Pick up your phone and consider how much information is contained in the palm of your hand—your finances, social media, eating habits, steps walked per day; the list could go on. Think about what can go wrong if it’s poorly organized: appointments missed, crucial business meetings overlooked, social connections damaged or lost.
You need scheduling software to prevent this, and a popular choice on the market is Setmore. At first glance it's a good choice, with the Setmore scheduling tool seemingly offering everything you could want from something designed to manage your meetings.
However, we know that you deserve even better. You need something that can handle group scheduling, booking pages and manage appointments in one place with complete operational efficiency.
In short? You need one of these Setmore alternatives.
How we found our top Setmore alternatives
When we went looking for Setmore alternatives, we wanted to do more than just plunge into Google for appointment scheduling; we wanted to find the best appointment scheduling software for as wide a range of people as possible.
- Ease of use: Each appointment booking app we found had to be easy to use for small businesses and individuals alike, with a simplified booking system included as standard.
- Powerful appointment scheduling software: By powerful, we mean effective and seamless. We didn't want to cover Setmore alternatives that work slowly or were clunky.
- Customizable booking: We wanted to ensure that the apps we reviewed offered customizable booking pages, as well as more customization for as many factors as possible.
- Automated reminders: Custom booking wasn't enough. We also demanded that the Setmore alternatives we found would provide automated reminders, and that these reminders had to be customizable as well.
- Scheduling tool integration: Being able to book appointments without integrating them with a calendar app isn't effective, so each of our Setmore alternatives had to be able to integrate these tools.
- Pricing policies: Setmore pricing wasn't up to scratch for us, so we wanted to provide a broad range of pricing plans and options in this list, especially if there were free plans available.
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Calday - The best Setmore alternative
Calday is the best Setmore alternative because it offers everything the app does and much more besides. We pride ourselves on being able to offer the high quality features you need to ensure you can enjoy a seamless booking experience, one combined with top-level client communication thanks to our dedicated support team.
Whether you need to manage multiple group appointments on a routine basis, or you have to provide a booking process that's highly tailored to your niche client base, Calday's got you covered. The system is highly user-friendly, and unlike Setmore, you're in the hands of a startup that listens to you, rather than a giant company that remains distant.
Target audience
Anyone can use Calday effectively, from students and grandmothers to small business and corporate giants, however it's particularly popular with entrepreneurs and the self-employed. They really appreciate how simply Calday is to use while packing some seriously powerful features at the same time.
We've also become the go to choice for companies that work directly with clients, like beauty and wellness businesses, and people working with utilities, like plumbers. These groups appreciate the high quality custom booking pages and appointment links we provide as they can be designed specifically for their industry.
Key features
- Unlimited booking pages that can be customized however you like
- Multiple services included in one all-in-one system
- Automatic time zone adjustments for international clients
Pros
- We've designed Calday to be incredibly intuitive and user-friendly
- Our app offers all the calendar integrations you need
- A high-quality, free basic plan and an affordable premium plan
Cons
- We don't have AI... yet. Watch this space!
- You need to create an account to use the app
- Our free version has limited customization options
Pricing
Our basic plan is completely free and provides essential features you need for scheduling under one platform. The premium version has all of our more advanced features at just $10 a month.
Acuity Scheduling - For Squarespace enthusiasts
Our next scheduling software alternative to Setmore is Acuity Scheduling, a previously independent scheduling software system that was acquired by website creator Squarespace in 2019. Its booking system is branded as providing unlimited appointments combined with marketing tools and third-party integrations, to provide businesses with self-scheduling empowerment.
Acuity Scheduling has drawn plaudits for its custom booking facilities and real-time scheduling updates that can also be highly personalized. It's been reported to reduce the risk of meeting no-shows by issuing automated follow-ups for appointments, and the client experience has drawn praise from Squarespace users who've left reviews online.
Key audience
The short answer is that Acuity Scheduling is aimed primarily at companies and individuals that use Squarespace, but it's a bit more complicated than that. Small businesses are likely to find its text reminders and recurring appointment management useful, but large companies benefit the most from this scheduler.
That's because they're more likely to have dedicated sales teams and a greater capacity for multiple providers in supplies and other areas, and thus have more complex scheduling requirements. With most of Acuity Scheduling's best features hidden behind higher paywalls, it's ultimately not a cost-effective option for most.
Key features
- Acuity Scheduling offers custom group scheduling and multiple class management
- Staff and resource management, including availability notifications
- Automated reminders and client self-scheduling software
Pros
- High-quality automation and customization help the user to save time
- Acuity Scheduling allows you to accept payments from multiple sources
- The system has been reported to reduce no-shows across multiple locations
Cons
- More features are hidden behind paywalls than we'd like to see
- You need CSS/HTML knowledge to take advantage of more complex features
- Booking management can be expensive as different locations stack up
Pricing
Acuity Scheduling doesn't offer any free plans. Costs can be complex, with the Powerhouse Plan coming in at around $50, depending on location.
Related
Interested in diving deeper into Acuity Scheduling? Check out this detailed review for insights on its features, pros, cons, and how it stacks up for businesses: The Top 5 Acuity Scheduling Alternatives
Square Appointments - Helps Save Time
Square Appointments, not to be confused with Squarespace, is a scheduling tool designed to help you save time via its integrations. It's marketed to service-based businesses as a product that can manage not just their bookings but also their payments, client information, and even inventory for product sales.
It goes beyond what Setmore offers in this sense, and includes customizable online booking pages, automated reminders, staff management tools, and robust reporting—everything you'd expect from an all-in-one option. It's also part of the Square product ecosystem, so if you use Square to process payments this may be the option for you.
Target audience
Square Payments users are of course Square Appointment's main target audience, but more generally it's aimed at businesses working with clients and others likely to process a large number of payments frequently. This puts it firmly in the medium-size company range.
However, as Square Appointments also has a free-to-use plan, it's also a potential choice for single entrepreneurs or small businesses that need to accept payments and process appointments on a budget. Just like Acuity Scheduling, it's a jack-of-all-trades for a specific market segment.
Key features
- Integrated payment processing under the Square system
- High quality and customizable online booking page
- Staff management and CRM tools included as standard
Pros
- As you'd expect, the app's payment processing are highly efficient
- The user interface is simple to use for almost anyone
- You can scale Square Appointments according to your needs
Cons
- You have to use Square to access Square Appointments
- There are noticeable limitations on certain types of bookings
- The pricing structure is complicated for most potential users
Pricing
You can access the free plan if you have a single location with one staff member. The premium versions start at $29 per month per location and can quickly rack up in cost.
Calendly - Mass market self scheduling
Calendly is one of the big market players which brings with it its own benefits and problems. It is probably one of the most well-known scheduling tools today thanks to its marketing campaigns as they have focused on its ability to generate things like automated appointment confirmations, and eliminate the tedious back-and-forth of emails.
Calendly works by allowing users to set their availability, create various event types, and then share a personalized link. Recipients of this link can then view the host's real-time availability and select a time that works for them. Since its inception, Calendly has also expanded to support group and recurring appointment scheduling.
Target audience
Calendly has gone to great lengths to emphasize how its appointment scheduling software can be used by anyone. This can be easily observed in the way that its pricing system works, ranging from a free plan for individual users to enterprise plans for the largest organizations.
However, larger-scaled companies, especially those struggling with managing multiple business locations that need individualized appointment management, are probably best suited to Calendly. That's because the app's best features are well hidden behind its higher paywalls.
Key features
- Each user gets a unique URL link that they can customize
- Multiple calendar integrations come as standard, including apps like Google Calendar
- Group and collective scheduling for large events in multiple locations
Pros
- The free plan is fairly robust, especially for a smaller sized company
- There's efficient integration with Google Calendar and other calendar apps
- The aesthetics of the customization options are business-level quality
Cons
- You need higher-tier plans to manage multiple locations
- Customer service is very poorly rated compared to other platforms
- Accessing the higher tiers can get very expensive per user
Pricing
The free plan offers one event type, one connected calendar, etc., per month. Premium plans range from $10-$16 per month, per user, with enterprise plans for larger businesses available as well.
Related
Interested in exploring alternatives to Calendly? Check out this comprehensive guide on the best meeting scheduler apps, including top Calendly alternatives with detailed comparisons: Top 6 Calendly Alternatives
vCita - Multiple tools for multiple locations
Our penultimate entry on the list of scheduling apps that go beyond what Setmore offers is vcita, and this option was set up to appeal to entrepreneurs and smaller-sized businesses. The main unique selling point this app offers is that it provides a wider range of tools than many of its competitors, in addition to things like unlimited appointments.
The philosophy behind vcita's operation is that this all-in-one capability helps to empower businesses by keeping everything in one place, and thus creating efficiency. Email reminders, etc., don't exist in a vacuum after all; every process a business goes through feeds into another some way. There's also an emphasis on appointment self-service for client-facing companies.
Target audience
As we mentioned, vcita is targeted primarily at small businesses and entrepreneurs, without there being a specific focus on any given industries. However, while the industry is unimportant, companies working in client-facing services are definitely a target audience, like hairdressers, personal trainers, therapists, etc.
The fact that vcita markets itself as an all-in-one tool for businesses with potentially unlimited users, included with things like SMS reminders for meetings and two-way calendar sync, makes it very attractive to these groups. Price tier variation is also another key factor as individuals look for affordability.
Key features
- A large range of business tools including CRM functionality
- Online payments and invoicing are included as standard
- Emails and sms reminders can be linked to personalized booking pages
Pros
- vcita is an all in one tool that makes business management simpler
- There's a user friendly interface and customized, self-service booking pages
- The app's mobile optimisation is of a high quality
Cons
- There's a high price barrier of entry for new users
- The system can be pretty complex, especially for new users too
- The customization options are fairly limited
Pricing
There's no free plan and vcita offers a tiered pricing model, with discounts typically available for annual billing. Prices range from $29 to $93 a month.
SimblyBook.me - For a versatile booking page
The last entry on our list of Setmore alternatives is SimplyBook.me, a scheduling tool that was designed to appeal to as many potential users as possible via versatility. It's got all the features you'd expect, like email reminders, calendar integrations, and time zone management, plus several more to make this a real jack-of-all-trades for scheduling.
SimplyBook.me works by providing a library of plugins that can offer different custom features depending on what you might need. This means that it's not as specifically specialized as other entries on the list, but it can provide what you need to create an all-in-one system. For example, if you need to focus more on Google products like Google Meets, or sell individualized client packages, then the system will allow you to do that.
Target audience
SimplyBook.me's primary audience is intended to be small and medium-sized businesses that need more advanced features for their employees but also need to have a more flexible system in place. This allows them to create a more personalized scheduling ecosystem than more rigid systems, say for example, Zoho Bookings.
Ultimately though, any company that needs to scale operations without having to rely on a dedicated support teams is going to get the most use out of SimplyBook.me. As such, it more realistically puts it in the range of medium to larger-scale companies that are on a budget.
Key features
- Extensive modular plugin system to create a well balanced scheduling ecosystem
- Integration for calendar and video meetings apps like Google Meets
- Customizable booking portals and links for individual clients
Pros
- The plugin system makes SimplyBook.me highly customziable
- Multi-channel booking is made simple via the SimplyBook.me interface
- The app's customer support team has won plaudits for its quality
Cons
- The interface can be complex and overwhelming for first time users
- The pricing can rise quickly especially for tiers that could be described as 'professional plans'
- At the same time, customization can be limited in the lower tiers
Pricing
There's a free plan available which has some robust features. Prices range between $8.25 to $49.90 per month.
Related
Looking for the ultimate guide to scheduling apps? Check out this in-depth article covering the main types, best options, and how to choose the right one for your business: Ultimate Guide to Scheduling Apps.
Summary
Each of the apps we've listed here should provide you with what you need to get away from Setmore, but for stress-free scheduling at an affordable choice, the best option is Calday. It's the ideal balance between being lean but efficient, and being cost-effective while still providing advanced features.
It's very simple to get started with Calday. All you need to do is follow the link and enter your details, and in no time at all your events and appointments will be simpler than ever. No more stress, just seamless, streamlined scheduling.
