Calendly has become a ubiquitous tool for scheduling meetings without the back-and-forth email hassle. However, its simplicity might not meet everyone’s needs, especially when complex scheduling scenarios come into play. Here, we explore the top 5 alternatives to Calendly that offer diverse functionalities to cater to different scheduling demands.
1. SuperSaaS
SuperSaaS fits any type of business with its highly customizable and versatile scheduling platform. It allows for integration with various payment systems, offering a comprehensive solution for businesses that require flexibility.
- Founded: 2006
- G2 rating: 4.6 / 5
- Capterra rating: 4.6 / 5
- Plans start from: $9 / month (free tier available)
SuperSaaS’s key features
- Flexible scheduling: Whether you want to set cancellation policies, booking rules, or special discounts, SuperSaaS allows you to control every aspect of your scheduling process.
- Calendar sync: Combine availability from multiple calendars, link your Google or Outlook Calendar, so appointments there show up as unavailable on your SuperSaaS schedule (this is the only feature that requires to use a paid plan).
- Payments: Ask customers to pay at the time of booking, or send an invoice afterwards, through your own payment provider (PayPal, Stripe, and others). Set pricing rules, promotions and discounts to support your pricing.
- Notifications: Confirm bookings and send reminders by e-mail or SMS so no one forgets. Receive notifications when changes are made.
- Custom layout and forms: Completely customize the layout and ask specific information that you need as part of a booking, such as skill level, dietary restrictions or special requests.
- Website integration: Shareable links and easy website integration for a seamless user experience.
- Integrations: Connect your appointment schedule with your existing apps and software. Automatically add a Zoom or Google Meet link to a virtual appointment.
- Access control: Set separate access levels for team members or create user groups with access to specific schedules.
- Reporting: Detailed reporting and analytics to track booking trends and customer behavior.
- Unlimited scalability: Scales with your business from one user to thousands at no extra cost.
- Complex scheduling scenarios: Combine multiple calendars together for the most complex scheduling scenarios: e.g. “booking a treatment requires that both a room and a therapist are available”.
- Multi-day events or reservations: Allow registration for events spread over one day, several days or only for certain hours.
- Security and reliability: GDPR-compliant data security with automatic backups and 24/7 monitoring.
- Multi-language support: Accessible globally with support for 30+ languages.
Why schedule with SuperSaaS?
SuperSaaS is a highly versatile booking tool designed to fit every type of scheduling scenario. It offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the service to fit specific business needs from appointments to group scheduling or multi-day reservations. SuperSaaS offers several unique features that go way beyond simply scheduling meetings between people.
SuperSaaS: key points to consider
SuperSaaS holds a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating on G2. If you’re thinking about switching from Calendly to SuperSaaS, review the pros and cons below.
Pros
- Flexibility: SuperSaaS has over the many years of its existence added, and refined features based on customer feedback, resulting in a solution that’s almost certain to fit your company’s specific needs.
- Straightforward, budget-friendly plans: The pricing model of SuperSaaS is simply based on the number of future appointments and past reservations, while completed appointments do not count towards your limit of future bookings. Contrary to Calendly and the alternatives the cost of the software isn’t multiplied by the number of users. All features are included in every pricing plan, making it usually the cheaper alternative.
- Trustworthiness and reliability: When you depend on an external service for your business, you need it to be 100% reliable and available to your customers. SuperSaaS has a great track record in this area.
- Customer support: Probably the main reason for the high rating on G2 and other platforms is because of the customer support that responds quickly and offers expert advice, to both paying customers and those on a free plan.
Cons
- The number of configuration options can be overwhelming at first: because SuperSaaS aims to offer a solution for every type of business, it provides many configuration options, sometimes at the expense of simplicity. This only applies to what the administrator sees when configuring the schedule, not what your customers see.
- No native iOS or Android apps: SuperSaaS believes that your customers or users aren’t eager to download an app on their phone to use your services or quickly schedule an appointment. Therefore, its focus is on ensuring the user experience is just as good on a browser on the mobile phone as it is on the desktop for you and your customer.
- Lacking HIPAA compliance: SuperSaaS is not HIPAA-compliant (like most alternatives in this article), meaning it can’t be used by health organizations in the USA.
Comparing Calendly to SuperSaaS
Comparing Calendly to SuperSaaS is a bit like comparing apples to oranges because their focus and target user group is different, despite both offering a scheduling solution.
Calendly is known for its ease of use and clean design, making it a favorite among professionals who need a straightforward solution specifically for scheduling meetings. SuperSaaS is a highly versatile booking tool designed to fit every type of scheduling scenario. It offers more extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the service to fit specific business needs from appointments to group scheduling or long-term reservations. See an even more in-depth comparison between Calendly and SuperSaaS here.
| Calendly | SuperSaaS | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing starting at (monthly billing) | $12 / mo / user | $9 / mo |
| Max. number of registered users | 1 (price per user) | Unlimited |
| Maximum number of bookings (basic plan) | Unlimited | 100 (future bookings) |
| Appointments & (virtual) meetings | ✓ | ✓ |
| Groups & events | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi day rental & reservations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Buffer time | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waiting lists | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom branding | Paid | ✓ |
| Customizable booking page | Description only | ✓ |
| Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Combining availability of resources | ✗ | ✓ |
| Number of supported languages | 5 | 30+ |
| Intake forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reminders | SMS (premium), E-mail | SMS, E-mail |
| Calendar synchronization | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Permissions & teams | Premium | ✓ |
| Support | Chat & Email | |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| HIPAA compliance | ✗ | ✗ |
| POS terminal support | ✗ | ✗ |
2. Doodle
Doodle became well known for its ability to allow users to find the best time for meetings with minimal hassle. Since then its functionality has expanded to include scheduling one-on-one meetings so that it can now be considered an alternative to Calendly. Doodle is trusted by over 70,000 companies worldwide.
- Founded: 2007
- G2 rating: 4.4 / 5
- Capterra rating: 4.6 / 5
- Plans start from: $14.95 / month (monthly billing, free tier available)
Doodle’s key features
- Group polls: Create polls for meeting times that allow participants to select their availability.
- Sign-up sheets: Create an event and let multiple people sign up.
- One-on-one meetings: Set your availability and let people book a meeting with you. Add buffer times between meetings.
- Calendar syncing: Syncs with popular calendar services like Google, Outlook, and others to manage appointments and avoid conflicts.
- Booking page: Set up a personal booking page to let others choose available times for appointments, reflecting real-time availability.
Why schedule with Doodle?
This tool is especially beneficial for large groups and users who coordinate meetings with various stakeholders, especially outside their own organization and across time zones. Its unique Group Polls feature allows teams to find a time when everyone is available.
Doodle: key points to consider
Doodle holds a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating on G2, which is slightly lower than most of the alternatives in this article. If you’re thinking about switching from Calendly to Doodle, review the pros and cons below.
Pros
- Polls feature: allows teams to find a time when everyone is available.
- User-friendly interface: Intuitive design makes it easy to use.
- Real-time calendar sync: Sync with Google Calendar, iCloud, Outlook.com, and Office 365*. *
Cons
- Pricing per user: can become costly when used with a team.
- Limited features on free tier: schedule only a single 1:1 meeting, advanced features automated reminders and additional customization options require a paid subscription. The free version also shows an overwhelming amount of advertisements.
- Potential over-simplification: may not cater to all specific needs or preferences for more complex scheduling scenarios.
Comparing Doodle to Calendly
Having examined Doodle’s pros and cons, let’s examine how its features compare to Calendly.
| Calendly | Doodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing starting at (monthly billing) | $12 / mo / user | $14.95 / mo / user |
| Max. number of registered users | 1 (price per user) | 1 |
| Maximum number of bookings (basic plan) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Appointments & (virtual) meetings | ✓ | Premium |
| Groups & events | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi day rental & reservations | ✗ | ✗ |
| Buffer time | ✓ | ✗ |
| Waiting lists | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom branding | Premium | ✓ |
| Customizable booking page | Description only | ✓ |
| Payments | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Combining availability of resources | ✗ | ✗ |
| Number of supported languages | 5 | 5 |
| Intake forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reminders | SMS (premium), E-mail | ✓ |
| Calendar synchronization | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Permissions & teams | Premium | Premium |
| Support | Chat & Email | Chat (premium) & Email |
| Reporting | ✓ | Premium |
| HIPAA compliance | ✗ | ✗ |
| POS terminal support | ✗ | ✗ |
3. Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is a comprehensive online appointment scheduling software, part of the range of business tools of Squarespace. It’s designed to simplify booking processes and enhance client management for businesses. By automating booking, payments, and reminders, it serves as a robust tool to manage appointments effectively, helping businesses maximize their time and streamline their services.
- Founded: 2006
- G2 rating: 4.7 / 5
- Capterra rating: 4.8 / 5
- Plans start from: $20 / month (monthly billing, 7 day trial available)
Acuity Scheduling’s key features
- Client self-scheduling: Let clients book their own appointments through a customizable booking page.
- Virtual meetings: Google Meet, Zoom, and GoToMeeting integrations for online meetings.
- Real-time calendar sync: Sync with Google Calendar, iCloud, Outlook.com, Exchange, and Office 365.
- Advanced reporting: Advanced reporting about appointments, no shows, & performance.
- Customizable branding: Customization with brand colors and logo.
- Customizable intake forms: Collect necessary client information before appointments.
- Automated reminders: Send automated email and text reminders to reduce no-shows.
- Time zone support: Automatic time zone conversion for clients (multiple time zones for different staff/locations is an optional feature).
- Payment integration: Accept payments through platforms like Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
- Mobile management: Download the Acuity Mobile App for business on-the-go
Why schedule with Acuity Scheduling?
Acuity Scheduling is owned by Squarespace, which allows for seamless integration between the two platforms. This integration is highly beneficial if you’re already a Squarespace customer. You can directly integrate Acuity Scheduling into your Squarespace website using a special “Scheduling” block provided by Squarespace, making it straightforward to add appointment scheduling functionality to your site. Also, managing both your website and scheduling through Squarespace allows for a streamlined experience, where you can handle all your appointments, client management, and payments in one place without needing to switch between multiple platforms.
Acuity Scheduling: key point to consider
Acuity Scheduling holds a 4.7 out of 5 stars rating on G2. If you’re thinking about switching from Calendly to Acuity Scheduling, review the pros and cons below.
Pros
- Integration with Square: Easily integrate Acuity Scheduling into your Squarespace website
- Ease of use: Intuitive interface for both admin users and clients.
- Integrations: Works well with other software systems for a seamless workflow.
- Customization: High degree of customization to align with business branding and client interaction (for custom CSS a more expensive package is required).
Cons
- Integration with Squarespace: while integration with Squarespace can be a pro for Square users, it can be quite confusing for businesses that are not a Squarespace customer.
- Cost: While there is a free trial, the ongoing cost may be a consideration for smaller businesses or individuals. A number of advanced features are only available as part of more expensive packages.
- Complexity: The wealth of features and customization options (and related pricing plans) might be overwhelming for some users initially.
Comparing Acuity Scheduling to Calendly
Having examined Acuity Scheduling’s pros and cons, let’s examine how its features compare to Calendly.
| Calendly | Acuity Scheduling | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | 7 day trial |
| Pricing starting at (monthly billing) | $12 / mo / user | $20 / mo |
| Max. number of registered users | 1 (price per user) | 1 |
| Maximum number of bookings (basic plan) | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Appointments & (virtual) meetings | ✓ | ✓ |
| Groups & events | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi day rental & reservations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Buffer time | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waiting lists | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom branding | Paid | ✓ |
| Customizable booking page | Description only | ✓ |
| Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Combining availability of resources | ✗ | ✗ |
| Number of supported languages | 5 | 6 |
| Intake Forms | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reminders | SMS (premium), E-mail | SMS (premium), E-mail |
| Calendar Synchronization | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Permissions & teams | Premium | ✓ |
| Support | Chat & Email | Chat & Email |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| HIPAA Compliance | ✗ | Premium |
| POS Terminal Support | ✗ | ✗ |
4. Setmore
Setmore is online appointment scheduling software that offers both free and paid plans, aiming to simplify the booking process for businesses of all sizes. It integrates smoothly with websites, social media platforms, and various business tools to streamline customer interactions and appointment management.
- Founded: 2011
- G2 rating: 4.5 / 5
- Capterra rating: 4.6 / 5
- Plans start from: $12 / month / user (monthly billing, free tier available)
Setmore key features
- Online booking: Customers can book appointments directly from a business’s customizable Booking Page, Facebook, or Instagram profiles at the times set as available for your business.
- Payments: Integration with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal to collect payments online.
- Calendar sync: Offers synchronization with Google Calendar and Office 365 to manage appointments and avoid scheduling conflicts (not part of the free plan).
- Multi-platform support: Accessible via web, desktop (Windows and Mac), and mobile apps (iOS and Android).
- Virtual meetings: Supports integration with Zoom, Google Meet, and other video conferencing tools for online consultations.
- HIPAA compliance: As part of the Team plan, Setmore offers a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to support HIPAA compliance. This can be essential for healthcare organizations in the US.
Why schedule with Setmore?
Setmore is a great choice for users on a budget as the free version can be used with 4 users and offers most (but not all) basic features to a maximum of 200 appointments per month. Like the alternatives, Setmore offers self-scheduling with automating booking confirmations and reminders. Its integration capabilities allow businesses to connect their scheduling system with other tools they use. The platform also supports multiple payment methods.
Setmore: key points to consider
Setmore holds a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating on G2. If you’re thinking about switching from Calendly to Setmore, review the pros and cons below.
Pros
- Cost-effective: Offers a robust free plan with a maximum of 200 appointments per month and up to 4 users.
- User-friendly: Easy to set up and manage, even for those with limited technical skills.
- Flexibility: Suitable for various industries and integrates with a wide range of apps.
- Accessibility: Available on multiple platforms, ensuring you can manage your appointments from anywhere.
Cons
- Feature restrictions: Basic features such as recurring appointments, video meeting integration, and SMS reminders aren’t available as part of the free plan. Advanced features such as calendar syncing and detailed analytics are also limited to paid plans.
- Scalability: Some users report that the software may be less suitable for large businesses or those with complex scheduling needs such as combining a schedule with resource availability such as a room.
Comparing Setmore to Calendly
Having examined Setmore’s pros and cons, let’s examine how its features compare to Calendly.
| Calendly | Setmore | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing starting at (monthly billing) | $12 / mo / user | $12 / mo / user |
| Max. number of registered users (free plan) | 1 (price per user) | 4 |
| Maximum number of bookings (basic plan) | Unlimited | 200 per month |
| Appointments & (virtual) meetings | ✓ | ✓ |
| Groups & events | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi day rental & reservations | ✗ | ✗ |
| Buffer time | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waiting lists | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom branding | Paid | ✓ |
| Customizable booking page | Description only | ✓ |
| Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Combining availability of resources | ✗ | ✗ |
| Number of supported languages | 5 | 30+ |
| Intake Forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reminders | SMS (premium), E-mail | SMS (premium), E-mail |
| Calendar Synchronization | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Permissions & teams | Premium | ✓ |
| Support | Chat & Email | Chat, Email, Phone |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| HIPAA Compliance | ✗ | Premium |
| POS Terminal Support | ✗ | ✗ |
5. SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is a comprehensive online booking system designed for a large variety of business types, including personal services, health, education, sports, and more. The system allows businesses to manage bookings, payments, and client interactions all in one platform.
- Founded: 2001
- G2 rating: 4.4 / 5
- Capterra rating: 4.6 / 5
- Plans start from: $9.90 / month (monthly billing, free tier available)
SimplyBook.me’s key features
- Appointment scheduling: Enables easy scheduling of individual, group, and recurring appointments.
- Combining availability of resources: Simplybook.me appears to be the only other alternative (next to SuperSaaS) that offers advanced scheduling scenarios by combining multiple calendars. For some businesses, this feature can be essential. Consider scheduling a meeting with a person in your business, but only at a time when there’s also a room available.
- Point of sale (POS) options: Facilitates on-site bookings and payments.
- Social media integration: Connects booking systems with platforms like Facebook and Instagram for increased visibility and accessibility.
- Customizable client interface: Offers customizable templates and settings to align with brand identity and client preferences.
- Mobile management: Provides a mobile app that allows for efficient management of bookings and client interactions on the go.
Why schedule with SimplyBook.me?
Choose SimplyBook.me for scheduling if you’re looking for specific features that the alternatives aren’t offering, as it has an extensive range of possibilities. It provides tools for increasing visibility and bookings through multiple channels like Google, Instagram, and its own site, Booking.page. The system is designed to grow with your business, accommodating increasing complexity in your scheduling needs as your business expands.
SimplyBook.me: key points to consider
SimplyBook.me holds a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating on G2, which is slightly lower than most of the alternatives in this article. If you’re thinking about switching from Calendly to SimplyBook.me, review the pros and cons below.
Pros
- Versatility: SimplyBook.me supports a wide array of business types and sizes with its extensive feature set.
- Integration: Seamless integration with social media and other online platforms.
- Customization: Businesses can customize the booking site to match their brand and preferred workflows.
- HIPAA compliance: As part of the more expensive plans, Simplybook.me offers HIPAA compliance. This can be essential for healthcare organizations in the US.
- POS integration: The SimplyBook.me POS interface can be used to process onsite payments. This is a unique feature that none of the alternatives offer and can be useful if you have a store or want to provide the option for your customers to pay on the spot.
Cons
- Complexity for new users: The wide range of features and customization options might be overwhelming for new users or small businesses that require simpler solutions. To that end, Simplybook.me actually also offers a simpler solution called Simplymeet.me.
- Cost: While there is a free tier, accessing more advanced features and higher booking volumes requires moving to paid plans, which might not be ideal for very small businesses or solo practitioners.
- Less suitable for multi-day appointments: It appears to be possible to schedule appointments longer than one day, but only using a somewhat cumbersome workaround. This makes Simplybook.me less suitable for most rental scenarios such as renting a room, house or vehicle.
Comparing SimplyBook.me to Calendly
Having examined SimplyBook.me’s pros and cons, let’s examine how its features compare to Calendly.
| Calendly | Simplybook.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | 14 day trial |
| Pricing starting at (monthly billing) | $12 / mo / user | $9,90 / mo |
| Max. number of registered users | 1 (price per user) | 5 |
| Maximum number of bookings (basic plan) | Unlimited | 100 / month |
| Appointments & (virtual) meetings | ✓ | ✓ |
| Groups & events | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi day rental & reservations | ✗ | ✓* |
| Buffer time | ✓ | ✓ |
| Waiting lists | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom branding | Paid | ✓ |
| Customizable booking page | Description only | ✓ |
| Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Combining availability of resources | ✗ | ✓ |
| Number of supported languages | 5 | 15 |
| Intake Forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reminders | SMS (premium), E-mail | |
| Calendar Synchronization | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Permissions & teams | Premium | ✓ |
| Support | Chat & Email | Chat & Email |
| Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| HIPAA Compliance | ✗ | Premium |
| POS Terminal Support | ✗ | ✓ |
* Note: Multi day rental & reservations supported by Simplybook.me via a workaround
Conclusion
While Calendly is a fantastic tool for many, the diverse needs of modern businesses and individuals call for a variety of solutions. Whether you need more extensive integration, more customization, or advanced reporting, there’s likely a tool on this list that fits your requirements perfectly.
You can also find all these alternatives combined into one overview here.