Best barbershop software in the UK.
The main UK options compared on what actually matters: real cost, commission, data ownership, and who each one is genuinely best for. Full disclosure: we built Setora. We're one of the platforms in this comparison, so we'll be clear about where it wins and where it doesn't.
Can you recommend barbershop software?
Yes. Start with the trade-off that matters most to your shop: predictable cost, marketplace reach, hands-on support, or POS. These are the five UK options we would shortlist first.
Setora
Flat-rate pick£14.99/month per location
Best for: Shops that want predictable costs, no commission, full ownership of their customer data, and personal UK support.
Personal UK support.
WhatsApp, email, phone and live calls with people who know the product and understand UK shops.
- One flat price. Unlimited barbers, no per-staff fees, no marketplace cut
- Personal UK support by WhatsApp, email, phone and live calls
- Full customer-data export, no lock-in
- Built specifically for UK barbershops (kiosk, walk-ins, multi-barber)
- Newer and smaller than the incumbents
- No customer-facing marketplace to discover new customers
- No separate customer download yet. Booking runs in the browser
Nearcut
Support pickVaries by plan (flat, no commission)
Best for: UK shops that value responsive, named, personal support and won't show customers competitors.
- Outstanding UK-based support, consistently praised in reviews
- No marketplace promoting rival shops
- Handles walk-ins and bookings well
- Smaller, fewer integrations and less name recognition
- Some customer-side booking flow complaints
- Online payment processing charges flagged as high by some
Fresha
Reach pick£14.95/month or £9.95 per staff member + 20% on marketplace customers
Best for: Shops that want marketplace exposure and accept commission-based, variable pricing.
- Large marketplace genuinely generates new customers in busy areas
- Polished, well-designed booking interface
- Integrated payments work smoothly
- 20% commission on customers Fresha deems 'new'. Costs grow with volume
- Email-only support; long waits reported
- Data portability historically difficult
Booksy
Consumer visibility pick£40 + VAT/month, +£5 per staff member, Boost commission applies
Best for: New shops in competitive areas that prioritise consumer visibility above all.
- Strong consumer marketplace and search presence for customer discovery
- Purpose-built for barbershops
- Widely recognised brand
- Boost commission is the most-complained-about feature in the category
- Customers are routed through Booksy to book
- Support widely described as slow AI chatbots
Square Appointments
Retail/POS pickFree tier; pay per-transaction processing
Best for: Shops that want booking bundled with Square's retail POS and hardware.
- Free entry tier looks attractive at low volume
- Tight integration with Square POS and hardware
- Established, reliable platform
- Real cost is in processing fees, not the headline price
- Generic across retail/beauty, not barber-specific
- Less tailored to UK barbershop workflows
What to look for before you commit.
Four questions sort the right tool from the expensive one. Work through these with any platform on your shortlist.
Total cost, not headline price
Add per-staff fees, transaction fees, and marketplace commission to the base price. Flat-rate platforms (Setora, Nearcut) give you a number you can predict; commission platforms (Fresha, Booksy) vary with how busy you get.
Who owns the customer relationship
Marketplaces (Fresha, Booksy, Squire) sit your booking page inside an ecosystem that also shows local competitors. Setora and Nearcut show only your shop.
Data portability
Check you can export a complete customer list before you commit. Setora and Nearcut offer full exports; some platforms make this hard or impossible.
Barbershop-specific features
Walk-in queue management, kiosk check-in, and multi-barber scheduling are things generic salon tools often skip. Confirm online booking works well on mobile and reminders are automated.
Need the full detail?
The summary above gives you the short answer. These pages cover the pricing evidence, feature details and switching context.
Frequently asked questions.
Predictable price. Your customer list stays yours.
If flat-rate, commission-free barbershop software is what you're after, that's exactly what Setora is. £14.99/month per location. 14-day trial. No card required.