Software · head to head
Acuity Scheduling vs Timely
The short version
- Only Timely 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; Timely starter is capped at 20 projects and a maximum of 5 users, at $11 per user per month billed monthly or $9 billed yearly
- They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Appointment types, Timely covers AI-powered scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Acuity Scheduling and Timely actually diverge.
| Attribute | Acuity Scheduling | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $16/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android, Api |
| Founded | 2003 | 2015 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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
- Appointment types
- Calendar sync
- Payment processing
- Email reminders
- Client self-scheduling
- Packages & memberships
- Timezone detection
- Squarespace
Only in Timely
- AI-powered scheduling
- Automated reminders
- Staff management
- Client management
- Resource allocation
- Analytics and reporting
- Mobile app
- Slack
Both cover
- Online booking
- Google Calendar
- 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 Timely
- HIPAA-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitionersnot Timely
- Multi-location scheduling with multiple staff membersnot Timely
- Membership, package sales, and gift certificate managementnot Timely
Timely
- Automatic time tracking across apps and websites for billing clientsnot Acuity Scheduling
- Reporting billable hours and monitoring project budgetsnot Acuity Scheduling
- Team capacity planning and timesheet approvalnot 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
Timely
- Starter is capped at 20 projects and a maximum of 5 users, at $11 per user per month billed monthly or $9 billed yearly
- Premium is capped at a maximum of 50 users, at $20 per user per month billed monthly or $16 billed yearly
- Unlimited users requires the Unlimited plan at $28 per user per month billed monthly or $22 billed yearly
- Capacity management and reporting, overtime and undertime tracking, Azure user management and 50+ currencies are all on the Unlimited plan only
- Team management, budgets and costs, and accounting and project management integrations are excluded from Starter
- The Enterprise plan is contact sales only with no published price
- Tasks is sold as a paid add-on rather than being included
Pricing, plan by plan
Acuity Scheduling
$16/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.
Timely
Free- FreeFree
- Basic scheduling
- Online booking
- Automated reminders
- Starter$29/month
- Everything in Free
- Staff management
- Customer management
- Professional$69/month
- Everything in Starter
- Advanced analytics
- Marketing tools
Which should you pick?
Choose Acuity Scheduling if
- You need appointment types.
- You also want calendar sync.
Choose Timely if
- You need ai-powered scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- You also want automated reminders.
Questions people ask
- Is Acuity Scheduling or Timely better?
- Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and Timely at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or Timely?
- Timely has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $16/month for Acuity Scheduling and Free for Timely.
- Does Acuity Scheduling or Timely run on more platforms?
- Acuity Scheduling runs on Web. Timely runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
- Can I use Timely for free?
- Yes. Timely 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 Timely is typically brought in for.
- What can Acuity Scheduling do that Timely cannot?
- Acuity Scheduling covers Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing, Email reminders. Timely covers AI-powered scheduling, Automated reminders, Staff management, Client management. Both handle Online booking, Google Calendar, Stripe, PayPal.