Practice Better vs SimplyBook.me
Practice Better and SimplyBook.me both simplify scheduling, but they serve very different masters. Practice Better is an all-in-one hub for health professionals, while SimplyBook.me is a highly customizable booking engine for any service industry. The choice depends on whether you need a client portal or a booking website.
Solid all-in-one for scaling practices.
We found Practice Better to be a robust, centralized platform that effectively streamlines admin, scheduling, and client engagement for health professionals. Overall, it's a strong choice for practitioners looking to grow their business through online programs, though the pricing and learning curve may require careful consideration.
Pros
- Unified client portal and mobile app for engagement
- Integrated scheduling reduces administrative back-and-forth
- Built-in tools for creating and selling online courses/programs
- Generally praised for responsive and helpful customer support
Cons
- Pricing can be a consideration, especially for those on a tight budget
- Some users report a learning curve for advanced features
- Potential limitations with specific third-party integrations
- May be complex for practices needing very niche scheduling solutions
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).
AboutPractice Better
Practice Better is an all-in-one software platform designed for health and wellness professionals. It's for coaches, practitioners, and therapists who want to streamline their business. The platform centralizes your client portal, scheduling, programs, and communication tools. 📈
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.
User Interface & Setup
Practice Better is built for health workflows. SimplyBook.me offers more customization but can feel overwhelming initially.
Practice Better centralizes scheduling, client notes, and programs into one clean interface designed for practitioners. SimplyBook.me provides a powerful booking website and admin panel, but the sheer number of options can make initial setup complex. Practice Better’s UI is streamlined for its specific audience. SimplyBook.me’s flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve. If you want a guided, health-specific setup, Practice Better is easier. For maximum control, SimplyBook.me wins but requires patience.
Client Engagement & Portal
Practice Better’s core strength is a unified client portal and mobile app for between-session support.
Practice Better gives clients a branded portal and mobile app to access resources, track progress, and stay accountable. SimplyBook.me offers a dedicated client app (on paid plans) primarily for viewing and managing bookings. Practice Better’s portal fosters deeper engagement and lifestyle change between appointments. SimplyBook.me’s app is more transactional. For health professionals wanting to extend care beyond the office, Practice Better’s portal is a game-changer.
Booking Channels & Reach
SimplyBook.me excels at getting your booking link everywhere clients already are.
Practice Better focuses on a professional client portal and embedded scheduling for its target users. SimplyBook.me provides a standalone booking site and deep integrations with Facebook, Instagram, Google, and your own website. SimplyBook.me makes it easier for new clients to discover and book you directly from social media. Practice Better’s reach is more contained. If social media booking is a key growth channel, SimplyBook.me has a clear advantage.
Monetization & Courses
Practice Better lets you build and sell online courses. SimplyBook.me focuses on selling add-ons during checkout.
Practice Better has built-in tools to create, host, and sell fixed-date or evergreen online programs and courses. SimplyBook.me allows you to sell products, gift cards, and memberships alongside bookings but lacks course creation. Practice Better enables a new revenue stream through digital education. SimplyBook.me focuses on increasing transaction value. For scaling beyond 1:1 services via digital products, Practice Better is uniquely powerful.
Payment & POS Flexibility
SimplyBook.me offers more payment gateways and an integrated Point-of-Sale system.
Practice Better integrates with payment processors to handle transactions for sessions and programs. SimplyBook.me supports PayPal, Stripe, Apple/Google Pay, and has a built-in POS for onsite cash/card sales. SimplyBook.me provides more options for in-person and online payments, which is crucial for many service businesses. If you need robust on-site payment handling or specific gateways, SimplyBook.me is more flexible.
Security & Compliance
Practice Better includes HIPAA compliance across all paid plans. SimplyBook.me offers it only on Premium.
Practice Better is HIPAA, PIPEDA, and GDPR compliant on all paid plans, simplifying compliance for health users. SimplyBook.me is ISO27001 certified and hosts data in the EU, with HIPAA features limited to its highest-tier Premium plan. Practice Better makes compliance affordable and accessible. SimplyBook.me’s compliance features are gated behind a premium price. For health practices on a budget needing HIPAA, Practice Better is the more cost-effective choice.
Customer Support
Both have strong support, but SimplyBook.me highlights 21-hour live chat availability.
Practice Better’s support is praised as responsive and helpful, with migration specialists available. SimplyBook.me explicitly markets 21-hour live chat support during the work week, which users rave about in reviews. Both platforms receive excellent feedback. SimplyBook.me’s specified live chat hours are a notable advantage for real-time help. For immediate, live assistance during setup or issues, SimplyBook.me’s support structure is a key differentiator.
Customization & Scalability
SimplyBook.me’s “Custom Features” library allows deep tailoring for any business model.
Practice Better offers a scalable, all-in-one platform that grows with a health practice from solo to team. SimplyBook.me provides a vast library of add-on features you can toggle to customize workflows for any service industry. SimplyBook.me’s modular approach offers unparalleled flexibility. Practice Better’s path is more linear and focused. If your business needs are unique or span multiple service types, SimplyBook.me’s customization is superior.
Practice Better pricing: Practice Better offers a range of plans from a free starter tier to advanced team scales starting at $25/month. Pricing varies based on client volume and advanced features like automations and group programs, with a 20% discount on annual billing for most plans.
All paid plans include a free trial to help you get started comfortably. Choose a path that fits your current client load and grow as your practice expands with no long-term contracts required at any level.
Practice Better makes it easy to switch or cancel your subscription at any time as your needs change throughout your professional journey. Each plan supports practitioners at different stages from students to multi-provider clinics and established group practices worldwide.
SimplyBook.me costs $0 to $49.9 per month with four plans: Free at $0/month, Basic at $11.9/month, Standard at $24.9/month, and Premium at $49.9/month.
Here is a detailed look at what each subscription level offers you.
Free
Price: $0/month Websites Supported: Not explicitly stated Best For: Solopreneurs and tiny businesses just starting out. Refund Policy: Not explicitly stated Other Features:
- 50 included bookings per month
- One custom feature
- Booking Website and Widget
- Admin App
- 50 included bookings/month
- 1 Custom Feature
- 1 Provider
- Booking Website and Widget
- Admin App
- 100 included bookings/month
- 3 Custom Features
- 5 Providers
- Client App
- Payments, Deposits & Tips
- 500 included bookings/month
- 8 Custom Features
- 15 Providers
- Branded Client App
- Directory Listing
- 2000 included bookings/month
- Unlimited Custom Features
- 30 Providers
- Payments PRO
- HIPAA
Pricing Notes
- Practice Better’s pricing scales with client volume and features, with the Team plan starting at $25/month.
- SimplyBook.me’s pricing scales with monthly bookings and custom features, starting paid plans at $11.90/month (annual).
- Practice Better includes HIPAA compliance on all paid plans. SimplyBook.me requires the Premium plan ($49.90/month) for HIPAA.
- SimplyBook.me offers a robust free plan (50 bookings/month). Practice Better’s free Sprout plan is limited to 3 clients.
- Both offer annual billing discounts (20% for Practice Better, 17% for SimplyBook.me).
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
Users on Trustpilot consistently praise Practice Better for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive all-in-one features, noting how it simplifies scheduling, client communication, and program delivery. 👍 Customer support receives high marks for being responsive and helpful, especially during onboarding. However, some reviewers mention a learning curve for more complex features and express a desire for more affordable pricing, particularly for solo practitioners or those just starting out. The platform is valued for its reliability and client engagement tools, but integration limitations with certain third-party apps are occasionally cited as a drawback.
The platform is incredibly intuitive, and the client portal has transformed how I engage with clients between sessions. It feels professional and keeps everything in one place, saving me hours of admin time each week.
SimplyBook.me receives excellent feedback, with users consistently emphasizing the platform's adaptability and powerful feature set. Reviewers appreciate that the system scales effectively for businesses of all sizes, often allowing users to tailor the experience using numerous custom features.
Onboarding can initially feel overwhelming due to the sheer number of options, but users quickly find the interface intuitive and easy to navigate once familiarized. A major highlight is the exceptional customer support, particularly the responsive and knowledgeable live chat agents, who are consistently praised for their speed and effectiveness in resolving setup issues and providing detailed assistance.
At first, the sheer number of options felt a bit overwhelming. But once you get an overview, SimplyBook is surprisingly simple and powerful for my business needs. It just requires a little patience during setup.
Our Verdict
Here’s the bottom line: SimplyBook.me wins for most service businesses, but Practice Better is the clear champion for health and wellness professionals. Practice Better’s superpower is its unified client portal and mobile app. It’s built to keep clients engaged between sessions with resources, accountability tools, and online courses. This is a massive advantage for coaches and therapists. SimplyBook.me’s superpower is its incredible flexibility and reach. It lets you book from anywhere—your site, Facebook, Instagram, Google—and comes with a built-in POS system. It’s a booking engine that can adapt to almost any service business. The deciding factor is your industry and core need. If you’re in health/wellness and need to deepen client relationships, pick Practice Better. If you’re in any other service industry and need maximum booking flexibility, choose SimplyBook.me. Final verdict: For a salon, gym, or photography business, go with SimplyBook.me. For a therapy practice, nutrition coaching, or wellness clinic, Practice Better is purpose-built for your success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for small teams: Practice Better or SimplyBook.me?
It depends on your industry. For a small health practice, Practice Better’s Team plan is ideal. For a small service business like a salon, SimplyBook.me’s Standard plan offers more booking capacity and features for the price.
Does Practice Better have social media booking like SimplyBook.me?
No. Practice Better focuses on its integrated client portal. SimplyBook.me allows direct booking through Facebook, Instagram, and Google My Business, which is a key difference.
Is SimplyBook.me worth the extra cost over Practice Better?
They have different pricing models. SimplyBook.me’s paid plans start lower ($11.90/month) but charge for features. Practice Better’s plans are more inclusive but start higher. Value depends on whether you need booking volume or all-in-one practice tools.
Can I sell online courses with SimplyBook.me like with Practice Better?
No. Course creation is a core feature of Practice Better. SimplyBook.me focuses on appointment booking and selling products/memberships during checkout, but not full online courses.
Which platform offers better HIPAA compliance for a fair price?
Practice Better includes HIPAA compliance on all its paid plans. SimplyBook.me only includes HIPAA features on its Premium plan, which costs $49.90/month. For budget-conscious health practices, Practice Better is more accessible.
How does the customer support compare between Practice Better and SimplyBook.me?
Both are highly rated. Practice Better’s support is noted as responsive and helpful. SimplyBook.me explicitly offers 21-hour live chat support, which users praise for quick resolution of setup issues.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.