Salon booking software like Fresha and Timely has become essential for beauty businesses seeking smoother appointment management, client communication, and financial tracking.
The modern salon environment demands efficient appointment management, seamless client communication, and robust financial tracking—all areas where specialized software provides significant advantages over traditional methods.
Both platforms stand out as leading appointment scheduling solutions, each with distinct approaches to helping salon owners manage their operations. While they handle the fundamentals well, they differ significantly in pricing models, feature depth, and overall business philosophy. This comprehensive Fresha vs Timely comparison will help you determine which solution aligns best with your specific business needs. Let’s dive in!
Overview of Fresha vs Timely
Fresha's Evolution and Market Position
Fresha (formerly Shedul) evolved from a basic scheduling tool into a comprehensive salon management system. After its 2020 rebranding, the platform expanded its capabilities while maintaining its commission-based pricing model. Today, it serves over 60,000 partners across more than 120 countries, processing millions of appointments monthly. The platform's growth trajectory has been impressive, with a reported 120% year-over-year increase in appointment bookings during 2021-2022.
Fresha's development philosophy centers around accessibility—providing enterprise-level features without the typical enterprise-level complexity. This approach has proven particularly appealing to independent salon owners and small chains looking to modernize their operations without significant technical overhead. The company secured $152 million in Series C funding in 2021, demonstrating strong investor confidence in its business model.
Timely's Development and Approach
Timely took a different approach. This New Zealand-based platform built its reputation on customization capabilities, detailed reporting tools, and comprehensive client management features. Founded in 2011, Timely has maintained a steady growth trajectory focused on quality rather than rapid expansion. It serves businesses ranging from independent professionals to multi-location operations.
The company places particular emphasis on customer support and community building, hosting regular webinars and providing extensive educational resources for salon owners. This philosophy extends to its product development approach, where features are often built based on direct user feedback. In 2021, Timely was acquired by EverCommerce, providing additional resources for platform enhancement while maintaining its core user-focused approach.
Both platforms aim to streamline salon operations, but their approaches differ significantly in terms of development philosophy, target market segments, and long-term business strategy. Understanding these differences is crucial when choosing between Fresha vs Timely.
Feature Comparison: Fresha vs Timely
Key Features of Fresha
Fresha provides an all-in-one solution with these standout capabilities:
- Appointment Scheduling: User-friendly booking interface with color-coding and drag-and-drop functionality for efficient schedule management. The system supports multiple appointment types, service durations, and buffer times between appointments. Calendar views can be customized by day, week, or month, allowing staff to visualize their schedules effectively. The platform also handles group bookings and recurring appointments through a straightforward interface.
- Client Management: Comprehensive profiles tracking visit history, preferences, and spending patterns. Each client record stores contact information, appointment history, service preferences, and purchase records. The system automatically calculates client lifetime value and retention metrics. Salon owners can add custom fields to track specific information relevant to their business, such as hair color formulas, treatment notes, or product sensitivities.
- Point of Sale System: Unified platform for handling transactions, inventory, and staff commissions. The POS integrates directly with appointment bookings, allowing for seamless checkout experiences. It tracks product inventory levels and can generate automatic purchase orders when stock runs low. Commission calculations support multiple models, including flat rates, percentages, and tiered structures based on employee performance.
- Marketing Tools: Automated messaging for appointment confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups. The system includes pre-designed templates for various communication needs, from initial booking confirmations to post-appointment feedback requests. Salons can set up automated birthday messages, special offers for inactive clients, and seasonal promotions. The message delivery system optimizes sending times based on client response patterns.
- Marketplace Integration: Built-in client discovery platform connecting consumers with salon services. The marketplace displays your available appointments to potential clients browsing for services in your area. Businesses can showcase their specialties, pricing, and gallery images to attract new customers. The platform handles the entire discovery-to-booking process, with a focus on mobile-first user experience.
According to TrustRadius reviews, users particularly appreciate Fresha's "streamlined scheduling process" and "user-friendly interface that requires minimal training for staff adoption." One salon owner notes, "The integration between scheduling, client records, and payment processing saves us approximately 5-7 hours weekly in administrative tasks." Another emphasizes how the marketplace feature "brought in 27 new clients in the first month, with a 68% retention rate for subsequent bookings."
Key Features of Timely
Timely focuses on customization and detailed control:
- Comprehensive Scheduling: Advanced appointment booking handling complex schedules, recurring appointments, and multi-staff coordination. The system supports sophisticated booking rules, including prerequisite services, required staff qualifications, and equipment allocation. Resource management features prevent double-booking of rooms or specialized equipment. The calendar interface allows for custom color-coding based on service type, staff member, or appointment status, providing visual clarity for busy schedules.
- Advanced Client Records: Detailed profiles including service history, product preferences, allergy information, and customizable fields. Each client record functions as a comprehensive database of interactions, purchases, and preferences. The system stores before/after photos, consultation notes, and treatment plans. Integration with client-facing apps allows customers to update their own information and preferences. Detailed consent tracking handles both service-specific and general privacy agreements.
- Marketing Suite: Comprehensive tools for email campaigns, SMS marketing, loyalty programs, and targeted promotions. Marketing features include segmentation based on visit frequency, service types, and spending habits. Campaign performance tracking measures open rates, click-throughs, and direct booking conversions. Automated re-engagement sequences target lapsed clients with personalized offers. The loyalty system supports points accumulation, tier-based rewards, and special member pricing.
- Custom Reporting: In-depth analytics for performance tracking, trend identification, and business optimization. Reports can be customized to show performance by service category, staff member, time period, or client demographic. Financial reporting includes detailed breakdowns of revenue streams, expense categories, and profit margins. Staff performance reports track individual KPIs including client retention, retail sales, and rebooking rates. All reports can be scheduled for automatic generation and distribution to stakeholders, automating marketing reports for efficient analysis.
- Online Booking Website: Branded booking experience rather than marketplace participation. The online booking interface matches your salon's visual identity with custom colors, fonts, and logo placement. Clients see only your services, avoiding the competitive environment of a marketplace. The booking flow can be customized to prioritize specific information collection or service promotion. Integration with your existing website maintains brand consistency throughout the customer journey.
Beauty salon owners using Timely highlight its "robust customization options" and "ability to create detailed reports for business decision-making." A multi-location spa owner reports that "Timely's comprehensive staff performance tracking helped identify training opportunities that increased our service upsell rate by 23%." Another business credits the platform's "detailed client tracking features for improving retention rates from 64% to 81% over a six-month period."
Comparative Analysis
Feature
Fresha
Timely
Appointment Booking
Simple interface with color coding
Complex booking with custom fields
Basic resource management
Advanced resource allocation
Mobile-friendly design emphasis
Desktop-optimized with mobile capability
Payment Processing
Built-in payments with processing fees
Integration with multiple payment providers
Integrated invoicing system
Customizable invoice templates
Automatic payment collection
Flexible deposit and cancellation policies
Marketing Tools
Basic automated messaging
Advanced campaigns and loyalty programs
Marketplace exposure for client acquisition
Branded client communications
Limited segmentation capabilities
Detailed customer segmentation
Client Experience
Marketplace discovery model
Branded booking experience
Standardized client interface
Customizable client portal
Focus on convenience
Focus on relationship building
Mobile Access
App for basic functions
Full-featured mobile application
Staff-oriented mobile functionality
Both staff and client mobile interfaces
Real-time notification system
Comprehensive mobile management
Reporting
Standard performance metrics
Customizable, detailed analytics
Basic financial reporting
Advanced financial modeling
Pre-configured dashboards
Custom report builder
Inventory Management
Basic product tracking
Detailed inventory control
Simple stock level monitoring
Batch tracking and expiration management
Integrated retail sales
Supplier management features
The fundamental difference in Fresha vs Timely lies in Fresha's accessibility-focused approach versus Timely's customization-driven platform. This core philosophical difference manifests throughout their feature sets, with Fresha prioritizing simplicity and immediate usability while Timely offers more nuanced control at the cost of increased complexity.
Integration Capabilities
Fresha's Integration Ecosystem
Fresha takes a more controlled approach to third-party integrations, focusing on tight integration with core business functions:
- Payment Processing: Direct integration with major payment processors including Stripe, PayPal, and Square ensures seamless transaction handling with real-time reconciliation.
- Accounting Software: Connections with QuickBooks, Xero, and MYOB simplify financial management by automatically synchronizing sales data, expenses, and tax calculations.
- Marketing Tools: Limited but growing integrations with email platforms like Mailchimp and SMS services allow for basic marketing automation outside the native system.
- Google and Social Media: Calendar synchronization with Google Calendar and basic Facebook/Instagram integrations for appointment booking directly from social profiles.
Fresha's integration philosophy emphasizes stability over extensive third-party connections, with one salon owner noting, "The limited but rock-solid integrations mean less troubleshooting when systems update." However, for salons seeking enhanced scheduling options, integrating external tools like using Calendly for scheduling can offer additional flexibility, though it may require additional setup.
Timely's Open Integration Approach
Timely offers a more extensive integration ecosystem:
- API Access: Developers can create custom integrations for specific business needs, allowing for unique workflow automation and data synchronization.
- Financial Ecosystem: Beyond basic accounting integrations, Timely connects with payroll systems, tax management tools, and financial planning software.
- Expanded Marketing Stack: Comprehensive integration with marketing automation platforms, CRM systems, and advanced email marketing tools like ActiveCampaign and HubSpot, facilitating seamless client management by integrating with HubSpot.
- Business Intelligence: Connections with data visualization platforms like Tableau and Power BI enable advanced analytics beyond native reporting.
- Operational Tools: Integration with inventory management systems, staff scheduling platforms, and customer feedback collection services. Timely's extensive integrations also extend to sales tools, enabling salons to improve business operations by integrating with Pipedrive for efficient sales pipeline management. Additionally, Timely's integrations can assist with contract management and service agreements, automating contract management to streamline salon operations.
- CRM Integrations: Timely's integrations with CRM systems facilitate better client handling and appointment scheduling, for example, by connecting Salesforce with calendars to synchronize client interactions and bookings.
A multi-location salon manager highlights that "Timely's open API allowed us to build custom connections with our specialized equipment management system, saving countless hours of manual data entry."
Pricing Structure
Fresha Pricing Plans
Fresha employs a unique "subscription-free" model appealing to new businesses. Core functionality comes without monthly fees, with revenue generated through:
- 20% commission on bookings through the Fresha marketplace. This applies only to new clients who discover your business through the Fresha platform, not to your existing clientele who book online through your branded booking page.
- 1.29% + $0.20 payment processing fee per transaction. This applies to all transactions processed through the Fresha payments system, including service fees, product sales, and gratuities.
- Premium features starting at $9.95/month per location. These additional features include:
- Advanced marketing automations with custom triggers and sequences
- Priority customer support with decreased response times
- Additional staff performance metrics and reporting
- Enhanced inventory management capabilities
- Custom forms and client intake documentation
For a salon processing $10,000 monthly with 20% ($2,000) coming from new marketplace clients, the commission cost would be approximately $400, plus payment processing fees of around $149, totaling $549 monthly for core services without premium features.
This allows Fresha to position itself as a "free" solution while generating revenue through usage—ideal for salons in early growth stages. One new salon owner reports, "The commission model worked perfectly for us while building our client base. We gladly paid the fees for new customers, effectively making it a performance-based marketing expense."
Timely Pricing Options
Timely uses traditional subscription tiers based on business size:
- Solo practitioners: Starting around $15/week ($60/month). This tier includes:
- Basic appointment scheduling and client management
- Online booking capabilities with customizable booking page
- Simple financial tracking and reporting
- Email and SMS reminders with basic templates
- Standard customer support
- Small teams (2-5 staff): Approximately $35/week ($140/month). This tier adds:
- Multi-staff scheduling with resource allocation
- Expanded reporting capabilities
- Team performance tracking
- Enhanced marketing tools with client segmentation
- Additional customization options for client communications
- Growing businesses: Custom pricing based on needs, typically starting around $60/week ($240/month) for 6+ staff members. This comprehensive tier includes:
- Advanced staff management with performance-based compensation
- Complete marketing suite with loyalty program capabilities
- Custom form builder for detailed client information collection
- Advanced analytics and business intelligence features
- Priority support with dedicated account management
- Multi-location management capabilities
- API access for custom integrations
Higher tiers unlock additional marketing capabilities, reporting options, and customization features. According to Capterra reviews, some users note that "Timely's pricing increases significantly as you add staff members," while others emphasize that "the all-inclusive nature of each tier eliminates surprise costs for essential features."
Cost-Benefit Analysis
In the Fresha vs Timely pricing comparison, new salons with limited online bookings might benefit from Fresha's commission approach. If most appointments come through your own efforts with only a small percentage through the marketplace, costs remain minimal.
A detailed analysis reveals different cost scenarios:
Scenario 1: New salon with 50 monthly appointments ($3,500 revenue)
- With Fresha: Assuming 40% of bookings ($1,400) come through the marketplace, you'd pay $280 in commissions plus approximately $45 in payment processing fees = $325 monthly
- With Timely: Solo practitioner plan at $60 monthly
Scenario 2: Established salon with 200 monthly appointments ($15,000 revenue)
- With Fresha: Assuming 15% of bookings ($2,250) come through the marketplace, you'd pay $450 in commissions plus approximately $194 in payment processing fees = $644 monthly
- With Timely: Small team plan at $140 monthly
Established salons with consistent booking volume often find Timely's fixed subscription more economical. A busy salon handling hundreds of monthly appointments could pay significantly more in Fresha commissions than Timely's flat fee. However, Fresha's marketplace exposure provides value beyond simple software functionality, potentially justifying the higher costs through client acquisition.
The optimal choice depends on your booking volume, client acquisition methods, business stage, and whether you view the marketplace commission as a marketing expense or software cost. One salon owner observed, "After calculating our growing monthly costs with Fresha as our client base expanded, we realized Timely's fixed pricing would save us over $4,000 annually at our current volume."
User Experience and Learning Curve
Fresha's User Interface and Adoption Process
Fresha prioritizes immediate usability with a design philosophy that minimizes training requirements:
- Intuitive Layout: The dashboard presents key information and actions without overwhelming users, using visual cues and color-coding to indicate appointment status and priority actions.
- Guided Setup: New users experience step-by-step onboarding with contextual help, tooltips, and suggested actions to complete their profile and service offerings.
- Mobile-First Design: The interface adapts seamlessly between desktop and mobile experiences, maintaining functionality across devices.
- Progressive Feature Revelation: Basic functions are immediately accessible, while advanced features appear in context as users become more comfortable with the system.
- Video Tutorials: Brief, task-specific video guides demonstrate key workflows at the point of need rather than requiring comprehensive training.
Salons report rapid adoption, with one owner stating, "We had all five staff members comfortably using Fresha within two days, compared to weeks of training with our previous system." Another mentions, "The reception desk staff particularly appreciate the visual calendar that makes checking availability nearly instantaneous."
Timely's Learning Process and Interface Sophistication
Timely offers greater customization but with a steeper learning curve:
- Customizable Interface: Users can configure dashboards, reports, and workflows to match their specific business processes, requiring initial setup time but creating efficiency long-term.
- Feature Depth: More complex capabilities take longer to master but provide granular control over business operations once implemented.
- Comprehensive Training Resources: Extensive documentation, webinars, and personalized onboarding sessions support the learning process for new users.
- Role-Based Training: Different staff roles (administrators, stylists, reception) receive targeted guidance relevant to their specific responsibilities.
- Template Library: Pre-configured setups for common salon types accelerate the customization process while demonstrating best practices.
The learning investment pays dividends in operational efficiency, as one owner describes: "It took us about two weeks to fully implement Timely across our three locations, but the time saved through automation and custom workflows has been transformative, reducing administrative work by approximately 20 hours weekly."
Client Experience Comparison
The Client Journey with Fresha
Fresha creates a streamlined client experience focused on convenience:
- Marketplace Discovery: New clients can find your business through category and location searches, with ratings and reviews influencing visibility.
- Booking Process: The booking flow emphasizes speed and simplicity, with minimal steps from service selection to confirmation.
- Client Communications: Automated messaging maintains consistent contact through confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups without requiring salon staff intervention.
- Mobile Experience: The client-facing app provides appointment management, personal information updates, and rebooking options.
- Feedback Collection: Post-appointment surveys gather satisfaction ratings that influence marketplace visibility and provide business insights.
One salon client noted, "Finding and booking my first appointment took less than three minutes from discovering the salon to receiving my confirmation. The reminders and simple rebooking process have kept me coming back."
The Client Journey with Timely
Timely creates a more branded, relationship-focused client experience:
- Branded Booking: Clients interact directly with your salon's booking interface, maintaining your unique visual identity throughout the process.
- Personalization: The system recognizes returning clients, suggesting preferred services and remembering key details from previous visits.
- Detailed Communication: Appointment messages can include personalized content, specific preparation instructions, and custom branding.
- Client Portal: Clients can access their complete service history, upcoming appointments, and personal preferences through a dedicated portal.
- Relationship Building: The system supports loyalty programs, client anniversaries, and personalized marketing based on service history.
Client feedback reflects this approach, with one customer sharing, "I appreciate how the salon remembers my preferences and previous services. The birthday message with a special offer felt genuinely thoughtful rather than automated."
Implementation and Support Resources
Fresha's Setup and Support Structure
Fresha emphasizes self-service implementation with readily available support:
- Setup Timeline: Most salons complete basic setup within 1-3 days, focusing on essential features before expanding to advanced capabilities.
- Migration Assistance: Basic tools for importing client data and appointment history from common competing platforms.
- Support Channels: Email support for all users, with chat support available during business hours and priority phone support for premium subscribers.
- Community Resources: User forums, knowledge base articles, and regular webinars covering common challenges and new feature introductions.
- Template Library: Pre-configured service menus, automated messages, and marketing materials speed up implementation.
Salon owners appreciate the accessible approach, with one noting, "We were taking appointments through Fresha within hours of signing up, adding more sophisticated features over the following weeks as we became comfortable with the system."
Timely's Implementation Process and Support
Timely provides more structured implementation guidance:
- Setup Planning: Dedicated onboarding specialists help create customized implementation plans based on business size and complexity.
- Data Migration: Comprehensive tools and assistance for transferring historical data, including service records, client notes, and financial information.
- Training Program: Structured training sessions for different staff roles ensure complete system utilization.
- Technical Support: Available through multiple channels including email, chat, phone, and video conferencing for complex issues.
- Customization Assistance: Guidance for adapting the platform to specific business workflows and requirements.
This approach earns positive feedback from larger operations, as a multi-location owner shares: "The implementation team created a staged rollout plan that maintained business continuity across our five locations, with dedicated support during each location's transition period."
Who Each Platform Suits Best?
Ideal for Fresha
- New salon businesses seeking low initial costs and simple setup. First-time salon owners particularly benefit from the intuitive interface and marketplace exposure while managing startup expenses. A new business owner shares, "Fresha's commission model meant we only paid when we actually had customers, which was crucial during our first six months."
- Solo practitioners who want marketplace exposure for client acquisition. Independent beauty professionals without established marketing channels can leverage the platform to build visibility. One solo esthetician reports, "The marketplace generated 80% of my initial clients, allowing me to focus on service quality rather than marketing during my first year."
- Budget-conscious owners preferring usage-based pricing over fixed costs. Businesses with irregular booking patterns or seasonal fluctuations benefit from costs that scale with activity. A seasonal resort salon notes, "Our costs decrease during the off-season when bookings naturally decline, unlike fixed subscription models."
- Technologically cautious users who prioritize simplicity over advanced features. Salons with limited technical experience or those transitioning from paper-based systems appreciate the gentle learning curve. One owner transitioning from manual booking shares, "The straightforward interface meant even our most technology-resistant staff members adapted quickly."
- Businesses focused on growth who benefit from the client discovery platform. Salons in competitive markets or new locations use the marketplace as a cost-effective client acquisition channel. A growing chain explains, "We use Fresha's marketplace as our primary new client acquisition tool for new locations, typically reaching operational capacity within 3-4 months of opening."
Ideal for Timely
- Established salons with consistent appointment volume. Businesses with stable client bases and predictable scheduling needs benefit from fixed pricing and advanced customization. A salon in business for 15 years reports, "Timely's fixed cost structure saved us approximately 35% compared to percentage-based platforms once we reached consistently high booking volumes."
- Multi-staff operations requiring detailed scheduling and staff management. Salons with complex staffing arrangements, varying skill specializations, and resource coordination needs benefit from advanced scheduling capabilities. A salon with 12 stylists explains, "The ability to match client needs with specific staff qualifications and simultaneously manage equipment usage eliminated double-booking issues."
- Businesses prioritizing brand identity who want fully customized client experiences. Salons with strong existing branding and marketing strategies prefer maintaining consistent visual identity and messaging. A high-end spa notes, "Preserving our luxury brand experience throughout the digital customer journey maintains the premium positioning that supports our pricing strategy."
- Data-driven owners who utilize detailed analytics for business decisions. Operations focusing on performance optimization and strategic planning leverage comprehensive reporting capabilities. One owner shares, "Timely's custom reports helped identify that our most profitable service category was being underpriced by 22% compared to market rates, leading to a pricing adjustment that increased profitability without affecting demand."
- Multi-location operations needing comprehensive cross-location management. Businesses with multiple sites benefit from centralized administration while maintaining location-specific settings. A regional salon chain states, "Managing staff allocation across three locations with unified client records and centralized reporting has eliminated the previous administrative duplicate work."
Technology and Security Considerations
Fresha's Technical Infrastructure
Fresha's platform architecture prioritizes reliability and simplicity:
- Cloud-Based System: Fully hosted solution requiring no on-premise equipment or software installation, with automatic updates and maintenance.
- Mobile Applications: Native apps for iOS and Android provide core functionality for both business owners and clients, with regular feature parity updates.
- Data Protection: Industry-standard encryption for data transmission and storage, with regular security audits and compliance with regional data protection regulations.
- Backup Systems: Automated daily backups with 30-day restoration capability provide protection against data loss.
- System Reliability: Reported uptime exceeding 99.9% with transparent status monitoring and scheduled maintenance windows.
Security features focus on practical protection with minimal configuration requirements. As one IT-conscious owner notes, "The security fundamentals are handled automatically, requiring minimal technical knowledge from our team while maintaining strong protection."
Timely's Technical Architecture
Timely offers more technical flexibility and control:
- Hybrid Hosting Options: Cloud-based standard deployment with additional options for larger enterprises with specific hosting requirements.
- Integration Framework: Open API architecture allows for custom connections to specialized business systems and third-party services, including AI-powered scheduling tools for automating meeting scheduling with AI.
- Advanced Security Controls: Granular permission settings, activity logging, and role-based access control provide enhanced security management.
- Compliance Features: Specialized tools for managing industry-specific regulatory requirements, including detailed consent tracking and privacy management.
- Data Ownership: Comprehensive data export capabilities ensure business continuity and ownership of information regardless of platform changes.
This approach benefits technically sophisticated operations, as a multi-location business manager explains: "The ability to integrate Timely with our custom CRM and financial reporting systems created a unified data environment that would have been impossible with more closed systems."
Which One Is the Right For You?
Both Fresha and Timely offer robust salon booking software with different strengths. Your choice should align with your specific business model, technical capabilities, and growth objectives. This Fresha vs Timely analysis highlights the key factors to consider when selecting between these industry-leading platforms.
Decision Framework
When evaluating these platforms for your specific business, consider these questions:
- Business Stage: Are you establishing a new business or managing an existing operation with established processes?
- Growth Strategy: Do you need help acquiring new clients, or is your focus on maximizing value from an existing client base?
- Technical Comfort: How comfortable are you and your staff with learning and customizing software systems?
- Financial Model: Do you prefer predictable fixed costs or usage-based pricing that scales with business activity?
- Brand Importance: How critical is maintaining your unique brand identity throughout the client experience?
- Operational Complexity: How sophisticated are your scheduling, service, and staff management requirements?
- Data Utilization: How extensively do you use business analytics to guide strategic decisions?
Consider Fresha if you prioritize:
- Low upfront costs with a pay-as-you-grow financial model that minimizes initial investment.
- Simplicity and ease of use with intuitive interfaces requiring minimal training and technical expertise.
- New client acquisition through a marketplace leveraging the platform's built-in discovery tools for growth.
- Quick implementation with minimal training allowing for rapid deployment and immediate benefit realization.
- Integrated payment processing with unified financial tracking across appointments, services, and retail sales.
Choose Timely if you value:
- Advanced customization capabilities adapting the system precisely to your operational requirements.
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics providing detailed business intelligence for strategic planning.
- Complete brand control maintaining your visual identity and messaging throughout the client journey.
- Detailed client management features supporting sophisticated relationship building and personalization, further enhanced by integrating AI technologies for enhancing sales engagement with AI.
- Scalable multi-location support providing unified management across multiple business sites.
- Extensive integration options connecting with your existing business systems and specialized tools.
Conclsion
Ultimately, the best appointment scheduling solution adapts to your salon's workflow rather than forcing you to change your processes. Testing both platforms through free trials can provide practical insight into which system best supports your specific operational needs in the Fresha vs Timely decision. Many successful salons report that hands-on experience with both systems revealed clear preferences that weren't apparent from feature comparisons alone.
As one salon owner who evaluated both systems advises, "Look beyond the marketing materials and imagine how each system would function during your busiest day—that practical perspective revealed which platform truly aligned with our operational style and business goals."