6 Best Acuity Scheduling Alternatives (2026)
An Acuity Scheduling alternative for appointment-based businesses that want booking, payments, and packages outside the Squarespace ecosystem.
Acuity Scheduling, owned by Squarespace, is a mature appointment scheduler for service businesses, with intake forms, packages, gift certificates, and class booking. As an Acuity alternative, SchedulingKit replaces the core appointment tasks: services with duration, price, and location, per-staff hours and multiple locations, group events with capacity limits, full or deposit payments through Stripe, PayPal, or Square (Standard and above), email and opt-in SMS reminders, and packages, recurring packages, and gift cards on the Pro plan. It does not have waitlists, and it is not a substitute for Acuity's HIPAA-eligible tier: SchedulingKit is not HIPAA compliant and does not sign BAAs. Acuity has no free plan; SchedulingKit has a Free plan for one team member and paid plans at $12, $20, and $36 per seat per month. Check Acuity's current pricing before you compare.
SchedulingKit
Our #1 Pick
Appointment scheduling software with online booking, calendar sync and a free plan for one team member. Payments, SMS reminders, team scheduling and AI add-ons are on paid plans. No credit card required.
Other Acuity Scheduling Alternatives
Calendly
See alternativesThe market leader in meeting scheduling with a polished user experience
Cal.com
See alternativesOpen-source scheduling with maximum customization and self-hosting options
TidyCal
See alternativesLifetime deal scheduling tool with no monthly fees
SavvyCal
See alternativesScheduling with overlay views and recipient-first approach
Doodle
See alternativesGroup scheduling polls to find the best meeting time for everyone
SchedulingKit vs Acuity Scheduling
A quick comparison of the most important differences.
| Area | SchedulingKit | Acuity Scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, 1 team member and 1 calendar | No free plan |
| Ecosystem | Standalone, embeds on any site | Part of Squarespace |
| Payment processors | Stripe, PayPal, Square | Several processors; check current options |
| Waitlists | Not available | Check current features |
| HIPAA | Not HIPAA compliant, no BAA | HIPAA option on a higher tier; check current plans |
Full Feature Comparison
See how SchedulingKit stacks up against Acuity Scheduling feature by feature.
| Feature | SchedulingKit | Acuity Scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan available | ||
| Class and group scheduling | ||
| Payment collection | Standard and above | |
| Package sales | Pro plan | |
| Gift cards | Pro plan, issued by the business | |
| Calendar sync | ||
| Automated reminders | ||
| Embed on website | ||
| Waitlists | Check current features | |
| HIPAA compliance | Higher tier |
Switching from Acuity Scheduling? FAQs
Our Verdict
Stay with Acuity if you depend on its intake forms, a HIPAA-eligible plan, or the Squarespace ecosystem. If you want appointment booking, deposits, packages, and a client portal in a standalone tool with a Free plan to start, SchedulingKit covers that workflow.
More About Acuity Scheduling
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