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Acuity Scheduling vs Basecamp

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Software

Scheduling made simple

From
$16/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Basecamp logo

Basecamp

Software

Project management & team collaboration software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Basecamp 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; Basecamp the free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
  • They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Basecamp covers Message boards.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and Basecamp differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingBasecamp
Starting price$16/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20032004

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Acuity Scheduling

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

Only in Basecamp

  • Message boards
  • To-do lists
  • Schedules
  • Documents & files
  • Group chat
  • Check-in questions
  • Hill Charts
  • Email forwards

Both cover

  • Zapier
  • SOC2

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 Basecamp
  • HIPAA-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitionersnot Basecamp
  • Multi-location scheduling with multiple staff membersnot Basecamp
  • Membership, package sales, and gift certificate managementnot Basecamp

Basecamp

  • Project management for a small team in one placenot Acuity Scheduling
  • Message boards and chat alongside to-dosnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Client collaboration, since guests are not chargednot Acuity Scheduling
  • Flat-rate project management for a larger team on Pro Unlimitednot 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

Basecamp

  • The free tier allows one project and 1 GB of storage
  • Pro is $15 per user per month, so cost scales with headcount unlike the flat Pro Unlimited at $299 a month billed annually
  • Storage beyond the plan costs $50 a month per additional terabyte
  • Timesheet and the Admin Pro Pack are paid upgrades on Pro and only bundled with Pro Unlimited

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

$16/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.

Basecamp

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Basecamp review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

  • You need online booking.
  • You also want appointment types.
Acuity Scheduling review

Choose Basecamp if

  • You need message boards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want to-do lists.
Basecamp review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or Basecamp better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and Basecamp at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or Basecamp?
Basecamp has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $16/month for Acuity Scheduling and Free for Basecamp.
Does Acuity Scheduling or Basecamp run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Basecamp for free?
Yes. Basecamp has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month.
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 Basecamp is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that Basecamp cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing. Basecamp covers Message boards, To-do lists, Schedules, Documents & files. Both handle Zapier, SOC2.
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Related pages

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