SimplyBook.me Review: Overview, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2025

Still struggling with manual appointment booking?

If you’re researching SimplyBook.me, chances are your business is tired of lost bookings, endless call-backs, and clunky scheduling workarounds.

The reality is, most booking tools still leave you wasting hours every week managing missed slots—which takes focus away from actually growing your business.

I’ve spent time digging deep into SimplyBook.me’s platform because it claims to solve these headaches by offering a fully-managed online booking experience, with customization, payment processing, and automation that go way beyond basic scheduling.

In this review, I’ll show you how SimplyBook.me helps you fill your schedule and save time through real-world features, insights, and use cases from my testing.

You’ll find out in this SimplyBook.me review exactly how the tool stacks up—core features, pricing, setup, and how it compares to top alternatives.

You’ll get the features you need to make your decision quickly and confidently, without wasting more time testing the wrong software.

Let’s dive into the details.

SimplyBook.me Overview

SimplyBook.me has been dedicated to online scheduling since 2011. Based in Iceland, their mission was to simplify how service providers of all sizes connect with their customers online.

What I find most interesting is their broad yet deep market appeal. They’ve built an incredibly powerful and flexible system for nearly any service-based business, from individual consultants and beauty salons to large educational institutions.

Throughout my SimplyBook.me review process, I noted their constant innovation. Their library now includes over 70 custom features, a clear signal they prioritize adapting to your unique business workflows.

Unlike simpler tools like Calendly that just handle meeting invites, this platform is a full business management suite. Their most compelling advantage is the ability to tailor core functionality with a unique, plugin-style system designed for your exact needs.

They work with a truly diverse global customer base. You’ll find them supporting solo photographers and consultants, multi-location health clinics, major universities, and even government bodies requiring secure appointment management.

To me, their strategy feels laser-focused on providing a complete, customizable operational hub for service businesses. This approach gives your business a solution that truly adapts and scales with you, rather than a generic tool you’ll eventually outgrow.

Let’s dive into their core features.

SimplyBook.me Features

Is your appointment scheduling a constant headache?

SimplyBook.me features provide a comprehensive online booking system, designed to streamline your appointment process and manage your business efficiently. Here are the five main SimplyBook.me features that simplify operations for service-based businesses.

1. Online Booking Website & Widgets

Struggling with manual bookings and phone calls?

Endless back-and-forth communication for appointments can drain your time. This often leads to missed opportunities and client frustration.

SimplyBook.me allows you to create a professional booking website or integrate widgets directly, letting clients book 24/7. From my testing, the drag-and-drop interface for designing pages makes it incredibly easy to set up. This feature ensures your business is always open for bookings, even when you’re not.

This means you can free up valuable administrative time and ensure your clients can book appointments at their convenience.

2. Automated Notifications

Tired of no-shows and constant follow-ups?

Clients forgetting appointments or staff missing updates leads to wasted time and lost revenue. Manual reminders are a constant chore.

This feature automates sending reminders and updates via WhatsApp, SMS, and email to both clients and staff. What I found impressive is how SimplyBook.me significantly reduces no-shows and miscommunications. It ensures everyone is on the same page without you lifting a finger.

So you can drastically cut down on administrative effort and improve client attendance without manual intervention.

3. Payment Processing

Is collecting payments or deposits a hassle?

Managing payments manually can be slow and insecure, potentially leading to lost revenue or scheduling uncertainty. This is a common pain point for service providers.

SimplyBook.me enables direct online payments through various gateways like Stripe and PayPal. This is where SimplyBook.me shines, as it also supports QR code, mobile, and tap-and-pay options for flexibility. This feature secures bookings and streamlines your financial transactions.

This means you can ensure upfront payments, reduce booking cancellations, and simplify your revenue collection process.

4. Custom Features (Plugins)

Does your booking system lack unique business needs?

Generic booking solutions often fall short, failing to adapt to the specific requirements of your services. This forces workarounds or limits your offerings.

SimplyBook.me offers over 70 “Custom Features” or plugins, allowing you to tailor the platform with things like intake forms and service add-ons. Here’s the thing – this flexibility helps you address unique challenges and differentiate your service. It ensures the system truly fits your operational workflow.

This means you can perfectly align the booking experience with your business model, enhancing efficiency and client satisfaction.

5. Staff and Multi-Location Management

Struggling to manage staff schedules and multiple branches?

Coordinating employee availability across different locations can be complex and time-consuming. This often leads to scheduling conflicts and operational inefficiencies.

This feature lets you manage staff schedules, working hours, and even set different access levels for employees. It also supports seamless management for multiple locations, a crucial SimplyBook.me feature for scaling businesses. This helps maintain order regardless of your business size.

So you can optimize resource allocation, ensure smooth operations, and provide consistent service across all your business points.

These SimplyBook.me features work together to create a comprehensive and adaptable booking ecosystem that streamlines your entire service delivery.

SimplyBook.me Pricing

Unsure what SimplyBook.me costs?

SimplyBook.me pricing offers a clear tiered structure, including a generous free plan, making it easy to see what you get for your investment.

Plan	Price & Features
Free	$0/month • 1 user • Up to 50 bookings/month • 1 custom feature • Booking website & widget
Basic	Starting around $8.25/month (billed annually) • Higher booking limits • More custom features • Expanded functionalities • Email & chat support
Standard	Pricing varies by bookings/features • Increased custom features • Advanced reporting • Enhanced customization • Priority support
Premium	Around $82.50/month (billed annually, up to 60 users) • Highest booking limits • All custom features • Dedicated account management • Private server option (enterprise)

1. Value Assessment

Great pricing transparency here.

From my cost analysis, what impressed me is SimplyBook.me’s focus on booking volume over user count, which benefits growing service businesses. Their pricing scales with your actual usage, rather than penalizing you for having multiple staff members who might not all be busy simultaneously.

This means your monthly costs stay predictable as your business grows, aligning budget with your service delivery.

2. Trial/Demo Options

Smart evaluation approach available.

SimplyBook.me offers a 14-day free trial, giving you full access to most features, allowing you to thoroughly test its capabilities. What I found valuable is that your account downgrades to the free plan after the trial, so you avoid unexpected charges or hard cut-offs.

This lets you validate ROI and user adoption before spending money, reducing the risk of expensive software mistakes.

3. Plan Comparison

Choosing the right tier matters.

The Free plan works for very small businesses, but most will find the Basic or Standard tiers offer better value with increased booking limits and more custom features. What stands out is how the Premium tier includes extensive features like advanced reporting and dedicated management for high-volume operations.

This tiered approach helps you match pricing to actual usage requirements rather than overpaying for unused capabilities.

My Take: SimplyBook.me’s pricing strategy focuses on transparent, scalable solutions that align well with the growth trajectory of service-based businesses, from solo practitioners to multi-location enterprises.

The overall SimplyBook.me pricing reflects transparent value without hidden surprises.

SimplyBook.me Reviews

What do real customers actually think?

I’ve analyzed numerous SimplyBook.me reviews to provide a balanced overview of what actual users experience, focusing on their feedback patterns and overall sentiment.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Users genuinely appreciate its comprehensive nature.

From my review analysis, SimplyBook.me boasts strong satisfaction, averaging 4.6-4.7 stars across G2 and Capterra. What I found in user feedback is how its robust features lead to high ratings, suggesting a reliable booking solution for most businesses.

This indicates you can expect a generally positive and effective experience with the platform.

2. Common Praise Points

Users consistently love the customization.

Review-wise, users frequently praise the platform’s extensive customizability for designing booking pages and its drag-and-drop interface. What stands out is how time savings from automated features are highly valued, reducing administrative burdens for businesses significantly.

This means you can expect to brand your booking experience and reclaim valuable time.

3. Frequent Complaints

A learning curve is often mentioned.

Customers sometimes note a learning curve with SimplyBook.me due to its many features and manual configuration needs. What stands out in user feedback is how booking limits on plans can be a constraint, particularly for rapidly growing businesses or those with high volumes.

These seem like surmountable challenges, not deal-breakers, for most potential users.

The overall SimplyBook.me reviews indicate strong satisfaction despite minor configuration challenges for new users.

Best SimplyBook.me Alternatives

Navigating the best scheduling software for you?

The best SimplyBook.me alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different business situations, budget considerations, and specific operational requirements.

1. Calendly

Looking for meeting scheduling simplicity?

Calendly excels when your priority is straightforward meeting coordination for individuals or small teams, focusing on ease of use and quick setup. What I found comparing options is that Calendly provides streamlined meeting booking without the broader business management features of SimplyBook.me, which might be overkill for simple needs.

Choose Calendly if your main goal is easy meeting scheduling, not a full-fledged service booking system.

2. Acuity Scheduling

Prioritizing user-friendly setup for small business?

Acuity Scheduling is often favored by small businesses and freelancers for its intuitive interface and strong integration capabilities, especially if you’re already using Squarespace. From my competitive analysis, Acuity offers a simpler, more approachable solution for getting started quickly compared to SimplyBook.me’s broader customization options.

Consider this alternative when ease of use and quick integration are paramount for your small business needs.

3. Setmore

Need a free plan or basic, affordable booking?

Setmore provides a generous free plan and a very simple, cost-effective solution for freelancers and small teams with basic scheduling requirements. What I found comparing options is that Setmore offers core scheduling without complexity, making it a highly accessible alternative to SimplyBook.me’s more extensive, feature-rich platform.

Choose Setmore if your budget is tight and your business only needs fundamental appointment scheduling.

4. Square Appointments

Already part of the Square ecosystem?

Square Appointments is ideal if your business already uses Square’s POS system, offering seamless integration for payments and client management within that ecosystem. From my analysis, Square Appointments integrates payments effortlessly for existing Square users, providing a unified solution that SimplyBook.me doesn’t match for native Square users.

Consider this alternative if you’re an existing Square user looking for a tightly integrated booking and payment solution.

The best SimplyBook.me alternatives depend on your specific business needs and existing operational ecosystem, not just features.

SimplyBook.me Setup

Concerned about complicated software setup and training?

This SimplyBook.me review will analyze the deployment process, from initial setup to long-term adoption, helping you set realistic expectations for implementation.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

Getting started is generally straightforward.

SimplyBook.me setup involves a five-step process for core functionality, which is mostly self-explanatory. From my implementation analysis, the learning curve appears for advanced features, requiring more time for manual configuration and understanding.

You’ll need to allocate time for exploring custom features and fine-tuning settings beyond the basic setup.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Minimal technical hurdles for core features.

Your requirements include basic internet access and a web browser, with the platform being mobile-friendly for both booking and management. What I found about deployment is that data security and hosting options are robust, including GDPR compliance and private server options for larger businesses.

Plan for secure data management, especially if handling sensitive information, and consider dedicated servers for enhanced control.

3. Training & Change Management

User adoption is key for maximizing value.

Staff training will focus on the booking system’s interface and features, with a slight learning curve noted for advanced functionalities. From my analysis, proper training overcomes initial feature complexity, ensuring your team fully leverages its capabilities for efficiency.

Invest in hands-on training for your team to familiarize them with advanced features and optimize daily operations.

4. Support & Success Factors

Vendor support can smooth the path.

SimplyBook.me offers excellent live chat support with rapid response times and email support within 24 hours to guide your team through implementation. From my analysis, their professional support team is a critical asset for troubleshooting and maximizing feature utilization during your rollout.

You should leverage their responsive support, especially for configuring custom features or integrating with existing workflows.

The overall SimplyBook.me setup is intuitive for basic use, but successful implementation requires exploring advanced features to unlock its full potential.

Bottom Line

Is SimplyBook.me the right fit for your business?

This SimplyBook.me review shows a powerful booking system, but the best fit depends on your business size, customization needs, and booking volume.

1. Who This Works Best For

Service businesses needing comprehensive scheduling.

SimplyBook.me excels for small to medium-sized service businesses like salons, clinics, and tutoring centers requiring extensive customization and integrated business tools. What I found about target users is that businesses with multiple providers or locations will find its scalability particularly valuable for managing high demands efficiently.

You’ll succeed if you need more than basic scheduling and prioritize a branded online booking experience for your clients.

2. Overall Strengths

Unmatched customization and robust payment options.

The software succeeds by offering extensive customization for your booking site, integrated client management, and diverse payment processing capabilities. From my comprehensive analysis, its ability to handle numerous staff and locations from a single platform significantly streamlines operations for growing businesses.

These strengths mean you can tailor the booking experience precisely to your brand and effectively manage your entire service operation.

3. Key Limitations

Booking limits impact rapidly scaling businesses.

While feature-rich, SimplyBook.me caps the number of bookings on all paid plans, which can become a concern for rapidly expanding businesses. Based on this review, some users also experience a slight learning curve due to the platform’s depth and manual configuration requirements for certain functionalities.

I find these limitations manageable for most, but you’ll need to monitor your booking volume to ensure the plan fits your growth trajectory.

4. Final Recommendation

SimplyBook.me is a strong recommendation.

You should choose this software if your service business needs a highly customizable, all-in-one solution for appointment management, client relations, and marketing. From my analysis, this platform delivers comprehensive value for its price especially for businesses prioritizing online presence and efficient operations over strictly budget-constrained options.

My confidence level is high for businesses seeking robust features and willing to navigate an initial learning curve for long-term benefits.

This SimplyBook.me review confirms it delivers strong value for growing service businesses, offering a comprehensive, customizable solution for your booking and management needs.