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Scheduling · head to head

Acuity Scheduling vs SimplyBook.me

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Scheduling

Scheduling made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SimplyBook.me logo

SimplyBook.me

Scheduling

Online booking system for service businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Acuity Scheduling starter tier limited to 1 calendar only; SimplyBook.me pricing model includes many features locked behind custom add-ons
  • They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, SimplyBook.me covers Booking website.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acuity Scheduling and SimplyBook.me actually diverge.

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and SimplyBook.me differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingSimplyBook.me
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20032009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Scheduling).

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
  • Email reminders
  • Client self-scheduling
  • Packages & memberships
  • Timezone detection
  • Squarespace

Only in SimplyBook.me

  • Booking website
  • Client management
  • Marketing tools
  • Custom branding
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Payment processing
  • Zoom
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

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

SimplyBook.me

  • Schedulingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Appointment bookingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Time trackingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Resource managementnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Team coordinationnot 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

SimplyBook.me

  • Pricing model includes many features locked behind custom add-ons
  • No built-in video conferencing, requiring third-party integration
  • Limited CRM capabilities compared to dedicated sales platforms
  • Free plan capped at 5 bookings per month, limiting small business use

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

Free
  • Starter$20/month
    • 1 calendar
    • Payment processing (Stripe, Square, PayPal, Venmo)
    • Email reminders
  • Standard$34/month
    • Up to 6 calendars
    • Starter features
    • Text message reminders
  • Premium$61/month
    • Up to 36 calendars
    • Standard features
    • HIPAA BAA compliance

SimplyBook.me

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 bookings/month
    • Booking website
    • Basic features
  • Basic$8.25/month
    • 100 bookings
    • Custom features
    • Payments
  • Standard$24.9/month
    • 500 bookings
    • All features
    • Multiple locations

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

  • You need online booking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want appointment types.
Acuity Scheduling review

Choose SimplyBook.me if

  • You need booking website.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want client management.
SimplyBook.me review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or SimplyBook.me better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at Free and SimplyBook.me at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or SimplyBook.me?
Acuity Scheduling starts at Free and SimplyBook.me at Free.
Does Acuity Scheduling or SimplyBook.me run on more platforms?
Acuity Scheduling runs on Web. SimplyBook.me runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Acuity Scheduling for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 SimplyBook.me is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that SimplyBook.me cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Email reminders. SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Client management, Marketing tools, Custom branding. Both handle Payment processing, Zoom, Google Calendar, Outlook.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Acuity Scheduling: How much does Acuity Scheduling cost?

Starter is $20/month (monthly) or $16/month (annual, 20% savings). Standard is $34/month (monthly) or $27/month (annual). Premium is $61/month (monthly) or $49/month (annual). All include a 7-day free trial with no credit card required. Annual billing is prorated based on signup date.

Source
SimplyBook.me: Does SimplyBook.me offer a free plan?

Yes, SimplyBook.me offers a free plan for small businesses, though advanced features and custom add-ons require paid plans.

Source
Acuity Scheduling: How many calendars and staff can I manage per Acuity tier?

Starter supports 1 calendar. Standard supports up to 6 calendars. Premium supports up to 36 calendars. Text message reminders require Standard or higher. Multiple staff/location timezones are only available on Premium.

Source
Acuity Scheduling: Does Acuity Scheduling offer HIPAA compliance?

HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) compliance is only available on the Premium plan ($49-61/month). Premium also includes the ability to hide Acuity branding.

Source
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