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Scheduling & Booking · head to head

Acuity Scheduling vs Zoom

Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Scheduling & Booking

Scheduling made simple

From
$16/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom logo

Zoom

All industries

Video conferencing that's easy, reliable, and secure

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zoom 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; Zoom cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • They diverge on capability: Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Zoom covers HD video & audio.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Acuity Scheduling and Zoom differ
AttributeAcuity SchedulingZoom
Starting price$16/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
CategoryScheduling & BookingAll industries
Founded20032011

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Zoom

  • HD video & audio
  • Screen sharing
  • Recording & transcripts
  • Virtual backgrounds
  • Breakout rooms
  • Polling & Q&A
  • Chat
  • Whiteboard

Both cover

  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • HIPAA
  • SOC2

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

Zoom

  • Team meetingsnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Webinarsnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Virtual eventsnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Online trainingnot Acuity Scheduling
  • Telehealthnot 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

Zoom

  • Cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
  • Feature set is overwhelming with complex navigation and too many options
  • Limited analytics and coaching features compared to dedicated contact center platforms
  • Call recording and admin oversight lack strict governance needed for regulated industries

Pricing, plan by plan

Acuity Scheduling

$16/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.

Zoom

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 100 participants
    • 40-minute group meetings
    • Unlimited 1-on-1 meetings
  • Pro$14.99/month
    • 100 participants
    • 30-hour group meetings
    • Cloud recording (5GB)
  • Business$19.99/month
    • 300 participants
    • Single sign-on
    • Recording transcripts
  • Enterprise$25/month
    • 500 participants
    • Advanced admin features
    • Executive business review

Which should you pick?

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

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

Choose Zoom if

  • You need hd video & audio.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want screen sharing.
Zoom review

Questions people ask

Is Acuity Scheduling or Zoom better?
Neither clearly leads. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and Zoom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or Zoom?
Zoom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $16/month for Acuity Scheduling and Free for Zoom.
Does Acuity Scheduling or Zoom run on more platforms?
Acuity Scheduling runs on Web. Zoom runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Zoom for free?
Yes. Zoom 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 Zoom is typically brought in for.
What can Acuity Scheduling do that Zoom cannot?
Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing. Zoom covers HD video & audio, Screen sharing, Recording & transcripts, Virtual backgrounds. Both handle Google Calendar, Outlook, HIPAA, SOC2.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zoom: What are Zoom's main pricing tiers?

Zoom offers a free Basic plan with 40-minute limits for group meetings, Pro at $14.16/user/month, Business at $15.58/user/month with 300 participant capacity, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Additional costs apply for Phone ($10.50/user/month), Webinars, and Rooms.

Source
Zoom: What integrations does Zoom support?

Zoom integrates with Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Zendesk, and many other business applications, though integration depth varies by partner.

Source
Zoom: Can Zoom be used for webinars?

Yes, Zoom Webinars is available as a separate product starting at $66.67 per month, providing larger audience capabilities and specialized webinar features.

Source
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Related pages

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