Software · head to head
When2meet vs Acuity Scheduling
The short version
- Only When2meet has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: When2meet no calendar synchronization capability; Acuity Scheduling starter tier limited to 1 calendar only
- They diverge on capability: When2meet covers Visual availability grid, Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which When2meet and Acuity Scheduling actually diverge.
| Attribute | When2meet | Acuity Scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $16/month |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2003).
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 When2meet
- Visual availability grid
- No account required
- Drag-to-select availability
- Group overview
- Shareable links
- Web support
Only in Acuity Scheduling
- Online booking
- Appointment types
- Calendar sync
- Payment processing
- Email reminders
- Client self-scheduling
- Packages & memberships
- Timezone detection
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
When2meet
- 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 When2meet
- HIPAA-compliant scheduling for healthcare practitionersnot When2meet
- Multi-location scheduling with multiple staff membersnot When2meet
- Membership, package sales, and gift certificate managementnot When2meet
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
When2meet
- No calendar synchronization capability
- No automated reminders to participants
- No dedicated mobile app, web-only access
- No integration with calendar systems or other tools
- Requires manual entry of availability rather than auto-sync from calendar
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
When2meet
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited events
- Visual availability
- No account needed
Acuity Scheduling
$16/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Acuity Scheduling review.
Which should you pick?
Choose When2meet if
- You need visual availability grid.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want no account required.
Choose Acuity Scheduling if
- You need online booking.
- You also want appointment types.
Questions people ask
- Is When2meet or Acuity Scheduling better?
- Neither clearly leads. When2meet 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, When2meet or Acuity Scheduling?
- When2meet has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for When2meet and $16/month for Acuity Scheduling.
- Does When2meet or Acuity Scheduling run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use When2meet for free?
- Yes. When2meet has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month.
- What is When2meet best used for?
- When2meet 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 When2meet do that Acuity Scheduling cannot?
- When2meet covers Visual availability grid, No account required, Drag-to-select availability, Group overview. Acuity Scheduling covers Online booking, Appointment types, Calendar sync, Payment processing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
When2meet: Is When2meet free to use?
Yes, When2meet is completely free. Anyone can create and participate in availability surveys at no cost. The service is supported by advertising.
SourceWhen2meet: Do I need to create an account to use When2meet?
No, When2meet requires no login or account creation. You can create scheduling polls and share them instantly.
SourceWhen2meet: How does When2meet differ from Doodle or Calendly?
When2meet is a basic polling tool where participants manually mark availability. Unlike Doodle, it has no calendar sync or timezone handling. Unlike Calendly, it does not support direct booking or calendar integrations.
Source