Fresha vs Kounta - An Honest Breakdown for mid-market Australian businesses

Both platforms have their own setup considerations. Fresha manages 8 data object types and Kounta manages 8, so configuration complexity scales with your data requirements. Clever Ops provides implementation support for both, typically completing setup within 2 weeks.

Fresha: Software subscription: Free. Fresha Payments: 1.29% + $0.00 per in-person transaction. New client marketplace fee: 20% commission. Optional add-ons: blast marketing campaigns priced per message. No monthly subscription fee.. Kounta: Custom pricing based on venue size and requirements. Transitioning to Lightspeed Restaurant pricing from approximately $109/month (AUD). Contact Lightspeed for current Kounta migration pricing.. When comparing costs, factor in per-user charges, add-on modules, and implementation costs, not just the headline price. Clever Ops can model the total cost of ownership for your team size during a free assessment.

Yes. Both platforms share 4 common data object types (including staff, products, payments), which simplifies field mapping. Clever Ops runs a structured migration process: discovery, data mapping, test migration, verification, and cutover. Most migrations complete within 4-8 weeks, with 3 months of post-migration support included.

For Healthcare & Allied Health businesses, prioritise: Industry fit, Job management, Quoting and invoicing, Scheduling and dispatch, Mobile field access. Fresha is strong on Completely free software subscription with no monthly fees, making it the most cost-effective salon management platform available. Kounta excels at Purpose-built for hospitality with table management, order management, kitchen display, and split billing designed for restaurant workflows. Clever Ops can help you build a weighted requirements list and score each platform against it.

For Healthcare & Allied Health, the answer depends on your operational model. Fresha is best for beauty and wellness businesses that want full-featured salon software without monthly subscription fees, particularly those that benefit from marketplace discovery of new clients. Kounta is best for Australian hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars) that need a cloud POS with table management and integration with local payment terminals and accounting software. Clever Ops has helped businesses across Healthcare & Allied Health choose the right stack. Book a free assessment for advice specific to your situation.

Yes. Fresha provides a REST API and Kounta provides a REST API, so automations can be built via Zapier, Make, or custom integrations. Common automated workflows include syncing staff, products, payments between both platforms. Clever Ops builds these automations for mid-market Australian businesses, saving teams 8+ hours/week on average.

Fresha may hit limits when high-volume businesses where transaction fees exceed what a subscription platform would cost, or businesses wanting full control over their brand experience without marketplace commissions. Kounta may hit limits when hospitality businesses wanting long-term platform stability given the Lightspeed transition, or venues that need extensive third-party integrations beyond basic accounting and payments. Both platforms are designed to grow with your business, but scaling experience varies. Fresha connects with 31+ tools, and Kounta with 30+, so integration flexibility at scale is comparable. Clever Ops helps mid-market Australian businesses plan their tech stack for growth, not just for today.

Fresha is more commonly used in Retail & E-commerce. Kounta is stronger in Hospitality & Tourism. That said, popularity alone should not drive your decision. The right tool depends on your specific processes and integration needs. Clever Ops can advise based on what we have seen work for similar businesses.