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Software · head to head

Acuity Scheduling vs OmniFocus 3

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Software

Scheduling made simple

From
$16/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OmniFocus 3 logo

OmniFocus 3

Software

Professional task management for complex workflows

From
$39.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Acuity Scheduling starter tier limited to 1 calendar only; OmniFocus 3 apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acuity Scheduling and OmniFocus 3 actually diverge.

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and OmniFocus 3 differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingOmniFocus 3
Starting price$16/month$39.99/year
PlatformsWebMacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web
Founded20031993

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 OmniFocus 3

  • GTD-based task organization
  • Projects and subprojects
  • Contexts and tags
  • Custom perspectives
  • Automation
  • Quick entry
  • Sync across devices
  • Deferred and due dates

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 OmniFocus 3
  • HIPAA-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitionersnot OmniFocus 3
  • Multi-location scheduling with multiple staff membersnot OmniFocus 3
  • Membership, package sales, and gift certificate managementnot OmniFocus 3

OmniFocus 3

  • Getting Things Done style task and project management on Apple devicesnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Capturing tasks with contexts, defer dates and review cyclesnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Syncing a personal task database across Mac, iPhone, iPad and Watchnot 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

OmniFocus 3

  • Apple platforms only apart from the web client: macOS 14, iOS or iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 or visionOS 2 and newer are required, with no Windows or Android app
  • Web access is not included with a perpetual licence and costs an extra $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year
  • The Pro perpetual licence costs $149.99 against $74.99 for Standard
  • Future major upgrades are a paid discount rather than free for perpetual licence holders
  • The $99.99 per year subscription is the only option that bundles Pro plus web access

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

$16/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.

OmniFocus 3

$39.99/year
  • Standard$39.99/year
    • Mac and iOS apps
    • Cloud sync
    • Core features
  • Pro$99.99/year
    • Everything in Standard
    • Advanced automation
    • Perspective management

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

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

Choose OmniFocus 3 if

  • You need gtd-based task organization.
  • You work on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
  • You also want projects and subprojects.
OmniFocus 3 review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or OmniFocus 3 better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and OmniFocus 3 at $39.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or OmniFocus 3?
Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and OmniFocus 3 at $39.99/year.
Does Acuity Scheduling or OmniFocus 3 run on more platforms?
Acuity Scheduling runs on Web. OmniFocus 3 runs on MacOS, IOS, IPadOS, Web.
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 OmniFocus 3 is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that OmniFocus 3 cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing. OmniFocus 3 covers GTD-based task organization, Projects and subprojects, Contexts and tags, Custom perspectives.
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