Allsorts Bookings vs Calendly, SimplyBook.me & Zolmi
Comparing online booking software for a South African salon, consultancy, or trade business usually means choosing between USD-billed global tools with per-seat pricing, or local options with their own limits. Here's how Allsorts Bookings stacks up on price and features.
| Feature | Allsorts Bookings | Calendly | SimplyBook.me | Zolmi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
💰Starting Price (5 staff) | R179/month flat | ~R900–950/month (5 × $10 seats, USD) | ~R250/month (Basic, capped at 100 bookings) | R640/month (R400 + 4 × R60/staff) |
🇿🇦Billing Currency | ZAR via PayFast | USD | USD/EUR | ZAR |
📅Booking Volume Limits | Unlimited on every plan, including Starter | Unlimited on paid plans | Free plan capped at 50 bookings/month | Unlimited on both plans |
🆓Free Trial | 14 days, full features, no card required | 14 days on paid tiers | Free plan available, not a time-limited trial | Free plan available (Manage), not a full trial of Grow |
🔌Connects to a CRM | Built-in Allsorts CRM integration | Via third-party Zapier/native integrations | Via third-party integrations | Salon-specific, no general CRM integration |
✨Built-in AI Assistant | Included — book, reschedule, or check your week in plain language | Not included | Not included | Not included |
Competitor pricing reflects publicly listed rates at time of writing, converted to ZAR at typical exchange rates where billed in USD — always confirm current pricing directly with each vendor.
Why teams switch to Allsorts Bookings
- • Flat ZAR pricing — no per-seat charges, no USD exchange-rate exposure
- • Unlimited bookings on every plan, including the R89/month Starter plan
- • Direct integration with Allsorts CRM and QR Code Pro, not third-party Zapier workarounds
- • A built-in AI assistant to book, reschedule, and check your week in plain language
- • Recurring bookings, self-service reschedule/cancel links, and revenue & no-show reports included on every plan
When another option might fit better
- • Zolmi if you run a salon specifically and want its salon-only point-of-sale features
- • Calendly if your team already lives inside a global Zapier-heavy workflow stack
- • A dedicated hospitality platform if you manage overnight accommodation bookings rather than appointments
Frequently asked questions
Is Allsorts Bookings cheaper than Calendly for a small team?
Yes, for a South African business. Calendly's Standard plan is $10 per seat per month billed in USD — roughly R180-190 per seat at typical exchange rates, so 5 staff costs around R900-950/month. Allsorts Bookings' Growth plan covers up to 5 staff calendars for a flat R179/month, billed in ZAR with no per-seat charge and no exchange-rate exposure.
Does Allsorts Bookings limit how many bookings I can take, like SimplyBook.me's free plan?
No. SimplyBook.me's free plan caps you at 50 bookings per month, and its Basic paid plan (from $13.90/month, billed in USD) caps at 100. Every Allsorts Bookings plan, including the R89/month Starter plan, allows unlimited bookings.
How does Allsorts Bookings compare to Zolmi for a salon?
Zolmi's Grow plan starts at R400/month for one staff member plus roughly R60/month for each additional staff member, which reaches about R640/month for a 5-person team. Allsorts Bookings' Growth plan covers up to 5 staff calendars for a flat R179/month. Zolmi is purpose-built for salons specifically; Allsorts Bookings serves salons, consultants, and trades businesses alike and connects directly to Allsorts CRM.
Why choose South African booking software instead of a global tool?
Global tools like Calendly and SimplyBook.me bill in USD or EUR, so your invoice moves with the exchange rate every month. Allsorts Bookings bills a fixed ZAR amount via PayFast, is built and supported by a South African team in East London, and connects directly to Allsorts CRM and QR Code Pro — both also built for the South African market.
Try it free for 14 days
No credit card required. Full access to staff calendars, payments, and the AI assistant for 14 days.