SpotBooker vs Joan
Joan is known for its ePaper displays next to meeting room doors, with software for rooms, desks, parking, visitors and signage. SpotBooker has no hardware: people book rooms and shared resources in the browser, with rules. Here is an honest comparison.
14-day free trial · No credit card required · Unlimited users
The short answer
SpotBooker makes sense when…
- You do not want screens at room doors, or cannot install them
- You book equipment and other shared resources, not only rooms
- You need quotas, fixed slots and approvals
- People outside your organisation book through a public page
Joan fits better when…
- You want a display at each room door showing whether it is free
- You want cable-free displays, mounted with a magnet
- You also want desk booking, visitor badges and signage
- Your rooms are in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace calendars already
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | SpotBooker | Joan |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan (2 spots), then $39/month or $390/year with 5 spots included | Plans from €49 per month, by number of users and devices included; extra users and devices are add-ons |
| Free plan or trial | Free plan (2 resources); 14-day trial without a credit card | 30-day free trial |
| Hardware | None: no door displays, no sensors | ePaper room displays (Joan 6 RE, Joan 6 Pro, Joan 13 Pro), ePaper visitor badges; also runs on tablets such as iPad, Android, Crestron or ProDVX |
| What you can book | Rooms, equipment, vehicles and any shared resource; accessories booked with a resource at no extra cost | Rooms, desks, parking and other assets |
| Calendars | .ics invitation attached to emails (user option) and iCal subscription feeds per user and per resource; no two-way sync | Connects to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace calendars |
| Mobile | No native app: works in the browser on any device | Mobile app to book rooms, desks, parking and assets |
| Desks and visitors | No desk booking, no visitor check-in | Desk booking with QR and NFC stickers; visitor pre-registration and check-in |
| Booking rules | Fixed time-slot grid (15/20/30/60 min), limits per day, week or month (hours or number of bookings), group exceptions, late-cancellation rule; single or multi-level approval | See their site |
| Outside people | Public booking page without an account | See their site |
| Information checked | October 2026 | October 2026, on getjoan.com |
Joan information comes from getjoan.com (home and pricing pages), checked in October 2026; prices according to Joan’s pricing page, October 2026. Prices and features change: check their site.
Where Joan is stronger
Joan may be the better choice in these situations. We would rather tell you now than after you sign up.
Displays at the door
Compact ePaper displays, mounted with a magnet, show each room’s status next to the door. SpotBooker has no door displays.
More than rooms
Desks, parking, assets, visitors and digital signage are included in the plan, without paying per feature.
Mobile app
People can book rooms, desks and parking in a mobile app. SpotBooker works in the phone’s browser instead.
Where SpotBooker fits better
No hardware to buy
Nothing to install at the door: people book in the browser and check in with a QR code.
Shared resources
Microscopes, vehicles, cameras or a music room are booked like meeting rooms, with accessories added to the booking.
Rules and approvals
Limits per person or group, fixed slots, late-cancellation rule, single or multi-level approval.
Free for 2 resources
A free plan, then a price per resource with unlimited users on every plan.
What SpotBooker does not do (today)
- No native mobile app: SpotBooker runs in the web browser, on computer or phone.
- No two-way sync with Outlook or Google Calendar: bookings can be sent as .ics invitations and followed through an iCal subscription feed.
- No Microsoft Teams app, no Outlook add-in, no public API.
- No full-day desk booking, hot desking or office attendance planning.
- No occupancy sensors and no door displays.
Pricing
SpotBooker
- Free plan: 2 spots (rooms, equipment…)
- Monthly: $39/month, 5 spots included, +$3 per extra spot per month
- Annual: $390/year, 5 spots included, +$30 per extra spot per year
- Unlimited users on every plan
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
Joan
According to Joan’s pricing page, October 2026, plans start at €49 per month and differ by the number of users and devices included; extra users, extra devices and ePaper badges are add-ons. Room displays are hardware bought separately: see their site for device prices. A 30-day free trial is offered.
Frequently asked questions
Is SpotBooker a good Joan alternative?
Yes if you want to book rooms and shared resources in the browser, with rules, without hardware. If a display at each room door is what you are after, Joan is built for that.
Does SpotBooker work with door displays?
No. SpotBooker has no door displays and no occupancy sensors. Each resource has a QR code for check-in, and an unused booking is released automatically after 15 minutes by default (adjustable from 5 to 60).
How much does Joan cost?
Their pricing page says plans start at €49 per month, with users and devices added on top. Display hardware is sold separately.
Does SpotBooker have a mobile app?
No native app. SpotBooker works in the browser on computers, tablets and phones.
Can I try SpotBooker before deciding?
Yes. The 14-day trial is free and needs no credit card, and the free plan stays available for 2 resources.
Other comparisons
Try SpotBooker with your own rooms
Create your spaces, invite your colleagues and set your rules. The 14-day trial is free and needs no credit card.
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