.jpg)
© Goodcall 2025
Built with ❤ by humans and AI agents in California, Egypt, GPUland, Virginia and Washington
.webp)
.jpg)
In the world of salon and spa software, Boulevard vs Fresha stands out as a key comparison for business owners. Fresha (formerly Shedul) offers cloud-based tools that anyone can use, while Boulevard caters to high-end establishments seeking premium experiences.
Let's dive into what makes each platform tick—from features to pricing—so you can pick the right fit for your business. Whether you run a one-person shop or manage multiple locations, choosing between Boulevard vs Fresha could completely change how your business operates.
Fresha, formerly Shedul, offers cloud-based salon management with real-time booking capabilities. Available in 120+ countries and 22 languages, it provides client profiles, scheduling, and business tools. The platform offers a genuinely free plan for smaller salons, with Plus subscriptions at $9.95 monthly per team member. Independent professionals particularly value Fresha for digitizing operations without significant upfront investment.
Boulevard is a premium platform for upscale salons, spas, and wellness businesses, featuring Precision Scheduling technology to optimize calendars. It combines booking tools, payment processing, marketing automation, and client engagement in one interface. With two-way texting, extensive customization, and deep analytics, Boulevard serves established businesses prioritizing sophisticated client experiences, despite requiring a steeper learning curve than simpler alternatives.
These platforms take different paths to salon management success. Here's how they stack up:
Fresha keeps scheduling simple with automated booking, instant updates, and multi-location capabilities. Their mobile app lets clients book whenever inspiration strikes. The system also intelligently allocates resources, ensuring you never overcommit staff or equipment, helping maintain seamless operations even during your busiest periods.
Boulevard takes scheduling up a notch with custom templates, group bookings, and client self-selection. Their Google Calendar integration keeps everyone on the same page, no matter where they check their schedule. Their exclusive Precision Scheduling technology also analyzes historical data to optimize appointment placement, reducing costly gaps in your day and maximizing revenue potential.
Fresha tracks client history and sends automatic reminders. It plays nice with major CRM systems if you're already using one. The platform also stores client preferences and notes, allowing staff to provide personalized service that makes every visitor feel remembered and valued, even if they haven't visited in months.
Boulevard digs deeper into client relationships with smart follow-ups and personalized communication. It remembers every client preference and service history, making guests feel truly known. Their advanced client tagging system lets you segment customers by visit frequency, spending habits, and service preferences, enabling targeted marketing that dramatically improves conversion rates.
Fresha handles payments without monthly fees but takes a commission per transaction. Tips and gratuities flow smoothly through their system. Their point-of-sale features also support retail product sales, appointment packages, and gift cards, creating additional revenue streams beyond service bookings.
Boulevard processes payments with clear pricing and supports various payment methods. Their split payment feature shines for group bookings and special events. The platform also offers sophisticated membership billing options with recurring payment processing, helping stabilize your cash flow and build predictable monthly revenue.
Fresha covers basic marketing needs with email campaigns, promotions, and a simple loyalty program that tracks referrals. The platform also helps you manage your online presence by collecting and displaying client reviews, building trust with potential customers who browse your services online.
Boulevard offers more marketing muscle with advanced loyalty programs, custom email designs, SMS marketing, and targeted promotions that give you greater control over your marketing message. Their intelligent rebooking prompts automatically engage clients at optimal times, reducing appointment gaps and maintaining consistent booking rates even during traditionally slow periods.
Fresha provides essential numbers on daily sales, appointments, and revenue, plus basic retention and performance tracking. These insights help identify your most profitable services and busiest periods, allowing even small businesses to make data-informed decisions without complex analysis.
Boulevard delivers deep, customizable reporting with detailed financial insights, staff performance metrics, client retention analysis, and tools to forecast future revenue. Their dashboard highlights key performance indicators at a glance, while drill-down capabilities let you investigate trends and anomalies to identify exactly what's driving your business growth or challenges.
Fresha keeps tabs on your stock with basic tracking for levels, sales, and reorders. The system automatically adjusts inventory when products are used in services, ensuring your virtual stock levels always match physical reality without manual counting.
Boulevard watches your inventory in real-time, sending alerts when supplies run low and connecting everything to your sales data for a complete picture. Their predictive ordering suggestions help you maintain optimal stock levels based on historical usage patterns, reducing both excess inventory costs and emergency reordering expenses.
Fresha efficiently handles schedules, payroll, and time tracking for your team. The platform also generates performance reports that highlight each staff member's productivity and booking rates, making review conversations more objective and constructive.
Boulevard adds performance tracking, commission calculations, and shift scheduling—perfect for larger teams with complex staffing needs. Their detailed analytics can also identify which provider-service combinations generate the highest customer satisfaction and rebooking rates, helping you optimize scheduling for maximum retention and revenue.
Fresha connects with popular services like Mailchimp, QuickBooks, and Stripe and supports social media for your marketing efforts. These connections eliminate redundant data entry and ensure consistent information across all your business platforms without technical complexity.
Boulevard matches these connections but adds an open API for custom integrations. They also link directly with Facebook and Instagram marketing tools to expand your reach. For multi-location businesses, their enterprise-grade integration capabilities ensure consistent client experiences and centralized reporting across all sites, regardless of geographic spread.
Both platforms cover the basics, but Boulevard typically offers more depth and customization. Fresha works perfectly for smaller businesses, while Boulevard better serves complex operations with premium offerings.
When analyzing the Boulevard vs Fresha matchup, Goodcall specialists can help determine which aligns best with your business goals.
Great support can save your day when things go sideways. These platforms handle support quite differently.
Fresha supports users mainly through email and live chat. Client experiences vary—some praise quick help while others mention waiting during busy times. The platform's straightforward design means many users solve problems on their own, but when they can't, response times aren't always consistent.
Boulevard takes support seriously with live chat, phone support, and a rich knowledge base. Their team consistently earns praise for quick, helpful responses. This multi-channel approach fits their premium positioning and serves complex salon operations well.
This difference reflects each platform's focus. Fresha's simpler support works for smaller businesses that value affordability. Boulevard's comprehensive support suits larger operations with complex needs and higher expectations.
Be realistic about your support needs when choosing. If you run a larger business with complex workflows, Boulevard's support might be essential. For simpler setups where you're comfortable figuring things out, Fresha might be just fine.
The pricing models tell you a lot about who these platforms are built for.
Fresha keeps things accessible for smaller businesses:
A typical five-person salon pays under $50 monthly, while a ten-staff business averages around $100 per month.
Boulevard positions itself as the premium choice:
Add-ons include Forms & Charts ($55/month per location) and QuickBooks Integration ($45/month per location). Their payment processing rates run 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person and 3.5% + $0.10 for virtual transactions.
Boulevard requires a 12-month commitment, which can be challenging for seasonal businesses. The average Boulevard salon spends about $425 monthly, reflecting its focus on established businesses.
This Boulevard vs Fresha pricing contrast highlights the importance of matching software to your business scale, something the team at Goodcall can help you navigate.
Your choice depends on your size, growth plans, and feature needs. Smaller operations typically prefer Fresha's pricing, while established businesses often see Boulevard as worth the investment.
Let's break down the strengths and limitations of each platform.
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
Your choice should align with your business size, budget, and specific needs. Fresha works beautifully for smaller operations or those new to salon software. Boulevard shines for larger businesses needing sophisticated solutions for complex operations and high-end client experiences. The Boulevard vs Fresha comparison comes down to matching software capabilities with your business requirements.
Boulevard vs Fresha represents two different paths to salon success, each designed for specific business types.
Choose based on your business size, complexity, and growth plans. Boulevard offers a premium, feature-rich experience for businesses ready to invest in sophisticated tools, while Fresha delivers an accessible solution covering the essentials for smaller operations or those just beginning their digital journey.
Whichever side of the Boulevard vs Fresha decision you land on, make an informed choice that supports your long-term vision.
Need help deciding between Boulevard vs Fresha for your salon? Goodcall experts can analyze your specific business needs and recommend the perfect software solution.
Visit Goodcall today for personalized guidance that will help your salon business thrive.
Which is better for salons: Boulevard or Fresha?
Boulevard is better for high-end salons needing customization, while Fresha is ideal for budget-conscious salons offering free scheduling tools.
Does Boulevard offer more features than Fresha?
Yes, Boulevard offers advanced marketing, POS, and client management tools, whereas Fresha keeps it simple with essential features for appointment booking and payments.
Which platform is more affordable: Boulevard or Fresha?
Fresha is more affordable with its free-to-use model, while Boulevard charges monthly fees for its premium, tailored services.
Is Fresha easier to set up than Boulevard?
Yes, Fresha is quicker to set up with minimal onboarding, while Boulevard may require more setup due to its advanced customization options.
We’ll email you 1-3 times per week—and never share your information.