Daisy vs Fresha
How does an AI-powered growth platform stack up against the world's largest beauty marketplace?
Last updated:
TL;DR
Fresha is a marketplace charging subscription fees plus published transaction and marketplace charges that stack. Daisy is a complete growth platform with an AI receptionist, cashback rewards and Arabic support. Pick Fresha for marketplace exposure, Daisy to actively grow the business.
How Does Daisy Compare to Fresha?
How Daisy and Fresha stack up at a glance
| Feature | Daisy | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| AI Receptionist | WhatsApp, Instagram and booking site, 24/7 | Publishes an AI receptionist |
| Arabic Support | Native Arabic + English | Arabic UI available |
| Pricing Model | Monthly plans with 5, 10 or 15 team members | From AED 149.95/mo (UAE Independent plan) |
| Customer Acquisition | Cashback + AI marketing + optional marketplace (selected countries) | Marketplace discovery |
| GCC Countries | Live in all six GCC countries | UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait |
| White-Label | Full brand control | Not published |
How Do Daisy and Fresha Compare on Features?
10 categories rated from Basic to Best-in-Class
Ratings are Daisy’s own assessment, not an independent benchmark
| Category | Daisy | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Online Booking | Best-in-Class | Best-in-Class |
| POS & Payments | Best-in-Class | Good |
| Client Management | Best-in-Class | Good |
| Staff Management | Basic | Good |
| Marketing & Promotion | Best-in-Class | Basic |
| Inventory Management | Good | Basic |
| Reporting & Analytics | Best-in-Class | Best-in-Class |
| AI Capabilities | Good | Good |
| Branding & White-Label | Best-in-Class | Not published |
| Marketplace & Discovery | Basic | Best-in-Class |
Online Booking
Both do online booking well. Fresha's strength is the size of its consumer marketplace, with 25M+ users. Daisy answers that with AI booking that carries the whole flow, payments and customer service included, 24/7 and without anyone stepping in.
POS & Payments
In the UAE, Fresha publishes online payments at 4.90% + AED 0.75 per transaction and a one-time 50% commission on new marketplace clients, minimum AED 20. Those are published rather than hidden, but across a year they add up. Daisy adds nothing per transaction. Its marketplace is optional, and commission applies only to new clients it brings you.
Client Management
Fresha gives you client profiles and history. Daisy layers AI on top, predicting no-shows, flagging VIP clients and suggesting personalized offers from booking patterns.
Staff Management
Both handle scheduling and staff calendars, and both now use AI for it. In May 2026 Fresha announced AI-powered intelligent scheduling. Its Dynamic Reassignment feature moves flexible appointments between suitable team members in real time. Daisy's AI scheduling arranges slots around revenue, so it fills gaps and prevents double-bookings.
Marketing & Promotion
Fresha charges per marketing message beyond the first 50 emails each month. Daisy runs AI-powered marketing automation, targeted campaigns, cashback incentives and personalized engagement that keeps going without you.
Inventory Management
Both offer basic inventory tracking. Call it a tie, since neither platform specializes in deep inventory management.
Reporting & Analytics
Fresha has a deep reporting suite, around 60 reports plus live dashboards. Daisy uses AI to recommend actions rather than only draw dashboards, spotting trends, suggesting pricing changes and forecasting demand.
Marketplace & Discovery
Fresha's biggest strength is the 25M+ consumers browsing its marketplace. Daisy takes a different route. Cashback rewards and AI marketing bring customers in and keep them coming back, and a business can opt in to Daisy's marketplace, which runs in selected countries and lists a business after a service-quality review.
AI Capabilities
Both ship AI, on different channels. Fresha's AI Concierge answers calls and messages and books appointments; as of October 2026, Fresha's published pages do not list WhatsApp or Instagram as Concierge channels. Daisy's AI receptionist works on WhatsApp, Instagram and your booking site, takes payments and handles customer service, in Arabic and English, 24/7. It does not answer phone calls today.
How Much Does Daisy Cost vs Fresha?
Published plan prices, next to the charges each platform adds on top
Daisy
From $1/mo
14-day free trial
Monthly subscription model
Plans
Included in all plans
Fresha
From AED 149.95/mo (UAE Independent plan)
7-day free trial
Plans
Costs that add up on top
Additional Fees
Transaction fee: Online payments 4.90% + AED 0.75 per transaction (UAE published)
Marketplace commission: One-time 50% commission on new marketplace clients (minimum AED 20); returning clients free
What Are Fresha's Strengths and Limitations?
Strengths
- Largest beauty marketplace (25M+ consumers)
- Competitive entry price, published in local currency per market
- Very high app store ratings and consumer adoption
- Global presence with strong brand recognition
- Simple, intuitive user interface
Things to weigh
- AI Concierge is a paid add-on at $99.95 per location per month, and its published pages do not list WhatsApp or Instagram as supported channels
- Marketing is billed per message once the first 50 emails each month are used
- Subscription fees plus transaction fees and marketplace commissions add up quickly
- Marketing is email and SMS with no AI campaign automation
- Marketplace bookings carry Fresha branding, though direct booking links, Facebook and Instagram booking and a paid Smart Website add-on are also offered; Daisy includes a fully branded booking page in every plan
- Marketplace commission is charged on every new client it introduces, on top of the subscription
- Subscription, transaction fee and marketplace commission are billed separately, so the monthly total depends on your volume
What Are Daisy's Strengths and Limitations?
Strengths
- AI receptionist (24/7, Arabic + English)
- Cashback customer acquisition
- Full brand control (white-label)
- Live in all six GCC countries
- No transaction fee, and 0% commission on your existing clients
- Complete business management suite
Things to weigh
- Newer brand (building market presence)
- Premium positioning (not the cheapest option)
Is Fresha an Operations Tool or a Growth Partner?
There is a fundamental difference in what each platform is designed to do
Daisy’s own assessment, not an independent benchmark
Operations Tool
Helps you manage the business you already have. Scheduling, payments, and reporting. You still need to find and retain customers yourself.
Growth Partner
Actively helps you grow. AI-powered customer acquisition, cashback loyalty, smart marketing automation, and an always-on receptionist that converts inquiries into bookings.
Should You Choose Daisy or Fresha?
Fresha brings marketplace reach, but it now charges monthly subscriptions on top of transaction fees and a one-time 50% commission on new marketplace clients in the UAE. Its AI Concierge answers calls and messages. Daisy's AI receptionist works on WhatsApp, Instagram and your booking site, in Arabic and English. Daisy's marketplace is optional, and its commission applies only to new clients the marketplace brings you.
Choose Daisy if...
- You want an AI receptionist covering bookings and customer service 24/7
- You want Arabic and English as equals, with cashback rewards your Arabic-speaking clients can spend
- You want pricing you can predict, with nothing added per transaction
- You want a booking page carrying your logo, name and colours
- You want acquisition that works for you, not just a marketplace listing
- You want a GCC-built platform with cashback acquisition and local payment integration
Choose Fresha if...
- You want the lowest published entry plan and the marketplace reach
- Marketplace discovery is where most of your new clients come from
- You work alone and process few transactions
- Marketplace reach matters more to you than breadth of AI channels
What Makes Daisy Different
Six things Daisy is built around
AI receptionist
Handles bookings, payments, and customer service in Arabic and English around the clock.
Customer acquisition engine
Cashback rewards and AI marketing, plus an optional marketplace in selected countries, working together to fill your calendar.
Branded booking page
A booking page with your logo, name and colours, hosted by Daisy. You can redirect your own domain to it.
Network effects
More businesses on the platform means smarter AI recommendations for everyone.
All-in-one
Booking, payments, CRM, marketing, analytics, inventory, marketplace, and AI in one platform.
Multilingual
Native Arabic and English with full RTL support, built for the GCC market and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fresha
How much does Fresha cost?
How does Daisy compare to Fresha for salon management?
Can I switch from Fresha to Daisy?
Does Fresha work in the Middle East?
Is Fresha really free to use?
What does Fresha cost on top of the subscription?
How hard is it to migrate my data from Fresha?
Does Fresha have AI features like Daisy?
How good is the Fresha mobile app?
Can I reach Fresha customer support quickly?
Common Questions About Switching
Honest answers to the concerns we hear most
Is it hard to switch?
Switching from Fresha to Daisy is straightforward. Our dedicated onboarding team handles the entire migration, importing your client database, appointment history, and settings. Most businesses are switched inside a week without going offline.
What about my existing data?
Your data is safe. We support data imports from all major platforms including Fresha. Client records, appointment history, product inventory, and staff schedules transfer seamlessly. We also help clean and organize your data during migration.
Is Daisy proven?
Daisy is built by a team with deep experience in the beauty and wellness industry across the GCC region. Our AI receptionist technology has been tested with pilot partners, and we offer a 14-day free trial so you can see the results before committing.
Ready to switch from Fresha?
Daisy is built for salons that want growth tools, not just a calendar.
No credit card required. Free 14-day trial included.
Related Comparisons
Explore more guides to find the right solution for your business
Daisy vs Booksy
Daisy vs Booksy, compare AI features, pricing, Arabic support, and customer acquisition tools. Find the best booking pla...
Daisy vs Vagaro
Compare Daisy and Vagaro for salon management: AI features, pricing, Arabic support and customer acquisition tools, side...
Daisy vs GlossGenius
Compare Daisy and GlossGenius for beauty professionals. See how AI features, team management, and customer acquisition t...
Daisy vs Mindbody
Compare Daisy and Mindbody for salon and spa management: where the AI receptionist works, published pricing, marketplace...
About this page
This page was last updated on 10 October 2026. Information about other companies comes from their own published materials at the time of writing. Prices and features change, so check each company's website for the latest details. Comparisons and ratings on this page are based on The Daisy's internal evaluation criteria.
If you spot something out of date or inaccurate, email info@trythedaisy.com and we'll correct it.