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Acuity Scheduling vs SimplyBook.me 2026

Acuity Scheduling excels with superior automation, native integrations, and Zapier support for power users, while SimplyBook.me offers lower pricing and better multilingual support for small businesses operating internationally. Acuity is owned by Squarespace and integrates deeply with their ecosystem, whereas SimplyBook.me operates independently with a simpler feature set.

AS

Acuity Scheduling

Squarespace-owned appointment scheduling platform with advanced automation and extensive integrations.

Service-based businesses (salons, coaches, consultants, fitness), agencies needing heavy automation, companies integrating with multiple third-party tools, and teams wanting sophisticated workflow automation.

Score67%
VS
S

SimplyBook.me

Budget-friendly appointment scheduler focused on simplicity and multilingual support for global businesses.

Small international businesses, solo service providers with simple workflows, non-English speaking markets, startups on tight budgets, and businesses prioritizing ease-of-use over advanced features.

Score60%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

Acuity Scheduling excels with superior automation, native integrations, and Zapier support for power users, while SimplyBook.me offers lower pricing and better multilingual support for small businesses operating internationally. Acuity is owned by Squarespace and integrates deeply with their ecosystem, whereas SimplyBook.me operates independently with a simpler feature set.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose Acuity Scheduling if you need advanced automation, deep integrations with tools like Zapier, lower payment processing fees, or plan to scale with more complex workflows. Choose SimplyBook.me if you operate internationally, need 18+ language support, prefer minimal pricing, or run a simple single-service business that doesn't require heavy automation.

Community feedback

Was this verdict helpful?

A
Acuity Scheduling
7.9/10
SimplyBook.me
7.1/10
S
A

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

Best pick

Service-based businesses (salons, coaches, consultants, fitness), agencies needing heavy automation, companies integrating with multiple third-party tools, and teams wanting sophisticated workflow automation.

S

Choose SimplyBook.me if

Small international businesses, solo service providers with simple workflows, non-English speaking markets, startups on tight budgets, and businesses prioritizing ease-of-use over advanced features.

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Starting Price (Monthly):SimplyBook.me wins($12/month vs $15/month)
  • Payment Processing Fees:Acuity Scheduling wins(2.6% + $0.30 per transaction vs 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
  • Native Integrations:Acuity Scheduling wins(150+ integrations (via Zapier + native) vs 80+ integrations)
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

21 numeric metrics compared

MetricAcuity SchedulingSimplyBook.meRatio
Setup Time to Launch(minutes)15-30 minutes
Starting Monthly Cost(USD)$16$0/month (free tier)
No-Show Reduction (Typical)(%)~25% (via reminders)
Starting Monthly Price (USD)(USD)$16
Available Integrations(count)120+ (via Zapier and native)
Setup Time to First Booking (minutes)(minutes)30-60 minutes
Third-Party Integrations(count)500+ via Zapier50+
Mobile App Platforms(count)iOS and Android2 (iOS, Android)
Starter Plan Price(USD/user/month)$15 (Standard)
Setup Time to First Booking(minutes)15-25 minutes
Zapier Integration Count(integrations)150+ apps
Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD/month)$55
Available API Integrations(count)500+
Average Setup Time(days)1-2 days
Free Trial Period(days)14 days
Starting Monthly Price(USD)$15$12
Payment Processing Fee(% + fixed)2.6% + $0.302.9% + $0.30
Native Integrations(count)150+80+
Supported Languages(languages)818
Notification Channels(channels)4 (SMS, email, WhatsApp, push)3 (SMS, email, WhatsApp)
No-Show Reduction Rate (with reminders)(percent)40%40%

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

AS
5Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling leads
S
2SimplyBook.me
  • Starting Price (Monthly)

    Acuity Scheduling

    $15/month

    SimplyBook.me

    $12/month(winner)

  • Payment Processing Fees

    Acuity Scheduling

    2.6% + $0.30 per transaction(winner)

    SimplyBook.me

    2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

  • Native Integrations

    Acuity Scheduling

    150+ integrations (via Zapier + native)(winner)

    SimplyBook.me

    80+ integrations

  • Supported Languages

    Acuity Scheduling

    8 languages

    SimplyBook.me

    18 languages(winner)

  • Free Plan Available

    Acuity Scheduling

    Yes (up to 1 service)(winner)

    SimplyBook.me

    Yes (limited 30-day trial only)

  • Automated Reminders

    Acuity Scheduling

    SMS, email, WhatsApp, push notifications(winner)

    SimplyBook.me

    SMS, email, WhatsApp only

  • Custom Forms Builder

    Acuity Scheduling

    Advanced conditional logic(winner)

    SimplyBook.me

    Basic static forms

Full Comparison

AAcuity Scheduling
SSimplyBook.me
Transaction Fees Per Payment(percentage + fixed)
2.2% (Stripe external)
Starting Monthly Cost(USD)
$16
$0/month (free tier)
Transaction Fee (Online Payments)(%)
None (3rd party)
Starting Monthly Price (USD)(USD)
$16
Payment Processing Fees(% + fixed)
2.9% + $0.30
Show 8 more attributes
Free Tier Availability
No (14-day free trial only)
Starter Plan Price(USD/user/month)
$15 (Standard)
Payment Processing Fee (if applicable)(percent + USD)
2.2% + $0.30 (native Acuity processing)
Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD/month)
$55
Starting Monthly Price(USD)
$15
$12
Payment Processing Fee(% + fixed)
2.6% + $0.30
2.9% + $0.30
Free Plan Available
Perpetual (1 service)
30-day trial only
Payment Processing Fee (Per Transaction)(percent + fixed)
2.2% + $0.50
Setup Time to Launch(minutes)
15-30 minutes
Setup Time to First Booking(minutes)
15-25 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
Custom Form Fields(count)
Unlimited
Show 15 more attributes
Email Automation Capabilities(level)
Advanced (25+ templates, conditional logic, delays)
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)
Custom Domain Support(domains)
Yes (Professional plan+, $59/month)
API Access Availability
Yes (Professional tier, $59/month)
Email Marketing Tools Included(boolean)
No
Sales Pipeline Management(feature level)
Basic (not primary focus)
Appointment Booking Customization(level)
Highly specialized (primary function)
Supported Languages(languages)
8
18
Notification Channels(channels)
4 (SMS, email, WhatsApp, push)
3 (SMS, email, WhatsApp)
Form Customization Level
Advanced (conditional logic, branching)
Basic (static forms)
Mobile App
iOS and Android
iOS and Android
No-Show Reduction Rate (with reminders)(percent)
40%
Native Mobile App Available(platforms)
Web-based only
Maximum Staff Accounts(users)
Unlimited
Multi-Location Support(locations)
Yes (via platform)
Maximum Appointment Capacity (Pro Plan)(monthly)
Unlimited
Inventory Management
No
No-Show Reduction (Typical)(%)
~25% (via reminders)
Native Payment Processing
Yes (Stripe, PayPal, Square)
Available Integrations(count)
120+ (via Zapier and native)
Available API Integrations(count)
500+
Native Integrations(count)
150+
80+
Setup Time to First Booking (minutes)(minutes)
30-60 minutes
White-Label/Rebranding Options(level)
Full (complete removal of branding)
Third-Party Integrations(count)
500+ via Zapier
50+
Mobile App Platforms(count)
iOS and Android
2 (iOS, Android)
Automated Marketing Tools
Basic (via integrations)
Zapier Integration Count(integrations)
150+ apps
Average Setup Time(days)
1-2 days
Free Trial Period(days)
14 days
Free Trial/Freemium Period(days)
Unlimited freemium

Pros & Cons

12 pros·7 cons across both

AS
S
AS

Acuity Scheduling

+6-3

Pros

  • 150+ native integrations including Zapier, Stripe, PayPal, and Google Workspace
  • Advanced automation: conditional reminders, no-show penalties, custom workflows
  • SMS, email, WhatsApp, and push notification reminders included
  • Perpetual free plan available for single-service businesses
  • Lower payment processing fees (2.6% + $0.30 vs competitors at 2.9%+)
  • Advanced custom forms with conditional logic and branching

Cons

  • Higher starting price at $15/month vs $12 for SimplyBook.me
  • Only 8 languages supported limits international reach
  • Steeper learning curve for advanced features compared to SimplyBook.me
S

SimplyBook.me

+6-4

Pros

  • 18 languages supported (vs Acuity's 8), ideal for international operations
  • Lowest entry price at $12/month for basic features
  • Simpler, more intuitive interface with shorter onboarding time
  • SMS, email, and WhatsApp reminders included
  • 80+ integrations including Google, Outlook, Stripe, and PayPal
  • Mobile app available for iOS and Android

Cons

  • Limited to 30-day free trial (no perpetual free plan like Acuity)
  • Higher payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) increase costs at scale
  • Basic form builder lacks conditional logic and advanced customization
  • Fewer automation capabilities compared to Acuity

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. SimplyBook.me has a lower entry price at $12/month vs Acuity's $15/month. However, if you process payments, Acuity's 2.6% processing fee beats SimplyBook.me's 2.9%, saving ~0.3% per transaction. For a business processing $10,000/month, Acuity saves approximately $30 in fees, offsetting its higher base price. Acuity's perpetual free plan also adds value if you have just one service.

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