Acuity Scheduling vs Calendly
Acuity Scheduling
Cloud-based appointment scheduling and payment collection software for service professionals.
Salons, spas, coaches, therapists, consultants, and agencies requiring payment collection, custom branding, and complex workflows
Calendly
Simple appointment scheduling software for individuals and small teams.
Freelancers, recruiters, small teams, sales professionals, and anyone needing plug-and-play scheduling without technical setup
Short Answer
Acuity Scheduling excels for service-based businesses with advanced automation and custom branding, while Calendly dominates for simplicity and ease-of-use across general scheduling needs. Acuity costs $16-$99/month with more features, whereas Calendly ranges from free to $20/month with a gentler learning curve.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Acuity Scheduling if you run a service business requiring custom workflows, payment collection, advanced automation, and white-label options—the investment pays off with time savings and professional control. Choose Calendly if you prioritize simplicity, quick setup, and minimal cost, ideal for freelancers, recruiters, or teams new to scheduling software who need straightforward meeting booking without complexity.
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Choose Acuity Scheduling if
Salons, spas, coaches, therapists, consultants, and agencies requiring payment collection, custom branding, and complex workflows
Choose Calendly if
Freelancers, recruiters, small teams, sales professionals, and anyone needing plug-and-play scheduling without technical setup
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Acuity Scheduling | Calendly | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Time to Launch(hours) | 15-30 minutes | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $16 | — | — |
| No-Show Reduction (Typical)(%) | ~25% (via reminders) | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price (USD)(USD) | $16 | Free | — |
| Custom Form Fields(count) | Unlimited | 5 (free) / 5+ (paid) | — |
| Available Integrations(count) | 120+ (via Zapier and native) | 80+ (native integrations) | +50% |
| Setup Time to First Booking (minutes)(minutes) | 30-60 minutes | 5-10 minutes | +543% |
| Third-Party Integrations(count) | 500+ via Zapier | 100+ | +400% |
| Mobile App Platforms(platforms) | iOS and Android | — | — |
| Starter Plan Price(USD/month) | $15 (Standard) | $0 (Free tier) / $10 (Basic monthly) | +50% |
| Setup Time to First Booking(minutes) | 15-25 minutes | 5-10 minutes | +186% |
| Zapier Integration Count(integrations) | 150+ apps | 90+ apps | +67% |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $15 | — | — |
| Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD/month) | $55 | — | — |
| Available API Integrations(count) | 500+ | — | — |
| Average Setup Time(minutes) | 1-2 days | — | — |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 14 days | — | — |
| Monthly Cost (Basic Paid Plan)(USD) | $12 | $12 | — |
| User Base Size(millions) | 10+ | 10+ | — |
| Integration Count(apps) | 90+ | 90+ | — |
| Free Plan Event Types(count) | 1 event type | 1 event type | — |
| Annual Premium Cost (Individual)(USD) | $168/year | $168/year | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.8/5 (180K reviews) | 4.8/5 (180K reviews) | — |
| Average Booking Response Time(hours) | 24 hours (78% rate) | 24 hours (78% rate) | — |
| Calendar Sync Types(platforms) | Google Calendar, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange | Google Calendar, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange | — |
| Minimum Paid Monthly Cost(USD) | $10/month | $10/month | — |
| Total Users Worldwide(millions) | 15+ million | 15+ million | — |
| Pre-built Integrations(count) | 100+ integrations | 100+ integrations | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Key Differences
Acuity Scheduling
$16/month
Calendly
Free (limited)🏆
Acuity Scheduling
Unlimited🏆
Calendly
5
Acuity Scheduling
Yes (Stripe, PayPal, Square)🏆
Calendly
No (via Zapier only)
Acuity Scheduling
Advanced (conditional logic, 25+ templates)🏆
Calendly
Basic (standard reminders only)
Acuity Scheduling
1000🏆
Calendly
500
Acuity Scheduling
Full (remove all Acuity branding)🏆
Calendly
Calendly branding always visible
Acuity Scheduling
7/10
Calendly
2/10🏆
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Acuity Scheduling | Calendly |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fees Per Payment(percentage + fixed) | 2.2% (Stripe external) | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $16 | — |
| Transaction Fee (Online Payments)(%) | None (3rd party) | — |
| Starting Monthly Price (USD)(USD) | $16 | Free |
| Free Tier Availability | No (14-day free trial only) | Yes (unlimited 1:1 meetings) |
Show 9 more attributesStarter Plan Price(USD/month) $15 (Standard) $0 (Free tier) / $10 (Basic monthly) Payment Processing Fee (if applicable)(percent + USD) 2.2% + $0.30 (native Acuity processing) 2.2% + $0.50 (via Stripe integration) Starting Monthly Price(USD) $15 — Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD/month) $55 — Free Trial Period(days) 14 days — Monthly Cost (Basic Paid Plan)(USD) $12 — Free Tier Available(boolean) Yes (unlimited basic features) — Annual Premium Cost (Individual)(USD) $168/year — Minimum Paid Monthly Cost(USD) $10/month — | ||
| Setup Time to Launch(hours) | 15-30 minutes | — |
| Built-in Email Marketing | Yes (automated campaigns) | — |
| Maximum Clients(unlimited) | Unlimited | — |
| Waitlist & Cancellation Policy Support(yes/no) | Yes | — |
| Maximum Calendars (Scheduling Types)(count) | Unlimited | 1 (free) / Unlimited (paid) |
| Custom Form Fields(count) | Unlimited | 5 (free) / 5+ (paid) |
Show 15 more attributesEmail Automation Capabilities(level) Advanced (25+ templates, conditional logic, delays) Basic (standard reminders) Built-in POS System No (integration required) — Native Inventory Management No — Client Booking Page Customization Advanced CSS/HTML editing — Intake Form Conditional Logic Yes (all plans) No (Pro plan has basic forms) Custom Domain Support(domains) Yes (Professional plan+, $59/month) Yes (Team plan+, $29/month) API Access Availability Yes (Professional tier, $59/month) Yes (Premium tier, $19.99/month) Email Marketing Tools Included(boolean) No — Sales Pipeline Management(feature level) Basic (not primary focus) — Appointment Booking Customization(level) Highly specialized (primary function) — Meeting Recording & Transcription(available) Recording only (via extensions) — Free Plan Event Types(count) 1 event type — Automated Workflow Rules(count) Conditional routing, round-robin, payment collection — Pre-built Integrations(count) 100+ integrations — Native Mobile Apps(null) iOS and Android with push notifications — | ||
| Native Mobile App Available(platforms) | Web-based only | — |
| Maximum Staff Accounts(users) | Unlimited | — |
| Multi-Location Support(locations) | Yes (via platform) | — |
| Inventory Management | No | — |
| No-Show Reduction (Typical)(%) | ~25% (via reminders) | — |
| Average Booking Response Time(hours) | 24 hours (78% rate) | — |
| Native Payment Processing | Yes (Stripe, PayPal, Square) | No (Zapier only) |
| Available Integrations(count) | 120+ (via Zapier and native) | 80+ (native integrations) |
| Setup Time to First Booking (minutes)(minutes) | 30-60 minutes | 5-10 minutes |
| Setup Time to First Booking(minutes) | 15-25 minutes | 5-10 minutes |
| White-Label/Rebranding Options(level) | Full (complete removal of branding) | None (Calendly always visible) |
| Payment Processing Fees(percentage + fixed) | 2.9% + $0.30 | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(count) | 500+ via Zapier | 100+ |
| Available API Integrations(count) | 500+ | — |
| Mobile App Platforms(platforms) | iOS and Android | — |
| Automated Marketing Tools | Basic (via integrations) | — |
| Zapier Integration Count(integrations) | 150+ apps | 90+ apps |
| Integration Count(apps) | 90+ | — |
| Calendar Sync Types(platforms) | Google Calendar, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange | — |
| Average Setup Time(minutes) | 1-2 days | — |
| Setup Time(minutes) | 5 | — |
| CRM Integration | Third-party via Zapier | — |
| User Base Size(millions) | 10+ | — |
| Sales Pipeline Integration(capability) | None (scheduling only) | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | 15+ million | — |
| iOS App Rating(stars out of 5) | 4.8/5 (180K reviews) | — |
| Total Users Worldwide(millions) | 15+ million | — |
| Self-Hosting Capability | Not available - SaaS only | — |
| API Type & Power | REST API with 50+ endpoints | — |
Show 9 more attributes
Show 15 more attributes
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
Acuity Scheduling
Pros
- Built-in payment processing (Stripe, PayPal, Square integration) eliminates third-party dependencies
- Unlimited custom fields and form builders for detailed client intake and questionnaires
- Advanced email automation with conditional logic, delays, and 25+ pre-built templates
- Full white-label capabilities for reselling or agency use
- Class/group scheduling with capacity management and waitlist automation
Cons
- Steeper learning curve requires 2-4 hours of setup and configuration for optimal use
- Minimum $16/month entry price (nearly 2x Calendly's free tier) with premium features requiring $99/month
Calendly
Pros
- Free forever tier covers basic scheduling (1 calendar type, unlimited meetings, email reminders)
- Exceptionally intuitive interface—most users productive within 5 minutes of signup
- Lightweight integrations with 80+ apps (Google Workspace, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack)
- Mobile-responsive design with reliable iOS and Android apps
- Transparent pricing: free tier never requires credit card
Cons
- No native payment processing—requires Zapier workaround or separate payment tool integration
- Limited to 5 custom questions on free tier; limited automation rules for conditional workflows
- Calendly branding always visible to end users; no true white-label option
Frequently Asked Questions
Acuity Scheduling supports native payment processing through Stripe, PayPal, and Square—clients can pay during booking. Calendly does not offer built-in payments; you must use Zapier to connect a payment processor or handle payments separately, adding friction to the booking process.
Resources & Learn More
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Where to Buy
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