Bookster – WordPress Appointment Booking Plugin vs RepairBuddy – Repair Shop CRM & Booking Plugin for WordPress

Managing appointments through phone calls, texts, and emails is chaotic. You lose track of bookings, double-book appointments, and spend hours on scheduling instead of serving customers. Bookster turns your WordPress site into a 24/7 booking system. 🌐 View All Demos Customers book appointments themselves, see real-time availability, and receive automatic confirmations. You manage everything from one dashboard. 📌 Documentation | Core Pro vs All Access 💫 Perfect For Hair salons and barbershops Spas and beauty clinics Massage therapists and wellness centers Personal trainers and fitness coaches Consultants and coaches Tutors and education services Medical and dental practices Any service business that takes appointments 💙 How It Works Customers visit your booking page, choose a service, pick their preferred staff member, select an available time slot, and book instantly. You receive an email notification and can view all appointments in your calendar dashboard. No more back-and-forth scheduling. 🔥 Key Features (100% Free) Unlimited Bookings & Services Create unlimited services with custom names, descriptions, and photos Set individual duration and pricing for each service Add taxes, fees and discounts to bookings No limits on number of appointments per month Offer service add-ons and upsell options Smart Scheduling Set your working hours for each day of the week Configure different availability for different services Add buffer time between appointments (e.g., 15-minute cleanup) Block off days for vacations or holidays Set minimum advance notice for bookings (e.g., require 24-hour notice) Customer Booking Experience Clean, mobile-friendly booking form that works on all devices Multi-step process: choose service → select staff → pick time → enter details → confirm Customers see only available time slots (no double-booking) Optional customer account dashboard to view and manage their bookings Customers can cancel or reschedule appointments themselves Payment Options Accept cash/check for in-person payment Accept PayPal payments online (customers pay when booking) Stripe integration available via premium addon for credit card payments Mark bookings as paid or unpaid manually Track revenue in the analytics dashboard Automatic Notifications Email confirmation sent to customers immediately after booking Reminder emails sent before appointment Email notifications sent to admin when new bookings arrive Customize email templates with your branding All emails sent automatically – no manual work required Admin Dashboard View all appointments in Bookster → Calendar menu Switch between day, week, and month calendar views Click any appointment to view or edit details instantly Filter appointments by status (confirmed, pending, cancelled) Search for specific customers or appointments Drag appointments to different dates to reschedule Color-coded by service or staff member for quick overview Analytics & Reports Track total bookings and revenue right from dashboard View performance by service (which services are most popular) Monitor individual agent performance Make data-driven decisions about staffing and services Premium Addons (Optional) Upgrade your booking system with these customizable options: Staff Management Add unlimited team members from Bookster → Agents menu Set individual working hours for each staff member Assign specific services to specific team members Let customers choose their preferred agent or assign automatically Track performance and bookings per agent Booking Form Customize booking form steps (reorder, add, or remove steps) Add custom fields to collect specific information Enable recaptcha, brand logo, timezone selector, and more for your booking system. Advanced Features (coming in future addons) Group bookings and classes Recurring appointments Multiple locations management SMS notifications via Twilio Design Toolkit for Block Editor and Elementor Getting Started Adding the Booking Calendar to Your Site Method 1: Shortcode (Works Anywhere) Add [bookster_booking_form] to any page, post, or widget area. Method 2: Block Editor 1. Edit the page where you want the booking form 2. Click the + button to add a block 3. Search for “Bookster” 4. Select the Bookster Booking Form block 5. Publish the page Method 3: Classic Editor Paste [bookster_booking_form] directly into your content. Viewing and Managing Appointments Go to Bookster → Calendar in your WordPress dashboard You’ll see all appointments in calendar format Click any appointment to view details or make changes Use the view buttons at top to switch between day/week/month views Use filters to show appointments based on agents or booking status Creating a Manual Booking (For Walk-Ins or Phone Bookings) Go to Bookster → Calendar Click the + New Appointment button (or click an empty time slot) Select the service and staff member Choose date and time Enter customer information (name, email, phone) Select payment method Click Create Appointment Customer automatically receives confirmation email Troubleshooting Booking calendar not showing on my page Check 1: Verify the shortcode Make sure you added [bookster_booking_form] exactly (with square brackets). Check 2: Clear cache If using a caching plugin, clear your cache: WP Rocket → Clear Cache or similar. Check 3: Theme conflict Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (Twenty Twenty-Five) to test. If it works, there’s a theme conflict. Customers not receiving email confirmations Check 1: Email settings Go to Bookster → Integrations → Email tab and confirm email notifications are enabled. Check 2: Check spam folders Ask customers to check spam/junk folders. Add your domain to their contacts. Check 3: WordPress email issues WordPress email can be unreliable. Install an SMTP plugin like YaySMTP to improve email delivery: 1. Install YaySMTP plugin 2. Connect it to Gmail, SendGrid, or Mailgun 3. Send a test email to verify Check 4: Test with yourself Create a test booking using your own email to confirm emails are sending. Time slots not showing as available Check 1: Working hours configured Go to Bookster → Settings → Schedule and verify hours are set for the day in question. Check 2: Agent availability If using staff members, check Bookster → Agents and verify the agent works on that day. Check 3: Minimum advance notice Check Bookster → Settings → General → Restrictions, if you require 24-hour notice, today’s appointments won’t show. Check 4: Service duration If your service is 2 hours but only 1 hour remains before closing time, that slot won’t appear. Double bookings happening This shouldn’t happen with Bookster. If it does: Check 1: Multiple admin users If multiple people manage bookings, ensure everyone refreshes the calendar before creating appointments. Check 2: Contact support If this persists, contact Bookster support with specific examples. PayPal payments not working Go to Bookster → Settings → Payments tab Verify your PayPal email address is correct Confirm PayPal is enabled (toggle should be blue/on) Test in PayPal sandbox mode first Check if PayPal account is verified and can accept payments Review PayPal transaction logs for error messages Calendar showing wrong timezone Go to Settings → General in WordPress Set your city timezone correctly (e.g., “New York” or “Berlin”) Save changes Go to Bookster → Settings and verify timezone matches Clear browser cache and reload Third-Party Services Bookster uses these external services to provide full functionality: FullCalendar.io Purpose: Renders the interactive booking calendar Privacy: No personal data sent to FullCalendar Terms: https://fullcalendar.io/license Stripe.com (Optional – only if using Stripe addon) Purpose: Process credit card payments Data shared: Customer name, email, payment amount Privacy: https://stripe.com/privacy PayPal.com Purpose: Process PayPal payments Data shared: Customer name, email, payment amount Privacy: https://www.paypal.com/privacy When customers make payments, they’re redirected to Stripe or PayPal’s secure servers. Bookster does not store credit card numbers. Support Need help? We’re here for you: Documentation: Visit Bookster’s detailed guides Support Forum: Post questions in the WordPress.org support forum Email & Live Chat Support: Contact us through the Bookster website Video Tutorials: Watch setup videos on our YouTube channel Response time: We typically respond within 4 hours on business days and 12 hours on weekends. We’d Love Your Feedback ❣️ If Bookster helps your business, please leave us a review on WordPress.org! It takes 60 seconds and brightens our day. Click here ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to share your experience. Have a feature request? We’re actively developing new features based on user feedback. Submit your ideas here. Compatibility Works With All Major WordPress Themes: Brandy WP Shadcn GeneratePress OceanWP Divi Avada And thousands more Page Builders: Elementor Gutenberg (Block Editor) Classic Editor Beaver Builder WPBakery What’s Next? After installing Bookster: Run the setup wizard Add the booking calendar to a page Create a test booking to see the customer experience Customize email templates with your branding Share your booking page link with customers Start accepting appointments 24/7! Your new booking system is ready to help you grow your business. Welcome to Bookster! 🚀

RepairBuddy is the ultimate Repair Shop CRM & Booking Plugin for WordPress. Whether you run a cell phone repair shop, computer repair business, drone repair, watch repair, bicycle repair, or electronics service center, RepairBuddy helps you manage everything in one place. It combines CRM (customer relationship management), booking system, job tracking, invoices, payments, notifications, and customer feedback — all inside your WordPress site. 🔧 Why Choose RepairBuddy? Accept repair bookings online from your website. Manage devices, brands, models, and services. Send repair estimates for customer approval/rejection. Create work orders and repair tickets with QR codes. Assign jobs to technicians and track progress. Provide online status check for customers. Collect online and offline payments (integrates with WooCommerce). Expenses Manage your expenses For your repair shop nicely. Send SMS and email notifications automatically. Request customer reviews and feedback after jobs. Use maintenance reminders to bring customers back. Generate reports on sales, technicians, and customers. and much more RepairBuddy transforms your website into a professional repair shop management system, saving time and building customer trust. 🚀 Advanced Online Repair Booking System (NEW) RepairBuddy now includes a next-generation repair booking module designed for modern repair businesses. Customers can: – Use the system for any repair type — devices can represent cars, watches, TVs, drones, jewelry, appliances, or any item you repair on-site or in-store. – Select Device Type → Brand → Device Model for accurate identification. – Enter device details such as IMEI, serial number, notes, and custom fields. – Choose multiple repair services per device. – Book multiple devices in a single order. – Select a preferred appointment type: – In-Store Repair – Pickup Service – On-Site Repair / Repair at Customer Location – Ship-In Repair – Choose from available dates and time slots based on your business schedule. Once the booking is completed: – A draft estimate is automatically created – An appointment is scheduled for the selected time – The customer receives email & SMS confirmation – Admins can review, edit, or convert the booking into a job instantly ➡️ This turns your WordPress website into a fully automated repair booking system. 👉 Checkout RepairBuddy Premium for even more features. To see RepairBuddy in action, watch the demo video: 🔥 Key Features of RepairBuddy 📅 Appointments & Scheduling Management (NEW) RepairBuddy includes a powerful Appointments module for complete scheduling control. Admins can: – Create appointments manually or from repair jobs – Add direct appointments without a booking – Schedule appointments from: – Booking submissions – Job pages – Appointment management screen – Assign technicians to appointments – View all appointments in a calendar view Technicians: – See assigned appointments inside their personal calendar – Manage workload and availability efficiently ➡️ Ideal for repair shops, field service teams, on-site repairs, and pickup/delivery workflows. Device Types, Brands, and Devices (Customizable for Your Business) Fully customizable: rename Device Type, Brand, and Device to match your industry (e.g., Car Type → Manufacturer → Model). Add unlimited device types such as phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, watches, cars, appliances, and more. Customers can select from your predefined devices or use an “Other” option to enter custom details. Collect important identifiers like IMEI, serial number, registration number, or custom fields for accurate tracking. Pre-Repair & Post-Repair Device Evaluation (Customizable for Any Industry) Create detailed pre-repair and post-repair evaluations for every device or item in your workflow. Track the condition of components such as battery, display, camera, speakers, charging port, buttons, and more before and after repair. Evaluation statuses include options like Working, Not Working, Missing, Not Checked, or fully custom statuses defined by your business. Fully customizable evaluation fields make RepairBuddy adaptable for any repair industry: Car Repair: Engine Starting, Headlights, Battery, Tires, Fuel Level, etc. Jewelry Repair: Broken Parts, Missing Stones, Scratches, Loose Clasps, Lost Parts, etc. Computer Repair: Keyboard, Screen, Ports, WiFi, Battery Health, etc. Add unlimited evaluation checkpoints based on the type of repair service you provide. Maintain clear repair records and avoid disputes by documenting device condition before and after service. Technicians can quickly complete evaluations using simple status selections for each item. Print professional evaluation reports for customers, technicians, or internal records. Send evaluation reports directly to customers with one click via email. Helps improve transparency, customer trust, and quality control across your repair process. Services, Parts, and Extras Define repair services with pricing by device type/brand. Manage parts inventory directly or via WooCommerce products. Add extras on the fly during job creation. Online Repair Booking & Appointment Scheduling Multi-step booking with device type, brand, model & services Book multiple services per device Support for multiple devices in one booking Appointment type selection: pickup, ship-in, on-site, or in-store Date & time slot selection based on availability Automatic estimate & appointment creation Email & SMS confirmation for customers Jobs Calendar Manage jobs through a calendar Estimates & Approvals Send professional estimates to customers. Customers can approve/reject online. Approved estimates automatically create jobs. Technician Job Management Assign jobs to technicians. Track services, parts, notes, and logs. Private and public logs available for staff or customers. Repair Tickets & Work Orders Print repair tickets with QR codes. Generate signed work orders for authorization. Customer Portal & Status Check Customers log in to view bookings, estimates, jobs, and invoices. Or check repair status with a case number without login. Notifications (SMS & Email) Pre-built templates for professional communication. Notify customers on status changes, estimates, invoices, and feedback. Invoices, Payments & Receipts Accept online payments (WooCommerce gateways). Record offline payments (cash, card, bank transfer). Print/email professional invoices and receipts. Thermal size print invoice or large size print invoice both templates are included Customer Reviews & Feedback Send review requests automatically or manually. Collect ratings and comments linked to jobs. Maintenance Reminders Automate reminders to bring customers back for service. Send via email or SMS based on device/brand filters. Reports & Analytics Sales reports by job status, paid/unpaid jobs. Technician and customer performance summaries. Helps you make informed business decisions. Warranty Claims Customers can book warranty claims with proof of purchase. Approve or reject warranty requests from admin. Multi-User Roles Store managers oversee all jobs and technicians. Technicians only see their assigned jobs. Customers manage bookings and devices via their account. 💰 Expenses Module (Job-Based & Business Expenses) Track every cost related to a repair job or your overall business with precision. Record job-specific expenses (parts purchases, technician costs, outsourcing, travel). Support for general, operational, business, and personal expenses. Categorize expenses with tax rules and payment methods. Attach receipts and reference numbers for accounting clarity. Filter expenses by job, technician, category, date, or payment status. Automatically calculate job profitability by comparing revenue vs expenses. Designed to work across industries: repair shops, IT services, automotive, field service, and electronics. ➡️ Gives you true profit visibility, not just revenue. ⏱️ Time Log Module (Track Time. Automate Billing. Boost Profit.) A powerful time-tracking system built for service-based businesses. Technicians can log time spent on each job or service. Admins define billing rates and technician payout rates. Convert logged time into billable job extras automatically. Track actual labor cost vs charged amount for accurate profit analysis. Ideal for diagnostics, consultations, on-site work, and hourly services. ➡️ Perfect for repair shops, IT support, MSPs, and service technicians. ✍️ Digital Signatures (Pickup, Delivery & Approvals) Eliminate paperwork and protect your business with legally-sound digital approvals. Capture customer signatures during device intake, estimate approval, pickup, or delivery. Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Signatures are securely stored and linked to jobs and work orders. Prevent disputes with time-stamped proof of authorization. – Ideal for high-value repairs, warranties, rentals, and B2B service workflows. Who Can Use RepairBuddy? RepairBuddy is designed for any repair or service-based business, including: – Mobile & cell phone repair shops – Computer & laptop repair centers – Camera & drone repair services – Bicycle, watch, and jewelry repair shops – TV, AC, and home appliance service providers – Auto repair shops and garages – Every type of repair shops can use RepairBuddy 👉 Checkout RepairBuddy Premium for even more features.