Joan vs. humly
Why Joan is the #1 Humly Alternative
Humly makes attractive wired displays, but they lock you into proprietary hardware. Joan gives you a full workplace booking platform with wireless displays that install in minutes and run for months without charging.
Your workplace deserves better than clunky or confusing tools.
Humly focuses on design, but behind the sleek screens you get hardware lock-in, high costs and complex rollouts. Proprietary wired displays mean you pay more, scale less and depend on IT for every change. Joan gives you a wireless platform that works out of the box, adapts to any device and grows with your team.
Low ROI
High costs for hardware that can’t be reused elsewhere.
Lack of flexibility
Limited flexibility to support hybrid teams or scale across offices.
Overcomplicated systems
Long onboarding, steep learning curves and IT headaches with every update.
comparing features
Joan vs. Humly
Core features
Room, desk, visitor, parking
Smart mobile app
Wireless devices (E‑ink)
Hardware flexibility
Calendar integration
IT setup & support
Sustainability
Export analytics data
Total cost of ownership
Free trial
Real-world benefits that go beyond the spec sheet
Smarter Scheduling, Less Chaos
Humly’s focus is on screen design, but booking is secondary and often less intuitive. Joan is built for scheduling first, so your team books rooms in seconds without conflicts or confusion.
No drilling, no wiring required
Humly relies on wired LCD panels that need constant power and installation. Joan displays mount wirelessly, install in minutes and run for months on a single charge, giving you true flexibility.
Use the devices you already own
Humly locks you into its proprietary hardware. Joan works on any tablet, phone or its own wireless e-paper displays, so you can scale across offices without being tied to one vendor.
Works with the tools your team already uses
Humly connects calendars, but support stops there. Joan integrates with Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Zoom and more, so scheduling fits seamlessly into the apps your team already lives in.
The unique aspect of Joan is that it does not require power going to the unit; you can mount them anywhere. The battery life lasts anywhere from four to five months. Very easy to set up and does not require any user training.
Pablo Gersberg , Senior Vice President at Neumora
So far we have had no trouble during the onboarding process or using it. I am very pleased, so far. I also love the design. I know it is not important to the people who think that only functionality matters, but if you have functionality WITH a nice and clean design, that makes the experience so much better.
Isabela Simoes , Administrative Assistant at Master Electronics
Joan is the perfect solution—sleek, wireless, and so intuitive our team started using it without any training.
Topher Ohlin , IT Admin at Planning Center
Everybody knows when the room is booked or not. It’s a very clear way to say: ‘Stop! Don’t go there because someone else took the room. It was really helpful because we didn’t change the way we booked the room.
Lucio Ferranti , CEO at Energy Group
We wanted to make a platform where everybody could come in and see if there’s a room open that they can schedule and work out of.
Adam Fisk , Director of IT services at Tech Superpowers
Joan works with your stack. And meets your standards.
Integrations
Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Exchange, Zoom, Slack, and more.
Compliance
Certified for GDPR, SOC 2, and ISO/IEC 27001 compliance
AI Capabilities
Smart booking recommendations, auto-rescheduling
Sustainability
E-paper display uses 99% less energy than tablets
All-in-one pricing. All features included.
Joan gives you everything in one simple plan with software, updates and support included without hidden costs or third-party add-ons.
Start for free, than pay less!
Unbeatable pricing for additional users and devices.
Enterprise-ready with volume discounts and SLAs.
Frequently asked questions about Joan vs Humly
What’s the main difference between Joan and Humly?
Joan is a flexible, wireless solution designed for fast setup and smooth daily use. It works on any tablet or its own energy-efficient e-paper displays and can be fully managed without IT support. Humly offers well-designed hardware, but it relies on proprietary devices, needs wired power, and requires more involvement during setup and updates.
Which is the best Humly alternative?
Joan is one of the most complete alternatives to Humly. It combines room, desk, parking, and visitor management in one solution. Unlike Humly, Joan supports both custom hardware and existing tablets, integrates with a broader range of workplace tools like Slack and Zoom, and consumes significantly less energy thanks to e-paper technology.
Do I need IT support to install Joan or Humly?
With Joan, setup takes just a few minutes and requires no technical background. Devices are wireless and mount without drilling or cables. You can manage everything remotely through the web portal. Humly setup is more complex. It involves configuring displays, calendar systems, and often requires IT to handle permissions and cabling.
Do Joan and Humly work with existing calendars?
Yes. Both systems support Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Exchange. Joan also connects with third-party tools like Slack, Teams, Zoom, and Zapier for extended workflows. Calendar integration with Joan is quick and guided through a step-by-step interface, while Humly requires more manual configuration through its control panel.
Can I use my existing tablets with Joan instead of buying new hardware?
Yes. Joan works on your current iOS or Android tablets, making it easy to reuse existing hardware. You can also choose Joan’s own wireless displays for a more elegant, battery-powered option. Humly only works with its own displays, which means higher upfront hardware investment and less flexibility.
Does Joan offer a free trial?
Joan offers a 30 day free trial, giving you full access to test features like room booking, calendar sync, mobile control, and analytics. You can try it with your own devices or order demo units. Humly does not offer a free trial, only a scheduled demo or quote on request.