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Acuity Scheduling vs Melio

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Software

Scheduling made simple

From
$16/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Melio logo

Melio

Software

Simple business payments

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Melio 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; Melio go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Melio covers Vendor payments.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and Melio differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingMelio
Starting price$16/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile app
Founded20032018

Identical on both: 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 Melio

  • Vendor payments
  • Card to check
  • Payment scheduling
  • Approval workflows
  • QuickBooks sync
  • Xero
  • FreshBooks
  • SOC 2

Both cover

  • QuickBooks

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

Melio

  • Accounts payable automationnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Bill management and payment schedulingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Multi-vendor payment processingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Invoice receivables and payment collectionnot 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

Melio

  • Go (free) plan limited to one user only
  • ACH charges £0.50 per transaction beyond monthly allowance (5-50 free depending on plan)
  • Card payment fees range from 2.9% to 2.9% plus £75 maximum
  • International payments limited to select currencies only
  • NetSuite integration only available in Unlimited plan (£80/month minimum)

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

$16/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.

Melio

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Melio review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

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

Choose Melio if

  • You need vendor payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want card to check.
Melio review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or Melio better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and Melio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or Melio?
Melio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $16/month for Acuity Scheduling and Free for Melio.
Does Acuity Scheduling or Melio run on more platforms?
Acuity Scheduling runs on Web. Melio runs on Web, Mobile app.
Can I use Melio for free?
Yes. Melio 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 Melio is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that Melio cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing. Melio covers Vendor payments, Card to check, Payment scheduling, Approval workflows. Both handle QuickBooks.
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Related pages

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