Beauty · head to head
SimpleSalon vs When2meet
The short version
- Only When2meet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: SimpleSalon the $20 Starter plan includes no SMS credits and charges 14 cents per SMS; When2meet no calendar synchronization capability
- They diverge on capability: SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling, When2meet covers Visual availability grid.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SimpleSalon and When2meet actually diverge.
| Attribute | SimpleSalon | When2meet |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $20/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web |
| Category | Beauty | Scheduling |
| Founded | 2010 | 2003 |
Identical on both: 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 SimpleSalon
- Appointment scheduling
- Client database
- Point of sale
- Online booking
- Stock management
- Marketing automation
- Reporting
- Mobile apps
Only in When2meet
- Visual availability grid
- No account required
- Drag-to-select availability
- Group overview
- Shareable links
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
SimpleSalon
- Appointment booking and rostering for hair and beauty salonsnot When2meet
- Salon point of sale, stock and client historynot When2meet
- SMS appointment reminders and marketing to salon clientsnot When2meet
When2meet
- Schedulingnot SimpleSalon
- Appointment bookingnot SimpleSalon
- Time trackingnot SimpleSalon
- Resource managementnot SimpleSalon
- Team coordinationnot SimpleSalon
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
When2meet
- No calendar synchronization capability
- No automated reminders to participants
- No dedicated mobile app, web-only access
- No integration with calendar systems or other tools
- Requires manual entry of availability rather than auto-sync from calendar
Pricing, plan by plan
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
When2meet
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited events
- Visual availability
- No account needed
Which should you pick?
Choose SimpleSalon if
- You need appointment scheduling.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want client database.
Choose When2meet if
- You need visual availability grid.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want no account required.
Questions people ask
- Is SimpleSalon or When2meet better?
- Neither clearly leads. SimpleSalon starts at $20/month and When2meet at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, SimpleSalon or When2meet?
- When2meet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $20/month for SimpleSalon and Free for When2meet.
- Does SimpleSalon or When2meet run on more platforms?
- SimpleSalon runs on Web, Ios, Android. When2meet runs on Web.
- Can I use When2meet for free?
- Yes. When2meet has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SimpleSalon starts at $20/month.
- What is SimpleSalon best used for?
- SimpleSalon is most often used for appointment booking and rostering for hair and beauty salons, salon point of sale, stock and client history, sms appointment reminders and marketing to salon clients. Of those, appointment booking and rostering for hair and beauty salons and salon point of sale, stock and client history are not what When2meet is typically brought in for.
- What can SimpleSalon do that When2meet cannot?
- SimpleSalon covers Appointment scheduling, Client database, Point of sale, Online booking. When2meet covers Visual availability grid, No account required, Drag-to-select availability, Group overview. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceWhen2meet: Is When2meet free to use?
Yes, When2meet is completely free. Anyone can create and participate in availability surveys at no cost. The service is supported by advertising.
SourceSimpleSalon: Is there a Simple Salon free trial?
Yes. Simple Salon offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
SourceWhen2meet: Do I need to create an account to use When2meet?
No, When2meet requires no login or account creation. You can create scheduling polls and share them instantly.
SourceSimpleSalon: 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.
SourceWhen2meet: How does When2meet differ from Doodle or Calendly?
When2meet is a basic polling tool where participants manually mark availability. Unlike Doodle, it has no calendar sync or timezone handling. Unlike Calendly, it does not support direct booking or calendar integrations.
SourceSimpleSalon: Are there contracts or setup fees for Simple Salon?
No. Simple Salon has no contracts, no fixed-term requirements, and no sign-up fees.
SourceRelated pages
More on SimpleSalon
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- When2meet vs Kitomba
- When2meet vs Salon Ultimate
- When2meet vs Rosy Salon Software
- When2meet vs SalonRunner
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- When2meet vs Resurva
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- When2meet vs Salon Iris
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- When2meet vs Calendly
- When2meet vs Cal.com
- When2meet vs Setmore
- When2meet vs Acuity Scheduling
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- When2meet vs Picktime
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- When2meet vs Airbnb
- When2meet vs Bookedin
- When2meet vs Booker by Mindbody


