Booking System Comparison for Massage Studios in Switzerland
1. Why a Good Booking System Determines Your Revenue
A booking system is the central nervous system of your studio's daily operations — it determines how clients find you, how they book, whether they show up and whether they come back. Without one, every unanswered call while you are mid-treatment is a booking lost to a competitor.
The right system should do three things:
- Capture every booking opportunity: Clients can book at any time, from any device, without waiting for you to answer the phone
- Reduce no-shows: Automatic reminders by email or SMS ensure clients remember their appointments
- Keep your clients yours: No commissions, no platform dependency, no loss of client data
2. The 3 Options: Platform vs. Standalone Software vs. Full Service
Option 1: Booking Platforms (e.g. Treatwell, Fresha)
Clients discover and book your studio through the platform's marketplace.
- Advantage: Built-in traffic — clients already using the platform can find you without additional marketing.
- Disadvantage: You build the platform's brand, not yours, and pay commissions on every new client.
Option 2: Standalone Booking Software (e.g. Shore, eTermin)
A booking widget you integrate into your own website — no marketplace, clients come through your own channels.
- Advantage: No commissions and full control over the client relationship.
- Disadvantage: You need your own website and handle all setup and maintenance yourself.
Option 3: Full-Service Provider (e.g. HelvYx®)
Website, booking system, Google visibility and support handled by one provider — one point of contact for your entire online presence.
- Advantage: No technical work for you, no commissions, no platform dependency.
- Disadvantage: Less direct control over technical details; you rely on the provider for changes.
For a broader perspective on getting your studio online, see our guide to creating a website for your massage studio.
3. Comparison Table: Treatwell vs. Fresha vs. Shore vs. HelvYx®
Here is a direct comparison of the four most relevant booking options for massage studios in Switzerland. The data is based on publicly available pricing as of early 2026 and our experience working with Swiss studios.
| Criterion | Treatwell | Fresha | Shore | HelvYx® |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Subscription + commission | Free base + per-booking fees | Monthly subscription | Fixed price, no commission |
| Commission | Up to 35% on new clients | Per-booking fees (CHF 2–5) | No commission | No commission |
| Own website included | No (platform profile only) | No | No (widget for existing site) | Yes, professional website included |
| SEO / Google visibility | No benefit for your studio | No benefit for your studio | Basic — you manage SEO yourself | Yes, local SEO optimised |
| Full service (setup + support) | No — self-service | No — self-service | No — self-service | Yes — everything set up for you |
| Thai language support | No | No | No | Yes |
| Swiss data hosting | No (EU servers) | No (international) | No (German servers) | Yes (Switzerland) |
Key takeaways from the comparison:
- Treatwell: The 35% commission on new clients accumulates fast — variable costs can quickly exceed the base subscription.
- Fresha: No monthly fee sounds attractive, but per-booking fees, no website and no setup support mean you handle everything yourself.
- Shore: Solid, commission-free software — but a tool, not a solution. German interface only; no French, Italian or Thai.
- HelvYx®: The only option with a complete package — website, booking, Google visibility, multilingual support and Swiss data hosting.
4. Hidden Costs: Commissions, Setup and Ongoing Fees
The advertised monthly price of a booking system rarely tells the full story. Here is what many studios discover only after signing up:
Commission costs (platforms)
Treatwell's commission model is the most significant hidden cost. The 35% commission applies to the first booking of every new client acquired through the platform. For an active studio gaining new clients regularly, these variable costs quickly exceed the base subscription fee many times over.
Fresha's per-booking fees seem small individually, but with regular bookings they accumulate to a substantial monthly amount.
Setup and onboarding costs
Most standalone software requires hours of initial configuration: entering treatments, setting up time slots, configuring reminders, integrating with your website. Your time has value — and the setup effort is a hidden cost that rarely appears on the pricing page.
Ongoing maintenance
Software needs updates. Booking widgets break after website changes. New features require configuration. Without ongoing support, you spend time troubleshooting instead of treating clients.
Payment processing fees
Payment processing fees (typically 2.5–3.5% per transaction) apply if you accept online payments. Some providers price in EUR, not CHF — exchange rate fluctuations add further hidden costs.
The real cost comparison
When comparing systems, calculate the total cost of ownership over 12 months:
- Platforms (Treatwell, Fresha): Base fee (fixed) + commissions (variable, grows with new clients) = unpredictable total costs
- Standalone software (Shore) + own website: Fixed subscription + website investment + your own time = calculable, but time-intensive
- Full-service (HelvYx®): One fixed price, everything included — no commissions, no setup costs, no surprises
In our experience, a seemingly free or cheap solution often costs more over 12 months than a transparent fixed price — once commissions, time investment and missing features are factored in. For more on how online appointment booking works in practice, see our dedicated guide.
5. What Swiss Studios Actually Need
Multilingual support
Swiss massage studios serve clients in German, French, Italian, English and often Thai. Most international platforms cover English and maybe German — not the full range your clients need.
Swiss data protection
Client names, phone numbers and health notes are sensitive. Hosting data in Switzerland provides legal certainty under nDSG (in force since September 2023) that international servers cannot match.
CHF pricing and Swiss payment methods
Your system should handle CHF natively and support TWINT, which Swiss consumers increasingly expect for online payments.
Local SEO integration
A booking system integrated into your own website, combined with a strong Google Maps profile, drives sustainable organic traffic. Platforms like Treatwell provide no SEO benefit for your studio.
Personal, reachable support
When something breaks on a Friday afternoon, you need a person who picks up the phone — not a 48-hour ticket system.
Simplicity over features
Most studios need five things: online calendar, client bookings, automatic reminders, treatment list and basic reporting — not CRM pipelines or AI scheduling. The best system does the essentials perfectly and stays out of your way. See our marketing guide for massage studios and our guide: Google Reviews for Massage Studios.
6. Our Recommendation: Your Own Solution Instead of Platform Dependency
After working with massage studios across Switzerland, our recommendation is clear: build your online presence on your own foundation, not on a platform you do not control. When clients book through your own website, you own the relationship, you build your brand, and you pay no commissions — ever.
The ideal setup for a Swiss massage studio
- Your own professional website with treatment overview, prices, photos and online booking — see our guide to creating a website for details
- Integrated booking system that lets clients book directly on your site, with automatic confirmation and reminder emails
- Optimised Google Business Profile linked to your website, with a direct booking button
- Review collection system with QR codes at reception for easy Google reviews
- Multilingual content to reach clients in all relevant languages
Getting started
With HelvYx®, your complete setup — website, booking, Google profile — is ready in 1–2 weeks, with no technical knowledge required and one transparent monthly price.
Start with our guide to getting more clients for additional strategies. Additional revenue tools: sell gift vouchers online and reduce no-shows with automatic reminders.
Want an honest recommendation for your studio's booking setup? We'll advise you — free and with no obligation.
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