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SimplyBook.me is listed from $11.9 with a free plan, but its booking limits and workflows may not suit every business. One salon owner on Reddit seeking a replacement wanted staff booking tools, multiple services per appointment, fixed start times and service-to-staff assignment. Those needs point to different alternatives than a simple meeting link. Here are eight options, from Setmore’s free plan to multi-location platform MyTime, with the listed starting prices and the tradeoffs to check before switching.
01Why people leave SimplyBook.me
Staff need to manage bookings
A salon owner on Reddit was looking for a staff app to make, change and view bookings, plus an easier way to manage appointments.
Appointments need multiple services
The same owner wanted clients and admins to book more than one service at once, and to assign services to specific staff.
Booking times need tighter control
The owner also wanted fixed start times, such as allowing a service to start only on the hour or half past, and drag-and-drop scheduling.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Best free starting point
SetmoreSetmoreSetmore is listed from $5 with a free plan, and its fit includes solo businesses starting with free scheduling and small teams taking self-serve bookings. It may suit a business that wants to move away from SimplyBook.me without committing to a paid plan first. The listed use case also includes advance online payments.
Trade-off: Check paid-plan limits and reported payment concerns before moving.
7.1/10from
$5/mofree plan - Best for paid appointments
Acuity SchedulingAcuity SchedulingAcuity is listed from $16 and is positioned for solo businesses taking paid bookings, teams needing text reminders and businesses selling appointment packages. That makes it a relevant alternative if paid appointments or packages matter more than SimplyBook.me’s broader booking setup. Compare the plan costs against the features your staff actually need.
Trade-off: Recurring-package workflows and plan costs need scrutiny.
7.0/10from
$16/mo - Best for staff and rooms
MakePlansMakePlansMakePlans starts at $10 and is listed for businesses booking staff or rooms, recurring appointments, classes and events. It is worth comparing if your SimplyBook.me workflow depends on allocating people or spaces, rather than only sending individual booking links. The source also flags costs tied to resources and transactions, so check those against your booking volume.
Trade-off: Per-resource and transaction costs can add to the starting price.
6.8/10from
$10/mo - Best for booking teams
BookeoBookeoBookeo is listed from $14.95 and is aimed at small appointment teams managing staff and resources, as well as solo consultants. If your replacement needs to account for more than one person or resource, it is a closer fit than a basic scheduling link. Check its monthly booking caps before deciding whether it can handle your existing volume.
Trade-off: Monthly booking caps may constrain growth.
6.6/10from
$14.95/mo - Best for simple booking links
CalendlyCalendlyCalendly starts at $10 and has a free plan. Its listed strengths are simple booking links for individuals, shared scheduling and routing for teams, and collecting payments for meetings. It may fit if your SimplyBook.me setup is more complicated than your appointment flow requires, but its summary is less focused on service-business resources.
Trade-off: Scrutinize paid costs and add-on pricing.
7.0/10from
$10/mofree plan - Best for multiple booking pages
YouCanBook.meYouCanBook.meYouCanBook.me is listed from $8.1 with a free plan, and its stated fit includes small businesses booking client appointments, solo users needing multiple booking pages and teams coordinating shared schedules. It is worth comparing if you need separate booking pages or shared availability. Check the free-plan cap and Stripe fee before switching.
Trade-off: Check the free-plan cap and Stripe fee.
7.2/10from
$8.10/mofree plan - Best for multiple locations
MyTimeMyTimeMyTime starts at $149 and is listed for chains managing several locations, businesses combining POS and scheduling, and teams needing multi-location reporting. It may make more sense than SimplyBook.me if your business has several sites and needs scheduling alongside POS. The listed entry price is substantially higher than the other options here.
Trade-off: Costs rise per location and add-on.
6.4/10from
$149/mo - Best for team routing
Cal.comCal.comCal.com is listed from $12 with a free plan. Its stated fit covers free booking links for solo users, round-robin scheduling for teams and API-connected bookings for businesses. Consider it if routing or connecting bookings through APIs matters more than a service-business-specific setup. The listed price and open-source concerns deserve a closer look before committing.
Trade-off: Listed pricing is annual-only; weigh open-source concerns.
7.1/10from
$12/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SimplyBook.me SimplyBook.me (current) | 7.3 | $11.90/mo | Yes | Solo providers starting online booking |
| Setmore Setmore | 7.1 | $5/mo | Yes | Solo businesses starting with free scheduling |
| Acuity Scheduling Acuity Scheduling | 7.0 | $16/mo | No | Solo businesses taking paid bookings |
| MakePlans MakePlans | 6.8 | $10/mo | No | Businesses booking staff or rooms |
| Bookeo Bookeo | 6.6 | $14.95/mo | No | Solo consultants needing online bookings |
| Calendly Calendly | 7.0 | $10/mo | Yes | Individuals who need simple booking links |
| YouCanBook.me YouCanBook.me | 7.2 | $8.10/mo | Yes | Small businesses booking client appointments |
| MyTime MyTime | 6.4 | $149/mo | No | Chains managing several locations |
| Cal.com Cal.com | 7.1 | $12/mo | Yes | Solo users who want free booking links |
Questions people ask
Which SimplyBook.me alternative has the lowest listed starting price?
Setmore has the lowest listed starting price among these picks: $5, with a free plan. That does not establish which option will cost least for your business overall. Check the paid-plan limits and any relevant fees or add-ons against the features and booking volume you need.
Which alternative supports fixed appointment start times?
The published descriptions do not confirm fixed start-time controls for any of these alternatives. A salon owner on Reddit specifically wanted services to start at set intervals, such as on the hour or half past. Confirm that workflow directly in each product’s current feature details before moving bookings.
Which alternative is best for a salon or service business?
It depends on the workflow. Setmore is listed for small teams taking self-serve bookings and advance online payments; Acuity for paid bookings and appointment packages; and MakePlans for staff, rooms and recurring appointments. None of those summaries confirms every salon-specific need, including multi-service bookings or drag-and-drop scheduling.