Compared platform
Square
- 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
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.
Full disclosure: we built Setora. We are one of the platforms in this comparison.
No card required. Then £39/month per location if you stay.
Side by side
How the alternatives compare.
The same 4 checks across Square, Setora and the other platforms listed for this comparison.
| 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 |
Compared platform
Booksy
- Starting subscription price
- £40/mo
- Per-staff fee
- £5/mo per staff
- Marketplace or booking fees
- 30% Boost (new clients)
- Branded Booking Page
- No
Compared platform
Fresha
- 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
Setora
Setora
- Starting subscription price
- £39/month per location
- Per-staff fee
- None - unlimited staff
- Marketplace or booking fees
- 0%
- Branded Booking Page
Prices and policies checked 12 July 2026. Sources: Square Appointments UK pricing, Booksy UK pricing, Fresha UK pricing, Setora trial and pricing. Check each provider before making a decision.
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.
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.
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.