Acuity Scheduling vs Vagaro 2026
Acuity Scheduling is a general-purpose appointment booking platform excelling in customization and integrations, while Vagaro is purpose-built for beauty, wellness, and personal services with built-in client management and marketing tools. Acuity offers greater flexibility for diverse industries; Vagaro provides industry-specific features out of the box.
Acuity Scheduling
Flexible appointment scheduling and booking platform for service-based businesses across industries.
Consultants, coaches, fitness trainers, therapists, and multi-service providers who need flexibility and integrations.
Vagaro
All-in-one booking and business management platform purpose-built for beauty, wellness, and personal services.
Salons, spas, barbershops, and beauty/wellness practitioners who need industry-specific CRM and retail management.
Quick Answer
AI SummaryAcuity Scheduling is a general-purpose appointment booking platform excelling in customization and integrations, while Vagaro is purpose-built for beauty, wellness, and personal services with built-in client management and marketing tools. Acuity offers greater flexibility for diverse industries; Vagaro provides industry-specific features out of the box.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Acuity Scheduling if you need maximum flexibility, custom branding, and integrations across diverse business types—it's the better choice for consultants, coaches, and multi-service providers. Choose Vagaro if you operate a salon, spa, or beauty business and want industry-specific features like client history, loyalty programs, and built-in upselling tools without heavy customization.
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Choose Acuity Scheduling if
Best pickConsultants, coaches, fitness trainers, therapists, and multi-service providers who need flexibility and integrations.
Choose Vagaro if
Salons, spas, barbershops, and beauty/wellness practitioners who need industry-specific CRM and retail management.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Primary Use Case:✓ Vagaro wins(Beauty & wellness specialists (salons, spas, trainers) vs Multi-industry (consultants, fitness, medical, salons))
- Starting Price (Monthly):✓ Acuity Scheduling wins($18 vs $29)
- Built-in CRM Features:✓ Vagaro wins(Full CRM with client history, preferences, loyalty programs vs Basic contact management only)
Key Facts & Figures
22 numeric metrics compared
| Metric | Acuity Scheduling | Vagaro | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Time to Launch(minutes) | 15-30 minutes | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $16 | — | — |
| No-Show Reduction (Typical)(%) | ~25% (via reminders) | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price (USD)(USD) | $16 | — | — |
| Available Integrations(count) | 500+ (via Zapier + native) | 150+ | |
| Setup Time to First Booking (minutes)(minutes) | 30-60 minutes | — | — |
| Third-party Integrations(count) | 500+ via Zapier | 200+ integrations | |
| Mobile App Platforms(count) | iOS and Android | iOS and Android | |
| Starter Plan Price(USD/month) | $15 (Standard) | — | — |
| Setup Time to First Booking(minutes) | 15-25 minutes | — | — |
| Zapier Integration Count(integrations) | 150+ apps | — | — |
| Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD) | $55 | — | — |
| Available API Integrations(count) | 500+ | — | — |
| Average Setup Time(minutes) | 1-2 days | — | — |
| Free Trial Period(days) | 14 days | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Price(USD) | $18 | $29 | |
| Payment Processing Fee(%) | 2.6% + $0.30 | — | — |
| Native Integrations(count) | 150+ | — | — |
| Supported Languages | 8 | — | — |
| Notification Channels(integrations) | 4 (SMS, email, WhatsApp, push) | — | — |
| Included Staff Members (Basic Plan)(count) | Unlimited | 1-3 (depends on plan) | — |
| Free Trial Duration(days) | 14 days | 14 days |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
7 attributes compared head-to-head
- Multi-industry (consultants, fitness, medical, salons)Primary Use CaseBeauty & wellness specialists (salons, spas, trainers)(winner)
- $18(winner)Starting Price (Monthly)$29
- Basic contact management onlyBuilt-in CRM FeaturesFull CRM with client history, preferences, loyalty programs(winner)
- Yes (Stripe, Square, PayPal)Payment Processing Built-inYes (proprietary + Stripe)
- App-based booking only, no staff managementMobile App QualityFull staff & client management app with check-in(winner)
- 500+ via Zapier, direct integrations with major platforms(winner)Integrations Available150+ integrations, limited custom API access
- Highly customizable website & branding (custom domain, CSS)(winner)Template CustomizationTemplate-based with limited HTML customization
- Primary Use Case
Acuity Scheduling
Multi-industry (consultants, fitness, medical, salons)
Vagaro
Beauty & wellness specialists (salons, spas, trainers)(winner)
- Starting Price (Monthly)
Acuity Scheduling
$18(winner)
Vagaro
$29
- Built-in CRM Features
Acuity Scheduling
Basic contact management only
Vagaro
Full CRM with client history, preferences, loyalty programs(winner)
- Payment Processing Built-in
Acuity Scheduling
Yes (Stripe, Square, PayPal)
Vagaro
Yes (proprietary + Stripe)
- Mobile App Quality
Acuity Scheduling
App-based booking only, no staff management
Vagaro
Full staff & client management app with check-in(winner)
- Integrations Available
Acuity Scheduling
500+ via Zapier, direct integrations with major platforms(winner)
Vagaro
150+ integrations, limited custom API access
- Template Customization
Acuity Scheduling
Highly customizable website & branding (custom domain, CSS)(winner)
Vagaro
Template-based with limited HTML customization
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Acuity Scheduling | Vagaro |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Tier Availability | No (14-day free trial only) | — |
Show 8 more attributesStarter Plan Price(USD/month) $15 (Standard) — Payment Processing Fee (if applicable)(percent + USD) 2.2% + $0.30 (native Acuity processing) — Mid-Tier Plan Price(USD) $55 — Free Trial Period(days) 14 days — Starting Monthly Price(USD) $18 $29 Payment Processing Fee(%) 2.6% + $0.30 — Free Plan Available Perpetual (1 service) — Free Trial Duration(days) 14 days 14 days | ||
| Setup Time to Launch(minutes) | 15-30 minutes | — |
| Setup Time to First Booking(minutes) | 15-25 minutes | — |
| Built-in Email Marketing | Yes (automated campaigns) | — |
| Multi-Location Support(locations) | Yes (via platform) | — |
| Maximum Clients(unlimited) | Unlimited | — |
| Waitlist & Cancellation Policy Support(yes/no) | Yes | — |
| Inventory Management | No | — |
Show 17 more attributesMaximum Calendars (Scheduling Types)(count) Unlimited — Custom Form Fields(count) Unlimited — Email Automation Capabilities(level) Advanced (25+ templates, conditional logic, delays) — Built-in POS System No (integration required) Yes, included Native Inventory Management No Yes with alerts Client Booking Page Customization Advanced CSS/HTML editing Template-based customization Intake Form Conditional Logic Yes (all plans) — API Access Availability Yes (Professional tier, $59/month) — Email Marketing Tools Included(boolean) No — Sales Pipeline Management Basic (not primary focus) — Appointment Booking Customization(level) Highly specialized (primary function) — Native Integrations(count) 150+ — Form Customization Level Advanced (conditional logic, branching) — Mobile App iOS and Android — Included Staff Members (Basic Plan)(count) Unlimited 1-3 (depends on plan) Built-in CRM Capability(scope) Basic (contacts only) Full (history, preferences, loyalty) Loyalty Program / Retail Management(included) No (requires add-on) Yes (built-in) | ||
| Native Mobile App Available(platforms) | Web-based only | — |
| Maximum Staff Accounts(users) | Unlimited | — |
| No-Show Reduction (Typical)(%) | ~25% (via reminders) | — |
| Native Payment Processing | Yes (Stripe, PayPal, Square) | — |
| Available Integrations(count) | 500+ (via Zapier + native)(winner) | 150+ |
| Third-party Integrations(count) | 500+ via Zapier(winner) | 200+ integrations |
| Zapier Integration Count(integrations) | 150+ apps | — |
| Setup Time to First Booking (minutes)(minutes) | 30-60 minutes | — |
| White-Label/Rebranding Options(level) | Full (complete removal of branding) | — |
| Payment Processing Fees(%) | 2.9% + $0.30(winner) | 3.5% (Stripe) |
| Mobile App Platforms(count) | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
| Automated Marketing Tools | Basic (via integrations) | Built-in email, SMS, loyalty programs |
| Available API Integrations(count) | 500+ | — |
| Average Setup Time(minutes) | 1-2 days | — |
| Supported Languages | 8 | — |
| Notification Channels(integrations) | 4 (SMS, email, WhatsApp, push) | — |
| Custom Domain Support(available) | Yes (all plans) | Yes (paid plans) |
| Mobile App Staff Features(scope) | Booking view only | Full scheduling, check-in, notes |
VagaroShow 8 more attributes
Show 17 more attributes
Pros & Cons
10 pros·6 cons across both
Acuity Scheduling
Pros
- Starts at $18/month (most affordable option)
- 500+ integrations via Zapier and native APIs
- Highly customizable with custom domain, CSS, and custom forms
- Supports unlimited staff members on all plans
- Robust automation workflows and conditional logic
Cons
- Limited industry-specific features compared to Vagaro
- No native CRM beyond basic contact management
- Mobile app lacks staff scheduling capabilities
Vagaro
Pros
- Full CRM with detailed client history, notes, and preferences
- Built-in loyalty programs, gift cards, and package management
- Retail product inventory tracking integrated with booking
- Staff performance metrics and commission tracking
- Powerful mobile app with client check-in and staff dashboard
Cons
- Starting price $29/month is higher than competitors
- Limited customization of website appearance
- Fewer third-party integrations (150 vs 500+)
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questions
Vagaro is the clear choice for salons and spas. It includes built-in features like client service history, loyalty programs, retail product tracking, and commission management—all designed for the beauty industry. Acuity Scheduling requires significant custom setup to replicate these capabilities.
Resources & Learn More
Curated sources to dive deeper
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