Fresha, Booksy or your own booking system?
A booking platform makes a tempting promise: sign up today and clients will find you tomorrow. For many, it actually works. But over time a question comes up: is the client now mine or the platform's?
Short answer: a platform suits you if you're starting out, need clients quickly and sell only services. Your own system starts to justify itself when you already have regular clients, also sell goods, want your own website to rise on Google and want to keep client data in your own hands.
What a platform does well
- Quick start. The calendar, free times and reminders work almost immediately.
- Marketplace. A new client can find you through the platform's search.
- Phone app. The client books in an app where they already have an account.
For a new business, this can be the best way to get your first clients.
What it costs
In Fresha's official price list as of 1 November 2026, it costs €12.95 a month for a sole practitioner and €8.95 a month per bookable team member for a team, excluding VAT. The payment fee is 1.29% + €0.20 per transaction. On top of that comes a one-off fee for a new client from the Fresha marketplace. Independent reviews mention 20%, so check the exact amount in the terms for your country.
I couldn't find a publicly confirmed euro price for Booksy. Ask for a quote directly, and be sure to ask about any surcharge for new clients.
A fee isn't bad in itself. If a €50 service brings a new client who keeps coming for years, a small one-off fee is a reasonable advertising cost. The question is whether the rest suits you.
What to weigh up before deciding
Who owns the client? Can you download the full client list with history? Can you send them an offer yourself?
Where does the traffic go? If the booking button leads to the platform, the platform gets the visit. The client may also see competitors there.
Do you also sell goods? Product sales on a platform are usually limited, and the online store and stock remain separate.
How do you leave? What happens to future appointments if you decide to change systems? I wrote about this separately: migrating data from an old system.
When bookings are on your own site
Booking in NUNDINAE is part of your own website and online store:
- Google brings the client to your site. Each service has its own page and description. You use the same address whose strength you have built up over the years.
- The client chooses a specialist and a time. They see the staff member's photo, the price and free times.
- Prepayment goes to you through Montonio. You set the late-cancellation rules yourself, and with a free cancellation the prepayment is refunded automatically.
- The client's history is in your database. Visits, purchases and notes are on one card.
- Offers go out under your name. Return-visit reminders and birthday offers reach clients who have given consent.
- Goods are in the same system. A product can be added to the visit's invoice and comes out of stock.
There is no new client fee in NUNDINAE, because the system isn't a marketplace. The same reason also means the opposite: it won't bring you new clients by itself. They come from Google, recommendations and your marketing.
There are limits here too. A client can currently cancel their appointment online, but can't move it themselves: for that they cancel and book a new one, or call you.
Comparison at a glance
| Question | Booking platform | Your own system (NUNDINAE) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of getting started | Very fast | Needs installation and configuration |
| New clients directly from the system | Yes | No, they come from your marketing |
| Fee for a new client | May apply | None |
| Booking on your own address | Partly or as a link | Yes |
| Online store and stock | Limited or separate | In the same system |
| Client data | In the platform's environment | In your database |
| Price | Public monthly fee | Written quote |
One doesn't rule out the other
You can keep a platform profile for finding new clients and steer regular clients to your own site. Just think through how appointments won't clash between the two systems. It's often simpler to decide which one is your main calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Will regular clients move with me?
Future appointments and history can be brought over if the platform releases the data. Regular clients need to have the new link explained. A confirmation email and a message are often enough.
Is your own system worth it for a small business?
If you sell only one or two services and no goods, stay with the platform. Your own system starts to pay off when the business has several parts.
What should a booking system be able to do at all?
I made a list: booking system: what it must do.
Does your own system pay off in your case?
Write to me about how many staff you have, what you sell and what you use now. Order NUNDINAE or ask for a demo, and I'll tell you honestly whether switching is worth it.
