Last Updated on April 23, 2026
If your clients cannot book online at any time of day, you are losing appointments to the salon that lets them. Most UK salon bookings now happen outside opening hours. The right booking system pays for itself within the first week.
Here are the best options for UK hairdressers and barbers in 2026, compared honestly.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Free Plan | Marketplace | Google Booking | SMS Reminders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresha | Free* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Booksy | £40+ | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Timely | £15/user | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Treatwell | £195/yr* | – | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| Phorest | Custom | – | – | ✓ | ✓ |
*Fresha charges commission on new client bookings. Treatwell charges commission on marketplace bookings, 0% on direct repeats.
Fresha: Best for Solo Stylists Starting Out
Fresha is genuinely free to use for scheduling, with no monthly subscription. The catch is a commission fee on new clients booked through their marketplace. If you are just starting and need clients, this trade-off makes sense. Once you have a full book, the commissions can add up.
Best for: Solo hairdressers and new salons building a client base.
Booksy: Best for Barbers
Booksy was built with barbers in mind. The app has a strong male grooming user base, and the Reserve with Google integration means clients can book directly from Google search results. Starts at around £40/month.
Best for: Barbershops wanting marketplace exposure and Google integration.
Timely: Best for Automation
Timely is an all-in-one system with strong automation features, including automated rebooking reminders, review requests, and marketing messages. At £15 per user per month, it scales well for small salons. No marketplace though, so you need to drive your own traffic.
Best for: Salons wanting automated client communication and retention.
Treatwell: Best for Discovery
Treatwell is the UK’s biggest salon marketplace. Clients search for salons by location and treatment, and book directly. You pay an annual subscription plus commission on marketplace bookings, but repeat clients booked directly have 0% commission.
Best for: Salons in busy areas wanting to be found by new clients searching online.
Phorest: Best for Multi-Staff Salons
Phorest is a full salon management platform with staff scheduling, client management, marketing automation, and detailed reporting. Custom pricing means it is more suited to established salons with multiple staff.
Best for: Salons with 3+ staff wanting a complete management system.
Which Should You Choose?
- Just starting out? Fresha. Zero upfront cost, marketplace exposure.
- Barbershop? Booksy. Built for male grooming, strong Google integration.
- Want automation? Timely. Rebooking reminders and marketing built in.
- Want new clients? Treatwell. Biggest UK salon marketplace.
- Growing team? Phorest. Full salon management.
Related: Marketing for Hairdressers and Barbers | All Booking System Reviews
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