Best Appointment Scheduling Software 2026: Top 10 Compared
Stop the back-and-forth emails. Appointment scheduling software lets clients book time with you automatically.
Quick Comparison
| Software | Free Plan | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendly | ✅ 1 event type | $10/user/mo | Professionals |
| Acuity | ❌ Trial | $16/mo | Service businesses |
| Square Appointments | ✅ Free (1 user) | $29/mo | Retail/Salons |
| Cal.com | ✅ Open source | $15/user/mo | Developers |
| Setmore | ✅ Free forever | $5/user/mo | Small teams |
1. Calendly — Best Overall
Free: 1 event type, unlimited meetings
Calendly is the industry standard for professional scheduling.
Key Features
- ✅ Easy booking links
- ✅ Calendar sync (Google, Outlook)
- ✅ Automatic reminders
- ✅ Group events
- ✅ Integrations (Zoom, Teams)
- ✅ Workflows & automation
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 event type |
| Standard | $10/user/mo | Unlimited events |
| Teams | $16/user/mo | Round robin |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO, admin |
Best For: Professionals, sales teams, consultants.
2. Acuity Scheduling — Best for Services
Price: $16-49/month
Acuity (by Squarespace) is perfect for service-based businesses.
Key Features
- ✅ Online payments
- ✅ Packages & subscriptions
- ✅ Intake forms
- ✅ Multiple staff calendars
- ✅ Client self-scheduling
- ✅ Squarespace integration
Best For: Salons, coaches, therapists, consultants.
3. Square Appointments — Best Free for Solo
Free: 1 user, unlimited appointments
Square Appointments is completely free for individuals.
Free Features
- ✅ Unlimited appointments
- ✅ Online booking
- ✅ Payment processing
- ✅ POS integration
- ✅ Customer management
Best For: Solopreneurs, small retail, service providers.
4. Cal.com — Best Open Source
Free: Open source / $15/user/mo hosted
Cal.com is the open-source Calendly alternative.
Key Features
- ✅ Self-hosting option
- ✅ Full customization
- ✅ API access
- ✅ All features free (self-hosted)
- ✅ Modern interface
Best For: Developers, privacy-focused, startups.
5. Setmore — Best Value
Free: 4 users, 100 appointments/mo
Setmore offers a generous free tier.
Free Features
- ✅ 4 staff logins
- ✅ 100 appointments/month
- ✅ Booking page
- ✅ Calendar sync
- ✅ Reminders
Best For: Small teams on a budget.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Calendly | Acuity | Square | Cal.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group booking | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Payments | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Round robin | ✅ Paid | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Reminders | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom branding | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Our Recommendations
| Need | Choose |
|---|---|
| Best overall | Calendly |
| Service business | Acuity |
| Free solo | Square |
| Open source | Cal.com |
| Budget teams | Setmore |
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Last updated: January 2026