SimplyBook.me is a well-established online booking platform that serves dozens of industries. Bober is a CRM built exclusively for barbershops and beauty salons. Both handle appointments and online booking, but they approach the problem from opposite directions.
This comparison breaks down where each platform excels so you can choose the right tool for your shop.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Bober | SimplyBook.me |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Barbershops and beauty salons | Any service business |
| Pricing | Flat rate, no per-booking fees | Tiered plans with booking limits |
| Starting price | Free trial (no card), then flat rate | Free (50 bookings/month) |
| Multi-branch support | Native, network-wide client cards | Available on higher plans |
| Client management | Unified CRM across all branches | Basic client records |
| Online booking widget | Included | Included, with theme customization |
| Reminders | SMS + WhatsApp | SMS + email (WhatsApp via add-on) |
| Languages | 11 languages | 15+ languages |
| GDPR compliance | Yes | Yes (EU-based, Cyprus) |
| API | Yes | Yes, well-documented |
| Industry focus | Beauty and barber only | Medical, education, fitness, beauty, and more |
Pricing: Flat Rate vs Tiered Plans
Bober charges a flat rate with no commission and no per-booking fees. Every feature is included from day one. You start with a free trial that requires no credit card.
SimplyBook.me uses a tiered pricing model. The free plan allows 50 bookings per month, which works for very small operations. The Basic plan at $8.25/month raises the limit but still caps bookings. Standard at $24.90/month and Premium at $49.90/month unlock progressively more features and higher booking volumes. Many features are delivered through a "custom features" add-on system, meaning you toggle on capabilities individually rather than getting everything by default.
For a busy barbershop doing 200+ bookings per month, SimplyBook.me's Standard or Premium plan is necessary. At that point, the cost difference between the two platforms narrows. The question becomes whether you want a general tool you configure yourself or a purpose-built system that works out of the box.
Industry Focus: Specialist vs Generalist
This is the fundamental difference between the two platforms.
SimplyBook.me serves medical practices, educational institutions, fitness studios, government offices, and beauty businesses alike. That breadth means the platform is highly configurable but also generic by default. You build your workflow by selecting from available add-ons and customizing settings. The booking page themes are genuinely well done, and the platform offers solid flexibility for businesses that need a general scheduling solution.
Bober is designed exclusively for barbershops and beauty salons. The data model, the booking flow, the client card structure, and the scheduling interface all reflect how barbers and stylists actually work. There is no configuration required to make it fit your industry because it was built for your industry from the start.
If you run a barbershop alongside a yoga studio and a consulting practice, SimplyBook.me can handle all three. If you run a barbershop or a chain of salons and want software that speaks your language, Bober is purpose-built for that.
Multi-Branch and Client Management
Bober treats multi-branch networks as a first-class concept. Clients are unified across your entire network. When a regular visits a different branch, their full history, preferences, and notes travel with them. Services are defined at the network level with per-branch price overrides. This architecture matters when you grow from one location to three or five.
SimplyBook.me supports multiple locations on higher-tier plans, but its client management is structured around individual bookings rather than a unified client relationship across branches. For single-location businesses, this distinction is less important. For growing chains, it becomes significant.
Notifications and Reminders
Bober includes SMS and WhatsApp reminders as standard. WhatsApp is particularly relevant in the European and Ukrainian markets where it is the dominant messaging channel for appointment communication.
SimplyBook.me provides SMS and email reminders natively. WhatsApp integration is available but typically requires an additional configuration or add-on. Email reminders are a strength of SimplyBook.me, and for businesses where email is the primary communication channel, this works well.
Customization and Integrations
SimplyBook.me has a clear advantage in breadth of integrations. Its API is well-documented, and the platform connects with a wide range of third-party tools including payment processors, marketing platforms, and calendar apps. The custom features system, while sometimes overwhelming, gives you granular control over what your booking system does.
Bober provides an online booking widget, API access, and the core integrations that barbershops and salons need. The integration ecosystem is more focused and less extensive than SimplyBook.me's, but it covers the workflows that matter for beauty businesses without requiring you to assemble your stack from add-ons.
Languages and Market Focus
Both platforms support multiple languages. SimplyBook.me offers 15+ languages, reflecting its global reach. Bober supports 11 languages with a focus on the European and Ukrainian markets, including Ukrainian as a default language.
Both platforms are GDPR compliant. SimplyBook.me is incorporated in Cyprus (EU). Bober is built for the European market with GDPR compliance as a baseline requirement.
Where SimplyBook.me Wins
- Breadth of features: The add-on system covers use cases far beyond what any beauty-specific tool offers.
- Free plan: 50 bookings per month at no cost is a genuine option for very small businesses or those just starting out.
- Booking page customization: The theme options for public booking pages are polished and varied.
- API and integrations: A mature API and a wide ecosystem of third-party connections.
- Multi-industry flexibility: One platform for multiple business types under a single account.
Where Bober Wins
- Purpose-built for barbers and salons: No configuration needed to match your workflow.
- Flat pricing with no booking limits: Predictable costs as your business grows.
- Network-wide client cards: Unified client history across all branches by default.
- WhatsApp reminders included: Native support for the messaging channel your clients prefer.
- Simpler onboarding: No need to browse through dozens of add-ons to build your setup.
The Bottom Line
SimplyBook.me is a strong general-purpose booking platform with impressive flexibility and a proven track record across many industries. If you need a Swiss Army knife for scheduling that can adapt to almost any service business, it delivers.
Bober is a scalpel for barbershops and beauty salons. It does one thing and does it well: manage appointments, clients, and multi-branch operations for the beauty industry without the overhead of configuring a general-purpose tool.
Choose SimplyBook.me if you value breadth, want a free starting tier, or run multiple types of service businesses. Choose Bober if you want a CRM that understands barbershops and salons without requiring you to teach it your workflow.
Try Bober free — no credit card required.