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Scheduling · head to head

SimplyBook.me vs Vagaro

SimplyBook.me logo

SimplyBook.me

Scheduling

Online booking system for service businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vagaro logo

Vagaro

Scheduling

All-in-one salon, spa & fitness software

From
$25/month
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; Vagaro the $23.99 per month entry price covers one location and one bookable calendar, so every extra staff calendar adds cost
  • They diverge on capability: SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Vagaro covers Online appointment booking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SimplyBook.me and Vagaro actually diverge.

Attributes where SimplyBook.me and Vagaro differ
AttributeSimplyBook.meVagaro
Starting priceFree$25/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api

Identical on both: 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
  • Payment processing
  • Marketing tools
  • Custom branding
  • Outlook
  • Zoom
  • PayPal
  • Web support

Only in Vagaro

  • Online appointment booking
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory tracking
  • Marketing automation
  • Payroll management
  • Mobile app
  • Reporting & analytics
  • Quickbooks

Both cover

  • Client management
  • Google Calendar
  • Stripe

What people use each for

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

SimplyBook.me

  • Schedulingnot Vagaro
  • Appointment bookingnot Vagaro
  • Time trackingnot Vagaro
  • Resource managementnot Vagaro
  • Team coordinationnot Vagaro

Vagaro

  • Appointment booking and calendar management for salons, spas and fitness studiosnot SimplyBook.me
  • Selling services and retail products with integrated card paymentsnot SimplyBook.me
  • Marketing to clients by email and text and offering a branded booking appnot 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

Vagaro

  • The $23.99 per month entry price covers one location and one bookable calendar, so every extra staff calendar adds cost
  • The free trial excludes email marketing, text marketing and the branded app
  • Text and email marketing pricing is not published on the pricing page and requires contacting sales
  • Card processing is sold separately through Vagaro Merchant Services, with the free card reader tied to signing up for it

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

Vagaro

$25/month
  • Single User$25/month
    • Online booking
    • Client management
    • Calendar management
  • 2-3 Users$45/month
    • Everything in Single User
    • Multiple staff calendars
    • Staff permissions
  • 4-6 Users$75/month
    • Everything in 2-3 Users
    • Inventory management
    • Payroll reports
  • 7+ Users$85/month
    • Everything in 4-6 Users
    • Enterprise features
    • Priority 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 payment processing.
SimplyBook.me review

Choose Vagaro if

  • You need online appointment booking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want point of sale.
Vagaro review

Questions people ask

Is SimplyBook.me or Vagaro better?
Neither clearly leads. SimplyBook.me starts at Free and Vagaro at $25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SimplyBook.me or Vagaro?
SimplyBook.me has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for SimplyBook.me and $25/month for Vagaro.
Does SimplyBook.me or Vagaro run on more platforms?
SimplyBook.me runs on Web, iOS, Android. Vagaro runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use SimplyBook.me for free?
Yes. SimplyBook.me has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Vagaro starts at $25/month.
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 Vagaro is typically brought in for.
What can SimplyBook.me do that Vagaro cannot?
SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Payment processing, Marketing tools, Custom branding. Vagaro covers Online appointment booking, Point of sale, Inventory tracking, Marketing automation. Both handle Client management, Google Calendar, Stripe.

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
Vagaro: What is the base monthly cost for the Vagaro platform?

The base plan starts at 23.99 dollars per month with an additional 10 dollars per calendar up to 7 calendars. For 7 or more calendars, the cost is 83.99 dollars per month.

Source
Vagaro: What payment processing rates apply?

Payment processing rates are as low as 2.2 percent, with a promotional offer showing the base plan at 23.99 dollars per month.

Source
Vagaro: Does the platform require a long-term contract?

No, there are no long-term contracts required. Users can choose to add premium features as needed without commitment.

Source
Vagaro: Is there a free trial available?

Yes, Vagaro offers a free trial with no payment required upfront.

Source
Vagaro: What is included in the base plan?

The base plan includes data migration from other platforms, customizable scheduling with waitlist and resource management, free marketplace listing with unlimited deals and bookings, automated appointment notifications, online booking across multiple platforms, business and employee widgets, advanced reporting, loyalty program management, 1,000 free email messages per month, invoicing, memberships, packages, gift certificates, and around-the-clock support with complimentary training.

Source
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