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.
Calendly
Calendly is an automated scheduling platform that eliminates back-and-forth emails by allowing others to book meetings directly on your calendar based on your real-time availability and custom preferences.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Acuity Scheduling | Calendly |
|---|---|---|
| Website | acuityscheduling.com | calendly.com |
| 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 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | Atlanta, USA |
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.
Calendly
Calendly simplifies the way you schedule meetings by removing the frustrating back-and-forth of email chains. You simply set your availability preferences, share your personal link, and let invitees pick a time that works for everyone. It automatically syncs with your existing calendars to ensure you are never double-booked and sends instant confirmations to all parties involved.
You can use it for everything from simple one-on-one check-ins to complex group sessions and round-robin sales calls. The platform handles the time zone conversions and reminder notifications automatically, so you can focus on the actual meeting rather than the logistics of setting it up. It scales easily from individual freelancers to large global enterprises requiring advanced security and team routing.
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.
Calendly Features
- Calendar Sync. Connect up to six calendars per user to automatically check your real-time availability and prevent any double-bookings.
- Automated Workflows. Send automated thank-you notes, meeting reminders, and follow-up emails to your invitees to reduce no-shows and save time.
- Round Robin Scheduling. Distribute incoming meetings automatically among your team members based on availability, priority, or equal distribution logic.
- Meeting Polls. Vote on preferred times for large group meetings and let the majority decide the best slot without endless email threads.
- Custom Branding. Remove the Calendly logo and add your own branding to booking pages for a professional, cohesive client experience.
- Payment Integrations. Collect payments via Stripe or PayPal directly at the moment of booking to streamline your billing process.
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
Calendly Pricing
- 1 calendar connection
- Unlimited one-on-one events
- One event type
- Automated event notifications
- Mobile app access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Connect 2 calendars per user
- Unlimited active event types
- Group and collective events
- Reminders and follow-ups
- Custom branding on booking pages
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
Calendly
Pros
- Eliminates repetitive back-and-forth emails effectively
- Automatic time zone detection works flawlessly
- Clean and intuitive interface for invitees
- Seamless integration with major calendar providers
Cons
- Free version limited to one event type
- Customization options restricted on lower tiers
- Workflows can be complex to set up initially