Based on checking the website, SimplyBook.me is an online booking system designed for service-based businesses, aiming to streamline appointment scheduling, client management, and payment processing.

It positions itself as a comprehensive solution for various industries, from wellness clinics and beauty salons to educational institutions and medical practices, by offering features like customizable booking websites, automated notifications, online payment integration, and robust analytics.

This platform appears to be a solid contender for businesses looking to enhance their operational efficiency and provide a seamless booking experience for their clients, ultimately allowing them to focus more on their core services rather than administrative tasks.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

0.0

0.0 out of 5 stars (based on 0 reviews)

Excellent0%

Very good0%

Average0%

Poor0%

Terrible0%

There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one.

Amazon.com: Check Amazon for Simplybook.me Reviews
Latest Discussions & Reviews:

Table of Contents

SimplyBook.me Review & First Look: A Deep Dive into Functionality

When you first land on the SimplyBook.me website, it’s clear they’ve designed a platform that aims to be an all-in-one solution for service businesses.

It promises to handle the heavy lifting of scheduling, client communication, and even payments, freeing up valuable time.

User Interface and Ease of Navigation

The user interface appears clean and well-organized, with a clear focus on functionality.

The onboarding process, highlighted by the “Get a Free Account” and “No credit card needed” prompts, suggests a low barrier to entry, which is excellent for businesses testing the waters.

The site also showcases a variety of customizable templates like “Minimal,” “Classic,” and “Belle,” indicating that aesthetic flexibility is a priority. Transformingbball.com Reviews

This allows businesses to maintain their brand identity while leveraging the platform’s booking power.

Initial Setup and Customization Options

SimplyBook.me emphasizes customization.

Users can adjust their booking website to their brand, personalize messages for notifications and reminders, and even integrate with existing sites.

This level of control is crucial for businesses that want their booking system to feel like a natural extension of their brand, rather than a generic third-party tool.

The availability of custom features such as “Coupons & gift cards,” “Memberships,” and “Loyalty System” further demonstrates their commitment to providing a tailored experience. Namebadgesinternational.us Reviews

For instance, a beauty salon could easily set up loyalty points for repeat customers, encouraging continued business.

SimplyBook.me Features: Unpacking the Toolkit

SimplyBook.me offers a robust set of features designed to cover almost every aspect of online booking and business management.

From client-facing tools to backend administrative controls, the platform aims to provide a comprehensive solution for service-based industries.

Online Booking Capabilities

Multiple Channels: SimplyBook.me doesn’t limit bookings to just one platform. Businesses can accept appointments via their own mobile-optimized booking website, integrate with an existing site, or allow clients to book directly through popular social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, Google, and even their own branded client app. This multi-channel approach significantly increases a business’s reach, making it easier for clients to book no matter where they find the service.
Custom Booking Pages: The platform allows for highly customizable booking pages, ensuring that the visual aesthetic aligns with the business’s branding. This includes choosing from a range of templates and adjusting colors, fonts, and images.
Recurring Bookings: For services that require regular appointments, SimplyBook.me simplifies the process by allowing clients to easily schedule recurring bookings and receive reminders before each one. This is particularly useful for personal trainers, therapists, or tutors.
Group Bookings: The system supports scheduling for entire groups at once, with the option for upfront payment. This feature is ideal for fitness classes, workshops, or group tours.

Communication and Notifications

Automated Reminders: SimplyBook.me excels in keeping both staff and clients informed. It sends automated reminders and updates via WhatsApp, SMS, and email whenever appointments are booked, canceled, or rescheduled. This helps reduce no-shows, which, according to a survey by Statista, cost businesses an average of $150 per missed appointment.
Push Notifications: Admins receive push notifications in the mobile app for new booking activity, ensuring they are always aware of their schedule.
Customizable Messages: All notification messages can be customized, allowing businesses to maintain a consistent tone of voice and include specific instructions or information relevant to their services. For example, a medical practice could include pre-appointment instructions in their email reminders.

Payment Processing and Financial Tools

Diverse Payment Gateways: SimplyBook.me integrates with a wide range of popular payment processors such as PayPal, Stripe, and more, allowing businesses to accept online payments and deposits securely. This flexibility in payment options caters to a broader client base.
On-site Payments POS: Beyond online transactions, the platform supports accepting cash or card payments on-site via its POS system. This hybrid approach covers all payment scenarios.
Tips and Gift Cards: Businesses can enable clients to leave tips during payment, and the system supports the sale of gift cards, providing additional revenue streams. Data from Gift Card Granny shows that over 50% of consumers spend more than the value of their gift card, highlighting the potential for increased sales.
Packages and Memberships: The ability to sell service packages and memberships directly through the booking system provides a way to encourage larger, long-term commitments from clients, boosting recurring revenue.

Client Management and Analytics

Client Database: SimplyBook.me maintains a client database, allowing businesses to keep track of client history, preferences, and contact information. This centralized data helps in providing personalized service.
Admin and Client Apps: Both an admin app for managing the business on the go and a personalized client app for easy booking are available. The client app enhances convenience, while the admin app provides flexibility for business owners.
Business Analytics: The platform offers robust analytics tools to monitor bookings, site visits, and the popularity of services and staff. This data is crucial for making informed business decisions. For example, understanding peak booking times can help optimize staff scheduling.
Google Reviews Integration: The system automatically sends feedback requests after appointments, encouraging clients to post reviews. This integration with Google Reviews is vital for reputation management, as 93% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business, according to BrightLocal.

Integrations and Ecosystem

Third-Party Integrations: SimplyBook.me integrates with various essential business tools like Facebook, Instagram, Google My Business, QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and WordPress. This ensures seamless data flow and reduces manual data entry.
API Access: For businesses with specific needs, an API is available to build custom integrations, offering maximum flexibility.
Calendar Sync: The booking page can sync with Google or Outlook calendars, eliminating scheduling conflicts and ensuring that all appointments are reflected accurately across platforms.

SimplyBook.me Pros & Cons: A Balanced Perspective

When evaluating any online booking system, it’s crucial to look at both its strengths and weaknesses to determine if it’s the right fit for your business.

SimplyBook.me, while feature-rich, has areas where it excels and others where it might fall short for some users. Htxsbot.com Reviews

The Upsides Pros

Comprehensive Feature Set: SimplyBook.me truly offers an extensive array of features, from basic scheduling to advanced marketing tools like coupons, gift cards, and loyalty programs. This all-in-one approach can save businesses from subscribing to multiple disparate services. For example, the inclusion of a POS system and support for selling products directly within the booking flow means a single platform can handle both service appointments and retail sales.
High Customizability: The platform provides significant control over the look and feel of the booking website, allowing businesses to maintain strong brand consistency. Users can choose from a variety of templates, customize colors, fonts, and even personalize notification messages, which is a major plus for brand-conscious businesses.
Multi-Channel Booking: The ability to accept bookings via a dedicated booking website, existing websites, Facebook, Instagram, Google My Business, and a branded client app is a massive advantage. This broad reach maximizes visibility and convenience for clients, leading to potentially higher booking rates. According to a study by LocalIQ, businesses with an online booking option see an average of 15% higher conversion rates.
Robust Communication Tools: The automated SMS, email, and WhatsApp notifications for reminders, confirmations, and cancellations are highly effective in reducing no-shows and improving client satisfaction. This proactive communication streamlines operations for both the business and its clients.
Valuable Business Analytics: The built-in analytics dashboard provides actionable insights into booking trends, popular services, and staff performance. This data-driven approach helps businesses identify areas for improvement and optimize their strategies.
HIPAA Compliance: For medical and health service providers, SimplyBook.me’s HIPAA compliance is a critical feature, ensuring the secure handling of sensitive patient data. This is a non-negotiable for healthcare professionals, and SimplyBook.me addresses this need directly.

The Downsides Cons

Complexity for Small Businesses: While the extensive features are a pro for larger or growing businesses, they can be overwhelming for very small businesses or solo practitioners who only need basic scheduling. The sheer number of options might lead to a steeper learning curve initially.
Pricing Structure: The pricing is based on the number of bookings and chosen custom features. While this offers flexibility, it can lead to higher costs for businesses with a high volume of bookings or those that need many advanced features. The “start small and we grow with you” model can be a double-edged sword, as scalability comes with increased costs.
Potential for Feature Overload: Some users might find the sheer volume of custom features to be a bit much, leading to decision fatigue or underutilization of certain functionalities. It requires a dedicated effort to explore and implement all relevant features.
Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While the basic setup is intuitive, mastering all the advanced features and integrations might require some time and effort. The comprehensive nature of the platform means there’s a lot to learn if you want to maximize its potential.
Customer Support Response Times: While SimplyBook.me boasts 24/7 live chat during working weeks, some user reviews on platforms like Capterra and G2 have occasionally mentioned slower response times for more complex issues, although this is not a widespread complaint. A dedicated support team is essential for critical business operations.

SimplyBook.me Pricing: Understanding Your Investment

SimplyBook.me’s pricing model is designed to scale with your business, which can be both a benefit and a potential challenge depending on your specific needs and growth trajectory.

It’s based on a tiered system that primarily considers the number of bookings and the number of “Custom Features” you utilize.

Free Plan: A Starting Point

What it offers: SimplyBook.me provides a free plan that includes a limited number of bookings e.g., 50 bookings per month and access to a basic set of features. This plan is ideal for very small businesses, freelancers, or those looking to test the waters before committing financially.
Limitations: The free plan typically has branding “Powered by SimplyBook.me”, fewer custom features, and limits on SMS notifications. While a great starting point, most growing businesses will quickly find its limitations restrictive.

Paid Plans: Scaling Your Operations

SimplyBook.me offers several paid subscription tiers, typically named Basic, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise or similar variations, each offering an increasing number of bookings and access to more custom features.

Bookings Volume: As your business grows and your booking volume increases, you’ll need to upgrade to higher tiers. For example, a Basic plan might support up to 100 bookings, while a Standard plan could go up to 500, and Premium even higher. This direct correlation means your costs rise as your business becomes more successful, which is a fair trade-off for many.
Custom Features: This is where SimplyBook.me’s pricing gets a bit more nuanced. Beyond the core booking functionality, the platform offers a marketplace of “Custom Features” e.g., HIPAA compliance, POS, loyalty programs, gift cards, packages, Google Reviews integration, intake forms, etc.. Each plan tier includes a certain number of these custom features for free, but exceeding that limit means you’ll need to pay an additional monthly fee for each extra feature.
- For instance, a Standard plan might include 5 custom features, but if you need 7, you’d pay extra for the two additional ones. This à la carte approach allows businesses to only pay for the specific functionalities they need, avoiding unnecessary costs.
SMS Notifications: While email notifications are generally unlimited, SMS notifications are often offered as part of paid packages or as an add-on, with a certain number included per month and additional charges for exceeding that limit.
Branded Client App: The ability to offer a personalized, business-branded client app is typically a feature of higher-tier plans or an additional paid add-on, as it adds significant value in terms of brand presence and client convenience.
Multiple Locations: If your business operates from multiple locations, this functionality is usually available on higher-tier plans, allowing you to manage all locations and assign staff accordingly from a single account.

Value Proposition

SimplyBook.me positions its pricing as “start small and we grow with you.” This approach makes it accessible for startups while providing a clear upgrade path for scaling businesses.

For businesses that fully leverage its extensive features, the cost can be justified by the increased efficiency, reduced administrative burden, and improved client experience. Iconic-puzzles.com Reviews

However, it’s essential for businesses to carefully assess which custom features they truly need to avoid accumulating unnecessary costs.

Example Pricing Structure Hypothetical, based on typical SaaS models:

Free: ~50 bookings/month, limited features.
Basic: ~$9.90/month or annual equivalent, ~100 bookings/month, 3 custom features.
Standard: ~$29.90/month, ~500 bookings/month, 8 custom features.
Premium: ~$59.90/month, ~2000 bookings/month, unlimited custom features.
Additional custom features beyond plan limit: ~$3 – $5 each per month.
Additional SMS credits: Varies based on volume.

It’s always recommended to check their official website for the most up-to-date and precise pricing details, as these structures can evolve.

SimplyBook.me Alternatives: Exploring Other Scheduling Solutions

While SimplyBook.me offers a robust set of features, it’s always wise to explore alternatives to find the best fit for your specific business needs, budget, and desired level of complexity.

The market for online booking systems is competitive, with many excellent platforms offering different strengths. Granada.com.tr Reviews

Acuity Scheduling

Strengths: Acuity Scheduling now part of Squarespace is highly praised for its flexibility and deep customization options. It’s particularly strong for service-based businesses that need to manage complex schedules, packages, and group classes. It offers extensive intake forms, recurring appointments, and robust integrations with popular tools like Zoom, Mailchimp, and Zapier. Its client-facing interface is very user-friendly.
Key Differences: Acuity often feels more intuitive for businesses with diverse service offerings or those who need to collect a lot of client information upfront. Its pricing can be competitive, particularly for businesses that don’t need a huge number of advanced features like SimplyBook.me’s custom feature marketplace.
Best For: Coaches, consultants, fitness instructors, salons, and anyone needing highly customizable scheduling and client intake.

Calendly

Strengths: Calendly is renowned for its simplicity and ease of use, making it incredibly popular for one-on-one meeting scheduling. It excels at finding mutual availability between parties without the back-and-forth emails. Its strength lies in its seamless integration with multiple calendars Google, Outlook, iCloud and its ability to create various event types.
Key Differences: Calendly is generally less about managing a full-service business with multiple staff members and locations, and more about simplifying individual meeting bookings. It doesn’t typically offer features like POS, product sales, or a dedicated branded booking website in the same way SimplyBook.me does.
Best For: Sales professionals, recruiters, consultants, and individuals who primarily need to schedule one-on-one or small group meetings efficiently.

Setmore

Strengths: Setmore offers a strong free plan, making it an attractive option for startups and small businesses on a tight budget. It provides basic online booking, automated email reminders, and a customer list. Its paid plans unlock more features like SMS reminders, online payments, and staff logins.
Key Differences: Setmore is generally simpler than SimplyBook.me, offering a more streamlined feature set. While it covers the essentials, it may lack some of the advanced customization options, extensive third-party integrations, and the depth of analytics found in SimplyBook.me.
Best For: Small service businesses, solopreneurs, and those looking for a cost-effective, easy-to-use booking system without too many bells and whistles.

Vagaro

Strengths: Vagaro is an all-in-one business management platform specifically tailored for the beauty, fitness, and wellness industries. Beyond booking, it offers POS, marketing tools, payroll, reporting, and even a marketplace for clients to discover businesses.
Key Differences: Vagaro is a comprehensive ecosystem designed for a niche. It often has more industry-specific features and a steeper learning curve due to its extensive functionalities. Its pricing might be higher, but it consolidates many tools into one platform.
Best For: Hair salons, spas, fitness studios, yoga instructors, and barbershops seeking a complete business management solution.

Square Appointments

Strengths: Integrated with Square’s popular POS system, Square Appointments is excellent for businesses already using Square for payments. It offers online booking, automated reminders, client management, and staff management, all within the Square ecosystem. It also has a free plan for individuals.
Key Differences: Its strength lies in its tight integration with Square hardware and payment processing. If you’re already a Square user, it’s a seamless addition. It might be less customizable than SimplyBook.me in terms of booking page design but offers a very straightforward approach.
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses, particularly those in the beauty, health, and service industries that are already using or plan to use Square for payment processing.

Each of these alternatives has its unique selling points.

The best choice depends on factors such as your business size, industry, budget, required features, and technical comfort level.

How to Cancel SimplyBook.me Subscription: A Step-by-Step Guide

Deciding to cancel a subscription, whether due to a change in business needs or finding a different solution, should be a straightforward process.

Based on typical SaaS platform practices and information available on SimplyBook.me’s support pages, here’s how you can generally cancel your SimplyBook.me subscription.

Accessing Your Account Settings

Log In to Your Admin Interface: The first step is always to log into your SimplyBook.me admin account. You’ll need your company login details username and password to access the dashboard.
Navigate to the Subscription/Billing Section: Once logged in, look for a section typically labeled “Subscription,” “Billing,” “Account Settings,” or “My Account.” This is usually found in the main navigation menu or under your profile icon in the top right corner.

Initiating the Cancellation Process

Locate Subscription Details: Within the billing or subscription section, you should find details about your current plan, renewal date, and options to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel.
Select Cancel Subscription: There should be a clear option or button to “Cancel Subscription” or “Manage Subscription.” Click on this.
Follow On-Screen Prompts: Most platforms will then guide you through a series of steps. This might include:
- Confirmation of Cancellation: You may be asked to confirm your decision.
- Feedback Survey: Many services will present a brief survey asking for your reason for canceling. While optional, providing feedback can help them improve their service.
- Data Retention Information: The system might inform you about what happens to your data bookings, client information, etc. after cancellation. Typically, data might be retained for a certain period before permanent deletion, or it might be immediately inaccessible.
- Effective Cancellation Date: The cancellation might be effective immediately, or it might run until the end of your current billing cycle e.g., if you cancel mid-month, your service might continue until the month’s end. SimplyBook.me usually allows you to use the service until the end of the paid period.

Important Considerations

Data Export: Before canceling, if you have any data client lists, booking history that you wish to retain, look for an “Export Data” option. It’s always a good practice to download your data for your records.
Remaining Subscription Period: If you have paid for a longer period e.g., annually, SimplyBook.me’s policy, like many SaaS companies, typically does not offer pro-rated refunds for unused portions of annual subscriptions. The service will usually remain active until the end of your paid term.
Free Trial vs. Paid Subscription: If you’re looking to end a free trial, the process is slightly different and usually doesn’t involve “cancellation” in the same way, as no payment has been made. See the next section for free trial cancellation.
Contacting Support: If you encounter any difficulties or cannot find the cancellation option, SimplyBook.me’s 24/7 live chat support during working weeks is an excellent resource. They can guide you through the process or even handle the cancellation on your behalf if necessary.

By following these steps, you should be able to effectively manage and cancel your SimplyBook.me subscription if it no longer meets your business requirements. Oraqual.com Reviews

How to Cancel SimplyBook.me Free Trial: No Strings Attached

SimplyBook.me offers a 14-day free trial that allows prospective users to explore most of its features and experience its functionality without any financial commitment.

The beauty of a free trial, when implemented correctly, is that it should be easy to end without incurring charges.

Understanding the Free Trial

No Credit Card Required: SimplyBook.me explicitly states, “No credit card required!” to start your free trial. This is a crucial point, as it means you won’t be automatically charged when the trial period ends. This transparency is a big plus for users looking to avoid unexpected bills.
Trial Period and Bookings: The trial typically includes most features and a certain number of included bookings e.g., 50 bookings. This allows businesses to truly test the system with live appointments.

The Cancellation Process for a Free Trial

Since no credit card information is collected upfront for the trial, there isn’t a traditional “cancellation” process in the sense of stopping recurring payments.

Simply Let It Expire: The most straightforward way to “cancel” a SimplyBook.me free trial is to simply do nothing. Because they don’t have your payment information, the trial will automatically expire after the 14-day period. You won’t be charged, and your account will likely be downgraded or deactivated to a very limited free version, or become inaccessible until you choose a paid plan.
No Action Required: You do not need to log in and actively “cancel” a free trial if you haven’t provided any payment details. The service simply stops or reverts to a basic, heavily restricted free tier.

What Happens After the Trial Expires?

Service Interruption: Your booking page will likely become inactive, and clients will no longer be able to schedule appointments through SimplyBook.me.
Data Access: While your account may revert to a very limited free version, your data services, staff, client list might still be accessible for a certain period, allowing you to upgrade to a paid plan and continue where you left off. However, it’s always advisable to export any critical data if you decide not to continue, just in case.
No Charges: The key takeaway is that you will not be billed automatically after the trial period ends if you didn’t provide payment information.

When You Might Need to Do Something

If You Accidentally Subscribed to a Paid Plan During Trial: If, for some reason, you decided to enter your payment details and subscribe to a paid plan during your free trial, then the process for cancellation would revert to the “How to Cancel SimplyBook.me Subscription” section above, as you would then have an active, billing subscription. This is unlikely to happen by accident, as it requires explicit action.
To Remove Your Data: If you wish to ensure all your data is removed from their system immediately after the trial, you might need to contact their support team. However, for most users, simply letting the trial expire is sufficient.

The “no credit card required” model for SimplyBook.me’s free trial is a user-friendly approach that eliminates the worry of forgetting to cancel and being charged.

SimplyBook.me vs. Booking.page: Understanding the Ecosystem

When looking at SimplyBook.me, it’s important to understand its relationship with Booking.page, as they are part of the same ecosystem but serve different functions. Simply put, SimplyBook.me is the software platform that businesses use to manage their bookings, while Booking.page is a marketplace where SimplyBook.me users can get additional visibility. Fairgrove.co.uk Reviews

SimplyBook.me: The Core Booking System

Purpose: SimplyBook.me is the comprehensive online booking system designed for individual service-based businesses. It provides all the tools you need to create your own branded booking website, manage appointments, send notifications, process payments, and handle client data.
Features: It includes features like customizable booking pages, staff management, multiple service offerings, loyalty programs, gift cards, POS, integrations with social media, and detailed business analytics. It’s the engine behind your booking operations.
Control: With SimplyBook.me, you have full control over your booking process, your brand, and your client experience. You build your unique booking presence.
Primary Focus: Empowering businesses to manage their own scheduling and client interactions directly.

Booking.page: The Global Marketplace

Purpose: Booking.page is described as a “brand new marketplace of service companies all around the world.” It acts like a directory or search engine where potential clients can discover various services in their area or globally and book appointments directly through the platform.
Relationship to SimplyBook.me: Businesses that use SimplyBook.me have the option to get listed on Booking.page. It’s an additional channel for lead generation and visibility, not a separate booking system you would subscribe to independently for your core operations.
Benefits for Businesses:
- Increased Visibility: Listing on Booking.page exposes your services to a wider audience actively searching for appointments, potentially leading to more bookings. It’s like having an additional storefront in a busy online mall.
- More Income: With increased visibility comes the potential for more clients and, consequently, more revenue.
- Less Work: The booking process still funnels through your SimplyBook.me setup, so you don’t have to manage a separate system for Booking.page leads.
Benefits for Clients: Clients can easily find and book any service anywhere, receiving reminders, simplifying their search and booking experience.
Primary Focus: Connecting service providers with potential clients through a centralized search platform.

Key Differences Summarized:

Feature	SimplyBook.me	Booking.page
Core Function	Online booking software for businesses	Online marketplace for services
Branding	Fully customizable to your brand	Generic marketplace branding
Control	Full control over booking process & features	Discovery platform. booking through your SB.me
Revenue Model	Subscription fees for features/bookings	Free listing for SB.me users. drives traffic
Primary Goal	Operational efficiency for your business	Increased client acquisition and visibility

In essence, SimplyBook.me is the engine you run your business on, while Booking.page is a powerful marketing channel that can drive more traffic to that engine.

If you’re a SimplyBook.me user, leveraging Booking.page is a smart move to gain additional exposure in a competitive market.

SimplyBook.me vs. Competitors: A Comparative Look

When evaluating SimplyBook.me, it’s helpful to understand how it stacks up against some of its direct and indirect competitors in the online scheduling software market.

While each platform has its unique strengths, a comparison helps identify where SimplyBook.me truly shines and where others might offer a better fit.

SimplyBook.me vs. Calendly: Focus on Complexity and Scope

SimplyBook.me: As discussed, SimplyBook.me is a comprehensive solution designed for service-based businesses with multiple staff, services, and potentially locations. It offers deep customization for booking websites, integrated POS, product sales, loyalty programs, and extensive client management features. Its strength lies in being an all-in-one operational tool.
Calendly: Calendly is primarily a meeting scheduler, excelling at simplifying the process of booking one-on-one or small group meetings. It’s incredibly easy to set up and integrate with calendars, making it ideal for sales calls, interviews, or quick consultations. It lacks the advanced business management features like inventory, staff payroll, or complex client intake forms found in SimplyBook.me.
Verdict: If your primary need is efficient individual meeting scheduling without much business management overhead, Calendly is superior in its simplicity. If you run a full-fledged service business requiring integrated booking, payments, staff management, and marketing tools, SimplyBook.me is the more robust choice.

SimplyBook.me vs. Acuity Scheduling: Customization and Industry Focus

SimplyBook.me: Offers broad customization, with a wide array of “Custom Features” that cater to many industries medical, beauty, fitness, education. It emphasizes multi-channel booking and integrated payments.
Acuity Scheduling: Known for its highly flexible scheduling rules, advanced intake forms, and strong focus on coaching, consulting, and wellness industries. Acuity offers powerful automation capabilities and deep integrations. Users often praise its ability to handle complex scheduling scenarios and its clear interface.
Verdict: Both offer excellent customization. Acuity might edge out SimplyBook.me for businesses that require very specific intake forms or intricate scheduling logic e.g., specific prerequisites for appointments. SimplyBook.me might be more appealing for those who want a wider range of integrated business tools beyond just scheduling, such as loyalty programs or in-person POS.

SimplyBook.me vs. Vagaro: Niche Specialization vs. Broad Utility

SimplyBook.me: A general-purpose booking system that can be adapted to many service industries. Its strength is its versatility and the à la carte nature of its custom features, allowing businesses to pick what they need.
Vagaro: A specialized, all-in-one business management software specifically designed for salons, spas, and fitness businesses. It includes features tailored to these industries, such as specific inventory management for beauty products, detailed client records for aesthetic treatments, and class management for fitness studios. This specialization means it can offer deeper, industry-specific functionalities.
Verdict: If you are in the beauty, fitness, or wellness sector and require a truly comprehensive, industry-tailored solution that handles everything from booking to payroll and marketing within one platform, Vagaro is often the stronger choice. If you are in a different service industry or prefer a more modular approach to features, SimplyBook.me offers broader appeal.

SimplyBook.me vs. Square Appointments: Ecosystem Integration

SimplyBook.me: A standalone booking platform with many integrations, offering its own payment processing options and a dedicated client app.
Square Appointments: Deeply integrated with the Square ecosystem. If a business already uses Square for POS, hardware, or other financial services, Square Appointments provides a seamless, unified solution. It simplifies payment processing and financial reporting if you’re already embedded in Square.
Verdict: For businesses already using or planning to use Square for their primary payment and POS needs, Square Appointments is likely the most convenient and cost-effective option due to ecosystem synergy. For those not tied to Square, SimplyBook.me offers more independence and a wider array of custom features beyond payments.

In summary, SimplyBook.me stands out for its comprehensive feature set, high level of customization, and multi-channel booking capabilities, making it a strong contender for a wide range of service-based businesses. Saunamo.pt Reviews

Its main competition often comes from highly specialized solutions or simpler tools designed for specific use cases.

SimplyBook.me for Various Business Types: Tailored Solutions

One of SimplyBook.me’s key strengths is its adaptability across a diverse range of service-based industries.

The platform highlights its utility for various business types, demonstrating how its features can be tailored to meet specific industry needs.

Sports & Fitness

Features Utilized: For personal trainers, yoga instructors, and gyms, SimplyBook.me facilitates easy management of one-on-one sessions, group classes, and even facility bookings. The ability to schedule recurring appointments, accept online payments for packages e.g., 10-session passes, and send automated reminders helps reduce no-shows and streamlines client management. The admin app allows trainers to manage their schedules on the go, crucial for a mobile workforce.
Impact: Reduces administrative burden, allows trainers to focus on clients, and provides a professional booking experience.

Beauty and Wellness

Features Utilized: Salons, spas, barbershops, and massage therapists benefit from 24/7 online booking, customizable booking pages that reflect their brand’s aesthetic, and automated reminders that minimize missed appointments. Features like “Coupons & gift cards” and “Loyalty System” are particularly effective for client retention and driving repeat business in these competitive sectors. The POS system and ability to sell products during booking further boost revenue.
Impact: Enhances client convenience, improves staff efficiency, and creates additional revenue streams through integrated product and package sales.

Educational

Features Utilized: For tutors, schools, and educational institutions, SimplyBook.me simplifies student scheduling for classes, workshops, and individual consultations. Calendar sync prevents double bookings, and group booking functionality is ideal for class registration. Automated reminders ensure students and teachers are on time for sessions.
Impact: Streamlines administrative processes for educators, provides students with easy access to scheduling, and reduces scheduling conflicts.

Events and Entertainment

Features Utilized: Whether for organizing workshops, tours, or entertainment events, SimplyBook.me supports creating one-time or recurring events, accepting group bookings, and managing online payments. The “Tickets” custom feature is directly relevant for event organizers, allowing them to sell and manage event admissions.
Impact: Centralizes event management, simplifies ticket sales, and ensures smooth participant registration.

Personal Meetings & Services

Features Utilized: For consultants, coaches, and other personal service providers, the platform offers a clean way to manage appointments, accept payments, and send automatic reminders. The “Intake Forms” feature is valuable for collecting necessary client information prior to sessions, allowing for better preparation.
Impact: Professionalizes the booking process, reduces manual scheduling efforts, and ensures all necessary client details are captured efficiently.

Medical & Health Services

Features Utilized: For medical providers, clinics, and therapists, SimplyBook.me’s HIPAA compliance is a critical differentiator, ensuring secure handling of sensitive patient data. Features like “Intake Forms” for patient history, “SOAP” notes, and “progress tracking” are highly valuable. Automated reminders help reduce missed appointments, a significant issue in healthcare.
Impact: Enhances patient experience with easy online booking, ensures data security and compliance, and improves operational efficiency for medical staff.

SimplyBook.me’s modular “Custom Features” approach allows businesses in each of these sectors to activate only the functionalities most relevant to their operations, making it a flexible and powerful tool regardless of the specific service offered.

SimplyBook.me Security & Support: Trust and Assistance

When choosing an online booking system, security and reliable customer support are paramount. Weber.com Reviews

SimplyBook.me places a strong emphasis on both, aiming to provide a trustworthy and well-supported platform for its users.

Security Measures

SimplyBook.me highlights several robust security features designed to protect both business and client data:

ISO27001 Certified: This certification is a globally recognized standard for information security management systems ISMS. Achieving ISO27001 demonstrates a commitment to managing information securely, which includes policies, procedures, and controls. This indicates a systematic approach to risk management for sensitive company and client data.
HIPAA Compliance: For medical and health service providers, HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance is non-negotiable in the United States. SimplyBook.me offers features and configurations that support HIPAA requirements, ensuring that protected health information PHI is handled according to strict federal guidelines.
Data Backed Daily: Regular data backups are crucial for disaster recovery. SimplyBook.me’s daily data backups provide a safety net, ensuring that even in the event of unforeseen issues, data can be restored, minimizing potential downtime and data loss for businesses.
Secure Communication SSL: The use of SSL Secure Sockets Layer encryption ensures that all data transmitted between the client’s browser and SimplyBook.me’s servers is encrypted and secure. This is fundamental for protecting sensitive information like personal details and payment data during the booking process.
Password Security: The platform implements strong password security measures, which typically include requirements for complex passwords, possibly multi-factor authentication MFA, and secure storage of user credentials, protecting accounts from unauthorized access.
Dedicated Security Officer: Having a dedicated security officer indicates a proactive approach to security management. This individual is responsible for overseeing security policies, monitoring for threats, and ensuring compliance, providing an additional layer of protection for business data.
Hosted in EU: While not a security measure in itself, being hosted in the EU often implies adherence to strict data privacy regulations like GDPR General Data Protection Regulation, which are among the most stringent globally. This can provide additional assurance regarding data handling and privacy.

Customer Support and Resources

SimplyBook.me appears to invest significantly in its customer support infrastructure:

24/7 Live Chat: The website prominently features 24/7 live chat availability during working weeks. This immediate access to support agents is highly valuable for businesses operating in different time zones or those encountering urgent issues during business hours. Real-time assistance can quickly resolve problems and minimize disruption.
Highly Qualified Agents: SimplyBook.me prides itself on its “highly qualified, praised by hundreds of users” live chat agents, suggesting a focus on knowledgeable and effective support interactions.
Extensive Video Tutorials: A library of video tutorials is available, providing visual, step-by-step guidance on how to use various features of the system. This is an excellent resource for self-learners and for onboarding new staff.
Wiki and Blog: SimplyBook.me maintains a comprehensive Wiki knowledge base and a blog. The Wiki likely offers detailed articles and FAQs on specific features and troubleshooting, while the blog provides updates, tips, and best practices for using the platform and managing a service business. These resources empower users to find answers independently.
Demo Access: The provision of demo accounts for both the booking website templates and the admin interface allows prospective users to explore the system’s look and feel before committing, which aids in decision-making and reduces the need for initial support inquiries about basic functionality.

The combination of robust security protocols and comprehensive, accessible support resources makes SimplyBook.me a reliable choice for businesses prioritizing data safety and reliable assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SimplyBook.me?

SimplyBook.me is an online booking system designed for service-based businesses that allows clients to book appointments 24/7 through a customizable booking website, social media, or a client app, while providing businesses with tools for scheduling, payments, and client management. Mybudgetcenter.com Reviews

Is SimplyBook.me free to use?

Yes, SimplyBook.me offers a free plan with limited features and a set number of bookings e.g., 50 per month. For more features and higher booking volumes, paid subscriptions are available.

Do I need a credit card for the SimplyBook.me free trial?

No, SimplyBook.me explicitly states that no credit card is required to start their 14-day free trial.

How do I cancel my SimplyBook.me subscription?

To cancel a paid subscription, you generally need to log into your SimplyBook.me admin account, navigate to the “Subscription” or “Billing” section, and follow the prompts to cancel.

The service usually continues until the end of your current paid billing cycle.

What happens after my SimplyBook.me free trial ends?

If you haven’t provided payment information, your free trial will automatically expire after 14 days. Sakuramobile.jp Reviews

You won’t be charged, and your account will likely revert to a limited free version or become inactive.

Can SimplyBook.me integrate with my existing website?

Yes, SimplyBook.me allows you to integrate its booking widget or system with your existing website, including platforms like WordPress.

Can clients book through social media with SimplyBook.me?

Yes, SimplyBook.me supports booking directly via Facebook, Instagram, and Google My Business.

Does SimplyBook.me send automated reminders?

Yes, SimplyBook.me sends automated reminders and updates to both staff and clients via WhatsApp, SMS, and email for appointments, cancellations, and reschedules.

What payment processors does SimplyBook.me integrate with?

SimplyBook.me integrates with a range of payment processors, including popular options like PayPal and Stripe, to accept online payments and deposits. Mlily.co.uk Reviews

Can I sell products with SimplyBook.me?

Yes, SimplyBook.me offers features that allow businesses to sell products during the booking process, providing an additional revenue stream.

Does SimplyBook.me offer a client app?

Yes, SimplyBook.me provides a personalized, branded client app that allows your clients to easily book, change, or cancel appointments.

Is SimplyBook.me HIPAA compliant?

Yes, SimplyBook.me offers features and configurations that support HIPAA compliance, which is essential for medical and health service providers.

Can I manage multiple locations with SimplyBook.me?

Yes, SimplyBook.me supports managing multiple service locations and assigning staff to different locations within the same account.

What kind of analytics does SimplyBook.me provide?

SimplyBook.me offers business analytics to monitor bookings, site visits, and the popularity of services and staff, helping businesses make informed decisions. Autizma.co.uk Reviews

What is Booking.page, and how is it related to SimplyBook.me?

Booking.page is a global marketplace for service companies.

SimplyBook.me users can get listed on Booking.page to increase their visibility and acquire more clients, as it drives traffic to their SimplyBook.me booking system.

Can I offer coupons and gift cards with SimplyBook.me?

Yes, SimplyBook.me includes custom features for coupons, gift cards, and loyalty systems to help businesses attract and retain clients.

Does SimplyBook.me sync with my personal calendar?

Yes, SimplyBook.me can sync with your Google or Outlook calendar to help eliminate scheduling conflicts.

Is SimplyBook.me secure?

Yes, SimplyBook.me is ISO27001 certified, uses SSL for secure communication, backs up data daily, and has a dedicated security officer, indicating a strong commitment to data security. Nextutor.co.uk Reviews

How is SimplyBook.me customer support?

SimplyBook.me offers 24/7 live chat support during working weeks, along with extensive video tutorials, a comprehensive Wiki, and a blog for self-help resources.

Can I manage group bookings with SimplyBook.me?

Yes, SimplyBook.me allows you to easily schedule bookings for an entire group at once, with options for upfront payment.

Simplybook.me Reviews