Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is a flexible online appointment booking software that automates your calendar management, client intake forms, and payment collection to streamline your entire scheduling workflow.
SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is a versatile online appointment scheduling software providing service-based businesses with a professional booking website, automated notifications, and integrated payment processing to streamline client management and operations.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Acuity Scheduling | SimplyBook.me |
|---|---|---|
| Website | acuityscheduling.com | simplybook.me |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $20/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 7 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2006 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | Limassol, Cyprus |
Overview
Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling acts as a 24/7 personal assistant for your business, allowing clients to view your real-time availability and book their own appointments. You can move beyond back-and-forth emails by sharing a customized booking page where clients select services, complete intake forms, and pay deposits upfront. The platform automatically handles time zone conversions and sends branded confirmations to ensure everyone stays on the same page.
You can manage multiple staff calendars, offer group classes, and set up recurring appointments with ease. It helps you reduce no-shows through automated text and email reminders while keeping your data organized in a centralized dashboard. Whether you are a solo consultant or manage a large clinic, the software scales to fit your specific booking requirements and administrative needs.
SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me provides you with a complete booking solution designed specifically for service-based businesses. You can create a professional, custom-branded booking website where clients can view your availability and schedule appointments 24/7. It eliminates the back-and-forth of manual scheduling by syncing with your personal calendars and sending automated reminders via email or SMS to reduce no-shows.
You can manage everything from simple one-on-one consultations to complex class schedules and memberships. The platform also handles your financial transactions by allowing you to accept deposits or full payments online through various processors. Whether you are a solo practitioner or manage a large team across multiple locations, you can scale the system with custom features like coupons, gift cards, and intake forms.
Overview
Acuity Scheduling Features
- Self-Service Booking Give your clients the freedom to book, cancel, or reschedule their own appointments based on your real-time availability.
- Custom Intake Forms Gather critical client information during the booking process so you are fully prepared before every meeting starts.
- Automated Reminders Reduce costly no-shows by sending automated, branded email and text notifications to your clients before their scheduled time.
- Payment Integration Collect full payments or deposits via Stripe, Square, or PayPal at the exact moment a client books with you.
- Time Zone Syncing Eliminate scheduling confusion for international clients with automatic time zone detection and conversion for every booking.
- Calendar Coordination Sync your schedule with Google Calendar, iCloud, and Outlook to prevent double-bookings across your personal and professional life.
SimplyBook.me Features
- Custom Booking Website. Create a professional standalone booking page or embed a widget directly into your existing website for seamless scheduling.
- Automated Notifications. Reduce costly no-shows by sending automated appointment confirmations and reminders to your clients via SMS and email.
- Online Payments. Secure your revenue by accepting deposits or full upfront payments through integrated processors like PayPal, Stripe, and Square.
- Client App. Offer your customers a dedicated mobile app so they can book, cancel, and manage their appointments directly from their phones.
- Intake Forms. Collect important client information or medical history during the booking process so you are fully prepared for every session.
- Membership Management. Sell recurring memberships and packages to your loyal clients to ensure steady cash flow and repeat business.
- Marketing Tools. Boost your sales by creating custom coupons, gift cards, and 'book soon' reminders to keep your calendar full.
- Admin App. Manage your entire business on the go with a dedicated admin app that lets you view and edit schedules.
Pricing Comparison
Acuity Scheduling Pricing
- 1 staff member/location
- Client self-scheduling
- Unlimited appointments
- Automatic confirmations & reminders
- Payment processing integrations
- Vaulting credit cards for later
- Everything in Emerging, plus:
- Up to 6 staff members/locations
- SMS/Text message reminders
- Packages, gift certificates, & subscriptions
- Appointment memberships
- Group classes and workshops
SimplyBook.me Pricing
- 50 bookings per month
- 1 custom feature
- 5 providers
- Booking website
- Booking widget
- Directory listing
- Everything in Free, plus:
- 100 bookings per month
- 3 custom features
- 15 providers
- Client app
- Sales POS
- Coupons and gift cards
Pros & Cons
Acuity Scheduling
Pros
- Highly customizable booking pages match your brand
- Excellent automated time zone management for global clients
- Reliable syncing with major third-party calendars
- Intuitive interface for both admins and clients
- Robust mobile app for managing bookings on-the-go
Cons
- Initial setup can be time-consuming for complex schedules
- SMS reminders are not available on the entry-level plan
- Limited design flexibility without knowledge of custom CSS
SimplyBook.me
Pros
- Extremely flexible system with modular custom features
- Professional looking booking pages that build trust
- Excellent customer support via live chat
- Affordable entry-level pricing for small businesses
- Robust mobile apps for both admins and clients
Cons
- Setup interface can feel overwhelming initially
- Custom feature limits on lower tiers are restrictive
- SMS credits require an additional purchase