Calendly vs SimplyBook.me
Calendly and SimplyBook.me both eliminate the frustrating email back-and-forth for scheduling. Calendly is built for streamlined meetings and powerful sales team routing. SimplyBook.me is highly specialized for client-facing service industries and robust operations. It comes down to whether you prioritize internal sales efficiency or deep service business features.
Industry-leading, reliable scheduling automation.
We found Calendly remains the industry standard for automated scheduling due to its powerful core functionality and ease of use, connecting seamlessly with almost any calendar or tool. Overall, the platform is excellent for personal and small team scheduling, though advanced features and customer support require improvement to match the product's quality.
Pros
- Highly intuitive and easy scheduling process for users and clients.
- Eliminates significant time spent on ‘back and forth’ email coordination.
- Robust Free plan provides ample functionality for consistent bookings.
- Excellent integration with calendars, video conferencing, and payment systems.
Cons
- Customer support responsiveness is frequently criticized, particularly for non-paid users.
- Advanced team features (collective/round-robin) can be difficult or cumbersome to set up.
- Recent UI changes have negatively impacted established workflows for some long-term users.
- Some users report difficulty or lack of direct linking support for Apple Calendar (iCalendar).
Highly Customizable Solution with Stellar Support.
We find SimplyBook.me to be one of the most feature-rich booking systems available, offering deep customization through its unique 'Custom Feature' structure and strong compliance options like HIPAA. While the initial setup can be complex due to the extensive functionality, the highly praised 21-hour live support smooths the steep learning curve. Overall, this robust platform delivers excellent professionalization and value, fully justifying its segmented pricing model.
Pros
- Exceptional, responsive customer service available via 21-hour live chat.
- Highly flexible and customizable using numerous 'Custom Features.'
- Strong security compliance, including HIPAA and ISO27001.
- Supports integrated payment processing and point-of-sale (POS).
Cons
- Initial setup can feel overwhelming due to the vast array of options.
- Pricing per feature can feel restrictive or 'aggressively segmented' across plans.
- Some users need to use clunky workarounds for specific scheduling types (e.g., all-day service).
AboutCalendly
Calendly is touted as the leading online appointment scheduling tool. It currently serves over 20 million professionals globally.
This powerful software connects multiple calendars—up to six—to ensure you only offer available times. While it’s simple enough for single users, it also meets the needs of enterprise organizations. Organizations, including 86% of Fortune 500 companies, rely on Calendly for secure, streamlined scheduling.
AboutSimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is a highly robust online booking system designed specifically for all service-based industries. It helps you manage your staff, services, and locations all in one place.
You get a proprietary, mobile-optimized booking website right away. Alternatively, you can easily integrate the system with your existing site.
Importantly, the system is 27001 certified and hosted within the EU, giving you peace of mind about security and compliance. It’s an effective way to put your scheduling on autopilot.
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Team Scheduling
Calendly offers specialized round-robin features; SimplyBook.me focuses on staff provider assignments.
Calendly excels at pooling availability for sales and internal teams on its Teams plan. It uses robust round-robin features to distribute leads equitably among qualified representatives. SimplyBook.me manages staff as 'Providers' and handles multiple locations effectively. SimplyBook.me supports up to 30 providers on its Premium plan but lacks explicit round-robin logic. If you manage high-volume sales leads or need collective booking, Calendly is ideal. The core difference lies in automated lead distribution versus general staff scheduling.
Compliance & Security
SimplyBook.me supports HIPAA compliance; Calendly emphasizes corporate SSO and domain control.
Calendly focuses on enterprise-level needs like SSO/SAML, domain control, and audit log compliance. These features meet technical security demands for large corporations like Fortune 500 companies. SimplyBook.me offers specific HIPAA and SOAP compliance features required for medical services. SimplyBook.me’s data is also hosted within the EU and is ISO27001 certified for security standards. If you operate in the health or wellness sector, SimplyBook.me provides necessary regulatory tools. Calendly’s security prioritizes administrative control; SimplyBook.me prioritizes regulated data privacy.
Sales & Lead Routing
Calendly streamlines lead qualification; SimplyBook.me uses basic intake forms for client data.
Calendly’s Teams plan includes powerful features for instant lead qualification and routing. Routing forms screen prospects; high-value leads are instantly booked with the correct rep. SimplyBook.me uses intake forms to secure necessary client information before appointments. It connects to Google and Outlook calendars but lacks the funnel automation emphasis of Calendly. Sales organizations relying on immediate connectivity should leverage Calendly’s routing forms. Calendly is built for speed in the sales cycle; SimplyBook.me prioritizes comprehensive client data capture.
Payment & POS
SimplyBook.me offers a robust, integrated POS; Calendly only handles service payments.
Calendly integrates with Stripe and PayPal primarily for collecting simple service payments upfront. It ensures cash flow for booked appointments but stops short of retail functionality. SimplyBook.me provides a full integrated Point-of-Sale (POS) system for physical locations. SimplyBook.me lets you sell products, gift cards, and memberships during the booking process. If your revenue involves physical retail or added services, SimplyBook.me handles more complex transactions. Calendly manages the payment for the time; SimplyBook.me manages payment for the entire business transaction.
Customization
SimplyBook.me is highly customizable via ‘Custom Features’; Calendly offers structured event types.
SimplyBook.me is built around a modular structure using numerous specialized Custom Features. The Premium plan allows users to activate unlimited Custom Features to tailor the system deeply. Calendly offers high customization for availability rules, buffers, and event type templates. Its features are fixed based on your selected tier (Standard, Teams, Enterprise). For unique service needs, SimplyBook.me offers the flexibility to optimize operational flow. SimplyBook.me gives you mechanical control; Calendly gives you time management control.
Customer Support
SimplyBook.me's live chat is highly praised; Calendly offers 24/7 chat support for paid users.
Calendly offers 24/7 chat support starting at the Standard paid tier. Client reviews sometimes criticize responsiveness, especially outside of the dedicated Enterprise support. SimplyBook.me's support agents are consistently praised for being responsive and helpful. Live chat agents are available 21 hours a day during the working week for immediate issue resolution. Users report stellar assistance with complexity, smoothing the SimplyBook.me learning curve. SimplyBook.me delivers highly effective support; Calendly focuses on round-the-clock availability.
Our Verdict
Choosing between Calendly and SimplyBook.me depends entirely on your business structure and key needs. Calendly dominates for professional efficiency; SimplyBook.me for service-based operations. They approach pricing, scaling, and features from fundamentally different viewpoints. Calendly is the unchallenged leader for automating the scheduling of 1:1 meetings and team sales calls. Its lead qualification and routing forms instantly connect high-value prospects to the right available sales rep. The highly capable Free plan also makes Calendly ideal for individual consultants and micro-businesses. SimplyBook.me is built from the ground up for client-facing service providers and physical businesses. Its superpower is its massive library of Custom Features allowing extreme customization for narrow industry needs. SimplyBook.me also excels with integrated POS features and crucial HIPAA compliance. The deciding factor is sales funnel versus business operation depth. If you need automated sales distribution and easy corporate security features, Calendly is your pick. If you need robust POS functionality, service-specific feature modules, or HIPAA compliance, only SimplyBook.me will suffice. Pick Calendly if your focus is scheduling efficiency for internal teams or external sales calls. Choose SimplyBook.me if you run a physical business where you sell services, take payments, and need specialized modules or compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for lead generation: Calendly or SimplyBook.me?
Calendly is explicitly better for lead generation on its paid Teams plan. It offers built-in lead qualification and routing forms for instant booking. SimplyBook.me uses basic intake forms but lacks Calendly's dedicated sales funnel automation.
Does SimplyBook.me support HIPAA compliance?
Yes, SimplyBook.me offers HIPAA compliance as a feature on its Premium plan. Its data is also hosted in the EU and is ISO27001 certified. Calendly focuses on general corporate security standards like SSO/SAML, not industry-specific regulatory compliance.
How does Calendly's per-seat pricing compare to SimplyBook.me's per-booking pricing?
Calendly charges per team member (per seat) for its paid tiers. SimplyBook.me charges based on the monthly volume of bookings received. If you have many staff handling low volume, SimplyBook.me might be cheaper. If you have a few staff with high scheduling needs, Calendly might be more cost-effective.
Which tool is better for selling retail products and gift cards?
SimplyBook.me is significantly better as it provides an integrated Point-of-Sale (POS) system. It allows clients to purchase products, gift cards, and memberships during the booking process. Calendly only facilitates payment for the booking appointment itself.
Can I remove branding from SimplyBook.me and Calendly?
To remove branding (white label), you must be on the SimplyBook.me Premium plan. Calendly does not list branding removal as a feature on its Standard or Teams plans, reserving deep customization for Enterprise clients.
Why are SimplyBook.me’s customer satisfaction reviews so high?
SimplyBook.me users consistently praise the quality and responsiveness of its Live Chat support. Agents are available 21 hours a day during the working week. Reviewers report the assistance is fast and highly effective for solving configuration issues.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.