Softwr

Software · head to head

Acuity Scheduling vs FreshBooks

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Software

Scheduling made simple

From
$16/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FreshBooks logo

FreshBooks

Software

Accounting software that makes you look good

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FreshBooks 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; FreshBooks lite tier limited to 5 clients maximum
  • They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, FreshBooks covers Invoicing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and FreshBooks differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingFreshBooks
Starting price$16/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2003).

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 FreshBooks

  • Invoicing
  • Expense tracking
  • Time tracking
  • Project management
  • Payments
  • Financial reporting
  • Proposals
  • Mileage tracking

Both cover

  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Zapier
  • SSL encryption

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

FreshBooks

  • Invoicing and payment processingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Time tracking and expense managementnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Multi-client project accountingnot 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

FreshBooks

  • Lite tier limited to 5 clients maximum
  • E-signatures, proposals, and client retainers unavailable on Lite and Plus tiers
  • Advanced payment processing fee of £20/month on Plus tier (extra cost)
  • Email customization and project profitability tracking restricted to Premium tier and above
  • Offline mode not available; web-based only

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

$16/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.

FreshBooks

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the FreshBooks review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

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

Choose FreshBooks if

  • You need invoicing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want expense tracking.
FreshBooks review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or FreshBooks better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and FreshBooks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or FreshBooks?
FreshBooks has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $16/month for Acuity Scheduling and Free for FreshBooks.
Does Acuity Scheduling or FreshBooks run on more platforms?
Acuity Scheduling runs on Web. FreshBooks runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use FreshBooks for free?
Yes. FreshBooks 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 FreshBooks is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that FreshBooks cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing. FreshBooks covers Invoicing, Expense tracking, Time tracking, Project management. Both handle Stripe, PayPal, Zapier, SSL encryption.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Acuity Scheduling

More on FreshBooks

Keep looking

Other head to heads