DeskBuddy vs Fresha
AI phone answering vs free booking platform
Fresha offers free online booking — but when clients call to ask a question, nobody's there. DeskBuddy ensures every phone call is answered.
What Is Fresha?
Fresha (formerly Shedul) is a free appointment scheduling and business management platform for beauty and wellness businesses. It earns revenue through optional marketplace fees and payment processing. While the free core product is appealing, Fresha doesn't offer any phone-based communication features.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Pros & Cons
Fresha
- Completely free core software
- Built-in client marketplace
- Clean, modern interface
- POS and inventory management included
- No phone answering at all
- 20% fee on marketplace-acquired clients
- Limited customization options
- No bilingual phone support
DeskBuddy
- AI answers every call 24/7
- No per-client marketplace fees
- Bilingual English & Spanish support
- Local phone numbers boost trust
- Perfect complement to Fresha's online booking
Why Fresha Users Add DeskBuddy
Capture Phone Bookings
Many clients prefer calling. DeskBuddy converts phone inquiries into bookings that Fresha alone can't capture.
No 20% Marketplace Fee
DeskBuddy brings you direct phone customers without Fresha's marketplace commission.
Bilingual Advantage
Serve Spanish-speaking communities that may not use Fresha's English-only marketplace.
After-Hours Booking
When your shop closes, DeskBuddy keeps taking bookings via phone.
Our Verdict
Fresha's free booking platform is hard to beat on price. But 'free' doesn't cover phone calls — and many beauty clients still prefer calling. DeskBuddy's AI phone answering perfectly complements Fresha, ensuring you capture every potential booking regardless of how the customer reaches out.
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