Scheduling & Booking · head to head
Doodle vs Acuity Scheduling
The short version
- Only Doodle has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Doodle free plan restricted to one active poll and one booking page with 10-slot limit; Acuity Scheduling starter tier limited to 1 calendar only
- They diverge on capability: Doodle covers Group polls, Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Doodle and Acuity Scheduling actually diverge.
| Attribute | Doodle | Acuity Scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $16/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile (iOS, Android) | Web |
| Founded | 2007 | 2003 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Scheduling & Booking).
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 Doodle
- Group polls
- 1:1 scheduling
- Booking pages
- Time zone support
- Microsoft Teams
- Slack
- Web support
- Ios support
Only in Acuity Scheduling
- Online booking
- Appointment types
- Payment processing
- Email reminders
- Client self-scheduling
- Packages & memberships
- Timezone detection
- Squarespace
Both cover
- Calendar sync
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Zoom
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Doodle
- Schedulingnot Acuity Scheduling
- Appointment bookingnot Acuity Scheduling
- Time trackingnot Acuity Scheduling
- Resource managementnot Acuity Scheduling
- Team coordinationnot Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling
- Client self-scheduling with automated time zone conversionnot Doodle
- HIPAA-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitionersnot Doodle
- Multi-location scheduling with multiple staff membersnot Doodle
- Membership, package sales, and gift certificate managementnot Doodle
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Doodle
- Free plan restricted to one active poll and one booking page with 10-slot limit
- Free users see excessive advertisements on booking pages
- Limited customization options for poll types and response formats
- Mobile app experiences bugs and has less polished interface than desktop version
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Doodle
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Doodle review.
Acuity Scheduling
$16/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Doodle if
- You need group polls.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile (iOS, Android).
- You also want 1:1 scheduling.
Choose Acuity Scheduling if
- You need online booking.
- You also want appointment types.
Questions people ask
- Is Doodle or Acuity Scheduling better?
- Neither clearly leads. Doodle starts at Free and Acuity Scheduling at $16/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Doodle or Acuity Scheduling?
- Doodle has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Doodle and $16/month for Acuity Scheduling.
- Does Doodle or Acuity Scheduling run on more platforms?
- Doodle runs on Web, Mobile (iOS, Android). Acuity Scheduling runs on Web.
- Can I use Doodle for free?
- Yes. Doodle has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month.
- What is Doodle best used for?
- Doodle is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Acuity Scheduling is typically brought in for.
- What can Doodle do that Acuity Scheduling cannot?
- Doodle covers Group polls, 1:1 scheduling, Booking pages, Time zone support. Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Payment processing, Email reminders. Both handle Calendar sync, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zoom.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Doodle: Does Doodle offer a free plan?
Yes. Doodle's free plan includes one active group poll, one booking page, and one 1:1 meeting, limited to 10 slots per poll with ads displayed. Premium plans start at $15/month.
SourceDoodle: What are Doodle's pricing plans?
Professional plan costs $15/month (or $132/year). Team plan costs $19.95/user/month (or $8.95/user/month billed annually) with a two-seat minimum.
SourceDoodle: Does Doodle integrate with calendar apps?
Yes. Doodle integrates with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar to prevent double-bookings. Slack integration allows poll creation and sharing directly in Slack channels.
Source