Its system offers solutions for salons, spas, medical spas, and fitness centers to manage operations and guest experiences.

Pricing

According to available information, Zenoti's paid plans begin at US$400.00 per month, with no free version or free trial offered. The company does not provide a public breakdown of its pricing tiers or structure.

Reviews

User feedback often addresses billing practices, communication delays during setup, the software's initial complexity, and technical issues. Check out more Zenoti reviews here.

10. RepeatMD

RepeatMD is a software company that provides solutions for the medical aesthetics industry, serving clients such as med spas, plastic surgeons, and dermatologists.

The platform consolidates services like mobile rewards, e-commerce, memberships, and patient financing into a branded mobile application for each practice. This system enables 24/7 online sales and provides business intelligence analytics to inform practice decisions.

Pricing

RepeatMD does not publicly disclose its pricing, instead offering flexible options tailored to the needs of a practice. The company encourages prospective customers to book a demo to receive specific pricing information.

Reviews

User feedback frequently addresses the platform's membership management, particularly the process for canceling accounts. Other common topics include communication regarding payment updates and the level of control business owners have over client accounts. Check out more RepeatMD reviews here.

11. AestheticsPro

AestheticsPro provides software solutions for the medical aesthetics industry, serving businesses such as medical spas and aesthetics practices. The company's platform includes functionalities for scheduling, lead management, and invoicing. The cloud-based system offers HIPAA-compliant electronic medical records, marketing tools, and telemedicine capabilities.

Pricing

Here's their pricing at a glance:

• $75/month per user Professional: For single locations with up to 4 users. Savings are available with annual prepay.
• $275/month Executive: For multi-location practices with unlimited users. Savings are available with annual prepay.
• Custom pricing Enterprise: For organizations requiring custom solutions. Pricing is available upon request.

Reviews

User feedback often addresses the software's performance across different devices and issues with the patient form-completion process. Some users report that clients have difficulty filling out forms and that the system does not always show them as completed. Check out more AestheticsPro reviews here.

12. Boulevard

Boulevard provides a software platform for appointment-based businesses in the self-care industry, including medspas, salons, and spas. The system offers tools to manage operations, client experiences, and business growth.

The platform includes a proprietary scheduling tool, an industry-specific point-of-sale system, and integrated marketing functions. These components are designed to optimize calendar management, streamline checkout processes, and drive client retention through built-in loyalty programs.

Pricing

Here's their pricing at a glance:

• $158/month per location Essentials: For small teams with up to 5 professionals.
• $263/month per location Premier: For growing businesses with unlimited professionals and more complex needs.
• $369/month per location Prestige: Includes all Premier features plus the Forms add-on and increased usage limits.
• Custom pricing Enterprise: A custom plan for large operations with access to APIs and enterprise integrations.
• Paid Add-ons: Optional features such as text marketing, automated campaigns, forms, and QuickBooks integration are available for additional fees.

Reviews

User feedback often discusses the platform's feature set, with some users noting the absence of specific capabilities like invoicing or more comprehensive receipts. Other recurring topics include integration limitations with third-party services and requests for more detailed reporting options. Check out more Boulevard reviews here.

13. Weave

Weave provides an all-in-one communication platform for small- to medium-sized healthcare businesses, including medical spas, dental, and optometry practices. The system integrates tools for phones, texting, reminders, payments, and online reviews.

It includes AI-powered tools for call transcription, review responses, and email generation. The platform consolidates these functions into a single interface accessible through a web browser or desktop application.

Pricing

Weave does not publicly list its pricing, offering three main tiers—Pro, Elite, and Ultimate—in addition to enterprise options. Prospective customers must contact the company directly to receive a custom quote based on their specific business needs.

Reviews

User feedback often discusses the platform's feature set, with some users noting the absence of specific capabilities like invoicing or integration with third-party payment processors. Other recurring topics include a learning curve when adapting to the software and requests for more detailed reporting options. Check out more Weave reviews here.

What to Consider When Selecting a Fresha Alternative?

When selecting a Fresha alternative for your med spa, it's crucial to evaluate platforms based on several key factors beyond just the initial cost:

1. Cost: Consider the total investment, including subscription fees and add-ons, and determine if a freemium model like Portrait Care's, which offers a free EHR platform, provides a better starting point.
2. Industry Specialization: Evaluate whether the software is built specifically for medical aesthetics or a general wellness market, as this impacts the relevance of its features.
3. Medical Compliance and EMR: Ensure the platform offers a HIPAA-compliant EMR with features supporting medical oversight and documentation requirements.
4. All-in-One Functionality: Look for a unified system that integrates core functions like scheduling, payments, marketing, and inventory to streamline operations.
5. Business Growth Support: Consider if the provider offers services beyond software, such as business coaching, marketing assistance, or comprehensive launch support.

Which One Should You Go With?

Choosing the right software for your med spa is a significant decision, and any of the platforms listed can be a great fit depending on your specific needs. If you're looking for a truly all-in-one solution designed for medical aesthetics, we believe Portrait Care is the ideal alternative.

See what our platform can do for your business and get started with Portrait Care today.