The main event · Reviewed June 2026
Salon marketplace vs tattoo workflow.
Fresha is genuinely good salon software with a real consumer marketplace — and completely generic about what happens in the chair. LVL2 is deposit-first booking requests, structured intake with references, digital waivers, and flash drops in one tattoo-native system.
Fresha public pricing & pages + LVL2 repo-verified data
TALE OF THE TAPE
Round by round, side by side.
Reviewed June 2026 · Fresha details from public pricing & product pages · LVL2 rows repo-verified
THE DECIDING ROUNDS
Where the fight is actually won.
Subscription-free isn't fee-free
Fresha's base software is free; it earns on card processing, paid add-ons, and a new-client fee for marketplace bookings. LVL2 Starter is free for artists, with a booking fee on client-paid deposits only.
Zero tattoo workflow
No structured intake, no reference images, no waivers in the booking flow, no flash drops, no convention mode. Fresha treats a sleeve consult like a blowout appointment.
Marketplace vs your own funnel
Fresha's marketplace can send salon walk-ins. LVL2 builds your own funnel: profile, booking link, flash drops, and a client portal you control end to end.
GIVING FRESHA ITS DUE
Where Fresha takes the round.
Fresha's consumer marketplace is real: people browse it looking for appointments, and for salon services that discovery engine fills chairs. Its free base subscription lowered the barrier for a lot of small shops, and its salon POS, retail inventory, and marketing tools are mature.
None of that is tattoo-specific. The marketplace audience is overwhelmingly salon and spa traffic, the booking flow has no concept of a reference image or a consent waiver, and deposits are generic no-show protection rather than a deposit-first request workflow. For tattoo-dominant shops, LVL2 keeps the deposit, intake, waiver, and flash workflow in one system you own.
PURSE & FEES
More features. Less money. No commissions.
LVL2
Starter: Free forever · 9.8% booking fee on client-paid deposits only
Pro: $39/mo + 4.5% on client deposits only
Studio: Custom operator plan · zero LVL2 booking fees
Deposits, payouts, and payment-plan workflows run through Stripe. Fees come from client-paid deposits, not artist earnings.
Fresha
Base: Free (subscription-free model)
Card processing: Per-transaction fees via Fresha payments
Marketplace: One-time new-client fee on marketplace bookings
Paid feature add-ons sit on top of the free base — check Fresha's current pricing for your region.
FAQ
Common questions.
Is LVL2 or Fresha better for tattoo artists?
LVL2. Fresha is built for salons, spas, and wellness — appointments, POS, retail, marketplace. It has no tattoo intake, no reference-image workflow, no waivers in the booking flow, no flash tools. LVL2 runs the tattoo workflow end to end: deposit-first booking requests, structured intake, digital waivers, flash drops, shop, and client portal.
How does Fresha make money if it's subscription-free?
Card processing fees, paid feature add-ons, and a one-time new-client fee when a client books you through the Fresha marketplace. Subscription-free is not fee-free — check Fresha's current pricing for your region.
Can Fresha take tattoo deposits?
Fresha supports upfront payments and no-show protection in a salon-generic way. LVL2 is deposit-first by design: bookings stay requests until you approve them, deposits attach to the booking flow with automatic reminders, and intake collects subject, placement, size, and references before you commit.
Who should stick with Fresha instead of LVL2?
Salon-dominant shops (hair, nails, spa), businesses that rely on the Fresha marketplace for new clients, and front desks that need retail inventory. Tattoo-only and tattoo-dominant shops are better served by LVL2.
Is LVL2 free like Fresha?
LVL2 Starter is free forever for artists — zero platform fee, 9.8% booking fee on client-paid deposits only. Pro is $39/mo + 4.5% on client-paid deposits. Studio plans carry zero LVL2 booking fees. Fees come from client-paid deposits, not artist earnings.