Calendly vs Acuity Scheduling: Who Wins?

When it comes to scheduling appointments and managing your calendar, Calendly and Acuity Scheduling are two of the most popular options on the market. Both tools help streamline your scheduling process, reduce back-and-forth emails, and keep your calendar organized. But which one is right for you?

In this comparison, we’ll take a close look at both platforms, their features, pricing, and how they stack up against each other so you can make an informed decision for your business.

1. User Interface & Ease of Use

Calendly

Calendly is known for its simple and user-friendly interface. Setting it up is a breeze, and even the non-tech-savvy can quickly start scheduling meetings with ease. Once you connect your calendar, you can share your booking link with others, and they can pick a time that works for them.

Calendly’s design is straightforward, which makes it great for beginners. However, its customization options are somewhat limited, especially when compared to Acuity. While you can personalize your booking page with colors and branding, it's not as detailed as Acuity's customization features.

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity's interface is also very user-friendly, but it offers more robust customization options. You can fully brand your booking page with your logo, colors, and custom images, giving it a more personalized and professional look. This is especially beneficial for businesses that want to maintain a consistent brand presence. Acuity's design is intuitive but can feel a bit more complex, especially with the extra features that come with their paid plans.

Winner: Acuity Scheduling offers more flexibility in customization, but if you're looking for simplicity and ease of use, Calendly might be the way to go.

2. Features

Calendly

Calendly covers the basics well but doesn't go too deep into advanced features unless you're on a paid plan. Here's what you get with Calendly:

• Simple scheduling links: Shareable links for others to book time with you
• Google Calendar integration: Syncs directly with your Google Calendar
• Time zone detection: Automatically adjusts appointments based on the client's time zone
• Group scheduling: Allow multiple people to book the same time slot (good for events or group calls)
• Basic reminders: Automated reminders (email only)
  
  

Calendly’s paid plans add features like integrations with Zoom for video calls, custom workflows, and reminder options.

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity is known for its more advanced features that go beyond basic scheduling. Here’s what Acuity brings to the table:

• Custom branding: Add logos, custom colors, and design to your booking page
• Payment integration: Accept payments through Stripe, Square, and PayPal directly on your booking page (available on paid plans)
• Group bookings: Like Calendly, you can also set up group events
• Client intake forms: Gather more information from your clients before appointments (ideal for coaches, therapists, or consultants)
• Automated reminders & follow-ups: Email and text reminders to reduce no-shows
• Team scheduling: Acuity can handle team member scheduling, ideal for businesses with multiple people

Acuity’s paid plans come with all the bells and whistles, including deeper integrations with apps like Zoom and Zapier, advanced reporting, and more detailed customization options.

Winner: Acuity Scheduling offers a broader range of features, especially for businesses looking to integrate payments, branding, and more detailed scheduling options.

3. Pricing

Calendly

Calendly offers a free plan that includes:

• Basic scheduling
• One calendar connection
• Email reminders

However, you’ll need to upgrade if you want more advanced features like payment integrations, group scheduling, or additional customization.

• Premium Plan: $8/month (includes Zoom integration, group scheduling, custom workflows, and more)
• Pro Plan: $12/month (adds more team-based scheduling options)
  
  

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity also has a free plan, but it’s pretty basic:

• 1 calendar connection
• 1 appointment type
• Limited customization and branding

To access payment integrations, reminders, team scheduling, and other features, you'll need to upgrade to one of the paid plans:

• Emerging Entrepreneur: $15/month
• Growing Business: $25/month
• Powerhouse: $50/month

Winner: Calendly is the more affordable option at the basic level, but Acuity offers more value at its entry-level price for users looking for more customization and features right from the start.

4. Payment Integration

Calendly

Calendly’s payment integrations are available on its Premium and Pro plans. You can accept payments through PayPal and Stripe, but it doesn’t have as many payment options as Acuity.

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity stands out with its payment processing features. You can accept payments directly on your booking page via Stripe, Square, or PayPal on their paid plans. This feature is especially helpful for businesses that want to streamline their payment process alongside appointments.

Winner: Acuity Scheduling takes the lead with more robust and flexible payment options.

5. Customer Support

Calendly

Calendly offers solid customer support via email, but there’s no direct live chat. The help center is comprehensive, with plenty of resources to troubleshoot common issues.

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity has priority support on their higher-tier plans and offers email support with a great resource library. Their support is well-regarded and has a more personalized touch.

Winner: Acuity Scheduling offers better support, especially with higher-tier plans.

6. Best for Specific Use Cases

Calendly

• Best for solo entrepreneurs or small businesses who need a quick and simple solution without too many advanced features.
• Great for personal use or for those just starting out and needing basic scheduling functionality.
• Perfect for those who don’t need much branding or payment processing.

Acuity Scheduling

• Best for businesses that require advanced scheduling and customization (like coaches, consultants, or health professionals).
• Ideal for those needing payment processing or team scheduling.
• Perfect for businesses that want a more professional and branded booking experience.

  

Final Verdict: Calendly vs Acuity

Both Calendly and Acuity Scheduling are powerful tools for scheduling appointments, but they each serve different needs. If you’re looking for something simple, affordable, and easy to use, Calendly might be the right fit for you. But if you need advanced features, customization, and payment integrations, Acuity is the better option.

Ultimately, the choice between Calendly vs Acuity boils down to your business needs. If you need a no-fuss solution that’s easy to implement, Calendly is a solid choice. But if you want more control, branding options, and advanced features, Acuity is the winner.