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Fresha is free online booking software for salons. My Digital Group is a complete business system. Fresha fills your calendar. MDG fills your calendar and captures walk-in leads, follows up with no-shows, automates review requests, and brings back lapsed clients — all in one place.
Fresha has built a genuinely impressive booking platform, and there's a reason it's popular with salons worldwide. Credit where it's due:
For booking management and in-salon payments, Fresha is a strong option — particularly if you're just starting out and want to keep costs low upfront.
Fresha is booking software. And it does that well. But booking software only solves one part of running a salon. Here's what it doesn't touch:
Someone visits your website but doesn't book? With Fresha, they're gone. No capture form, no follow-up sequence, no second chance. MDG captures that lead and nurtures them until they're ready to book.
Client doesn't show up? Fresha marks them as a no-show, and that's it. MDG automatically sends a follow-up message to rebook them — no awkward phone calls, no chasing, no lost revenue.
Google reviews are the lifeblood of local salon marketing. Fresha doesn't ask for them. MDG automatically sends a review request after every appointment, building your online reputation on autopilot.
Fresha's "free" model charges 2.19% + $0.20 per transaction. For a salon processing $15,000/month, that's roughly $350-$400/month in fees. Plus extra charges for new clients from their marketplace. My Digital Group charges a flat monthly fee — no transaction fees, no surprises.
With Fresha, your clients are in their ecosystem. They can discover other salons through Fresha's marketplace. With MDG, your client data is yours — and you're not sharing a platform with your competitors.
| Feature | My Digital Group | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated booking reminders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lead capture forms | ✓ | ✗ |
| No-show follow-up automation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lapsed client re-engagement | ✓ | ✗ |
| Google Review automation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Missed-call text-back | Pro+ | ✗ |
| AI assistant (24/7 replies) | Pro+ | ✗ |
| Email & SMS marketing | ✓ | Basic |
| POS / in-salon payments | ✗ | ✓ |
| Inventory management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Website included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Done-for-you marketing | Wingman | ✗ |
| Transaction fees | None | 2.19% + $0.20 |
| Starting price | $197/mo | Free + fees |
| Lock-in contract | ✗ | ✗ |
Pricing accurate as of March 2026. Fresha fees based on their published rates.
Fresha is solid booking software — but it's just booking software. It fills your calendar today but doesn't help you grow tomorrow.
My Digital Group captures leads that aren't ready to book yet, follows up with no-shows, brings back clients who've gone quiet, and builds your reputation — all automatically. And there are no transaction fees eating into your margins.
If you want a system that does more than fill chairs — one that fills them consistently and brings people back — MDG is worth a look.
Take the free Brand Health Audit and find out exactly where clients are slipping away — in under 2 minutes.