Joan vs. humly

Why Joan is the #1 Humly Alternative

Joan and Humly both offer digital meeting room displays and booking systems. While the features may look similar at first, differences in usability, setup simplicity and long-term adoption often make the real impact.

comparing features

Joan vs. Humly

Joan
Humly

Core features

Room, desk, visitor, parking

Smart mobile app

Wireless devices (E‑ink)

Hardware flexibility

Works on any tablet
Works only with Humly hardware

Calendar integration

IT setup & support

No IT required
Requires IT

Sustainability

E-paper display, energy-saving

Export analytics data

Partial

Total cost of ownership

Transparent pricing
Hidden IT/support costs

Free trial

30-day free tria
Joan
Humly
Why Teams Choose Joan

Real-world benefits that go beyond the spec sheet

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Smarter Scheduling, Less Chaos

With AI suggestions and conflict prevention, your team books rooms in seconds, not minutes.

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No drilling, no wiring required

Wireless Joan displays install in minutes and run for months, unlike Humly’s wired LCD screens.

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Use the devices you already own

Joan works on any tablet or its own displays, while Humly depends on proprietary hardware.

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Works with the tools your team already uses

Joan integrates with Slack, Teams, Google, Microsoft, and more; Humly connects calendars, but not chat apps.

  • Planning Center (1)

    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

  • Planning Center (2)

    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

  • Planning Center

    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

  • 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.

All-in-one pricing. No nickel-and-diming.

Joan’s pricing includes the hardware, software, and ongoing updates—no need to piece together third-party screens or pay extra for basic features.

  • IconGet started for just €40/month
  • IconScalable plans with SSO, analytics, and support
  • IconEnterprise-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.

Why settle for Humly’s limitations?

Joan works with the tools you already use and the devices you already have. No headaches. Just results