Alternatives to Square

Compare Square Appointments alternatives for UK shops and salons

Square Appointments is a solid general-purpose booking tool. Here's how it compares to platforms focused on direct bookings for UK shops and salons.

Setora vs Square4 platforms4 practical checks

Thinking of switching?

Setora is built for independent shops and salons.

Online bookings, your calendar, customer records, staff tools and reporting in one place for £39/month per location.

£39/month per location
No Setora commission on bookings
No per-staff fees

Start 14-day free trial See pricing

Switching from Square? See the switch guideNo card required. SMS credits and card processing are separate if used.

Side by side

How the alternatives compare.

The same 4 checks across Square, Setora and the other platforms listed for this comparison.

Comparing Square, Booksy, Fresha, Setora across 4 practical criteria.
Feature	Square	Booksy	Fresha	Setora
Starting subscription price	Free, £29 or £69/mo per location	£40/mo	£14.95/mo Independent	£39/month per location
Per-staff fee	No employee limit listed	£5/mo per staff	£9.95/mo per bookable team member	None - unlimited staff
Marketplace or booking fees	0%	30% Boost (new clients)	20% on marketplace new clients	0%
Branded Booking Page	Partial	No	No

Starting subscription price: Free, £29 or £69/mo per location
Per-staff fee: No employee limit listed
Marketplace or booking fees: 0%
Branded Booking Page: Partial

Starting subscription price: £40/mo
Per-staff fee: £5/mo per staff
Marketplace or booking fees: 30% Boost (new clients)
Branded Booking Page: No

Starting subscription price: £14.95/mo Independent
Per-staff fee: £9.95/mo per bookable team member
Marketplace or booking fees: 20% on marketplace new clients
Branded Booking Page: No

Starting subscription price: £39/month per location
Per-staff fee: None - unlimited staff
Marketplace or booking fees: 0%
Branded Booking Page

Best if you want...

Payments and hardware in one ecosystem: Square
A free appointment plan: Square
Marketplace discovery: Booksy / Fresha
Industry-focused direct bookings: Setora

Comparison based on publicly available UK pricing and product information. Prices and policies checked 12 July 2026. We have linked to each provider's source so you can verify the details yourself: Square Appointments UK pricing, Booksy UK pricing, Fresha UK pricing, Setora trial and pricing.

Already on another platform?

Moving from Square does not mean starting again.

Keep Square running while you set Setora up. We will help you get going and import the client records Square gives you, and you only change your public booking link once you are happy with how Setora looks.

See the Square switch guideWhat moves across depends on the files your current platform gives you. Ask them what they can export before you give notice.

Ask Square for the export files it can provide.
Add your services, prices and staff in Setora, and import the client records you received.
Test a booking on your own Booking Page, on a phone and on a desktop.
Change your public booking link last, once everything looks right.

Why Setora

Why shops and salons choose Setora.

Setora keeps direct bookings, service durations and team schedules straightforward for shops and salons. Flat £39/month per location, with no per-staff fee.

See how it works

Start 14-day free trial

No card required. Then £39/month per location if you stay. SMS credits and card processing are separate if used.

Keep comparing

Other booking platform alternatives.

Alternatives to Booksy Alternatives to Fresha Alternatives to Nearcut Alternatives to Timely Alternatives to Treatwell Alternatives to Phorest Alternatives to Vagaro Alternatives to Resurva Alternatives to Squire Alternatives to Setmore

Questions

Common questions about Square alternatives.

Clear answers to the questions owners ask when they are weighing Setora against another platform.

What is the best Square alternative for shops and salons?

Setora is a strong alternative for shops and salons that want direct bookings and clear location pricing. Square is a better fit if you need its wider payments and hardware ecosystem. Booksy and Fresha are worth considering if marketplace discovery matters to you.

Is Square Appointments free for shops and salons?

Square Appointments has a free plan and paid plans at £29 and £69 per month per location. Its UK pricing page does not list an employee limit. Setora is £39/month covering your team at one location.

Which Square alternative is best for larger teams?

For a team, compare the plan features you need as well as the subscription. Square's current UK pricing lists no employee limit. Setora has one flat monthly price regardless of team size, while Fresha charges £9.95/month per bookable team member.

Does Setora integrate with Square POS?

No. Setora does not integrate with Square hardware or the Square POS ecosystem. You can keep Square for in-person payments and use Setora for bookings, calendar, deposits, and customer records. If one combined POS and appointment system matters most, Square may be the better fit.

Is Setora easier to use than Square for shops and salons?

Setora is designed around direct bookings, service schedules and the day-to-day needs of shops and salons. Square is a more general tool with a wider payments and hardware ecosystem. The better fit depends on how you run your business.