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Software · head to head

Abstract vs Square Appointments

Abstract logo

Abstract

Software

Design version control and asset management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full review
Square Appointments logo

Square Appointments

Software

Free scheduling for beauty businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Abstract the product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm; Square Appointments the free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
  • They diverge on capability: Abstract covers Version control, Square Appointments covers Online booking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Abstract and Square Appointments actually diverge.

Attributes where Abstract and Square Appointments differ
AttributeAbstractSquare Appointments
PlatformsMacos, WebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Abstract

  • Version control
  • Branching & merging
  • Asset library
  • Design tokens
  • Collaboration
  • File management
  • Comments
  • Activity tracking

Only in Square Appointments

  • Online booking
  • Client management
  • Point of sale
  • Payment processing
  • Automated reminders
  • Instagram booking
  • Google booking
  • Mobile app

Both cover

  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Abstract

  • Design systemsnot Square Appointments
  • Version controlnot Square Appointments
  • Asset managementnot Square Appointments
  • Team collaborationnot Square Appointments

Square Appointments

  • Online appointment booking for salons, barbers and personal servicesnot Abstract
  • Taking card payments and deposits at the time of bookingnot Abstract
  • Managing staff calendars, waitlists and no-show policiesnot Abstract

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Abstract

  • The product appears to be gone. Its documentation path 404s, goabstract.com no longer resolves, and abstract.com now belongs to an unrelated venture capital firm
  • Built around Sketch files, so it never covered teams that moved to Figma

Square Appointments

  • The free plan is aimed at solo professionals; booking across multiple staff requires the paid Plus plan
  • Cancellation policies, no-show fees and waitlists require the Plus plan
  • Resource management, service cost tracking and the future bookings report require the Premium plan
  • Custom processing rates are reserved for Square Pro, which is aimed at businesses processing over $250,000 a year
  • Card processing fees are charged on top of the plan fee on every tier including the free one

Pricing, plan by plan

Abstract

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 shared library
    • Basic version control
    • 2 team members
  • Pro$12/month
    • Unlimited libraries
    • Full version control
    • Unlimited team members
  • Enterprise$50/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Advanced admin controls
    • Compliance & security

Square Appointments

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited appointments
    • Online booking
    • Client management
  • Plus$29/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Multiple staff calendars
    • No-show protection
  • Premium$69/month
    • Everything in Plus
    • Multi-location
    • Staff management

Which should you pick?

Choose Abstract if

  • You need version control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Macos, Web.
  • You also want branching & merging.
Abstract review

Choose Square Appointments if

  • You need online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want client management.
Square Appointments review

Questions people ask

Is Abstract or Square Appointments better?
Neither clearly leads. Abstract starts at Free and Square Appointments at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Abstract or Square Appointments?
Abstract starts at Free and Square Appointments at Free.
Does Abstract or Square Appointments run on more platforms?
Abstract runs on Macos, Web. Square Appointments runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Abstract for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Abstract best used for?
Abstract is most often used for design systems, version control, asset management, team collaboration. Of those, design systems and version control are not what Square Appointments is typically brought in for.
What can Abstract do that Square Appointments cannot?
Abstract covers Version control, Branching & merging, Asset library, Design tokens. Square Appointments covers Online booking, Client management, Point of sale, Payment processing. Both handle Cloud deployment.
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