FareHarbor vs SimplyBook.me

Eventbrite

Booqable

Hostaway

Eventbrite is a global ticketing and event technology platform that provides creators of events with tools and resources to seamlessly plan, promote, and produce live experiences. Eventbrite is a ticketing and event technology platform that helps businesses organize and sell tickets to events online while helping people discover events that fuel passions. From workshops to concerts to conferences to film and music festivals, Eventbrite houses events of all shapes and sizes.

Booqable is equipment rental software for small and medium-sized businesses. It enables companies from various industries to manage inventory, schedule equipment, and accept online bookings.

Trusted by 20,000+ property managers worldwide, Hostaway is the industry leading, AI-powered vacation rental management platform designed for professional short-term rental operators.

Owner

Additionally, the Help or Support provided is weak.

Manager

General Manager

My experience with this platform has been amazing. If I can't figure something out, I go to support tickets and that get back to me quickly.

Operations Manager

FareHarbor provides industry-leading online ticketing and booking solutions for tours, activities, attractions, and events. Through intuitive features and one centralized Dashboard, FareHarbor eases operations for thousands of businesses worldwide.

Activities Booking

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Automated Scheduling

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Booking Management

Booking Notes

Calendar Management

Calendar Sync

Central Reservation System

Channel Management

Confirmations/Reminders

Credit Card Processing

Customer Database

Customer Data Management

Customer Support

Customizable Reports

Data Import/Export

Discount Management

Employee Management

Event Calendar

Event Management

Event Scheduling

GDS/OTA Integration

Group Reservations

Group Scheduling

Inventory Management

Invoice Management

Mobile Access

Mobile Ticketing

Multi-Day Booking

Multi-Language

Multi-Location

Online Booking

Online Payments

Online Ticketing

Package Creation

Payment Processing

Point of Sale (POS)

Pricing Management

Promotions Management

Rate Management

Real-Time Updates

Reminders

Reporting/Analytics

Reporting & Statistics

Reservations Management

Reserved Seating

Resource Management

Room Booking

Sales Reports

Search/Filter

Seating Map

SMS Messaging

Social Media Integration

Third Party Booking

Third-Party Integrations

Ticket Reservations

User Management

Vendor Management

Waiver Management

Website Integration

Website Management

Most reviewers indicate that FareHarbor delivers strong value for money with affordable, transparent pricing and no setup fees, and they appreciate included support. However, some users report higher costs in certain regions and feel client-facing fees can be steep.

Value for money

By industry, FareHarbor reviewers are most commonly professionals in leisure, travel & tourism (25%). The most frequent use case for FareHarbor cited by reviewers is reservations (63% of reviewers).

FareHarbor

Web-based

Android

Windows

iPhone

iPad

Linux

Peek Pro

Rezdy

Bókun

TrekkSoft

Xola

Checkfront

SimplyBook.me

Basic

Ongoing setup and error challenges

It is ver frustrating that after 5 years we spend more time troubleshooting for months to find errors and mistakes made by the build team.

President

36% of reviewers feel negative about FareHarbor’s bugs and issues. Some users report recurring problems during setup, with errors and mistakes requiring repeated fixes. Reviewers mention frustration with troubleshooting, sometimes feeling passed between support staff without resolution. They indicate that mistakes can cause operational problems for both staff and customers. Some reviewers say that certain issues are hard-coded and difficult to change, leading to additional complications. Users feel that resolving these challenges can be time-consuming and occasionally impacts their business processes.

High and inflexible fees

Director

I am highly disappointed with FH in general, particularly the decreasing quality of customer service, the extra charges for pretty much everything, the commission fees, and the incredibly outrageous prices on the FH websites you are planning to charge.

We decided that the 6% booking fee was way to much though and would've meant our average customer paying £9 in fees.

47% of reviewers feel negative about FareHarbor’s fees. Some users express concern over high booking and service charges, noting that these fees are often passed directly to customers, which can lead to dissatisfaction or complaints. Reviewers indicate frustration with the lack of options to absorb or customize fees, making it difficult to present transparent pricing. Some users mention hidden costs, expensive hosting, and additional charges for customizations. They feel that the fee structure is among the highest in the industry and can complicate pricing strategies or impact customer perception.

Easy and versatile integrations

The add-on integrations were really good.

95% of reviewers feel positive about FareHarbor’s integrations. Some users say the system integrates smoothly with daily operations, affiliate partners, and popular platforms like Viator and Expedia. Reviewers find the integration process straightforward, often mentioning that setup is handled by the FareHarbor team. They appreciate the ability to connect with tools such as Google Calendar and APIs, making it simple to manage products and streamline workflows. Users indicate that these integrations help them adapt the software to their business needs and improve overall efficiency.

Seamless mobile experience

Tour Guide

Its easy to monitor on my mobile home screen and gather data about a client before they arrive.  

100% of reviewers feel positive about FareHarbor’s mobile capabilities. Reviewers indicate that the platform is highly responsive and user-friendly on smartphones and tablets, allowing them to manage bookings, access dashboards, and assist customers from anywhere. Some users report that the mobile interface provides real-time data and full functionality comparable to the desktop version. They find it easy to make changes, check reports, and monitor client information on the go. Reviewers appreciate the flexibility and convenience, noting that mobile access helps them stay productive outside the office.

Supportive and responsive team

98% of reviewers feel positive about FareHarbor’s team. Some reviewers say the support team is consistently available, knowledgeable, and quick to resolve issues. They find the team helpful during onboarding, customization, and ongoing support, often tailoring solutions to unique business needs. Reviewers appreciate that the team is patient, provides step-by-step guidance, and remains accessible after setup. Users indicate that having direct contact with various team members helps them optimize their processes and feel supported throughout their experience, making complex tasks more manageable and ensuring smooth business operations.

General contractor

The interface is straightforward, which makes it simple to check reservations, update schedules, and keep track of customers without confusion.

Manager of Education

I have encountered occasional limitations in the reporting and analytics capabilities within FareHarbor. While it provides essential metrics and insights, there are times when I've needed more flexibility or detailed customization options in generating specific reports or analyzing data trends.

Admin Assistant

Some backend features aren’t as intuitive as they could be, especially when making quick changes during a busy day.

Thier processes has become very ineffecient, e.g. the highly important booking calendar builds are being ridled with cumbersome new forms to fill out, or making repetive steps for each individual item that Fareharbor used to be able to just make a dublicate in the past.

What used to be a same or next day finished task such as to build (dublicate a booking calendar) can take months, and many follow up calls for the request to not be dropped.

From a user’s perspective, the platform feels inefficient and poorly designed when it comes to respecting people’s time.

Another issue is the overall communication and transparency. When problems arise or something takes longer than

I like how you can do everything in the backend, reports, inventory, taxes.

We were trying to use staff and lane assignment as both being required to take a booking, but the solution made the dashboard look almost unusably cluttered.

The team was very helpful for integration, and it was a full package of reporting, booking software, and payment provider.

Our site will be offline unless we pay $5,000, every year and only give us 2 months to build a new website with someone else or be offline.

Reservations Coordinator 

We take daily reservations for scheduled times, and this program makes it easy to set capacity limits, collect custom information, and process payments.

The flexibility it offered was a game changer.

FareHarbor's user-friendly interface makes it easy to manage bookings, schedules, and customer information.

It looks like it was built in 1994 and the cost is expensive but it does exactly what we need it to do.

President of Sales

Customers can make reservations directly from our site.

Even support and our “account manager” neglects to help fix issues they caused.

Administrative Assistant

I would also like more control over emails sent out and the ability to cancel automated emails for a particular client or date.

Had the Zoom call, answered the questions that were emailed to me and then…..

It went from best in class to extremely frustrating.

I’ve emailed, called, messaged and I get the standard reply of someone will get back to you.

Opened our business up to disputes with zero help.

Business Systems Analyst

Only tried the free trial for evaluation.   If we managed more than just estimating and repair appointments for clients, may have been a better deal.

Used to be priced to help the operator succeed.

Sales & Marketing Manager

Our company is working daily in Fareharbor and we have all our staff team of more than 20 people using it plus the external sales plataforms fully integrated such as Get Your Guide, Viator, Civitatis and many more.

Customer service is always excellent and very responsive!

It originally was easy to set up and use.

Email is fine but customer communication needs to use both text messages and Emails in order to guarantee that the customers receives e.g information on a cancelled tour.

I think this is the only business model that is fair, as both sides have the same reasoning to develop sales in that case.  

FareHarbor failed to hold onto my ticket purchase, during the purchase phase.

Owner /Operator 

The second season I only needed a copy of the calendar I previously had, but after working with support- for months, or trying to because you never get the same support person, they still have not fixed my availability and it’s costing my business money every day.

It would not longer accept my ticket purchase, and then the train was sold out.

Good for tour guides as they get automated notifications.

The pay-as-you-go function, as we have changed from Bokun to Fareharbor during Covid.

Bummer I thought this would be the easiest part of opening my business.

It's a pay as you go, they only take payment from every online booking.

Marketing

A structured tour operator would need a complex (but not complicated) system where they can set and update everything by themselves, exactly when they need.

packager

it is most user friendly for both parties.

Founder 

LITERALLY A NIGHTMARE AND CAN RUIN YOUR BUSINESS, REVENUE, AND ONLINE REPUTATION OVERNIGHT. When we first signed up we were told fare harbor would connect an API and be sure to transfer any previously booked guests into the new fare harbor system.

Student

availability it helps because customers are not available at the same time.

Bugs and Issues

Booking

Email

Reservation

Pricing

Report

Calendar

Design and Flexibility

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Small Business

Mid-size Business

Most reviewers indicate that FareHarbor offers strong value for money, highlighting its affordable and competitive pricing structure. They say the platform allows businesses, especially small operators, to minimize upfront costs by transferring fees to end customers, which they find beneficial for cash flow. Most users consider the software’s setup and onboarding to be free, with ongoing support included at no extra charge, which they appreciate as a significant cost-saving. They report that FareHarbor’s pricing is transparent, predictable, and often lower than competitors, and they value the inclusion of robust features such as discount codes, customizable price points, and integration with OTAs without additional fees. Some users say they save both time and money due to automation and efficient management tools. Most reviewers indicate that the commission-based model is fair and aligns incentives between FareHarbor and their business. However, some users report that the platform can be expensive, particularly in certain regions like Europe, and a few feel the client-facing fees are high. Some reviewers feel that while the cost is justified by the quality and features, it may not suit businesses needing advanced functionality at a lower price point.

FareHarbor Holdings

Goldie

Goldie is a comprehensive software designed for salon and beauty professionals. The platform offers appointment scheduling, automated client reminders, and integrated payment processing capabilities to help reduce no-shows and streamline business operations. Beauty professionals can manage their calendars, create branded online booking websites, and track business performance through detailed reports.

Vagaro

Vagaro is all-in-one software for beauty, wellness, and fitness professionals. Manage appointments, accept payments, run marketing campaigns, and grow your business all from one easy-to-use platform designed to help you save time and boost revenue.

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity Scheduling is an online appointment scheduling solution that allows clients to self-schedule appointments or classes online, complete custom forms, receive confirmation notifications and reminders, and pay or donate with a credit card.

Production

No support or system interface in the Czech language

Operational Excellence Officer

The tool is easy to use and you get a solution quickly. But if you do find yourself with a question you can turn to a motivated and committed support team who always answer you quickly. And if it is more difficult to find a solution, they will continue to support you until the solution is found.

Assistant Director, Academic Enrichment

i need to be able to put location first and add multiple service providers to multiple locations without creating separate profile with separte hours of operation.

SimplyBook.me is an extensive appointment scheduling system for any type and size of service business.  Sign up, get a beautiful booking website or insert a booking widget to your own site. Allow your clients to book your services online 24/7 via your site, Instagram, Facebook or Google.

FareHarbor vs SimplyBook.me Comparison (2026)

FareHarbor

SimplyBook.me

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

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