SimplyBook.me vs Trafft
SimplyBook.me and Trafft are powerful online booking systems built for service industry growth. SimplyBook.me excels with feature customization and enterprise compliance like HIPAA. Trafft offers a simple, unified dashboard and an incredible forever-free plan for small teams.
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).
Feature-Rich Scheduling with World-Class Support
We find Trafft is a highly capable scheduling software that offers phenomenal feature depth, especially considering its value proposition compared to competitors. Overall, we recommend Trafft, particularly for businesses seeking extensive customization and responsive support, provided they can overlook some current mobile interface limitations.
Pros
- Phenomenal and responsive technical support team.
- Highly customizable appointment platform and branding tools.
- Comprehensive features included at a strong value/price point.
- Offers a robust, forever-free plan for small teams.
Cons
- Mobile calendar UI is inefficient and requires excessive scrolling.
- Setup for complex functions can be confusing and non-intuitive.
- Styling control for booking pages is perceived as limited.
- Some highly anticipated roadmap features have been slow to launch.
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.
AboutTrafft
Trafft is a robust, all-in-one platform built to simplify appointment management for service-based businesses globally. It is much more than a simple scheduling app, offering a comprehensive solution for organizing staff, handling customer relationships, and managing finances. The platform is trusted by over 15,500 global customers. It's designed to be intuitive, ensuring both you and your clients find it incredibly easy to use and require no special training. 💡
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Pricing Structure
SimplyBook.me limits bookings; Trafft limits users for unlimited appointments.
SimplyBook.me focuses pricing based on monthly booking volume and activated 'Custom Features.' If you need more than 2000 bookings, you must purchase expensive booking packages. This structured pricing means you pay exactly for the volume you use. Trafft bases pricing primarily on the number of users or staff members you need to support. All Trafft plans, including the Free plan, feature unlimited appointments, meaning no surprise usage fees. The trade-off is volume versus seating; Trafft is better for high-volume, small teams. SimplyBook.me suits larger teams with predictable volumes and needs. If your smaller team has massive booking traffic, Trafft offers much better structural value for money.
Free Plan Value
Trafft’s Free plan is superior, offering unlimited bookings for up to 5 users.
SimplyBook.me offers a Free plan limited to 50 bookings per month for a single provider. You can use only one Custom Feature, heavily restricting advanced functionality. Trafft provides a generous forever-free plan supporting up to 5 users and includes completely unlimited appointments. This is ideal for small, high-volume teams starting out. SimplyBook.me's Free plan serves as an excellent trial, but Trafft is a true long-term solution for solo or small businesses. Trafft offers significantly more practical utility before requiring a financial commitment.
Customization & Extensibility
SimplyBook.me uses a modular 'Custom Features' system for massive control.
SimplyBook.me's core strength is its vast library of Custom Features to fine-tune the system. The Premium plan unlocks unlimited features, enabling deep, granular platform tailoring. Trafft offers extensive customization for design, themes, and branding, ensuring a consistent user experience. Configuration is managed from one unified, feature-rich dashboard. SimplyBook.me requires you to select and manage individual modules, paying per module on lower plans. Trafft typically includes most features out-of-the-box per plan tier. SimplyBook.me wins easily on specific, granular flexibility allowing users to build a unique system. Trafft is more straightforward but less modular.
Compliance & Security
SimplyBook.me provides necessary HIPAA compliance and security certification.
SimplyBook.me offers HIPAA compliance features exclusively on its top-tier Premium plan. This makes SimplyBook.me highly suitable for medical or sensitive patient appointments. Data for SimplyBook.me is hosted securely within the EU, and the system is ISO27001 certified for security management. Trafft does not explicitly mention HIPAA or this deep level of regulatory security compliance in its documentation. If legal or regulatory compliance is mandatory for your industry, SimplyBook.me is the safer and more comprehensive choice. This security focus is vital for healthcare providers.
Dedicated Point-of-Sale (POS)
SimplyBook.me offers a native POS feature for handling in-person transactions.
SimplyBook.me includes an integrated Point-of-Sale (POS) system for seamless onsite cash or card payments. This ensures physical transactions integrate perfectly with your online booking records. Trafft focuses heavily on online payments through secure gateways like Stripe and PayPal. The data supplied does not indicate Trafft has a native POS system for physical sales. SimplyBook.me clearly supports businesses needing both robust online booking and seamless in-person sales capability. This streamlines business operations significantly.
Customer Support
SimplyBook.me specifically features exceptional near 24/7 Live Chat support.
SimplyBook.me offers exceptional and highly responsive customer service via 21-hour live chat agents. Users frequently praise the speed and quality of help resolving operational issues quickly. Trafft reviews mention responsive and helpful support and a smooth onboarding process. Enterprise plans include a dedicated account manager for complex setups. SimplyBook.me’s stated 21-hour availability offers stronger commitment to immediate operational uptime support. This is crucial for fixing sudden scheduling issues day or night. SimplyBook.me is slightly ahead due to the guaranteed near-24/7 access to knowledgeable staff.
Staff/Provider Capacity
Trafft scales to 50+ users; SimplyBook.me supports a maximum of 30 providers.
SimplyBook.me supports a maximum of 30 providers on its Premium plan, which scales well for large service teams. Trafft supports 50+ users on its Enterprise tier, accommodating much larger organizational structures. The Trafft beginner plans also start higher, supporting 5 users free of charge. If you manage an organization with more than 30 staff members requiring individual logins, Trafft can handle the capacity better. Trafft focuses heavily on user count as the primary scaling metric.
Reminders & SMS
Trafft bundles starter SMS credits; SimplyBook.me requires separate purchases.
SimplyBook.me sends automated reminders via Email, SMS, WhatsApp, and Telegram. However, all SMS credits must be purchased additionally in packages, such as 50 credits for $5. Trafft also utilizes email, SMS, and WhatsApp reminders to reduce no-shows effectively. Paid Trafft plans include a small allowance of 5-10 monthly SMS credits bundled into the subscription cost. Trafft wins on convenience by including starter SMS credits in the plan price. SimplyBook.me offers broader channel choices like Telegram.
Our Verdict
SimplyBook.me and Trafft are both excellent booking platforms, but they cater to very different needs. If you run a high-volume business on a tight budget, Trafft is the clear choice. For enterprise compliance, deep customization, or healthcare needs, SimplyBook.me takes the prize. Don't let their basic features fool you; the differences at scale are massive. SimplyBook.me’s superpower is its deep, modular flexibility through ‘Custom Features.’ If you need HIPAA compliance or specific regulatory features, SimplyBook.me delivers a robust, secure solution. It also offers a native Point-of-Sale (POS) system for handling in-person sales seamlessly. Its 21-hour live support is consistently praised for being responsive and knowledgeable. Trafft’s biggest win is its incredible accessibility for small teams. The forever-free plan supports five users and includes truly unlimited appointments, which SimplyBook.me cannot match. Trafft focuses on managing staff capacity rather than counting every client booking. It handles multi-location management easily from one intuitive, unified dashboard. The key decision relies on how you plan to scale your business. SimplyBook.me limits you by the number of bookings and features used monthly. Trafft limits you primarily by the number of users on your team. If your small team handles thousands of bookings, Trafft saves significant upgrade costs. Choose SimplyBook.me if you require strict security, white-labeling, or its superior POS integration. Go with Trafft if you are a growing team of five or less that needs unlimited scheduling volume for free. Both will professionalize your booking experience immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for high booking volume: SimplyBook.me or Trafft?
Trafft is better because it offers unlimited appointments even on the Free plan. SimplyBook.me caps plans at 2000 bookings monthly, requiring expensive add-on purchases. Trafft bases its fees on users, making high booking volume affordable.
Does Trafft have a feature comparable to SimplyBook.me’s HIPAA compliance?
No, Trafft does not explicitly mention HIPAA compliance in its features list. SimplyBook.me includes HIPAA features on its Premium plan for managing sensitive health data. This makes SimplyBook.me the clear choice for medical practices.
Is SimplyBook.me or Trafft better for a solo entrepreneur?
If you receive under 50 bookings, SimplyBook.me's Free plan works well enough. However, Trafft's Free plan is superior for solo users, allowing truly unlimited bookings for no cost. Trafft gives you much more room to grow appointment volume.
Are white-labeling options available in Trafft like they are in SimplyBook.me?
SimplyBook.me clearly offers White Label (page footer removal) on its Premium plan for cleaner branding. Trafft does not explicitly list branding removal or white-labeling as a feature. For clean branding, SimplyBook.me is better.
How do the fundamental pricing models differ between SimplyBook.me and Trafft?
SimplyBook.me prices primarily based on the number of monthly bookings and Custom Feature add-ons. Trafft prices focus primarily on the number of staff members or users included. Trafft is seat-focused; SimplyBook.me is usage-focused.
Which platform is better for physical retail sales: SimplyBook.me or Trafft?
SimplyBook.me is better as it includes an integrated Point-of-Sale (POS) system. This allows seamless handling of onsite cash and card payments alongside online bookings. Trafft focuses more heavily on secure online payments only.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.