Comparisons
Nakelo or Fresha?
Fresha is a booking platform widely used by salons, with a marketplace where clients find and book salons, an app for those clients, and booking from Google. It’s paid through a subscription per team member, fees on payments and a commission on new clients who come from its marketplace. Nakelo has no marketplace: it’s your salon’s own app, under your name, in French, with client files, colour formulas, consent forms and a till with tips, GST and QST, and no commission on your clients. If many of your new clients find you on Fresha, Fresha is probably still the better choice.
Comparison made in October 2026; check each provider’s current offer.
In short
Nakelo fits best for…
Quebec hair salons, barbers, aestheticians, nail or lash studios and massage therapists who already have their clientele and want their own booking app, in French, with no commission on clients.
Fresha fits best for…
Salons that rely on a marketplace to find new clients, want booking right inside Google, and want mobile apps for the team and the clients.
Side by side
| Criterion | Nakelo | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| French interface | NakeloYes, French first, English if you prefer | FreshaYes, Available in French |
| Marketplace to find clients | NakeloNo, None: your clients book on your page | FreshaYes, Yes, with an app for clients |
| Booking from Google | NakeloNo, Not offered | FreshaYes, Yes (Reserve with Google) |
| No commission on new clients | NakeloYes, No commission | FreshaIn part, Commission on those who come from its marketplace |
| Online booking | NakeloYes, With deposits, a cancellation policy and a waiting list that offers freed-up times | FreshaYes, Yes, on its site, its app and its channels |
| Client files | NakeloYes, Colour formulas, alerts, before/after photos, patch tests, signed consent forms | FreshaClient files with notes |
| Gift cards and loyalty | NakeloYes, Gift cards, loyalty points, treatment packages | FreshaYes, Gift cards; loyalty as a paid add-on |
| Mobile apps and payments | NakeloIn part, Installable web app; Stripe or Square terminal, no Tap to Pay on the phone | FreshaYes, Mobile apps, terminals and Tap to Pay |
| Email, team chat, e-signature, files | NakeloYes, Included in the same app | FreshaIn part, Focused on booking, the till and marketing |
| Data hosting | NakeloYes, In Canada (Montreal), Law 25 tools | FreshaCheck with Fresha |
| Price | Nakelo$99 a month plus taxes; AI by usage | FreshaSubscription per team member, fees on payments, commission on new clients from its marketplace |
Comparison made in October 2026; check each provider’s current offer.
Choose Fresha if…
- Many of your new clients find you on Fresha’s marketplace.
- You want clients to book straight from Google Search and Maps.
- You want mobile apps for your team and your clients, and to take payments with the phone (Tap to Pay).
- Your needs are mostly the calendar and the till, and your team already knows Fresha.
Choose Nakelo if…
- Your clientele is already there and you don’t want to pay a commission on new clients.
- You keep colour formulas and want a warning when a patch test is due before a colour.
- You want the waiting list to offer freed-up times by itself, and no-show fees to go on the card only when the client accepted your fees policy.
- Your clients sign their consent forms (lashes, waxing, skin care) online before the visit.
- You want email, team chat, files and an AI assistant in the same app, with your data hosted in Canada.
Switching to Nakelo
The guided import recognizes Fresha’s exports, in English or in French. You drop the files, see what will be created before you confirm, and the whole import undoes in one click if something looks wrong.
- Clients, exported from Fresha’s client list (CSV or Excel).
- Past appointments for the history, and upcoming ones so they stay booked.
- Products and gift cards, if you have them.
- Saved cards and reviews stay with Fresha: your clients enter their card again when they book online.
- The import also knows Square Appointments, Booksy, Vagaro and GOrendezvous.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fresha still free?
In October 2026, Fresha’s pricing page shows a subscription per team member, fees on payments and a commission on new clients who come from its marketplace. Check its current prices on its site. Nakelo costs $99 a month plus taxes, with no commission on your clients.
Will I lose clients by leaving Fresha’s marketplace?
Maybe, if many of your new clients come from there. Nakelo has no marketplace and no booking through Google: your clients book on your own page, under your name, which you share on your website, social media and in the salon (with a QR code). Look at where your new clients come from before you decide.
Can I import my clients and appointments from Fresha?
Yes. Your clients, past and upcoming appointments, products and gift cards exported from Fresha come in with a preview and a one-click undo. Saved cards and reviews stay with Fresha.
Does Nakelo keep colour formulas?
Yes. Each client file has its colour formula (brand, shades, amounts, developer, processing time), alerts the whole team sees and before/after photos. When a colour is booked, the app warns you if the patch test needs doing at least 48 hours before.
Does Nakelo have an app for my clients?
Your clients book, pay a deposit and sign their consent forms on your page and in their account, which they can install on their phone from the browser. It isn’t an App Store or Google Play app, and there’s no salon directory like Fresha’s.
Other comparisons
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