- 1Collecting a deposit or full payment at booking adds commitment and gets money into your account before the appointment
- 2SchedulingKit supports full payment or deposits through Stripe, PayPal, or Square (Standard+), invoices for balances, and packages and gift cards on Pro; it does not charge no-show fees automatically
- 3Square Appointments integrates online and in-person payments via Square's hardware ecosystem, ideal for simple businesses combining booking and payments
This guide compares the 7 best scheduling software options with payments in 2026. The core question for each tool is what happens to money around a booking: can you take a deposit or full payment at checkout, how is the remaining balance collected, what happens on a cancellation, and can you sell packages?
We compared each platform on deposits, balances, refunds, packages, subscriptions, and in-person payments, and we note where a tool's payment features stop.
Why Integrated Scheduling and Payments Matter
- Commitment: A client who has paid a deposit has a reason to show up or cancel in time. Track your own no-show rate before and after you require one.
- Faster cash flow: Collecting payment at booking rather than after service means money hits your account sooner.
- Less admin work: Payment records attached to bookings, so there's less matching of bookings to payments.
- Professional experience: Clients expect to pay when they book, just like they do for restaurants, flights, and hotels. It signals professionalism.
- Package management: Selling and tracking session packages, memberships, and subscriptions should be connected to scheduling.
- Cancellation handling: Clear rules for refunds on cancellation. Some tools can charge late-cancel fees; check how each one works.
The 7 Best Scheduling Software with Payments
1. SchedulingKit — Best for deposits, invoices, and packages in one booking tool
SchedulingKit lets you set payment rules per service. Turn on Require Payment and choose Full Payment or Deposit Only (a percentage or a fixed amount). Clients pay through your connected Stripe, PayPal, or Square account as part of booking. Online payments are available on the Standard plan and up.
How the rest of the payment workflow works:
- Balances: After a deposit, the remaining balance goes on an invoice that the client pays from a link. Balances are never charged automatically.
- Invoices: Paid online bookings create invoices automatically. You can also create manual invoices with line items, tax, discounts, notes, and installment schedules, mark invoices paid offline, and issue refunds. See invoicing.
- Refunds: When a Stripe-paid booking is cancelled, the full amount is refunded automatically. PayPal and Square refunds are manual, and clients can't self-cancel paid PayPal or Square bookings.
- Packages (Pro plan and up): Sell a session count or dollar balance. Recurring packages bill weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly through Stripe.
- Gift cards (Pro plan and up): Issue gift cards from the dashboard; clients redeem them at booking. Clients can't buy them online.
What it does not do: automatic no-show or late-cancellation fees, in-person card readers or POS, tax at online checkout, or recurring invoices.
Pricing: Free plan for 1 team member (1 calendar connection, no online payments or SMS). Paid plans per seat per month: Standard $12, Pro $20, Business $36. 14-day trial. Payment processor fees apply. See full pricing.
2. Square Appointments — Best for In-Person + Online Payments
Square Appointments connects online booking with Square's payment hardware, creating a unified system for businesses that collect payments both at booking and at the point of service. The free plan for individuals includes scheduling and payment processing.
The strength is Square's payment ecosystem — card readers, POS terminals, invoicing, and online payments all from one provider. The scheduling features are adequate for simple businesses but lack the depth of dedicated scheduling platforms for complex service types.
Pricing: Free plan for individuals; paid plans per location. Square processing fees apply.
3. Acuity Scheduling — Best for Multiple Payment Options
Acuity Scheduling (by Squarespace) integrates with Stripe, Square, and PayPal for payment collection at booking. You can require payment, offer deposits, sell packages, and accept tips — all configured per appointment type.
The flexibility to connect multiple payment processors is an advantage. Acuity's booking flow handles payments smoothly, and the package/subscription features are well-implemented. It is a reliable choice for service businesses that want proven payment integration.
Pricing: No free plan. Tiered monthly plans, starting around $16 per month billed annually. Processor fees are separate.
4. Fresha — Best Transaction-Fee Model for Beauty and Wellness
Fresha provides scheduling with payment processing built in, aimed at beauty and wellness businesses. Much of its cost comes from payment processing and marketplace fees rather than a large software subscription.
The trade-off is that fees scale with your volume. High-volume businesses may pay more in transaction fees than they would with a subscription-based tool, so compare Fresha's current fee schedule against your monthly booking value.
Pricing: Payment processing and marketplace fees apply; check Fresha's site for any current subscription fees.
5. Calendly — Best for Payment-Required Meetings
Calendly's paid plans include payment collection through Stripe and PayPal integration. You can require payment to confirm a booking, which is effective for paid consultations, coaching sessions, and workshops. The payment step integrates into the booking flow cleanly.
The payment features are functional but basic compared to dedicated scheduling-and-payment platforms. Package management, recurring billing, and complex pricing structures are limited. Calendly works best when you need simple per-session payment at booking.
Pricing: Payments are available on paid plans; Standard is $10 per seat per month billed annually ($12 monthly). Processor fees are separate.
6. HoneyBook — Best for Package and Milestone Payments
HoneyBook excels at project-based payment workflows. You can create proposals with package pricing, collect deposits upon contract signing, and schedule milestone payments throughout a project. The payment system is deeply integrated with contracts and project management.
For photographers, consultants, and service providers who sell packages with multiple payment stages, HoneyBook handles the complexity naturally. The scheduling component is included but less feature-rich than dedicated booking tools.
Pricing: No free plan. Tiered monthly subscriptions plus payment processing fees.
7. GlossGenius — Best for Beauty Industry Payments
GlossGenius combines salon and beauty scheduling with integrated payment processing including contactless NFC payments. It sells its own card reader, and the payment flow runs from booking through checkout.
The platform handles deposits, package sales, and tipping well. It is specifically designed for beauty professionals, so the payment features address industry-specific needs like product sales alongside services. Less suitable for non-beauty service businesses.
Pricing: Flat monthly plans; card processing fees apply.
Feature Comparison Table
| Software | Deposits | Packages | Subscriptions | In-Person POS | Free Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SchedulingKit | Yes (Standard+) | Yes (Pro+) | Recurring packages via Stripe (Pro+) | No | Yes, without online payments |
| Square Appointments | Yes | Limited | No | Yes (native) | Yes (solo) |
| Acuity Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Fresha | Yes | Yes | Memberships | Yes | Check current fees |
| Calendly | Prepayment | No | No | No | No (paid feature) |
| HoneyBook | Yes | Yes | Retainers | No | No |
| GlossGenius | Yes | Yes | Memberships | Yes (NFC) | No |
Our Recommendation
If you book appointments online and want deposits, invoices for the remaining balance, and packages in one place, SchedulingKit covers that from the Standard plan (online payments) and Pro plan (packages, recurring packages, gift cards). It does not take in-person card payments or charge no-show fees automatically.
If in-person payment processing is equally important to online booking, Square Appointments covers both sides from one provider. For beauty businesses, Fresha and GlossGenius are strong industry-specific options; compare their current subscription and processing fees.
Start with SchedulingKit and turn on online payments with the Standard plan to collect your first deposit at booking.
Example Workflow: Deposit Plus Balance Invoice
A photographer offers a two-hour portrait session with a 30% deposit through Stripe. The client pays the deposit at booking, and an invoice marked Partially Paid is created automatically. After the session, the client pays the remaining 70% from the invoice link. If the client cancels before the session within the allowed window, Stripe refunds the deposit automatically.
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