Calendly vs Acuity vs Setmore: Best Booking App for Small Business (2026)
Quick Overview: The Three Tools
📅 Calendly
- Incredibly easy setup (15 min)
- Shareable booking link
- Google/Outlook calendar sync
- Automated reminders
- Zoom/Teams integration
- Free plan: 1 event type
✂️ Acuity Scheduling
- Multiple staff & location calendars
- Client intake forms
- Packages & gift certificates
- Deposit & payment collection
- Class & group bookings
- Custom branding
🗓️ Setmore
- Free plan: up to 4 staff
- Facebook & Instagram booking
- Google/Yelp integration
- Square/Stripe payments
- SMS reminders (paid)
- Simple, clean interface
Side-by-Side Feature Comparison
| Feature | Calendly | Acuity | Setmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ (1 type) | 7-day trial | ✓ 4 staff! |
| Starting paid price | $10/mo | $16/mo | $5/mo |
| Multiple service types | Paid only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple staff calendars | Paid only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Client intake forms | ✗ | ✓ Excellent | Basic |
| Packages & subscriptions | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payment collection | ✓ | ✓ + deposits | ✓ |
| Automated reminders | ✓ | ✓ | Paid plan |
| SMS reminders | ✓ | ✓ | Paid plan |
| Google Calendar sync | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Zoom/Teams integration | ✓ Best | ✓ | ✓ |
| Facebook page booking | ✗ | Via embed | ✓ Native |
| Instagram booking | ✗ | Via embed | ✓ Native |
| Ease of setup | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Custom branding | Paid only | ✓ | ✓ |
| HIPAA compliance | ✗ | ✓ Add-on | ✗ |
| Zapier integration | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The Verdicts: Which One Should You Pick?
Recommendations by Industry
💇 Salons & Spas
Multiple staff, intake forms, deposits, packages. Acuity was practically built for salons.
🏠 Real Estate
Simple showing scheduler that syncs with Google Calendar. Shareable link for email & social.
🦷 Dentists
HIPAA-compliant option, intake forms for new patients, multiple provider calendars.
🔧 Plumbers/Contractors
Free for small teams, simple service types, Facebook booking for social leads.
💪 Fitness Studios
Class bookings, package passes, multiple instructors, client intake forms.
🐾 Pet Groomers
Free plan covers small teams. Instagram booking captures social-savvy pet owners.
⚖️ Law Firms
Consultation scheduling, Zoom integration, clean client experience for busy attorneys.
💼 Consultants
The booking link standard in professional services. Every client knows how to use it.
Pricing Breakdown (2026)
| Plan | Calendly | Acuity | Setmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forever | 1 event type | 7-day trial only | 4 staff, unlimited bookings |
| Entry paid plan | $10/mo (Standard) | $16/mo (Emerging) | $5/mo (Pro) |
| Full-featured plan | $16/mo (Teams) | $27/mo (Growing) | $9/mo (Pro x2) |
| Enterprise / multi-loc | Custom | $61/mo (Powerhouse) | Custom |
| Per-user pricing? | Yes | Included users | Per user |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calendly free for small businesses?
Yes, Calendly has a free plan that lets you create one event type and accept unlimited bookings. It's great for getting started. For multiple service types (like a salon offering haircuts, color, and blowouts separately), you'll need the Standard plan at $10/month per user.
Which is better for a salon, Calendly, Acuity, or Setmore?
Acuity Scheduling is typically the best choice for salons. It supports multiple staff calendars, appointment packages, client intake forms, and deposit collection, all things a salon needs. Calendly is better for single-person businesses or simple service bookings, and Setmore works well for small salon teams on a tight budget.
Can I use a booking app with my existing website?
Yes, all three tools let you either share a booking link (the simplest approach) or embed a booking widget directly onto your website. The embed takes about 10 minutes to install and looks like a smooth part of your site. Customers never have to leave your website to book.