Doodle
Doodle is a professional scheduling platform that simplifies the process of finding the best time to meet with groups, clients, or colleagues through automated polling and calendar synchronization.
SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is a versatile online appointment scheduling software providing service-based businesses with a professional booking website, automated notifications, and integrated payment processing to streamline client management and operations.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Doodle | SimplyBook.me |
|---|---|---|
| Website | doodle.com | simplybook.me |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2007 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland | Limassol, Cyprus |
Overview
Doodle
Doodle is a scheduling tool designed to eliminate the back-and-forth of finding meeting times. You can create group polls where participants vote on their availability, allowing you to identify the best slot for everyone in seconds. It integrates directly with your existing calendars to ensure you never double-book and provides a centralized hub for managing all your appointments.
You can also set up personalized booking pages that let others book time with you based on your real-time availability. Whether you are organizing a board meeting, a team sync, or a one-on-one client consultation, the platform automates the administrative heavy lifting. It scales from individual users to large enterprises, offering a free version for basic polling and tiered paid plans for advanced branding and automation.
SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me provides you with a complete booking solution designed specifically for service-based businesses. You can create a professional, custom-branded booking website where clients can view your availability and schedule appointments 24/7. It eliminates the back-and-forth of manual scheduling by syncing with your personal calendars and sending automated reminders via email or SMS to reduce no-shows.
You can manage everything from simple one-on-one consultations to complex class schedules and memberships. The platform also handles your financial transactions by allowing you to accept deposits or full payments online through various processors. Whether you are a solo practitioner or manage a large team across multiple locations, you can scale the system with custom features like coupons, gift cards, and intake forms.
Overview
Doodle Features
- Group Polls Invite participants to vote on multiple time slots so you can find the best meeting time for everyone quickly.
- Booking Pages Set your availability and share a personal link so clients and colleagues can book meetings with you instantly.
- Calendar Integration Connect your Google, Outlook, or Apple calendars to see your full schedule and prevent any double-bookings automatically.
- Automatic Reminders Send automated nudges to participants who haven't voted yet and reminders to guests before the meeting starts.
- 1:1 Meetings Propose specific times for a private meeting and let your guest pick the one that works best for them.
- Video Conferencing Sync Link your Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet accounts to automatically generate meeting links for every booking.
SimplyBook.me Features
- Custom Booking Website. Create a professional standalone booking page or embed a widget directly into your existing website for seamless scheduling.
- Automated Notifications. Reduce costly no-shows by sending automated appointment confirmations and reminders to your clients via SMS and email.
- Online Payments. Secure your revenue by accepting deposits or full upfront payments through integrated processors like PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
- Client App. Offer your customers a dedicated mobile app so they can book, cancel, and manage their appointments directly from their phones.
- Intake Forms. Collect important client information or medical history during the booking process so you are fully prepared for every session.
- Membership Management. Sell recurring memberships and packages to your loyal clients to ensure steady cash flow and repeat business.
- Marketing Tools. Boost your sales by creating custom coupons, gift cards, and 'book soon' reminders to keep your calendar full.
- Admin App. Manage your entire business on the go with a dedicated admin app that lets you view and edit schedules.
Pricing Comparison
Doodle Pricing
- Unlimited group polls
- One active Booking Page
- One active 1:1 meeting
- Calendar integration
- Basic poll features
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited Booking Pages
- Unlimited 1:1 meetings
- Custom branding and logo
- No advertisements
- Zapier integration
SimplyBook.me Pricing
- 50 bookings per month
- 1 custom feature
- 5 providers
- Booking website
- Booking widget
- Directory listing
- Everything in Free, plus:
- 100 bookings per month
- 3 custom features
- 15 providers
- Client app
- Sales POS
- Coupons and gift cards
Pros & Cons
Doodle
Pros
- Extremely easy for participants to use without an account
- Visual layout makes finding common availability very intuitive
- Reliable synchronization with Google and Outlook calendars
- Saves significant time on group coordination tasks
Cons
- Free version contains heavy third-party advertising
- Mobile app interface can feel slightly cluttered
- Limited customization options on the basic tiers
SimplyBook.me
Pros
- Extremely flexible system with modular custom features
- Professional looking booking pages that build trust
- Excellent customer support via live chat
- Affordable entry-level pricing for small businesses
- Robust mobile apps for both admins and clients
Cons
- Setup interface can feel overwhelming initially
- Custom feature limits on lower tiers are restrictive
- SMS credits require an additional purchase