Jamie Rivera
June 29, 2025
When choosing between Studioflo and Fresha, it all comes down to what you need to run your tattoo business. Here's the quick takeaway:
| Feature | Studioflo | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| AI Automation | Yes (Athena AI for bookings and follow-ups) | No |
| Deposit Collection | Automatic | Manual |
| Social Media Tools | Advanced (posting, scheduling, analytics) | Basic |
| Marketplace | No | Yes |
| Pricing | Free plan; Paid plans start at $197/month | Freemium; transaction fees apply |
If you want advanced tools tailored for tattoo businesses, Studioflo is the better choice. Fresha works if you're looking for a simpler, low-cost way to manage bookings and attract clients through a marketplace.
Studioflo is an AI-driven business management platform tailored specifically for tattoo artists and studios. It’s designed to align seamlessly with how tattoo businesses operate - covering everything from initial client inquiries to managing deposits, consultations, and aftercare. By combining client acquisition, booking automation, payment processing, and daily operations into one cohesive system, Studioflo offers a streamlined way to manage your business.
The standout feature of Studioflo is Athena AI, a virtual assistant that works 24/7. Athena adapts to your style, pricing, and availability, handling client conversations in your voice. Whether leads come in through Instagram, Facebook, SMS, or email, Athena responds in under a minute, qualifies prospects by asking about their tattoo ideas and budget, and books appointments directly onto your calendar. You can also launch targeted ads with prebuilt templates, and all leads are funneled into a single inbox. From there, Athena takes over - engaging with prospects, gathering details, scheduling appointments, and even managing rescheduling requests.
Let’s take a closer look at Studioflo’s core features and how they can simplify every aspect of running your tattoo business.
Studioflo brings together a comprehensive set of tools that cover all your business needs as a tattoo artist or studio owner. Here’s what you can expect:
With all these tools in one platform, Studioflo simplifies the way you manage your tattoo business. Now, let’s dive into the pricing options to see how it can fit your budget and business goals.
Studioflo offers three pricing tiers, each designed to cater to different stages of your business growth. Here’s a breakdown:
Even the Free Forever plan offers features that could easily cost hundreds of dollars elsewhere, making it a great starting point for solo artists.
Studioflo is built to integrate seamlessly into the US business landscape, offering tools that align with local practices and formats:
Studioflo’s features are designed to meet the needs of tattoo artists and studios, offering tools that simplify daily operations while helping you grow your business.
Fresha is designed to simplify the day-to-day operations of tattoo studios by offering tools for appointment scheduling, client management, and payment processing. It also doubles as a consumer marketplace, helping tattoo artists connect with new clients through discovery-based bookings.
Here’s what Fresha focuses on:
Fresha operates on a freemium model, making its core tools free for solo tattoo artists and small studios. Instead of charging a monthly software fee, it generates revenue through transaction fees and optional premium subscriptions.
By eliminating upfront software costs, Fresha provides an affordable entry point for new tattoo artists. Its transaction-based model ensures that expenses scale with your business, making it a practical choice as your studio grows.
Next, we’ll dive into a detailed feature comparison to see how Fresha stacks up and supports tattoo studios effectively.
When tattoo artists are choosing between Studioflo and Fresha, it all comes down to what they need most for their business. Studioflo focuses on automating the entire client journey with its Athena AI, while Fresha aims to simplify booking and boost visibility through its marketplace approach.
The standout difference? Studioflo’s Athena AI handles inquiries, bookings, and follow-ups around the clock, whereas Fresha prioritizes a straightforward booking system paired with marketplace exposure.
| Feature Category | Studioflo | Fresha |
|---|---|---|
| Client Acquisition | AI-powered ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google, with automated lead follow-ups via Athena AI. | Relies on a marketplace model to help clients discover your services. |
| Lead Management | Unified inbox with AI-driven responses in under a minute. | Standard lead management tools. |
| Booking System | Smart booking flows that automate inquiries and scheduling. | Easy-to-use online booking system. |
| Payment Processing | Works with Stripe, Square, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna, and Affirm for smooth transactions. | Integrated payment processing. |
| Deposit Collection | Automatically collects deposits before appointments. | Requires manual deposit collection. |
| Communication | Combines SMS, social media DMs, and email into one inbox. | Basic communication tools available. |
| AI Automation | Handles inquiries, bookings, rescheduling, and follow-ups 24/7 with Athena AI. | Lacks advanced AI automation features. |
| Social Media | Allows one-click posting and scheduling across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. | Basic social media integration. |
| Review Management | Sends automated review requests across platforms to enhance online reputation. | Includes tools for collecting reviews. |
| Forms & Waivers | Automatically sends digital consent forms before appointments. | Offers digital form capabilities. |
| Aftercare | Sends automated aftercare instructions post-session to keep clients informed. | Requires manual aftercare management. |
| Virtual Consultations | Integrates with Zoom for convenient remote consultations. | Supports virtual consultation options. |
| Mobile App | A full-featured app for iPhone, iPad, and mobile devices to manage your business anywhere. | Mobile app with access to core functions. |
| Multi-Artist Support | Studio Pro plan includes features like staff management and commission splitting. | Includes team management features. |
| Pricing Model | Free Forever plan, Artist Pro at $197/month (or $138/month annually), Studio Pro at $397/month (or $278/month annually). | Freemium model with optional premium features. |
| QuickBooks Integration | Syncs directly with QuickBooks for seamless bookkeeping. | Basic accounting integrations. |
| Email Marketing | Automates email campaigns and follow-ups to keep clients engaged. | Standard email marketing tools. |
| Analytics & Reporting | Dashboards provide insights into revenue, appointments, ad performance, and client retention. | Tracks appointments and payment data. |
Studioflo takes a more comprehensive approach, offering end-to-end automation and tools for managing all aspects of your business. On the other hand, Fresha appeals to those seeking simplicity, focusing on ease of booking and attracting clients through its marketplace. These differences set the stage for a deeper dive into how each platform affects user experience and caters to tattoo-specific needs.
Starting with these platforms highlights clear differences in how easy they are to use and set up. Studioflo simplifies the process by bringing all the essential tools under one roof, so you’re not stuck switching between multiple apps or services. Setting it up involves configuring Athena AI with details like your tattoo style, pricing, and common client questions. While this setup takes some initial effort, it quickly becomes worth it. Why? Because Athena AI starts managing inquiries in your tone and style, handling everything from ad creation to payment processing - all through a single dashboard. Plus, there’s a fully functional mobile and iPad app, making it easy to manage your business anywhere.
Now, let’s dive into how Studioflo’s tools are built specifically for tattoo artists.
What really sets a platform apart is how well it addresses the unique challenges of tattoo artists. Studioflo’s Athena AI transforms the client intake process by replacing traditional forms with natural, conversational interactions. It gathers details about your preferences, rates, and FAQs, qualifying potential clients by asking the right questions. Before appointments, it ensures consent forms are signed automatically, and after sessions, it sends out aftercare instructions - Athena even answers common healing-related questions for you.
On top of that, Studioflo emphasizes showcasing your portfolio and integrating with social media to highlight your work. For aftercare, it streamlines follow-ups with AI-powered messaging, ensuring clients feel supported post-session.
Studioflo’s all-in-one approach means every aspect of your business - from client booking and acquisition to payments and aftercare - is seamlessly connected. This integrated system ensures smooth operations, backed by features that cover all the essentials of running a tattoo business efficiently.
Studioflo offers three straightforward pricing tiers: Free Forever ($0.00), Artist Pro ($197.00/month), and Studio Pro ($397.00/month), with no hidden subscription fees. On the other hand, Fresha starts at $23.99/month but doesn't provide detailed transparency regarding additional fees.
Both platforms rely on third-party payment processors. Studioflo integrates seamlessly with Stripe and Square Payments for handling client transactions. It's worth noting that transaction fees - commonly 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for Stripe - are standard charges from the payment processors themselves and not extra fees from Studioflo.
One of Studioflo's standout features is its all-in-one solution, combining AI automation, client acquisition tools, and centralized management. By eliminating the need for separate subscriptions for booking, payment processing, and marketing tools, Studioflo simplifies operations and boosts efficiency. Let's explore how these pricing models cater to solo artists and multi-artist studios.
Studioflo's pricing structure is designed to suit businesses of varying sizes, offering clear benefits for both solo artists and larger studios. For solo tattoo artists, the Free Forever plan provides essential tools like unlimited bookings, automated reminders, deposit collection, and social media integration - all without any monthly fees. As your business expands, upgrading to the Artist Pro plan at $197.00 per month adds valuable features like AI-powered client acquisition and automated messaging, effectively acting as a virtual assistant for managing appointments and inquiries.
For multi-artist studios, the Studio Pro plan at $397.00 per month is tailored to meet their unique needs. It includes centralized calendar management, staff scheduling, commission tracking, and AI-driven support for handling inquiries across multiple artists. For a studio with 3–5 artists, this breaks down to approximately $80–$130 per artist per month, offering a cost-effective way to unify operations. The streamlined management of appointments and communications reduces administrative headaches and helps avoid common issues like double bookings.
Based on the detailed feature and cost breakdown above, Studioflo emerges as the go-to platform for tattoo artists looking to simplify their business operations and focus more on their craft.
Studioflo offers an all-in-one solution designed specifically for tattoo professionals. Its automated tools and specialized features handle the heavy lifting of managing a tattoo business, from scheduling to client communication, so you can concentrate on what you do best - creating art.
For solo artists, the Free Forever plan provides essential tools without any monthly fees, making it a great starting point. If you’re looking to level up, the Artist Pro plan includes Athena AI™ for quick client responses and hassle-free appointment management. For larger studios with multiple artists, the Studio Pro plan is built to handle the complexities of managing a team, offering centralized calendars, commission tracking, and AI-driven tools to attract new clients.
Studioflo’s standout features include its AI-driven automation and unified management system. For example, the platform’s unified inbox brings together messages from all your communication channels in one place, saving time and reducing confusion. It also helps you build a strong online presence with over 100 pre-designed ad templates and automated review collection across 40+ platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and Trustpilot.
What makes Studioflo especially appealing is how it caters to the specific needs of tattoo artists. From handling detailed consultation requests and deposits to providing aftercare instructions, the platform covers every angle. By automating these processes, it not only reduces your workload but also strengthens client relationships - essential for growing your business.
For tattoo professionals in the U.S., Studioflo also offers seamless payment and accounting integrations, making financial tracking and payment processing a breeze. In short, Studioflo isn’t just a management tool - it’s a complete system for growing your tattoo business, allowing you to focus on your art while it handles the rest.
Studioflo's Athena AI takes the hassle out of managing appointments and handling communications for tattoo artists. It automates tasks like scheduling, sending reminders, and processing payments, cutting down on time spent on admin work so you can dedicate more energy to your art.
Beyond simplifying your workflow, Athena AI improves how you connect with clients. It provides instant responses to their questions and makes rescheduling easy, creating a seamless and polished experience for both you and your clients. This means less stress for you and a better overall experience for them.
Studioflo's Free Forever plan is designed for solo tattoo artists who are just getting started and need a simple, budget-friendly way to manage their business. With features like unlimited bookings, automated reminders, and a customizable booking page, it helps you stay on top of your schedule and saves you valuable time.
The plan also includes tools for deposit handling and content management, making it easier to organize your workflow without spending a dime. It's an excellent option for building your tattoo business while keeping expenses to a minimum.
Managing appointments in a busy, multi-artist tattoo studio can be a challenge, but Studioflo makes it easier with its shared digital calendar. This tool helps prevent double-bookings and keeps scheduling smooth, so everyone stays on the same page.
What sets Studioflo apart are its AI-driven features, which analyze past data to predict peak times. This insight helps you allocate staff more effectively, ensuring your studio operates like clockwork.
On top of that, automated reminders and communication tools help cut down on no-shows and improve coordination between artists and clients. By streamlining these processes, Studioflo saves you time, keeps your studio organized, and lets you focus on what you do best - creating incredible art and growing your business.
Studioflo has everything you need to find more quality clients, deliver a great experience, and build a successful tattoo business - all on autopilot.
