Honest comparison

Why beauty & wellness pros choose 6Ponds over the rest

Q: Is 6Ponds really free?

Yes. Listing your business on 6Ponds is free with no monthly subscription or setup fee. Online bookings paid through 6Ponds include a 2% platform fee (minimum $0.50). Optional Business Solutions marketing plans are paid add-ons.

Q: Who is 6Ponds best for compared to Mindbody?

Solo providers and small teams who need to get found and take online bookings without $169+ per month enterprise software. Mindbody is often better for large multi-location studios.

No 20% commissions. No $169/month bills. No hidden fees.

Free listing that gets you found — with online booking, secure Stripe checkout, and payouts to your bank when you connect from your dashboard.

List your business free See the comparison

$0Monthly fee — forever
2%Platform fee on online checkout
5 minTo get listed
24 hrTo go live

Side by side

6Ponds vs the competition

Pick a competitor to see an honest feature-by-feature comparison.

Feature6PondsFresha

Monthly subscription$0 — Free forever$14.95–$19.95/mo

Marketplace fee on online checkout2% (min $0.50)20% (min $6/client)

Card processing feeStandard Stripe rates2.19% + $0.20/txn

Consumer directoryUS focusedGlobal

Online booking + card checkoutIncluded — Stripe payoutsIncluded

Done-for-you marketingBusiness SolutionsNo agency service

Booking remindersEmail confirmations — freeSMS extra charge

All wellness categoriesBeauty + wellnessBeauty + wellness

True cost (year 1, solo pro)$0 to list; 2% on paid online bookings$1,600–$3,200+

Year one

The real cost comparison

What solo beauty and wellness pros actually pay per year on each platform.

6Ponds

Free to list — 2% on online checkout

Fresha

$1,600+

Sub + 20% commission + processing

Vagaro

$360+

$30/month minimum

StyleSeat

$9,600+

Sub + 35% commission on new clients

Mindbody

$2,028+

$169/month minimum

Booksy

$1,080+

$29.99 + staff fees + commissions

Pricing as of July 2026. Competitor fees change — verify current rates on Fresha, Vagaro, StyleSeat, Mindbody, and Booksy.

Honest take

When another platform may be a better fit

6Ponds is built for discovery and free listing — not replacing every tool in your stack.

Mindbody

Multi-location studios running class packs, memberships, and complex scheduling across several rooms or locations.

Vagaro

Salons that want payroll, inventory, and staff management bundled with booking in one paid system.

Fresha or Booksy

Pros who only need a calendar for existing clients and do not care about marketplace commissions on new bookings.

6Ponds

Solo to small-team wellness businesses that want to get found online, list free, accept online bookings with Stripe payouts, and add Business Solutions when ready to grow.

From the field

What pros say about competitors

Real frustrations with commission-based and high-fee platforms.

About Fresha

"The 20% commission on new clients adds up so fast. I had a great month and then saw how much Fresha took — I was shocked."

— Salon owner, New Jersey

About StyleSeat

"35% of my first booking with every new client is insane. That's more than my product cost. I'm basically working for free on new clients."

— Nail technician, New York

About Mindbody

"$169 a month is way too much for a solo massage therapist. I don't need enterprise software. I just need to get found and take bookings."

— Massage therapist, Chicago

About Vagaro

"The base price looks okay but then you add SMS, add the booking widget, add this add-on — suddenly you're paying $80 a month."

— Day spa owner, Miami

About Booksy

"30% on marketplace clients capped at $100 still hurts. I'd rather pay a flat fee than give up a third of a $300 color appointment."

— Hair stylist, Atlanta

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is 6Ponds really free?

Yes. Listing your business on 6Ponds is free — no monthly subscription or setup fee. Online bookings paid through 6Ponds include a 2% platform fee (minimum $0.50). Optional Business Solutions marketing plans are paid add-ons if you want done-for-you growth.

Do you take commission on new clients?

Online checkout through 6Ponds includes a 2% platform fee (minimum $0.50) — far below Fresha (20%) or Booksy (30%). Listing is free; Stripe card processing fees are separate.

Can I use 6Ponds alongside Fresha or Booksy?

Yes. Many providers keep their existing POS or calendar and add a free 6Ponds listing for local discovery with low-fee online checkout and Stripe payouts.

Who is 6Ponds best for compared to Mindbody?

Solo providers and small teams (roughly 1–5 people) who need to get found and take bookings without $169+/month enterprise software. Mindbody is often a better fit for large multi-location studios with memberships and class schedules.

What do I get with a free listing?

A business profile, service listings, local search visibility, online booking, and Stripe Connect payouts when you enable card checkout — plus access to provider resources to help you get started.

How fast can I get listed?

Most businesses complete signup in about 5 minutes. Listings are typically reviewed and live within 24 hours.

Deep dives