✓ Key takeaways
- Booksy: ~$29.99/mo + ~$20/staff, no free tier — you pay for consumer app marketing.
- SimplyBook.me: free limited plan + paid from ~$9.90/mo — industry-agnostic, highly customizable.
- Booksy ROI = one extra appointment/month from app rebooking can cover the subscription.
- SimplyBook wins when you're fully booked from walk-ins/Instagram and hate fixed SaaS bills.
Booksy
Starting price
~$29.99/mo
~$29.99/mo for the first user, plus ~$20/mo per additional staff member.
SimplyBook.me
Starting price
~$9.90/mo
Free limited plan available — verify on simplybook.me
Capterra ratings are third-party reviews and may change over time.
Feature comparison
Categorized like Capterra — ✓ supported · ~ partial · — not listed / limited
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment scheduling | ||
| Online booking page | ✓ | ✓ |
| Per-staff calendars | ✓ | ✓ |
| Variable service durations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Buffer time between appointments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Walk-in + online mix | ✓ | ~ |
| Automated SMS/email reminders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client management | ||
| Client profiles & history | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Card on file | ✓ | ~ |
| Deposits / no-show fees | ✓ | ~ |
| Loyalty / packages | ✓ | ~ |
| Payments & POS | ||
| Integrated payment processing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Point of sale (retail) | ~ | ~ |
| Commission / tip tracking | ✓ | ~ |
| Invoicing | ~ | ~ |
| Marketing & growth | ||
| Consumer marketplace / discovery | ✓ | — |
| Promotions & blast marketing | ✓ | — |
| Social / Google booking integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Push notification rebooking | ✓ | — |
| Staff & operations | ||
| Multi-location support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Staff permissions / roles | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inventory management | ~ | — |
| Mobile app for staff | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ||
| Sales & revenue reports | ✓ | ~ |
| Staff performance reports | ✓ | ~ |
Feature ratings last verified June 11, 2026. Levels reflect published vendor capabilities — confirm on official sites before buying.
What the dashboards look like
Side-by-side booking dashboards so you can compare layout and workflow at a glance.
Booksy
SimplyBook.me
Pricing as of June 2026 — verify on booksy.com/pro and simplybook.me.
Booksy vs SimplyBook.me is salon-native marketing vs budget-generic booking. Booksy charges more because it fights for your calendar. SimplyBook charges less because it assumes you’ll bring the clients.
Summary comparison
| Booksy | SimplyBook.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | ~$29.99/mo, no free tier | Free limited plan; paid ~$9.90/mo+ |
| 3-staff estimate | ~$69.99/mo | ~$20–40/mo on paid tier (verify) |
| Client app / marketplace | ✓ Strong in beauty | Basic booking, no marketplace |
| Customization | Booksy-branded flows | High on paid plans |
| Best fit | Empty slots, barber culture | DIY marketing, tight budget |
Pricing: when Booksy fee pays for itself
Booksy
- ~$29.99/mo first user + ~$20/mo per additional staff (many US markets)
- Optional Booksy Boost for extra visibility
- No free tier — subscription from day one
Break-even math: If Booksy reminders or app rebooking fill one extra $40–80 service per month, subscription is net positive.
SimplyBook.me
- Free limited plan (booking caps — verify current limits)
- Paid tiers from ~$9.90/mo with more staff, features, and customization
- Add-ons for SMS, payments, widgets — read pricing carefully
Cost example: solo stylist vs 3-person nail salon
| Scenario | Booksy | SimplyBook.me |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | ~$29.99/mo | $0–10/mo |
| 3 staff | ~$69.99/mo | ~$20–40/mo (paid) |
| Marketing app | Included culture | DIY |
Booksy: full breakdown
Booksy for salons
★ 4.4/5 on Capterra
Strengths
- + Strong mobile app for clients
- + Marketing and no-show tools
- + Popular with barbers
Limitations
- − Monthly subscription required
- − Can feel US-centric in some regions
Best for
Booksy is built for beauty professionals competing on convenience — clients book, get reminded, and rebook from their phone.
When Booksy wins:
- Empty slots weekly — marketing ROI matters
- Barber / hair salon markets where clients already have the app
- You value push rebooking over saving $20/mo on software
When Booksy struggles:
- Fully booked from location and reputation — subscription is pure cost
- Tight budget — SimplyBook or Setmore preserve margin
- You need deep booking page branding beyond Booksy templates
SimplyBook.me: full breakdown
SimplyBook.me for salons
Strengths
- + Affordable paid tiers
- + Highly customizable
- + Works across many industries
Limitations
- − UI less polished than Fresha/Booksy
- − Some features on higher tiers
Best for
SimplyBook is a flexible booking engine — salons are one vertical among many.
When SimplyBook wins:
- Budget-first — free or ~$10/mo beats ~$30/mo Booksy
- Custom booking page design matters for your brand
- Multi-staff on affordable paid tier
- Clients come via Instagram, Google, walk-ins — not app discovery
When SimplyBook struggles:
- You need Booksy-level client app engagement
- Competitors win because they’re on Booksy and you’re not
- You want salon marketplace exposure (consider Fresha instead)
Who should choose Booksy vs SimplyBook
Choose Booksy if:
- Marketing and client retention drive revenue
- Barber / urban hair culture — app rebooking is normal
- One extra monthly appointment covers the subscription
Choose SimplyBook.me if:
- You’re budget-first and fully booked from your own channels
- You need customizable booking pages under $15/mo
- You’re testing online booking before committing to Booksy pricing
Consider Fresha if:
- Multi-chair salon wanting ~$14.95/mo per staff — Fresha vs Booksy
The decision in 30 seconds
| Your situation | Pick |
|---|---|
| Empty slots, need app marketing | Booksy |
| Fully booked, minimize SaaS cost | SimplyBook.me |
| Barber shop, Instagram clientele | Booksy |
| EU budget salon, DIY marketing | SimplyBook.me |
Frequently asked questions
Is Booksy worth the monthly fee over SimplyBook.me?
Yes if empty slots hurt revenue and clients rebook via the Booksy app. No if you only need a professional booking link and acquire all clients yourself.
Which is cheaper for a 3-person salon?
SimplyBook paid tiers often land ~$20–40/mo vs Booksy ~$69.99/mo ($29.99 + 2×$20). Compare total cost including SMS and payment fees on both sites.
Does SimplyBook.me have a client app like Booksy?
SimplyBook offers client booking but lacks Booksy's consumer marketplace and app-centric marketing culture in beauty.
Which looks more professional to clients?
SimplyBook.me allows deeper page customization on paid plans. Booksy looks more 'app-native' — clients recognize the Booksy brand in beauty markets.
Can I switch from SimplyBook to Booksy later?
Yes — export clients, update Google/Instagram links, run parallel for one quiet week during migration.
