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Software · head to head

Acuity Scheduling vs SalonBiz

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Software

Scheduling made simple

From
$16/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SalonBiz logo

SalonBiz

Software

Complete salon and spa management suite

From
$89/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Acuity Scheduling starter tier limited to 1 calendar only; SalonBiz pricing is per location: $160 per month for Basic, $265 for Essential and $370 for Premium
  • They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, SalonBiz covers Appointment scheduling.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and SalonBiz differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingSalonBiz
Starting price$16/month$89/month
PlatformsWebWeb, Windows
Founded20032005

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 SalonBiz

  • Appointment scheduling
  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Client database
  • Staff management
  • Marketing automation
  • Business reporting
  • Facebook

Both cover

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

SalonBiz

  • Salon appointment booking and point of sale priced per locationnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Integrated card payments through SalonBiz Paymentsnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Beauty school and institute management with student recordsnot 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

SalonBiz

  • Pricing is per location: $160 per month for Basic, $265 for Essential and $370 for Premium
  • Each tier caps service professionals at 5, 12 and 20 respectively, with extra staff sold in blocks of 10 at $55 per month
  • Not using SalonBiz Payments raises the monthly fee by $25 to $45 depending on tier
  • School and institute plans are capped at 100 students on Essential and 200 on Premium, with extra students at $15 per month per 25
  • Enterprise and multi location pricing is quote only with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

$16/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.

SalonBiz

$89/month
  • Standard$89/month
    • Scheduling
    • POS
    • Client database
  • Premium$179/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • Inventory
    • Staff management

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

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

Choose SalonBiz if

  • You need appointment scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Windows.
  • You also want point of sale.
SalonBiz review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or SalonBiz better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and SalonBiz at $89/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or SalonBiz?
Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and SalonBiz at $89/month.
Does Acuity Scheduling or SalonBiz run on more platforms?
Acuity Scheduling runs on Web. SalonBiz runs on Web, Windows.
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 SalonBiz is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that SalonBiz cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing. SalonBiz covers Appointment scheduling, Point of sale, Inventory management, Client database. Both handle Stripe, QuickBooks, SSL encryption.
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