There are a lot of scheduling services and apps out there to choose from, and too much choice can sometimes be paralyzing. If you feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store, unable to choose from the vast array of chocolates in front of you, we’ve got your back.
We, the Calday team, are convinced of the strengths of the scheduling tool we've worked to create, and we’re confident enough in it that we’re happy to provide you with reviews of our competitors in all their forms.
One of the most well-known options available, for example, is Acuity Scheduling. It's a tool that has cemented its position in the market.
It’s seen as one of the go-to platforms for appointment booking and scheduling links, offering a range of features that streamline scheduling processes. We can be honest and admit that it’s not a bad app, but there are also better options available.
In this article, we’re going to cover the essentials of Acuity Scheduling, how the app works, and its primary features. We’ll then go over the alternatives currently available while highlighting that when it comes to Calendly vs. Acuity, there’s simply no comparison.
An overview of Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is part of the Squarespace ecosystem. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen their adverts—the do-it-yourself website builder has become a common sight on our television screens.
This integration allows users to place an Acuity Scheduling booking page within the websites they create, a feature that has proven to be popular.
Acuity Scheduling includes all the essential features you’d expect from a good scheduler. There’s calendar synchronization, automated reminders, and, of course, customizable booking pages that users can take advantage of. As such, it has become popular with a wide range of customers, including businesses and the self-employed.
There are several issues with this tool though, starting with the fact that there’s no Acuity Free Plan, so the budget conscious might need to look elsewhere.
Also, you can only use Acuity Scheduling if you are signed up to Squarespace as well. If you don’t have a Squarespace account or don’t plan on getting one, this is not going to be the scheduler for you.
One final note; Acuity's paid plans are fairly expensive. If you need a cheap tool to just book meetings and organise various event types, look elsewhere.
Pros
- The interface with is very user-friendly and offers easy navigation
- Seamless integrations with major platforms like Google Calendar, Zoom, and Stripe
- Customizable booking pages to match your company’s branding
Cons
- The pricing can be high for small businesses and individual entrepreneurs.
- Your customization options are very limited without Squarespace integration
- If you want advanced automation you need to sign up to higher-tier plans
Pricing
- Emerging Plan: $16/month (1 calendar)
- Growing Plan: $27/month (up to 6 calendars)
- Powerhouse Plan: $49/month (up to 36 calendars)
Calday
The best alternative to Acuity Scheduling is Calday as there’s simply no comparison. Our tool is designed with simplicity in mind, but it’s also powerful.
Thanks to our high level of customization we can ensure that all your meetings and events are scheduled efficiently. This makes our tool accessible to everyone, from individual students and grandmothers organizing sewing sessions to senior executives managing multinational organizations.
The best thing about Calday is its flexibility. You can customize your automated reminders, booking confirmations, and rescheduling options according to your needs. The design is also minimalist, making it easy to make these changes on the go; ideal for entrepreneurs and businesspeople who need to make quick decisions.
Unlike Acuity Scheduling we don’t require you to sign up for other apps and accounts. All you need to do is create an account with us directly, and you’ll be able to schedule better in no time.
Plus, with a free version available and a premium version priced at only $10 a month, there’s hardly anyone who can’t afford our services!
Pros
- Calday integrates with major third-party calendar apps
- You have a huge range of customization opportunities
- It’s incredibly easy and intuitive to navigate our interface
Cons
- Calday requires sign-up for both organizers and invitees
- The free plan has limited customization options
- There’s a short learning curve for to use our AI
Pricing
- Free Plan: Basic scheduling features
- Premium Plan: $10/month with advanced features
Anyone can schedule meetings with Calday.
Setmore
Those looking for versatility might want to consider Setmore, as this scheduling tool is highly adaptable, especially for businesses. Like Calday, it provides automated reminders, calendar syncing, and payment processing through commonly used services like Stripe and Square, providing a comprehensive all in one scheduling tool.
You can also take advantage of customizable booking pages and other key aspects of the scheduling process. Each of these can be generated in tandem with automatic reminders and easily shared with your clients via social media, email, or directly embedded on a website like Acuity Scheduling.
Setmore is a good app for those needing a flexible scheduling tool for business, and as such, it may not be the right choice for students needing help with group classes, solo entrepreneurs, and other individuals.
Almost all of its key features are also available with Calday, which is designed to be used by almost anyone, businesses and private individuals alike.
Pros
- The free plan allows up to four years per account
- The company’s customer support often receives high reviews, just like Calday
- You can set up recurring appointments and utilize multi-user scheduling
Cons
- The interface isn’t particularly intuitive and is difficult to use for new users
- Calday’s customization options are considerably more comprehensive
- Some of Setmore’s integrations require third-party apps to work
Pricing
- Free Plan: Basic scheduling features for up to four users
- Premium Plan: $9/user/month
- Pro Plan: $12/user/month with extra features
Related
Looking for more Setmore alternatives? Check out our comprehensive guide to the best Setmore alternatives for a detailed comparison of top scheduling tools.
Appointy
The next entry on our list of Acuity Scheduling alternatives is Appointy, and like our previous entrant, this app was designed to be an all-in-one tool for meeting management.
However, where it differs from Setmore and Calday is that it’s specifically designed for companies in customer-facing industries, such as spas, consulting firms, and sports and fitness businesses.
It achieves this by including social media booking as a standard feature, linking Appointy with sites like Facebook, allowing customers to book through their own accounts. It also includes a customer relationship management (CRM) system.
This means that that every meeting is logged and cross-referenced with the information stored in the system.
If you work in a business that deals with a high volume of customers, especially those active on social media, then Appointy is certainly a good choice—but that’s about it.
This app puts all its eggs in one basket, meaning other potential users, such as students and individual entrepreneurs, are going to need something with a better fit.
Pros
- Excellent social media integrations allowing customers to book appointments via their accounts
- HIPAA compliance for healthcare businesses working in the United Nations
- The system can generated automatic follow up messages and surveys for customers
Cons
- Appointy is focused on a very niche market, and many potential users won’t get full use out of it
- There’s a pretty high learning curve for getting used to the app as it can be complex
- Some of the more advanced features Appointy offers require add-ons to work
Pricing
- Free Plan: Limited features
- Growth Plan: $19.99/month
- Professional Plan: $49.99/month
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
Square Appointments
Now we are going to swing from a scheduling tool that focuses on businesses using social media frequently to one that caters to small and medium-sized businesses: Square Appointments.
This tool comes pre-integrated into the Squarespace website system and has become particularly popular with hairdressers, personal trainers, and others who have specific needs for managing invoices and cash.
This makes it one of the Acuity alternatives with formidable third-party integration potential.
The platform allows businesses to set up an online booking page where clients can book and pay in advance, and it also includes features like automated reminders, calendar synchronization, and customizable booking options.
However, Square Appointments has a couple of notable downsides, starting with the fact that it is quite expensive for teams to access, as it is only free for individuals.
Also, while the ability to use the pre-integrated payment system is useful, there are very few third-party integrations available. This means you can't create your own booking ecosystem.
Pros
- Individuals can access the free to use plan so anyone can access Square Appointments
- The tool is fully integrated with Square POS, simplifying payment collections
- Appointment reminders and confirmations are automatically sent to the user and clients
Cons
- The app is specifically designed for teams so individuals may not make full use of it
- You won’t be able to take advantage of many third-party integrations beyond Square
- The tool is useful for small sized businesses but it can also be particularly expensive
Pricing
- Free for individual users
- Teams Plan: $29/month per location including multi-staff scheduling and team management
- Premium Plan: $69/month per location, offering advanced analytics, loyalty program integration, and more
Look for something to schedule meetings that won't worry your billing and accounting.
SimplyBook.me
The final entry on our list of alternatives to Acuity Scheduling is SimplyBook.me, which is one of the most flexible options for people looking for a scheduling tool.
This scheduling software is particularly popular due to its customization features, allowing users to create fully branded booking pages with custom fields, making it ideal for businesses that require unique intake forms or specific client information.
However, the major weakness of this option is that it can be very complicated to use. It’s designed for large organizations working in complex fields like healthcare, so if you need something simple and efficient, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.
Pros
- Some of the best customization options currently available for businesses
- Multiple locations and multiple languages can be processed at the same time
- HIPAA compliance for healthcare providers is included as standard
Cons
- The tool can be very complicated to use and is designed only for businesses
- The free plan is very limited with highly restricted booking options
- Some customer reviews report glitches affect SimplyBook.me’s software
Pricing
- Free Plan: Limited bookings and basic features
- Basic Plan: $9.90/month – Includes essential scheduling tools
- Standard Plan: $29.90/month – Adds more integrations and customization options
- Premium Plan: $59.90/month – Includes all advertised features
