MRBS review
A capable free room calendar for organizations comfortable administering their own server.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MRBS is a free, GPL-licensed web application for booking meeting rooms and other shared resources. It suits organizations that want browser-based or intranet access while keeping installation and administration on their own PHP-compatible web server. The software supports recurring and time- or period-based bookings, conflict prevention, reporting, calendar views, access levels, and email notifications for room administrators. Its focus is practical room scheduling rather than a broad workplace-management suite.
MRBS has an open-source pricing model, with no paid plan structure to compare. The published software requirements place responsibility for deployment and maintenance with the organization: MRBS runs as a PHP web application with MySQL or PostgreSQL and is accessed through a browser. That approach can fit teams with existing server administration capacity, particularly where control over hosting and configuration matters. Authentication options include LDAP, SAML, and Microsoft Windows/IIS authentication, while WordPress and Joomla are supported in the wider ecosystem. Multiple languages and read-only, user, and administrator access levels add flexibility for different audiences.
The strongest case for MRBS is a focused, self-managed booking calendar with recurring reservations, overlapping-booking prevention, reports, and day, week, and month views. It can accommodate straightforward room and resource scheduling without introducing a commercial subscription structure. Its scope is narrower than products built around workplace operations: it does not provide verified booking check-in, calendar synchronization, interactive floor plans, or native mobile coverage. Choose MRBS if basic room calendars, open-source licensing, and self-hosting align with your organization. Consider an alternative if mobile access, synchronized calendars, floor-plan workflows, or check-in controls are central requirements.
MRBS pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Recurring bookings with conflict prevention
- Day, week, and month calendar views
- LDAP and SAML authentication options
- Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosted PHP server administration
- No verified booking check-in
- No calendar sync or interactive floor plans
MRBS fact sheet, pricing and score →
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