Do you charge commission on bookings?

Never. GridMyTime charges 0% commission on every booking, on every plan - including Free. You keep 100% of what your clients pay you.

Do my clients have to pay a booking fee?

No. Your clients never pay any fees to book with you through GridMyTime. No service charges, no convenience fees, no hidden costs.

How is this different from Fresha, Booksy, or other marketplace apps?

Marketplace apps own the client relationship - they charge commission on new bookings, add booking fees for clients, and keep your client data on their platform. GridMyTime gives you your own booking page with zero commission.

Do my clients need to create an account or download an app?

No. Clients simply click your booking link, pick a time, and enter their name and phone number. No login, no app, no friction.

Can I cancel or change my plan anytime?

Yes. Cancel in two clicks from your dashboard - no phone call, no email required. You keep access until the end of your billing period.

All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. We use enterprise-grade PostgreSQL for the database and Stripe for payment processing. We never share or sell your data.

Can I use this with my existing website or social media?

Absolutely. You get a shareable booking link that works anywhere - embed it on your website, add it to your Instagram bio, share it on WhatsApp, or put it on your Google Business listing.

The Best Free Booking Software for Barbers in 2026

Running a barbershop is hard enough without juggling a paper diary, missed calls, and double-bookings. The right booking software takes that headache away — but most platforms charge commission on every booking or lock essential features behind expensive plans.

What Barbers Actually Need

Before comparing tools, let's be clear about what matters for a barbershop:

**Zero commission** — you earn £15-30 per cut. Losing 20% to a booking platform is not sustainable
**SMS reminders** — your clients are mostly blokes who forget appointments. Texts work better than emails
**Simple booking page** — clients should book in under 30 seconds, no app download required
**Multi-chair support** — if you have more than one barber, you need individual calendars
**Mobile-friendly** — you'll be checking bookings on your phone between clients

The Options

GridMyTime (Free Plan)

Built specifically for service businesses, not enterprise sales teams. The free plan includes 1 staff member, unlimited appointments, an online booking page, and 15 SMS reminders per month. Zero commission on any plan. Paid plans start at £9/month for multi-staff shops.

Best for: Solo barbers and small shops that want something simple with no hidden costs.

Fresha

The big name in beauty and barbering. Genuinely free for basic features, but charges commission (up to 20%) on new clients who find you through their marketplace. Your clients might also see competitor ads.

Best for: Barbers who want marketplace exposure and don't mind sharing revenue on new bookings.

Square Appointments

Free for individuals, integrates with Square payments. Clean interface, but SMS reminders require a paid plan and it's designed more for US businesses.

Best for: Barbers already using Square for payments.

The Verdict

If you want genuinely free software with SMS reminders and zero commission, GridMyTime's free plan gives you the essentials without the catch. If you want marketplace exposure and don't mind commission on new clients, Fresha is the established player.

The worst thing you can do is stick with a paper diary and miss bookings. Any of these tools is better than none.