SimplyBook.me is a general-purpose online booking system for all kinds of businesses, from salons to consultants and schools. Its plans are based not on the number of staff but on bookings per month and how many extra features you switch on. SmartBook is built for salons and studios: the price depends only on your team size, bookings are unlimited and every feature is included in every plan.
In short
- SimplyBook.me suits you if you have few bookings, need a flexible system for any industry or want a branded client app.
- SmartBook suits a salon or studio with a steady flow of clients: no booking limits to watch and no extra features to pick and pay for.
Monthly cost
| Team and bookings per month | SmartBook | SimplyBook.me |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person, up to 100 bookings | 6 € | €13.90 (Basic) |
| 3 people, up to 500 bookings | 6 € | €29.90 (Standard) |
| 5 people, up to 500 bookings | 6 € | €29.90 (Standard) |
| 10 people, up to 2000 bookings | 18 € | €59.90 (Premium) |
SimplyBook.me: monthly billing prices, about 17% less with annual billing. Basic covers up to 100 bookings and 5 staff, Standard up to 500 bookings and 15 staff, Premium up to 2000 bookings and 30 staff. There is also a free plan with up to 50 bookings a month for one person (from the SimplyBook.me pricing page, checked 26.09.2026). SmartBook: unlimited bookings; in the UK the plan for up to 5 staff costs £5 a month, up to 40% cheaper when you pay for six months or a year, see pricing.
Limits and extra fees
| SmartBook | SimplyBook.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Bookings per month | Unlimited | 50, 100, 500 or 2000 depending on the plan, extra booking packs above the limit |
| Extra features | All included in every plan | Switched on as "custom features": 1 on the free plan, 3 on Basic, 8 on Standard, unlimited on Premium |
| SMS and WhatsApp | Email free, WhatsApp via your own WhatsApp Business account, SMS charged separately | Email free, SMS and WhatsApp in packs of 100 messages for $8 |
| Free trial | 21 days, up to 10 staff, no card | 14 days, no card |
Features
| SmartBook | SimplyBook.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking page | ||
| Client app | No, clients book in the browser through your link | From Basic, branded from Standard |
| Point of sale and online payments | Deposits for online bookings | From Basic |
| Gift cards | In every plan | As a custom feature, not included in the trial |
| Client import | In every plan | As a custom feature |
Every SmartBook plan also includes the tools salons need: packages, loyalty points, staff payroll and commission, client segments and an RFM report, no-show tracking and multiple locations.
When SimplyBook.me is the better choice
- You have few bookings a month and the free plan is enough.
- You are not in beauty: consulting, training, rentals, events.
- You need your own branded client app, a till or accounting integrations.
When SmartBook is the better choice
- You run a salon or studio with steady bookings and don't want to watch a monthly limit.
- You want packages, loyalty points, gift cards and staff payroll straight away, without choosing paid features.
- You want a simple system you can set up in one evening.
How to switch from SimplyBook.me to SmartBook
- Sign up for SmartBook: 21 days of full access for free, no card needed.
- Export your client list from SimplyBook.me to a file.
- Upload the file to SmartBook: Clients section, import from CSV or Excel.
- Add your services, staff and working hours, then put your booking link on Instagram, Google and your website.
- Let your clients know the new booking link.