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Scheduling · head to head

SimplyBook.me vs Square Appointments

SimplyBook.me logo

SimplyBook.me

Scheduling

Online booking system for service businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Square Appointments logo

Square Appointments

Scheduling

Free scheduling for beauty businesses

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SimplyBook.me has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: SimplyBook.me pricing model includes many features locked behind custom add-ons; Square Appointments the free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
  • They diverge on capability: SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Square Appointments covers Online booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SimplyBook.me and Square Appointments actually diverge.

Attributes where SimplyBook.me and Square Appointments differ
AttributeSimplyBook.meSquare Appointments
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Scheduling), founded (2009).

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 SimplyBook.me

  • Booking website
  • Marketing tools
  • Custom branding
  • Outlook
  • Zoom
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Ios support

Only in Square Appointments

  • Online booking
  • Point of sale
  • Automated reminders
  • Instagram booking
  • Google booking
  • Mobile app
  • Square POS
  • Instagram

Both cover

  • Client management
  • Payment processing
  • Google Calendar
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

SimplyBook.me

  • Schedulingnot Square Appointments
  • Appointment bookingnot Square Appointments
  • Time trackingnot Square Appointments
  • Resource managementnot Square Appointments
  • Team coordinationnot Square Appointments

Square Appointments

  • Online appointment booking for salons, barbers and personal servicesnot SimplyBook.me
  • Taking card payments and deposits at the time of bookingnot SimplyBook.me
  • Managing staff calendars, waitlists and no-show policiesnot SimplyBook.me

Where each one falls short

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

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

Square Appointments

  • The free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
  • Cancellation policies, no-show fees and waitlists require the Plus plan
  • Resource management, service cost tracking and the future bookings report require the Premium plan
  • Custom processing rates are reserved for Square Pro, which is aimed at businesses processing over $250,000 a year
  • Card processing fees are charged on top of the plan fee on every tier including the free one

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Square Appointments

On request
  • Solo Professional Plan$null/transaction
    • Processing fees apply
    • For solo professionals taking payments and managing schedules
    • Top appointments features
  • Plus Plan$null/transaction
    • Processing fees apply
    • Free trial available
    • For growing teams needing more advanced tools
  • Premium Plan$null/transaction
    • Processing fees apply
    • Free trial available
    • For large salons with complex staff management
  • Square Pro$null/month
    • Custom pricing for businesses processing over $250,000 annually
    • Hardware discounts
    • Onboarding support

Which should you pick?

Choose SimplyBook.me if

  • You need booking website.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want marketing tools.
SimplyBook.me review

Choose Square Appointments if

  • You need online booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want point of sale.
Square Appointments review

Questions people ask

Is SimplyBook.me or Square Appointments better?
Neither clearly leads. SimplyBook.me starts at Free and Square Appointments at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SimplyBook.me or Square Appointments?
SimplyBook.me has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for SimplyBook.me and On request for Square Appointments.
Does SimplyBook.me or Square Appointments run on more platforms?
SimplyBook.me runs on Web, iOS, Android. Square Appointments runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use SimplyBook.me for free?
Yes. SimplyBook.me has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Square Appointments starts at On request.
What is SimplyBook.me best used for?
SimplyBook.me is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Square Appointments is typically brought in for.
What can SimplyBook.me do that Square Appointments cannot?
SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Marketing tools, Custom branding, Outlook. Square Appointments covers Online booking, Point of sale, Automated reminders, Instagram booking. Both handle Client management, Payment processing, Google Calendar, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Square Appointments: How much do Square Appointments plans cost?

Square Appointments pricing is based on processing fees rather than monthly subscription fees. Specific percentages are not listed online. The Solo Professional, Plus, and Premium plans all charge processing fees on transactions. For businesses processing over $250,000 annually, Square Pro offers custom pricing including hardware discounts, onboarding support, and account management.

Source
Square Appointments: Is there a free trial for Square Appointments?

Yes, the Plus and Premium plans offer free trials for an unspecified number of days. The Solo Professional plan does not appear to offer a trial period.

Source
Square Appointments: What features does the Premium plan add compared to Plus?

The Premium plan includes all Plus features plus Future Bookings Report for tracking upcoming appointments, Service Cost Tracking to monitor service profitability, and Resource Management for scheduling equipment and facilities across multiple staff members.

Source
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