CalendX
CalendX is a streamlined booking platform designed for quick setup and immediate use — featuring an intuitive interface, transparent pricing, your own deposit/payment link sent to clients automatically, and a physical QR code for every subscriber.
SimplyBook.me is a feature-rich booking system with extensive customization options and integrations — best suited for larger businesses with technical staff willing to navigate a complex feature credit system and longer setup process. Visit simplybook.me ↗
Every feature compared — honestly.
CalendX lets you build your availability from scratch — choose which days, hours, and services are open, and block off any time you're not available, in a couple of clicks. SimplyBook.me needs multiple settings screens and resource-management concepts to do the same thing.
Skip building a separate website with an expensive private reservation system. Your CalendX profile shows your services, photos, prices, social media, and client reviews — all in one link, included in every plan.
Attach your own Stripe, PayPal, or other payment link to any service. CalendX emails it to the client automatically when they book, for a deposit or full payment — you mark it paid once it clears. No feature credits required.
Send every client a private note the moment they reserve — a video meeting link, address, or prep instructions. No manual follow-up emails.
Every CalendX plan includes the CalendX TAG — a physical QR card for your desk, window, or pocket. Walk-in clients scan and book instantly. No competitor at this price offers this.
CalendX lets you build your availability from scratch. You choose which days are open, which services are bookable on which days, and exactly which hours you accept appointments — and you can block off any time you're not available, for a holiday, a personal commitment, or just a lunch break. Unlike tools that just read your existing calendar and expose free gaps to clients, CalendX gives you full architectural control over your schedule. A personal trainer who only trains Tuesday and Thursday mornings, or a barber who takes walk-ins Monday but appointments-only on Wednesday, can configure this precisely. Your schedule is your product — CalendX treats it that way.
Clients who land on your CalendX profile see your full business: service catalog with photos, descriptions, durations, prices, and policies. They can compare your services, read your cancellation terms, and book in one flow — without calling, emailing, or DMing you. No other booking tool at this price gives service professionals a public-facing storefront this complete.
You don't need a custom-built website with a private reservation system bolted on. Your CalendX profile is a single link that shows your services, prices, and photos alongside your social media accounts and client reviews — everything a prospective client needs to decide and book, all in one place, included in every plan.
Every CalendX plan includes a physical QR code card (CalendX TAG) that links directly to your booking page. Place it at your reception desk, hand it to walk-in clients, or stick it in your window. It converts offline foot traffic into digital bookings instantly. No competitor at this price point offers this.
Attach a Stripe, PayPal, Wise, or bank transfer link to any service. When a client books, CalendX automatically emails them that link to pay a deposit or the full amount before the appointment. You mark the booking as paid once you see the payment land — full control over your own payment provider, no feature credits, no waiting on someone else's payout schedule.
Send each client a private note automatically when they reserve — your video meeting link, your address and parking instructions, or what to bring. No manual follow-up email, no forgetting the details that make the appointment run smoothly.
CalendX works out of the box for beauty, fitness, health, tutoring, home maintenance, consulting, events, and field services. Setup: create profile, add services with photos and prices, share your link or QR code. Done. No technical skills needed.
SimplyBook.me offers a vast marketplace of integrations and custom apps that can extend functionality significantly. From custom booking widgets to API-driven workflows, businesses with development resources can build sophisticated booking experiences tailored to specific operational needs.
For larger businesses like multi-location spas, clinic chains, or fitness franchises, SimplyBook.me provides enterprise-grade features including resource management, multiple location handling, and advanced staff scheduling. The platform is designed to scale to complex organizational structures.
SimplyBook.me's credit-based system allows businesses to pick and choose specific features beyond their base plan. While this adds complexity and potential hidden costs, it also means businesses can add precisely the capabilities they need without upgrading to a higher tier for just one feature.
Common questions about CalendX vs SimplyBook.me
CalendX starts at $14.99 per month with all features included in each tier — what you see is what you pay. SimplyBook.me starts at $9.90 per month but uses a feature credit system where you pay for your base plan and then purchase additional credits to unlock specific features. This means the actual cost often exceeds the advertised price. For example, adding SMS reminders, Google Calendar sync, or social media integration each requires additional credits. CalendX's transparent all-inclusive pricing often works out more affordable when you need a complete booking solution without hidden costs.
Yes, migrating from SimplyBook.me to CalendX is straightforward and significantly faster than the initial SimplyBook.me setup. SimplyBook.me's complex configuration with feature credits and custom workflows can take hours or days to set up properly. CalendX's streamlined approach gets you live in under 2 minutes. You can export your client data and service information from SimplyBook.me and import it into CalendX. The custom availability builder in CalendX is more intuitive than SimplyBook.me's complex scheduling system, so most users find they prefer the CalendX approach within a few days of switching.
Yes, CalendX offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required — matching SimplyBook.me's free tier but with full feature access during the trial period. During the CalendX trial, you get access to all features including the branded booking page, service catalog with photos and pricing, deposit/payment link tools, client CRM, email reminders, and the CalendX TAG physical QR code. You can create your profile, add up to 5 services, and start accepting real bookings immediately. Unlike SimplyBook.me's free plan which is heavily limited and branded with SimplyBook.me advertising, CalendX gives you the full experience to properly evaluate the platform.
Absolutely. CalendX provides an intuitive custom availability builder that gives you full control over your schedule — a stark contrast to SimplyBook.me's complex configuration system. You choose which days are open, which hours you accept appointments, which services are available on which days, and you can block off any time you're not available. SimplyBook.me requires navigating through multiple settings screens and understanding their resource management concepts to achieve similar results. With CalendX, a salon owner can set Monday for color services only, Tuesday through Friday for all services, and weekends for express appointments — all configured visually in minutes without technical knowledge. Your schedule is treated as your core product, not a configuration puzzle.
CalendX doesn't process payments itself and doesn't charge feature credits for it either. You add your own payment link — from Stripe, PayPal, or any provider you already use — to a service, either for a deposit or the full amount. When a client reserves, CalendX automatically emails them that link so they can pay directly through your provider. You then track and mark the booking as paid yourself once you see the payment come in. There's no credit purchase required to unlock this, unlike SimplyBook.me's add-on system.
Yes. CalendX lets you send every client a private message automatically the moment they reserve — for example a video call link, your address and parking instructions, or anything they need to prepare. It's included on every plan, with no extra credits needed.
CalendX includes several unique features SimplyBook.me lacks: the CalendX TAG — a physical QR code card included with every subscription for converting offline foot traffic into bookings; a custom availability builder with time blocking that is genuinely intuitive and fast to configure; a private message sent to each client the moment they book; the ability to attach your own payment link for deposits or full payment at no extra credit cost; a single profile link that combines your storefront, social media, and reviews with no separate website needed; transparent all-inclusive pricing without feature credits or hidden costs; 7-language support included on all plans versus SimplyBook.me's English-only lower tiers; and a setup time of under 2 minutes compared to SimplyBook.me's hours of configuration. Additionally, CalendX is built specifically for service professionals selling appointments, while SimplyBook.me's broader approach adds complexity without always adding value for solo practitioners and small service businesses.
Ready to try CalendX?
14-day free trial. No credit card required.
