Softwr

Calendars · head to head

Google Calendar vs SimplyBook.me

Google Calendar logo

Google Calendar

Calendars

Smart scheduling for the modern workforce

From
Free
Rated
-
SimplyBook.me logo

SimplyBook.me

Scheduling

Online booking system for service businesses

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Calendar no AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization; SimplyBook.me pricing model includes many features locked behind custom add-ons
  • They diverge on capability: Google Calendar covers Event scheduling, SimplyBook.me covers Booking website.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Calendar and SimplyBook.me actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Calendar and SimplyBook.me differ
AttributeGoogle CalendarSimplyBook.me
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryCalendarsScheduling
Founded19982009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Google Calendar

  • Event scheduling
  • Multiple calendars
  • Reminders and notifications
  • Event sharing
  • Video conferencing integration
  • Gmail
  • Google Meet
  • Google Tasks

Only in SimplyBook.me

  • Booking website
  • Client management
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing tools
  • Custom branding
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Stripe

Both cover

  • Zoom
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Calendar

  • Scheduling
  • Appointment booking
  • Time tracking
  • Resource management
  • Team coordination

SimplyBook.me

  • Scheduling
  • Appointment booking
  • Time tracking
  • Resource management
  • Team coordination

Both are used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management, team coordination, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Calendar

  • No AI-driven scheduling assistance or automatic meeting time optimization
  • Lacks built-in appointment booking pages or payment integrations for scheduling
  • Limited mobile support for shared calendars and unreliable push notifications on phones
  • No native task management or project tracking features within the calendar interface
  • Limited offline functionality on the web (read-only mode only)
  • Strict usage limits (maximum 60 calendars, 750 shares per time period)

SimplyBook.me

  • Pricing model includes many features locked behind custom add-ons
  • No built-in video conferencing, requiring third-party integration
  • Limited CRM capabilities compared to dedicated sales platforms
  • Free plan capped at 5 bookings per month, limiting small business use

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Calendar

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Event scheduling
    • Sharing
    • Notifications
  • Google Workspace Business Starter$7/month
    • All personal features
    • Team collaboration
    • 30GB storage

SimplyBook.me

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 bookings/month
    • Booking website
    • Basic features
  • Basic$8.25/month
    • 100 bookings
    • Custom features
    • Payments
  • Standard$24.9/month
    • 500 bookings
    • All features
    • Multiple locations

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Calendar if

  • You need event scheduling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want multiple calendars.

Choose SimplyBook.me if

  • You need booking website.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want client management.

Questions people ask

Is Google Calendar or SimplyBook.me better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Calendar starts at Free and SimplyBook.me at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Calendar or SimplyBook.me?
Google Calendar starts at Free and SimplyBook.me at Free.
Does Google Calendar or SimplyBook.me run on more platforms?
Google Calendar runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. SimplyBook.me runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Google Calendar for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Calendar best used for?
Google Calendar is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management.
What can Google Calendar do that SimplyBook.me cannot?
Google Calendar covers Event scheduling, Multiple calendars, Reminders and notifications, Event sharing. SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Client management, Payment processing, Marketing tools. Both handle Zoom, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Calendar: Can I use Google Calendar offline?

Yes. On the web, Google Calendar works in read-only mode offline for cached events. On iOS and Android, the Google Calendar app automatically caches recent events and lets you create, edit, and respond to events offline. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet.

Source
SimplyBook.me: Does SimplyBook.me offer a free plan?

Yes, SimplyBook.me offers a free plan for small businesses, though advanced features and custom add-ons require paid plans.

Source
Google Calendar: Can I export my calendar data?

Yes. Google Calendar exports as ICS files through Settings > Import & export > Export. ICS files are readable by Outlook, Apple Calendar, Thunderbird, and most other calendar applications.

Source
Google Calendar: Does Google Calendar integrate with video conferencing?

Yes. Google Calendar integrates natively with Google Meet and Zoom. When you create an event, you can add a video conference link directly. Other platforms like Webex and GoTo Meeting can be integrated via Zapier or third-party automation.

Source
Google Calendar: Can I share my calendar with teams?

Yes. You can share individual calendars with specific people or make them publicly viewable. However, accessing shared calendars on mobile devices has limitations, and push notifications for shared calendars may not work reliably on phones.

Source
Google Calendar: Does Google Calendar work with Outlook?

No direct integration. You can manually import/export using ICS files or use third-party tools like Zapier to sync events. This is different from Outlook, which integrates seamlessly within Microsoft 365.

Source
Google Calendar: Is there a cost to use Google Calendar?

Google Calendar is free for personal use. Google Workspace plans (which include Calendar) start at $7 per user per month for business use.

Source
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads