Marai vs Treatwell
Marai is a SaaS appointment management software with a fixed price and no commissions. Treatwell is a marketplace that connects consumers with beauty salons in exchange for booking commissions. They are fundamentally different business models.
Last updated: March 2026
Quick summary
Choose Marai if you already have clients, want a fixed price without commissions, AI WhatsApp bot, and full control over your data and brand. Choose Treatwell if you are starting out, need visibility to acquire new clients through a marketplace, and are willing to pay commissions for that.
| Feature | Marai | Treatwell |
|---|---|---|
| AI WhatsApp bot | ✓ | ✗ |
| WhatsApp reminders | Included | ✗ |
| Email reminders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Booking commission | No | Up to 35% |
| Own booking portal | ✓ | Widget |
| Marketplace | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-professional | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-location | Up to 5 (Business) | ✗ |
| CRM with reliability score | ✓ | ✗ |
| Intake forms | Included (Starter+) | ✗ |
| QR / kiosk check-in | Included (Pro+) | ✗ |
| Google Calendar sync | Included (Starter+) | ✗ |
| Online payments (Stripe) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Data ownership | ✓ | ✗ |
| GDPR (EU servers) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Native Spanish | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free plan | Yes, forever | No |
The fundamental difference: SaaS vs marketplace
Treatwell is, above all, a marketplace. Its business model consists of attracting consumers to its platform and connecting them with beauty salons. In exchange, it charges a commission for each booking it generates from the marketplace, which can reach up to 35% of the service price.
Marai is a SaaS software with a fixed monthly price. There are no commissions per booking, per payment or per message. You manage your calendar, your clients and your communications independently. What you pay each month is all you pay.
Data and client ownership
When a client books through Treatwell, the primary relationship is between the client and Treatwell. The salon receives the booking but does not fully control the relationship with that client. If you leave Treatwell, some of those clients may not follow you.
With Marai, all client data is 100% yours. You have their history, contact information, reliability score and direct communication via WhatsApp or email. You can export everything at any time. No dependency.
WhatsApp and AI automation
Treatwell does not offer WhatsApp integration. Notifications are limited to email and the Treatwell app itself. Clients cannot book or manage their appointments via WhatsApp.
Marai includes an AI WhatsApp bot that understands natural language, 24/7. Available in Pro (€59/month, 300 AI msgs/year) and Business (€99/month, 1,000 AI msgs/year). Clients can book, cancel, confirm and check availability by writing on WhatsApp. If messages run out, additional packs are available from €19. Automatic reminders are sent via both WhatsApp and email.
Features Treatwell does not offer
As a marketplace, Treatwell focuses on booking and discovery. There are management features that are not part of its offering:
- ✓ CRM with reliability scoring: Marai scores each client based on their attendance history, cancellations and no-shows.
- ✓ Intake forms: 11 field types (text, signature, file, multiple choice…) to collect information before the appointment.
- ✓ QR / kiosk / manual check-in: client arrival registration to measure punctuality and optimise waiting times.
- ✓ Multi-location: centralised management of up to 5 locations from a single dashboard (Business).
- ✓ Google Calendar sync: two-way synchronisation with Google Calendar (Starter+).
Pricing comparison
- Free: €0 (1 professional, 50 clients, 50 appointments/month)
- Starter: €29/month (2 professionals, unlimited clients)
- Pro: €59/month (5 professionals, AI bot)
- Business: €99/month (15 professionals, 5 locations, SSO)
- No commissions. Fixed price.
- Treatwell Connect: SaaS tools for salons
- Marketplace commission: up to 35% per booking
- Direct bookings (widget): no marketplace commission
- No permanent free plan
- Variable cost depending on booking volume.
Where does Treatwell win?
If you have just opened a salon and need to fill your calendar quickly, Treatwell gives you access to a consumer base that actively searches for beauty services in your area. Its brand is well-known in Europe and its app has a very polished booking flow for the end consumer.
For businesses starting from scratch that prioritise new client volume over independence, marketplace visibility can offset commissions in the short term.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Marai and Treatwell at the same time?
Yes. Some businesses use Treatwell to acquire new clients through the marketplace and manage their entire calendar with Marai. Once the client knows you, subsequent bookings are made directly via WhatsApp or your portal, without commissions.
Does Treatwell charge a commission for each booking?
Yes. Bookings that come through the Treatwell marketplace carry a commission that can reach up to 35% of the service price. Direct bookings (widget on your website) have no marketplace commission, but remain within the Treatwell ecosystem.
Do I own my client data with Treatwell?
Not completely. Treatwell manages the client relationship at the marketplace level. Clients who book through Treatwell are Treatwell's clients first and the salon's second. With Marai, all data is 100% yours and you can export it at any time.
Does Marai have a marketplace to acquire new clients?
No. Marai is a SaaS software, not a marketplace. It gives you tools to manage and retain your clients independently: booking portal, AI WhatsApp bot, CRM, automatic reminders and loyalty programmes. If you already have a clientele, you do not need to pay commissions.
What happens if I want to leave Treatwell?
Because you depend on the marketplace, some of your clients are tied to Treatwell and might not follow you. With Marai, from day one clients are yours: you have their data, history and direct communication via WhatsApp. No dependency.
Coming from Treatwell?
Migrating is easy. Export your clients and import them into Marai via CSV (available from Starter). Set up your booking portal, activate the WhatsApp bot, and start managing appointments without commissions the same day. Your clients become 100% yours.
No credit card. No commissions. No dependency.