Already using Fresha?
Australian businesses save up to ~$10,880/year (if relying on marketplace)
An honest, side-by-side comparison to help you decide what's right for your Australian pet business.
The Facts at a Glance
Fresha
www.fresha.com- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- London, UK
- Focus
- Beauty & wellness booking
- Est. Customers
- Unknown (100,000+ businesses claimed)
- Pricing
- Free core + 20% marketplace commission + payment fees
Petboost
Built in Sydney- Founded
- 2022
- Headquarters
- Sydney, Australia
- Focus
- Multi-vertical pet services
- AU Presence
- Native (built in Sydney)
- Pricing
- $65-240/mo + 1.2-1.4%or $0 with card volume*
*Subscription waived as a bonus reward: Pro at $7,500+/mo, Max at $20,000+/mo in card payments
Consider Fresha only if
There are limited scenarios where Fresha may suit you better:
- Beauty salons, spas, nail bars (their core market)
- Businesses wanting marketplace exposure to find new customers
- Simple appointment-based services
- Operations in beauty/wellness verticals
Petboost?
Purpose-built for Australian pet businesses with a design-first approach our customers rave about:
- Australian pet businesses wanting local support
- Any pet service vertical (grooming, walking, daycare, training, boarding)
- Businesses wanting truly transparent pricing (no hidden commissions)
- Operations needing pet-specific workflows
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
Where Each Platform Excels
An honest look at how each platform handles key functionality.
Feature Comparison
Fresha vs Petboost
Pet Profiles
Pet-specific data storage
Fresha is for humans, not pets
Pet & Owner Profiles
Comprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork
Fresha designed for beauty/wellness; no pet-specific profile management
Human client profiles only
8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management
Owner/Pet Linking
Multiple pets per owner
Petboost purpose-built
Booking Engine
Appointment scheduling
Different focus
Generic appointments
Pet-aware scheduling
Marketplace
Customer discovery
Fresha helps find customers
Commission
Platform fees on bookings
Petboost no commission
20% on marketplace
0%
Payment Processing
Transaction fees
Similar rates
2.19% + $0.20
1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU)
Package Credits
Prepaid packages
Petboost more advanced
Basic
Full self-service
Course Management
Training courses
Petboost has courses
Session-Based Scheduling
Structured time blocks with per-session controls
Petboost offers per-session capacity, service restrictions, and pet eligibility
Basic time slots
Schedules & Sessions
SMS
Text notifications
Different model
Pay-per-use
Feature Comparison Fresha vs Petboost | F Fresha | P Petboost🇦🇺Australian-Built |
|---|---|---|
Pet ProfilesPet-specific data storage Fresha is for humans, not pets | ||
Pet & Owner ProfilesComprehensive profile hub with tabs for appointments, packages, sales, settings & paperwork Fresha designed for beauty/wellness; no pet-specific profile management | Human client profiles only | 8 organised tabs with per-customer policy overrides & collaborative management |
Owner/Pet LinkingMultiple pets per owner Petboost purpose-built | ❌ N/A | ✅ Automatic |
Booking EngineAppointment scheduling Different focus | Generic appointments | Pet-aware scheduling |
MarketplaceCustomer discovery Fresha helps find customers | ||
CommissionPlatform fees on bookings Petboost no commission | 20% on marketplace | 0% |
Payment ProcessingTransaction fees Similar rates | 2.19% + $0.20 | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee (AU) |
Package CreditsPrepaid packages Petboost more advanced | Basic | Full self-service |
Course ManagementTraining courses Petboost has courses | ||
Session-Based SchedulingStructured time blocks with per-session controls Petboost offers per-session capacity, service restrictions, and pet eligibility | Basic time slots | Schedules & Sessions |
SMSText notifications Different model | Pay-per-use | ✅ Included |
Last updated: January 2026 • Based on publicly available information
Our Focused Approach
We do fewer things exceptionally well rather than many things adequately. Our customers consistently tell us our design and user experience is miles ahead. Here's where we've intentionally focused elsewhere:
| Feature | Status | Our Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace/directory | Focused elsewhere | We help run your business, not find customers |
| Beauty/wellness features | Focused elsewhere | We're pet-specific only |
If any of these are dealbreakers today, Fresha may be better suited for your current needs.
Built for Australian Businesses
US-based software simply can't match these Australian-specific advantages.
Payment Processing
Monthly Fee
Marketplace Commission
Payment Processing
| Payment Processing | Fresha | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | "Free" | $65/mo (or $0 at $7,500+/mo) |
| Marketplace Commission | 20% | 0% |
| Payment Processing | 2.19% + $0.20 | 1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee |
SMS Functionality
Pricing Model
| SMS Functionality | Fresha | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Pay-per-use | Included |
Real Cost Comparison
Based on typical Australian pet business transaction volumes.
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual costs may vary.
| Cost Type | Fresha | Petboost🇦🇺 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | "Free" | $780/year (waived at $7,500+/mo) |
| Marketplace Commission (30% via marketplace on $200K) | $12,000 AUD | $0 (no marketplace) |
| Payment Processing ($200K) | ~$5,180 AUD | ~$4,000 (1.7% + $0.3 + 1.2-1.4% booking fee) |
| Petboost Booking Fee (on $200K GMV) | N/A (included above) | ~$2,800 (1.2-1.4%) |
| SMS (estimate) | ~$500 AUD | Included |
| Total Annual (incl. transaction fees) | ~$17,680 AUD | ~$6,800 |
What You Keep Instead of Paying in Fees
~$10,880/year
Based on $500K GMV, 80% online transactions
* For illustrative purposes only, based on industry averages. Your actual savings may vary.
Which plan is right for you?
Enter your numbers and see
Business Pro starts at -/month with 0 appointments included. Business Max at -/month gives you unlimited appointments.
How much customers pay you via card
Appointments you expect each month
Reminders and notifications sent
💡 Consider Business Max
At 100 bookings/month, Pro would cost $15/month (including $0 in overage fees). Max costs $15/month, which is $0/month more but includes unlimited appointments.
Business Pro
Hit -/month in card payments and your monthly fee is waived
Generous SMS Limits
Pro includes 0 SMS/month, Max includes 0. Most businesses never hit these limits. You've set 300 SMS/month. You'll need 1 SMS Power-Up Pack ($15).
When to Upgrade
At your current revenue, Business Max becomes better value at ∞ appointments/month. You're at 100. Pro includes $0 in overage fees, but is still $0 cheaper than Max.
Your Savings
Save $666+ per month compared to typical competitors.
Quick Plan Comparison
Business Pro
- • -/month (waived at -+ card payment volume)
- • 0 appointments included
- • -/appointment after 0
- • 0 SMS/month included
- • - transaction fee
Business Max
- • -/month (waived at -+ card payment volume)
- • Unlimited appointments
- • No per-appointment overage fees
- • 0 SMS/month included
- • - transaction fee
Both plans include SMS Power-Up Packs at $15 for 500 additional SMS if needed.
* Estimates based on 100 transactions averaging $100 each, 100 appointments, and 300 SMS. Actual costs vary based on transaction volume, average ticket size, appointments, and SMS usage.
From solo operators to
multi-van fleets
Petboost fits your business. Whether you're a one-person mobile groomer or running a large facility with multiple staff and spaces.
Solo Superstars
One-person operations with streamlined scheduling and automated payments.
- 1-tap booking management
- Automated invoicing & receipts
- After-hours self-service booking
- SMS reminders on autopilot
Growing Teams
3-10 staff with resource management, shared calendars, and team coordination.
- Multi-staff scheduling
- Per-resource capacity limits
- Team permissions & roles
- Shared customer database
Large Operations
Dog walking van fleets, multi-space facilities, and high-volume businesses.
- Fleet/van management
- Multi-space capacity tracking
- Volume pricing available
- Advanced automation rules
Making the Switch
It's easier than you think. Here's what to expect if you decide to move from Fresha.
Migration Complexity
Losing Marketplace
You'll need to drive your own customer acquisition
Customer Data
Export available from Fresha
Timeline
2-3 weeks typical
Keep Your Existing Hardware
If you're using a Stripe WisePOS-E terminal with Fresha, you can bring it across to Petboost. No new equipment needed.
We're here to help. We provide migration assistance for businesses switching from Fresha.
Contact us for a migration assessmentWhich Is Right for Your Business?
Fresha may suit you if:
- You're a beauty/wellness business (not pets)
- Marketplace customer acquisition is valuable to you
- You're happy with generic appointment software
- The 20% commission is worth the exposure
Petboost?
- You're a pet business needing pet-specific features
- You don't need/want marketplace (have your own customers)
- You want transparent pricing with no commissions
- You're Australian and want local support
From large daycares to solo groomers, businesses Australia-wide
Still unsure? Book a no-pressure demo and we'll help you figure out if we're the right fit, even if that means recommending someone else.
Fresha vs Petboost FAQs
Common questions about switching and comparing these platforms.
Ready to see Petboost in action?
Start your 14-day free trial, then activate Business Pro for 30 days with 0% Petboost fees. Only pay Stripe processing fees.
Last verified: 9th January 2026 | Pricing and features sourced from www.fresha.com
Found an error? Let us know and we'll correct it promptly.
Fresha® is a registered trademark of its respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Fresha.