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Acuity Scheduling
- 7-day free trial
- Seamless booking experience
- Powerful integrations
- Squarespace website integration
- No phone support
- Non-intuitive UI with loading issues
Finding a scheduling tool that’s reliable and easy to use can be difficult.
And what if you also need the ability to charge for appointments? Then it’s like finding a needle in a haystack.
Acuity Scheduling is a platform that automates your appointment scheduling, allows you to charge for appointments, and even lets you invoice clients.
In this Acuity Scheduling review, we’ll unpack its features so you can get a better picture of its capabilities.
SMB Guide’s Verdict for Acuity Scheduling
Acquired by Squarespace in 2019, Acuity Scheduling is a well-known scheduling software that’s pretty easy to use and has some new features (like invoicing) that make it stand out against competitors.
However, it doesn’t have a free plan option, and some users complain that the interface isn’t very intuitive.
Based on that and sourced user reviews, I’m going to give Acuity Scheduling an overall rating of 9.3 out of 10.
In this review of Acuity Scheduling, I’ve followed SMB Guide’s detailed criteria for evaluating the appointment scheduling software.
Pricing & Plans
Acuity offers three different subscription options, with the cheapest being an individual account at $16/month.
Acuity’s plans can accommodate businesses with up to 36 staff or locations for scheduling purposes. If you need more than that, you’ll need to look into alternative solutions.
First-time users will get a free 7-day trial of their plan of choice when signing up. If you choose to pay annually rather than monthly, you can save 20% on your subscription.
Here’s an overview of Acuity Scheduling’s plans as of December 2023:
Emerging
Acuity’s Emerging plan is ideal for the business owners who are just starting out and need a simple and reliable tool with basic scheduling functionalities.
Price:
- $20 per month
- $192 per year
Features:
- Client self-scheduling
- Ability to offer unlimited services and appointments
- Receive payments and deposits through Stripe, Square, or PayPal
- Integrations with Google Meet, Zoom, and GoToMeeting for online meetings
- Confirmation, reminder, and follow-up emails
- Automatic time zone conversion
- Brand your scheduler’s colors, copy, and logo
Who it’s for: Individual freelancers and solopreneurs
Growing
Acuity’s Growing plan takes scheduling a step further by allowing you to sell paid consultations, subscriptions, and more.
Price:
- $34 per month
- $324 per year
Features:
- All features included in Emerging plan
- Worldwide text message reminders
- Offer appointment packages – including payment plans
- Sell subscriptions, memberships, and gift certificates
Who it’s for: Small businesses offering paid consultations
Powerhouse
Acuity’s Powerhouse plan offers all the perks of the Emerging and Growing plans with the addition of HIPAA compliance.
With this plan, you’ll also be able to set up your scheduling to work across multiple time zones (if your business has multiple locations).
Price:
- $61 per month
- $588 per year
Features:
- All features included in Growing plan
- Multiple time zones for your different staff/locations
- Sign BAA for HIPAA compliance
- Custom API and CSS for developers
Who it’s for: Medical professionals OR large companies with multiple locations
Flexible scheduling software designed to help you grow — because booking time should never get in the way of success.
Appointment Workflow Automation
To start automating your appointments with Acuity, all you need to do is create appointment types, set your availability, and then provide your clients with your scheduling link (you can easily find this one on the right side of your dashboard page).
They’ll then be able to select their appointment type and select a time that works for them based on your availability.
You can require them to fill out specific information about themselves like a phone number, reason for the appointment, or even an intake form.
Customization Options
Acuity Scheduling offers several different customization options, including:
- Choose whether clients see a monthly or daily calendar when they visit your scheduling page to book with you.
- Customize your business name and logo.
- Write custom scheduling instructions so clients know exactly what to do.
- Change the font and button/accent color of the scheduling page.
There are various different settings you can toggle on or off, as well, such as details you want your clients to see and what information to require from them before booking.
If you’re a tech wiz, you even have the option of further customizing your scheduling page with CSS.
Calendar Management Features
With Acuity, you have the ability to set up either one-way or two-way sync with external Google, iCloud, or Outlook calendars.
One-way sync essentially just means that any events in the external calendar won’t appear in Acuity and automatically block those times off.
Two-way syncs your Acuity and external calendar in both directions so you can see all events in either calendar.
It’s a pretty easy process. All you need to do is click “Sync with other Calendars” on the left hand menu under the “Business Settings” header.
Automated Reminders and Notifications
Acuity allows you to send reminders to your clients about their appointments, packages, and subscriptions.
It’s important to note that you’ll only be able to customize the contents of the email notifications if you’re subscribed to a paid plan – you can’t access this feature if you’re on the free trial.
Email notifications are sent from a [email protected] email address, with the sender name matching your account business name.
If you’re on the Growing or Powerhouse plans, you’ll be able to send both email and text reminders.
Client Management and Communication
In the left hand menu, Acuity has a “Clients” tab where you can manage your client list as well as import or export to a spreadsheet.
Clicking on an individual client in your list will bring up a box with their contact information, any notes you’ve written down about the client, intake forms, and upcoming and past appointments you have with them.
If you need to schedule a follow up with them, you can do so directly from this page by clicking “Schedule” at the top of the box.
You can also ban the individual if you don’t want them to be able to schedule appointments with you in the future.
User Interface and User Experience
Acuity’s user interface is pretty easy to understand, though I will say that the neutral black and white color scheme can make it difficult to follow where you need to go on the page.
Once you create your account, you’ll be taken to your dashboard, which looks like this:
A couple things I noticed straight off the bat about the layout which I really liked:
- Your calendar is immediately available in the left hand sidebar. All it takes is a single click to see all the meetings you have scheduled for any given day.
- Your scheduling link is easily accessible on the right side of the page for whenever you need it.
Now, despite the nice interface, it seems to lack intuitiveness. This is a pain point for many users.
When I clicked on my calendar to view the events I had scheduled for that day, for example, I found it really cumbersome to get back to the main dashboard – I literally had to refresh the page to get back to it.
Integrations, Compatibility, & Supported Platforms
Acuity Scheduling offers 37+ integrations with third-party applications, including accounting, email marketing, payment processing, and video conferencing (as I’m sure you may have already guessed).
For a full list of third-party apps, visit their integrations page here.
Acuity is a web-based application that can be used in any major browser. If you prefer a mobile experience, they’ve got you covered there, too – they Acuity offers both an iOS app (rated 4.8 stars) and an Android app (rated 4.1 stars).
Customer Support
To get help with Acuity, you’ll need to submit a request here. According to their website: “Keep in mind that depending on staffing and availability, we may not reply to your inquiry immediately.”
Unfortunately, it’s not really clear what that means or if there’s even a typical timeframe that users can expect to receive answers.
Acuity doesn’t offer phone support, either. If that’s important to you, you’ll want to look at other scheduling options.
What the Experts Say About Acuity Scheduling
Here are some of Acuity’s ratings on some of the most popular review sites:
- Trustpilot: 2.6 stars (51 reviews)
- G2: 4.7 stars (396 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8 stars (5561 reviews)
Here are a few excerpts from real customer reviews:
Acuity Scheduling was an excellent great start and affordable option for online scheduling, billing collections, and basic SOAP notes. It was user-friendly and easy to setup. It also allowed for multiple users that could be set up as administrators or clinicians. I ultimately had to leave the platform for a more advanced EMR system; however, I definitely recommend them as a great place to start or if your needs are more simple.
Dr. Jeanette D., President – Verified Capterra review
Features like package and discount management, an embeddable design, and support for several time zones are only the beginning. When compared to the prior scheduling program we utilized, this one has far less issues. It’s so simple, yet so effective. Client calendars are synced and alerts are sent out automatically. Zoom’s user interface makes setting up online meetings a breeze.
Sara B., Human Resources Generalist – Verified Capterra review
Acuity Scheduling — Unique Features
- Invoices: Create and send invoices to clients directly within Acuity’s app. You can then connect a payment processor (Stripe, Square, or PayPal) to receive invoice payments. While this feature is still in beta at the moment, it’s still worth mentioning in my opinion.
- Embeds: Not satisfied with the customization options for your scheduling page? Acuity gives you the option of embedding the scheduler directly within your own site, which can be more convenient for customers but also blend in with your branding more.
Acuity Scheduling Alternatives
Acuity Scheduling is an overall decent scheduling tool – and it’s especially convenient for Squarespace users.
However, if you aren’t running a Squarespace website, you may want to look into other alternatives, including:
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Setmore
Setmore is pretty much your basic run-of-the-mill scheduling app, but it has a very generous free plan – while Acuity Scheduling offers no free plan.
- Starting Price: $0/user per month (up to 4 users)
- Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses that rely heavily on appointments
Doodle
Acuity Scheduling is designed more for 1-on-1 meetings and paid consultations. Doodle, on the other hand, is a good choice if you need to schedule a lot of group or team meetings.
- Starting Price: $6.95/user per month
- Best For: Companies who regularly need to coordinate large group meetings
Calendly
Acuity Scheduling definitely has a lot more use cases, but Calendly is extremely good at what it does. It’s worth considering if you’re looking for an app that’s solely a scheduling tool.
- Starting Price: $16/user per month
- Best For: Small businesses to Fortune 100 companies looking for a tool to make scheduling – and remembering – meetings easier for clients
Other options: Best Acuity Scheduling Alternatives
Getting Started with Acuity Scheduling
Acuity is an ideal scheduling platform for businesses with websites hosted on Squarespace or for those that want invoicing functionality.
Visit AcuityScheduling.com to create your account today. You’ll receive a free 7-day trial of the plan of your choice if you’re a new user!
FAQs
Who owns Acuity Scheduling?
Acuity Scheduling was founded in 2006 by Gavin Zuchlinski. It has since been acquired by Squarespace in 2019.
Is Acuity Scheduling different from Squarespace Scheduling?
After Acuity Scheduling was acquired by Squarespace, they created Squarespace Scheduling (essentially a rebranded version of Acuity for Squarespace users).
They’ve since scrapped Squarespace Scheduling and have transitioned to serving customers under the Acuity name only.
Is Acuity Scheduling HIPAA compliant?
HIPAA compliance in Acuity Scheduling depends on your specific plan. The Emerging and Growing plans are not HIPAA compliant.
However, if you’re subscribed to the Powerhouse plan, you’ll have the option of entering into a Business Associate Addendum (BBA) to make your Acuity account HIPAA-enabled.
Related reading:
Flexible scheduling software designed to help you grow — because booking time should never get in the way of success.
Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is customizable appointment scheduling software made easy, automating your workflows, payments, and bookings.
Product Brand: Acuity Scheduling
4.6
Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is customizable appointment scheduling software made easy, automating your workflows, payments, and bookings.
Product Brand: Acuity Scheduling
4.6