Softwr

Scheduling · head to head

Sawyer vs Setmore

Sawyer logo

Sawyer

Scheduling

Class and camp booking software for children activity businesses, with a marketplace that takes up to 30 percent

From
$189/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Setmore logo

Setmore

Scheduling

Free appointment scheduling and customer management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Setmore has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Sawyer the Launch plan looks free but forces a marketplace listing at 30 percent commission, so a single high-value camp booking through the marketplace can cost more than a year of the Grow subscription would have.; Setmore free plan limited to 4 users maximum
  • They diverge on capability: Sawyer covers Class and camp registration, Setmore covers Unlimited appointments.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Sawyer and Setmore actually diverge.

Attributes where Sawyer and Setmore differ
AttributeSawyerSetmore
Starting price$189/monthFree
Pricing modelPer business per month, plus marketplace commissionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 Sawyer

  • Class and camp registration
  • Memberships and class packs
  • Consumer marketplace
  • Auto-billing
  • Waivers and e-signature
  • Multi-location

Only in Setmore

  • Unlimited appointments
  • Online booking
  • Calendar synchronization
  • Customer database
  • Email reminders
  • SMS reminders
  • Mobile app
  • Custom branding

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Sawyer

  • A new kids activity studio with no mailing list that wants the marketplace to fill its first termsnot Setmore
  • An established music school moving off spreadsheets that will run Sawyer as software only and never list on the marketplacenot Setmore
  • A gym selling memberships, class packs and birthday parties that needs all three billed from one systemnot Setmore
  • A provider running summer camps alongside term-time classes who wants a single parent account for bothnot Setmore

Setmore

  • Online appointment and booking managementnot Sawyer
  • Service provider scheduling platformnot Sawyer
  • Customer communication via email and SMS remindersnot Sawyer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Sawyer

  • The Launch plan looks free but forces a marketplace listing at 30 percent commission, so a single high-value camp booking through the marketplace can cost more than a year of the Grow subscription would have.
  • Marketplace commission applies to the order value, not the margin, so low-margin providers can lose money on a marketplace booking.
  • Payment processing fees are charged separately by Stripe on top of the subscription and any commission, which the plan comparison does not surface clearly.
  • The step from Grow to Scale doubles the monthly cost for account management and integrations rather than for capability most providers need, making the middle tier the only sensible choice for many.
  • It is built for consumer activity businesses, so providers who invoice schools, councils or corporate clients will find the billing model a poor fit.

Setmore

  • Free plan limited to 4 users maximum
  • Free plan limited to 200 appointments per month
  • Live receptionist add-on limited to US only
  • Custom enterprise pricing not published

Pricing, plan by plan

Sawyer

$189/month
  • Launch$undefined/month
    • No monthly subscription fee
    • 3 percent per transaction
    • Marketplace listing required, 30 percent commission on marketplace orders
  • Grow$189/month
    • 189 USD per month billed annually, 219 monthly
    • Marketplace listing optional, 20 percent commission if used
    • Advanced scheduling, waitlists, free trials
  • Scale$379/month
    • 379 USD per month billed annually, 399 monthly
    • Marketplace listing optional, 15 percent commission if used
    • Dedicated account manager and registration launch support
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Custom pricing for large multi-site operators

Setmore

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Supports up to 4 users
    • Unlimited appointments
    • Payment acceptance and branded booking page
  • Pro (Annual)$5/month
    • Annual billing at $5/user/month
    • Unlimited users
    • All Free features plus SMS and email reminders
  • Pro (Monthly)$12/month
    • Monthly billing at $12/user/month
    • Unlimited users with same Pro features as annual
  • Enterprise$null/month
    • Custom all-in-one booking system
    • Scales with your business

Which should you pick?

Choose Sawyer if

  • You need class and camp registration.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want memberships and class packs.
Sawyer review

Choose Setmore if

  • You need unlimited appointments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want online booking.
Setmore review

Questions people ask

Is Sawyer or Setmore better?
Neither clearly leads. Sawyer starts at $189/month and Setmore at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Sawyer or Setmore?
Setmore has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $189/month for Sawyer and Free for Setmore.
Does Sawyer or Setmore run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Setmore for free?
Yes. Setmore has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sawyer starts at $189/month.
What is Sawyer best used for?
Sawyer is most often used for a new kids activity studio with no mailing list that wants the marketplace to fill its first terms, an established music school moving off spreadsheets that will run sawyer as software only and never list on the marketplace, a gym selling memberships, class packs and birthday parties that needs all three billed from one system, a provider running summer camps alongside term-time classes who wants a single parent account for both. Of those, a new kids activity studio with no mailing list that wants the marketplace to fill its first terms and an established music school moving off spreadsheets that will run sawyer as software only and never list on the marketplace are not what Setmore is typically brought in for.
What can Sawyer do that Setmore cannot?
Sawyer covers Class and camp registration, Memberships and class packs, Consumer marketplace, Auto-billing. Setmore covers Unlimited appointments, Online booking, Calendar synchronization, Customer database.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Sawyer: Is the Launch plan really free?

No. It has no monthly fee but charges 3 percent per transaction and requires a marketplace listing that takes 30 percent of marketplace orders.

Setmore: How much does Setmore cost?

Setmore is free for up to 4 users. Pro plan costs $5/user/month with annual billing or $12/user/month with monthly billing. An Enterprise plan with custom pricing is available for larger organizations.

Source
Sawyer: Can I use Sawyer without the marketplace?

Yes, on Grow and Scale the listing is optional. On Launch it is required.

Setmore: What features are included in the Free plan?

The Free plan supports up to 4 users and includes unlimited appointments, payment acceptance, branded booking page, mobile app, email reminders and confirmations, integrations, and team collaboration tools.

Source
Sawyer: What does the marketplace commission apply to?

The full order value of bookings originating on hisawyer.com, not to bookings from your own website.

Setmore: What is the difference between Setmore's Free and Pro plans?

Pro adds SMS and email reminders, branded mobile app, removal of Setmore branding, customer blocking, Google Reviews integration, custom notifications, and priority support. Pro supports unlimited users versus 4 on Free.

Source
Sawyer: Is there a contract?

Monthly plans are month to month with 30 days notice; annual billing saves roughly 5 to 14 percent depending on tier.

Setmore: Does Setmore provide customer support?

Yes, all plans include 24/7 human support. The Pro plan includes priority support access.

Source
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