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Scheduling · head to head

Acuity Scheduling vs Airbnb

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Scheduling

Scheduling made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Airbnb logo

Airbnb

Scheduling

Book unique homes and experiences all over the world

From
$3/per-booking
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Acuity Scheduling has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Acuity Scheduling starter tier limited to 1 calendar only; Airbnb single-fee model charges 15.5 percent vs 3 percent split model, significantly higher for most listings
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acuity Scheduling and Airbnb actually diverge.

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and Airbnb differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingAirbnb
Starting priceFree$3/per-booking
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
Free tierYesNo
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Scheduling).

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 Acuity Scheduling

  • Online booking
  • Appointment types
  • Calendar sync
  • Payment processing
  • Email reminders
  • Client self-scheduling
  • Packages & memberships
  • Timezone detection

Only in Airbnb

Nothing recorded that Acuity Scheduling does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Acuity Scheduling

  • Client self-scheduling with automated time zone conversionnot Airbnb
  • HIPAA-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitionersnot Airbnb
  • Multi-location scheduling with multiple staff membersnot Airbnb
  • Membership, package sales, and gift certificate managementnot Airbnb

Airbnb

  • Short-term vacation rental hostingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Property monetizationnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Experience hosting on Airbnb platformnot Acuity Scheduling

Where each one falls short

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

Acuity Scheduling

  • Starter tier limited to 1 calendar only
  • SMS/text reminders, memberships, and gift certificates require Standard or Premium tier
  • HIPAA compliance (BAA signature) exclusive to Premium tier at $49/month
  • Custom API and CSS access, and Acuity branding removal require Premium tier

Airbnb

  • Single-fee model charges 15.5 percent vs 3 percent split model, significantly higher for most listings
  • Brazil and Mexico hosts pay 1 percent premium over base rates
  • VAT may apply additional charges depending on jurisdiction
  • Cross-currency bookings may result in guest fees reaching 16.5 percent

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

Free
  • Starter$20/month
    • 1 calendar
    • Payment processing (Stripe, Square, PayPal, Venmo)
    • Email reminders
  • Standard$34/month
    • Up to 6 calendars
    • Starter features
    • Text message reminders
  • Premium$61/month
    • Up to 36 calendars
    • Standard features
    • HIPAA BAA compliance

Airbnb

$3/per-booking
  • Split-Fee Model$3/percent
    • 3 percent service fee on nightly rates (most hosts)
    • 4 percent for Brazil and Mexico hosts
    • Automatic deduction from payout
  • Single-Fee Model$15.5/percent
    • 15.5 percent of total payout (most hosts)
    • 14 to 16 percent range for some hosts
    • 16 percent for Brazil and Mexico hosts

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

  • You need online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want appointment types.
Acuity Scheduling review

Choose Airbnb if

Nothing in the data separates Airbnb from Acuity Scheduling on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Airbnb review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or Airbnb better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at Free and Airbnb at $3/per-booking, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or Airbnb?
Acuity Scheduling has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Acuity Scheduling and $3/per-booking for Airbnb.
Does Acuity Scheduling or Airbnb run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Acuity Scheduling for free?
Yes. Acuity Scheduling has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Airbnb starts at $3/per-booking.
What is Acuity Scheduling best used for?
Acuity Scheduling is most often used for client self-scheduling with automated time zone conversion, hipaa-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitioners, multi-location scheduling with multiple staff members, membership, package sales, and gift certificate management. Of those, client self-scheduling with automated time zone conversion and hipaa-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitioners are not what Airbnb is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that Airbnb cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Acuity Scheduling: How much does Acuity Scheduling cost?

Starter is $20/month (monthly) or $16/month (annual, 20% savings). Standard is $34/month (monthly) or $27/month (annual). Premium is $61/month (monthly) or $49/month (annual). All include a 7-day free trial with no credit card required. Annual billing is prorated based on signup date.

Source
Airbnb: What percentage does Airbnb charge hosts for accommodations?

Airbnb uses two models. The split-fee model charges 3 percent of nightly rates (4 percent for Brazil and Mexico). The single-fee model charges 15.5 percent of total payout (up to 16 percent in some regions).

Source
Acuity Scheduling: How many calendars and staff can I manage per Acuity tier?

Starter supports 1 calendar. Standard supports up to 6 calendars. Premium supports up to 36 calendars. Text message reminders require Standard or higher. Multiple staff/location timezones are only available on Premium.

Source
Airbnb: When must Airbnb hosts use the single-fee model instead of split-fee?

Property management software users and hotel operators are required to use the single-fee model (15.5 percent of payout) rather than the split-fee option.

Source
Acuity Scheduling: Does Acuity Scheduling offer HIPAA compliance?

HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) compliance is only available on the Premium plan ($49-61/month). Premium also includes the ability to hide Acuity branding.

Source
Airbnb: Do Airbnb host fees differ by country?

Yes. Brazil and Mexico hosts pay 4 percent under split-fee model and 16 percent under single-fee model, both 1 percent higher than rates in other regions.

Source
Airbnb: What percentage do guests pay when booking Airbnb experiences?

Guests pay approximately 20 percent service fee for Airbnb Experiences and 15 percent (minimum 6 USD) for service bookings, separate from host fees.

Source
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