A SimplyBook.me alternative built for studios, not every industry
Hitting booking limits? Wrestling with 77 "custom features" just to set up class scheduling? SimplyBook.me is a great general booking tool — but if you run a fitness or wellness studio, you deserve software that was built for you.
Punchpass vs SimplyBook.me at a Glance
Punchpass
- ✓ 4.8/5 overall on Capterra (177 reviews)
- ✓ Unlimited bookings on every plan
- ✓ Clear plans — no confusing feature slots or gating
- ✓ Purpose-built pass management and attendance tracking
- ✓ Native Mailchimp and MailerLite integration
- ✓ Simple pricing — no booking overages
SimplyBook.me
- ✕ 4.6/5 on Capterra (1,274 reviews) — but lower sub-scores
- ✕ Booking caps: 50–2,000/mo with $4/100 overages
- ✕ Features gated by "custom feature" slots (3 on Basic)
- ✕ General-purpose tool — fitness is 7% of their business
- ✕ No native pass/punch card system or attendance tracking
- ✕ Booking overages: $4 per 100 bookings over your cap
Ratings from Capterra
Seven Reasons Studios Choose Punchpass Over SimplyBook.me
Purpose-built for studios, not every industry on earth
SimplyBook.me serves retail, healthcare, beauty, education, and fitness all from the same product — and fitness is only 7% of their customer base. That means class scheduling, pass management, and attendance tracking aren't their priority. Punchpass is built specifically for fitness and wellness studios, so every feature is designed for how you actually run your business.
Unlimited bookings on every plan
SimplyBook.me caps your bookings at 50, 100, 500, or 2,000 per month depending on your plan. A studio running 20 classes per week with 15 students each hits 1,200 bookings a month — already exceeding the Standard plan. Overages cost $4 per 100 bookings. With Punchpass, every plan includes unlimited bookings. No caps, no overages, no math.
No confusing "custom features" paywall
SimplyBook.me's Basic plan only lets you enable 3 out of 77 "custom features." A studio that needs payments, class booking, calendar sync, intake forms, and memberships already needs 5 — forcing an upgrade. With Punchpass, each plan includes a clear set of studio features that scale with your needs. No picking and choosing from a confusing menu of 77 options — just straightforward plans designed for studios.
Dramatically easier to use
On Capterra, Punchpass scores 4.8/5 for Ease of Use — SimplyBook.me scores 4.3/5. That 0.5-point gap reflects real-world frustration. SimplyBook.me users report "terrible UX/UI," an "archaic" setup process, and "basic settings hidden in unexpected places." With 77 toggleable features to configure, the initial setup alone is a project. Punchpass is ready to use in minutes.
Native pass and punch card management
Pass management is Punchpass's core identity — purpose-built punch cards, class packs, drop-in tracking, and attendance management. SimplyBook.me uses generic "packages" that weren't designed for studios. There's no punch tracking, no drop-in class management, and no attendance tracking (they track bookings, not who actually showed up).
Standing reservations and VIP access
Punchpass lets you auto-book regulars into their weekly classes with standing reservations and give VIP members early booking access. SimplyBook.me has nothing comparable — these features simply don't exist in a general-purpose scheduling tool.
Better support that doesn't disappear after signup
Punchpass is rated 4.9/5 for Customer Service on Capterra — SimplyBook.me scores 4.5/5. More concerning: SimplyBook.me users report that support quality drops after they commit to a contract. One reviewer noted that "prior to signing up for 12 months, they were super helpful — but after that, they basically ignore complaints." Punchpass support is consistently excellent, before and after you sign up.
Pricing: Punchpass vs SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me's entry price looks cheaper — but when you add booking limits and feature gating, the real cost for studios tells a different story.
| Punchpass | SimplyBook.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59/mo | $11.90/mo (Basic, annual) |
| Realistic studio plan | $59/mo (Willow) | $49.90–59.90/mo (Premium) |
| Monthly booking limit | Unlimited | 50–2,000 (overages $4/100) |
| Features included | Clear plans — no feature slots | 1–8 "custom features" (unlimited on Premium) |
| Pass/punch card system | Native, purpose-built | Generic "packages" only |
| Attendance tracking | Built-in | Not available |
| Capterra Ease of Use | 4.8/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Email marketing | Mailchimp, MailerLite | Mailchimp via Zapier only |
| Data migration | Free | $499 full setup help |
The booking limits problem
SimplyBook.me's pricing looks attractive until you calculate your actual booking volume. Here's what the limits mean for a typical studio:
- • Basic plan (100 bookings/mo): That's about 3–4 bookings per day. A single class with 10 students uses up 10 bookings — you'd hit the limit in 10 days.
- • Standard plan (500 bookings/mo): A studio running 3 classes per day with 8 students each hits 720 bookings per month — exceeding the limit by 44%.
- • Premium plan (2,000 bookings/mo): Workable for most studios, but at $49.90–59.90/mo — essentially the same price as Punchpass, except with a cap.
- • Overage costs: Every 100 bookings over your limit costs $4. A busy studio exceeding Premium by 500 bookings pays an extra $20/month — making it more expensive than Punchpass.
Ready to try a studio-first platform?
Try Punchpass for 14 days, on us. No credit card required.
Is Punchpass right for your studio?
Punchpass is a great fit if you...
- ✓ Run a dedicated fitness or wellness studio — yoga, Pilates, martial arts, dance, CrossFit, or barre
- ✓ Need pass management, punch cards, and class pack tracking
- ✓ Want unlimited bookings without worrying about monthly caps
- ✓ Value simplicity — you want software that works without configuring 77 features
- ✓ Want transparent pricing with no surprise booking overages
SimplyBook.me may be better if you...
- • Run a multi-service business across different industries (massage + yoga + nutrition consulting)
- • Need a full booking website — not just an embeddable widget
- • Require HIPAA compliance for healthcare-adjacent services
- • Want Reserve with Google for direct booking from search results
- • Are a solo provider who needs a free or very low-cost scheduling tool
Switching is easier than you think
We've helped many studios migrate from SimplyBook.me. The process is quick, painless, and completely free.
Start a free trial
Try Punchpass for 14 days alongside SimplyBook.me. No credit card, no obligation.
We migrate your data
Send us your SimplyBook.me exports and we'll upload your customers, passes, and memberships — usually within 24 hours.
You're up and running
Many studios launch while still in their trial. It's that straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
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SimplyBook.me is a general-purpose appointment scheduling tool built for every service industry — from salons to healthcare to retail. Fitness studios are only 7% of their customer base. Punchpass is purpose-built for fitness and wellness studios, with native pass management, attendance tracking, class scheduling, and punch card systems.
The result: Punchpass scores 4.8/5 for Ease of Use on Capterra vs SimplyBook.me's 4.3/5. When software is built for your specific use case, everything is simpler.
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SimplyBook.me's Basic plan ($11.90/mo) only includes 100 bookings per month and 3 custom features. For a studio that needs class booking, payments, calendar sync, memberships, and intake forms — that's already more features than Basic allows.
The realistic comparison for studios is SimplyBook.me Premium ($49.90-59.90/mo, 2,000 bookings, unlimited features) vs Punchpass Willow ($59/mo, unlimited bookings). The $10-15/month difference buys you unlimited bookings and a purpose-built studio platform.
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SimplyBook.me caps monthly bookings: 50 (Free), 100 (Basic), 500 (Standard), and 2,000 (Premium). Overages cost $4 per 100 bookings.
Here's what that means in practice: a studio with 20 classes per week averaging 15 students per class generates about 1,200 bookings per month. That exceeds the Standard plan and approaches the Premium plan's limit. With Punchpass, every plan includes unlimited bookings — no caps, no overages.
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Punchpass is month to month. No contracts, no commitments. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime — and you won't be billed again once your current month ends.
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Absolutely. Start a free 14-day trial — no credit card required. You can run Punchpass alongside SimplyBook.me to compare them directly with your real classes and clients.
Many studios get fully set up during the trial period. You can add classes, test customer bookings, and explore the reporting before you commit.
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We've helped many studios migrate and we make it as painless as possible. If you can export your client data from SimplyBook.me, we can upload your customer information for you — and we don't charge for data migration.
We'll help you transfer customer profiles and any active passes or memberships. Most studios are up and running quickly, often while still in the free trial.
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Yes. Punchpass has deep, native Zoom integration so you can run virtual or hybrid classes directly from your schedule. SimplyBook.me also supports Zoom, but as one of 77 "custom features" that counts against your plan's feature limit on lower tiers.
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More features doesn't mean better for your studio. SimplyBook.me's 77-feature system is designed to serve every industry — retail, healthcare, beauty, education, and fitness. Most of those features are irrelevant for a fitness studio.
The downside: you're navigating a complex configuration system to find the handful of features you actually need, and lower-tier plans limit how many you can enable. Punchpass offers clear plans with studio-relevant features that scale with your needs — no picking from a menu of 77 options.
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Yes — many clients use Punchpass's extensive emailing capability for their marketing. If you need more, Punchpass integrates natively with Mailchimp and MailerLite, so you can sync your customer data directly with your email marketing platform. SimplyBook.me doesn't offer native Mailchimp integration — it's only available through Zapier, which adds complexity and cost.
See how Punchpass can work for your studio
