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Beauty · head to head

Genbook vs SimpleSalon

Genbook logo

Genbook

Beauty

Online booking and business growth for salons

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SimpleSalon logo

SimpleSalon

Beauty

Powerful yet simple salon software

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Genbook limited documentation and onboarding tutorials for new users; SimpleSalon the $20 Starter plan includes no SMS credits and charges 14 cents per SMS
  • They diverge on capability: Genbook covers Review collection, SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Genbook and SimpleSalon actually diverge.

Attributes where Genbook and SimpleSalon differ
AttributeGenbookSimpleSalon
Starting price$29/month$20/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20062010

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Beauty).

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 Genbook

  • Review collection
  • Client management
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing campaigns
  • Reputation management
  • Calendar sync
  • Google
  • Facebook

Only in SimpleSalon

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Client database
  • Point of sale
  • Stock management
  • Marketing automation
  • Reporting
  • Xero
  • MYOB

Both cover

  • Online booking
  • Mobile apps
  • Stripe
  • PCI DSS
  • SSL encryption
  • Cloud deployment
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • English language support

What people use each for

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

Genbook

  • Getting more clientsnot SimpleSalon
  • Managing reviewsnot SimpleSalon
  • Online bookingnot SimpleSalon
  • Building reputationnot SimpleSalon

SimpleSalon

  • Appointment booking and rostering for hair and beauty salonsnot Genbook
  • Salon point of sale, stock and client historynot Genbook
  • SMS appointment reminders and marketing to salon clientsnot Genbook

Where each one falls short

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

Genbook

  • Limited documentation and onboarding tutorials for new users
  • Customer support responsiveness can be slow or unreliable
  • Limited flexibility in rebooking timeframes and appointment management
  • Competitors offer additional features like HIPAA-compliant SOAP notes at lower prices

SimpleSalon

  • The $20 Starter plan includes no SMS credits and charges 14 cents per SMS
  • Pricing is charged per operator, capped at 7 operators, so a two person salon pays twice the listed rate
  • SMS remains chargeable on every plan once the included 200 credits per operator on Pro or 300 on Max are used, at 10 and 9 cents each
  • The free trial runs 14 days

Pricing, plan by plan

Genbook

$29/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Genbook review.

SimpleSalon

$20/month
  • Starter$20/month
    • 0 SMS included
    • Additional SMS: $0.14 each
    • No new client fees
  • Pro$34/month
    • Most Popular option
    • 200 SMS per operator included
    • Additional SMS: $0.10 each
  • Max$41/month
    • 300 SMS per operator included
    • Additional SMS: $0.09 each
    • WhatsApp access included

Which should you pick?

Choose Genbook if

  • You need review collection.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want client management.
Genbook review

Choose SimpleSalon if

  • You need appointment scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want client database.
SimpleSalon review

Questions people ask

Is Genbook or SimpleSalon better?
Neither clearly leads. Genbook starts at $29/month and SimpleSalon at $20/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Genbook or SimpleSalon?
Genbook starts at $29/month and SimpleSalon at $20/month.
Does Genbook or SimpleSalon run on more platforms?
Genbook runs on Web, Mobile. SimpleSalon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Genbook best used for?
Genbook is most often used for getting more clients, managing reviews, online booking, building reputation. Of those, getting more clients and managing reviews are not what SimpleSalon is typically brought in for.
What can Genbook do that SimpleSalon cannot?
Genbook covers Review collection, Client management, Payment processing, Marketing campaigns. SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling, Client database, Point of sale, Stock management. Both handle Online booking, Mobile apps, Stripe, PCI DSS.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Genbook: What does Genbook cost?

Genbook starts at $29 per month with different tiers available for businesses with varying needs.

Source
SimpleSalon: How much does Simple Salon cost?

Simple Salon offers three plans starting at $20/month for Starter, $34/month for Pro (most popular), and $41/month for Max. Yearly billing saves 2 months' cost. Pricing scales with operator count but caps at 7+ operator rates.

Source
Genbook: What support options are available?

Genbook offers email/help desk, FAQ/forum, knowledge base, phone support, 24/7 live representative, and chat support.

Source
SimpleSalon: Is there a Simple Salon free trial?

Yes. Simple Salon offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

Source
SimpleSalon: What is included in SMS credits?

SMS allowances are pooled account-wide, not locked to individual operators, and can be used for appointment reminders and marketing messages. The Starter plan includes 0 SMS, Pro includes 200 per operator, and Max includes 300 per operator.

Source
SimpleSalon: Are there contracts or setup fees for Simple Salon?

No. Simple Salon has no contracts, no fixed-term requirements, and no sign-up fees.

Source
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