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Software · head to head

SimplyBook.me vs Acuity Scheduling

SimplyBook.me logo

SimplyBook.me

Software

Online booking system for service businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Acuity Scheduling logo

Acuity Scheduling

Software

Scheduling made simple

From
$16/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SimplyBook.me has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: SimplyBook.me pricing model includes many features locked behind custom add-ons; Acuity Scheduling starter tier limited to 1 calendar only
  • They diverge on capability: SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where SimplyBook.me and Acuity Scheduling differ
AttributeSimplyBook.meAcuity Scheduling
Starting priceFree$16/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20092003

Identical on both: 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 SimplyBook.me

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

Only in Acuity Scheduling

  • Online booking
  • Appointment types
  • Calendar sync
  • Email reminders
  • Client self-scheduling
  • Packages & memberships
  • Timezone detection
  • Squarespace

Both cover

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

What people use each for

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

SimplyBook.me

  • 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 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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

Acuity Scheduling

$16/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Acuity Scheduling if

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

Questions people ask

Is SimplyBook.me or Acuity Scheduling better?
Neither clearly leads. SimplyBook.me 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, SimplyBook.me or Acuity Scheduling?
SimplyBook.me has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for SimplyBook.me and $16/month for Acuity Scheduling.
Does SimplyBook.me or Acuity Scheduling run on more platforms?
SimplyBook.me runs on Web, iOS, Android. Acuity Scheduling runs on Web.
Can I use SimplyBook.me for free?
Yes. SimplyBook.me has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month.
What is SimplyBook.me best used for?
SimplyBook.me 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 SimplyBook.me do that Acuity Scheduling cannot?
SimplyBook.me covers Booking website, Client management, Marketing tools, Custom branding. Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Email reminders. Both handle Payment processing, Google Calendar, Outlook, Zoom.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

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Related pages

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