01
Total cost
The real monthly bill once per-staff fees, commission and processing are added, not just the headline price.
How we judged
Four criteria that decide the bill.
Feature checklists all start to look the same. What actually separates these tools is what you pay as you grow, and whether the customer relationship stays yours.
02
Booking source and relationship
Whether bookings are direct or marketplace-attributed, when commission applies and where customers encounter your brand.
03
Data portability
Which customer and report exports are documented, including their fields, formats and access route.
04
Barbershop features
The day-to-day: a real diary, walk-ins, kiosk mode, waitlist, reminders and deposits.
The ranking
Five tools, ranked for UK barbershops.
Ranked on value and control for a growing shop. This is our own comparison, see the note on method below.
A published per-location price with unlimited staff and no Setora commission on bookings.
Cost model
£39/month per location, before VAT where applicable · unlimited staff · no commission on bookings.
Best for
Growing shops that want predictable software costs and direct bookings.
Watch for
Setora does not offer consumer marketplace discovery. SMS credits and card processing are separate when used. It is NHBF Trade Assured and won a 2026 regional UK StartUp Award.
02Ranked
Nearcut
Barbershop-nativeA long-established barbershop specialist with two current commercial models.
Cost model
Subscription pricing is quote-based; Free for You uses a separate customer-charge model.
Best for
Barbershops that value a specialist provider and want to compare its current support and feature set.
Watch for
Ask for the current quote or customer-charge terms before comparing totals.
03Ranked
Fresha
Marketplace modelLower starting price, with commission and marketplace trade-offs.
Cost model
Lower starting plan, then commission on marketplace new-client bookings, team fees, processing and SMS.
Best for
Shops that value marketplace discovery and understand the qualifying new-client commission trigger.
Watch for
Check which bookings are marketplace-attributed and which customer export fields are available.
04Ranked
Booksy
Consumer appA strong consumer app presence, paid for with per-staff subscription fees.
Cost model
Base subscription plus per-staff fees, with card processing on top.
Best for
Shops that value being listed inside a well-known booking app.
Watch for
Per-staff fees add up, and discovery leans on the marketplace rather than your own page.
05Ranked
Square Appointments
Payments-firstHandy if you already live on Square hardware, less tailored to UK barbershops.
Cost model
Free single-staff tier, paid per-location plans, tied to Square card processing.
Best for
Solo operators already using Square for payments.
Watch for
Costs rise with team size and it is payments-first, so it is less barbershop-specific.
What you actually pay
How each tool charges.
The headline price rarely tells the whole story. Here is the charging model for each tool, and where the real monthly cost tends to come from as your team and bookings grow.
ToolHow you are chargedGrows with team?
NearcutQuote-based Subscription or separate Free for You customer-charge modelQuote needed
FreshaLower starting plan, commission on marketplace new clients, team fees and processingYes
BooksyBase subscription, per-staff fees and processingYes
Square AppointmentsFree solo tier, then per-location plans and Square processingYes
SetoraOne flat rate · £39/month per location, before VAT where applicable · unlimited staff · no commission · SMS and card processing at costNo
A note on this comparison: This is Setora's own editorial view of how these tools charge, described in general terms rather than exact prices. Pricing models change, so check each provider directly for their current terms. SMS credits and card processing are separate from Setora's flat rate and are charged at cost only if you use them.
Keep reading
Related guides.
Comparison
Full 2026 comparison
Review-backed notes on Setora, Fresha, Booksy, Nearcut and Squire.
Read guideProductSetora for barbershops
See the Booking Page, walk-ins, reminders and £39/month per location, before VAT where applicable pricing.
Read guideNo-showsCutting no-shows without upsetting regulars
Use reminders, deposits and Booking Protection to protect the diary the gentle way.
Read guideSalonsRun a hair salon instead?
The same comparison for salons, with stylist scheduling and salon pricing.
Read guideQuestions
Choosing, in plain English.
The questions owners ask us most when they are weighing up a switch.
What is the best barbershop software in the UK?
This page is Setora's editorial assessment, not an independent or universal ranking. We place Setora first for shops that value its published price, unlimited staff and no Setora commission. Nearcut may suit owners who prefer a more established barbershop specialist, while marketplace platforms may suit shops seeking discovery.
How much does barbershop software cost?
It depends on the pricing model. Flat-rate tools like Setora charge one price per location, £39/month per location, before VAT where applicable, regardless of team size. Marketplace and commission tools can look cheaper up front, then add per-staff fees, commission on bookings and card processing. The real monthly cost climbs as you get busier.
Will I keep my client data if I switch?
Setora lets you export the customer list as CSV and download available reports. Data portability varies across other tools, so check the exact fields and formats before you commit.
Does the price rise when I hire more staff?
With Setora, no. Unlimited staff are included at £39/month per location, before VAT where applicable, with no per-staff fees. Several other tools charge per staff member, so your bill grows every time you take someone on.
Do I need to change my card machine?
No. With Setora, card processing is optional and only charged at cost if you use it, so you can keep your existing card machine. SMS reminders use credits, also charged at cost.
What is the difference between a Booking Page and a Shop Website?
The Booking Page is the focused flow where a customer picks a service and time and confirms. The Shop Website is the public website layer: a homepage and location pages with buttons through to the Booking Page. They are two different things that work together.