Best Appointment Schedulers and Booking Apps

9 Best Appointment Scheduling Apps for Every Business Need

Abhishek
By Abhishek | Last Updated on April 13th, 2024 12:25 pm

As service-based businesses are evolving and rising to prominence, finding the best appointment scheduling app or software can be critical. Whether you're running a salon with individual providers or a consulting agency organizing discovery calls, the right tool can streamline your booking management and enhance your professional image. As a marketing professional, I've always been on the lookout for various no-code platforms and have also tried numerous appointment scheduling apps and identified the ones that truly stand out. In this blog, I'll introduce you to the best online appointment scheduling apps that strike the perfect balance between flexibility and ease of use while also giving you a peek into the world of workflow automation.

What is an Appointment Scheduler?

Appointment schedulers are specialized business tools that enable clients to book, reschedule, and cancel appointments through a user-friendly web interface. Clients can access this interface via your website, Facebook Page, or other supported platforms, choosing from available dates and times. You can also set up appointment scheduler integrations to maximize the functionality of the app or set up automated workflows for better efficiency and accuracy.

On the backend, you define parameters for when clients can book specific services based on your business hours and staff availability. The app also prevents double-booking and over-booking, allowing you to block off times when certain services are unavailable. For instance, if you operate a beauty salon and one of your hair stylists is on vacation, you can set up the scheduler to prevent clients from booking them during that period.

What Makes a Great Appointment Scheduling App?

Businesses that offer appointment scheduling options experienced a 24% increase in call volume (Source). The best appointment scheduling apps offer much more than a list of available slots. The best online booking software empowers clients to manage appointments, make changes, and pay for services in advance. Here's what you should expect from the best apps for scheduling and booking appointments:
  • Flexibility: The best scheduling software should allow deep customization to cater to the unique needs of your business. It should adapt to various types of organizations, such as gyms, salons, or consultancies, offering tailored booking experiences.
  • Calendar Syncing: Integration with popular calendars like Google Calendar, iCloud, and Outlook is essential. Two-way syncing ensures you stay organized, avoiding scheduling conflicts.
  • Payment Processing: The ability to collect payments at the time of booking or require deposits provides financial security for your business. No-shows won't result in losses.
  • Integration with Third-party Tools: Your scheduling tool should seamlessly connect with other apps in your tech stack, such as Slack, Mailchimp, and Zoom, or offer integration via platforms like Appy Pie Connect.
  • Value: A great scheduling app should cater to solopreneurs and large teams, offering both free and reasonably priced plans.
  • Professional Presentation: Your scheduling tool should reflect your brand's professionalism, featuring a user-friendly and visually appealing interface accessible through your website, Facebook Business Page, or custom URL.

Best Appointment Scheduling Apps

Now that you know a little more about appointment scheduling apps and what goes into making the best appointment scheduling software. Let's explore some of the best appointment scheduling apps that meet these criteria:

  1. Acuity Scheduling: Best for Ease of UseAcuity Scheduling is especially popular for its user-friendliness and extensive customization options. It allows clients to book recurring appointments, complete intake forms, and make advance payments. You can also offer coupons and add-on services. With features like the "Make me look busy" setting, you can control appointment availability and create a professional image. You can also expand the features and functionality of the scheduling app by setting up app integrations with Acuity Scheduling. Supported Payment Systems: PayPal, Square, or Stripe; in-person paymentsSupported Calendars: Google Calendar, iCloud, Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, Outlook.comPricing: Plans start at $16/month for 1 staff member and location, payment processing, and more.
  2. Picktime: Best Free Scheduling AppPicktime offers an incredibly generous free plan with unlimited appointments, making it an excellent choice for businesses on a budget. While the booking page customization is somewhat limited, it's incredibly easy to set up. Picktime also provides widgets for various website builders, Google Maps, and Facebook integration.Supported Payment Systems: PayPal, StripeSupported Calendars: One-way sync with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, iCloud, and Microsoft Exchange on the free plan; two-way sync on paid plans.Pricing: Free for up to 3 team members and unlimited bookings; paid plans start at $9.99/month.
  3. Neo Bookings: Streamlined Online Appointment SchedulingNeo Bookings offers a seamless solution for creating and managing online appointment schedules, ideal for businesses seeking efficient meeting coordination. It allows clients, customers, and team members to easily find time on your calendar and book meetings. The platform provides a personalised booking page, which can be shared widely, and integrates smoothly with the Neo calendar to ensure availability accuracy.Supported Payment Systems: PayPal or StripeSupported Calendars: Automatically connected to the Neo calendar, ensuring synchronisation and availability accuracy.Pricing: Part of the Neo Email Plan which starts from $1.99/ month
  4. Square Appointments: Best Mobile Booking App with POSSquare Appointments combines appointment scheduling with built-in point-of-sale (POS) functionality. This mobile-first platform offers a sleek interface, making it ideal for businesses on the go. Square's robust POS system, payment options, and staff management tools are integrated seamlessly.Supported Payment Systems: SquareSupported Calendars: Google CalendarPricing: Free for a single location; paid plans start at $29/month per location.
  5. SimplyBook.me: Best for International BusinessesSimplyBook.me caters to international businesses with support for over 30 languages and 35 payment gateways. Its booking pages are highly professional and customizable. The platform also offers features like "Book soon" reminders and loyalty systems to encourage repeat customers.Supported Payment Systems: 38 options, including Square, Stripe, PayPal, and more.Supported Calendars: Google Calendar, OutlookPricing: Free for up to 50 bookings per month and 1 provider; paid plans start at $8.25/month.
  6. Book Like A Boss: Best for Affordable Website IntegrationBook Like A Boss is not only a scheduling app but also an affordable website builder, making it a perfect choice for startups on a tight budget. You can create unlimited booking pages for appointments, events, classes, and products. While it's not as customizable as WordPress, it's an all-in-one solution for businesses seeking an online presence.Supported Payment Systems: Stripe, PayPal, SquareSupported Calendars: Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, iCloud, Office 365Pricing: Starts at $9/month for basic meeting scheduling or $19/month for advanced features.
  7. Zoho Bookings: Best for Comprehensive Business ManagementZoho Bookings offers an extensive suite of tools for businesses, making it an ideal choice if you want to manage your entire business within a single platform. It's highly customizable, allowing you to create unique booking pages for different locations, booking types, and staff members.Supported Payment Systems: PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.Net, and more.Supported Calendars: Zoho Calendar, Google Calendar, Office 365Pricing: Free for 1 person; paid plans start at $6/user/month.
  8. Calendly: Best for Automated SchedulingCalendly is renowned for its user-friendly and intuitive scheduling capabilities. It offers seamless integration with your existing calendar, allowing clients to book appointments effortlessly. Calendly provides a range of customization options, from appointment types to availability preferences, making it a versatile tool for various businesses. You can also look into the numerous Calendly integrations available on Appy Pie Connect to leverage the app to its utmost potential. Supported Payment Systems: Calendly primarily focuses on scheduling and does not offer built-in payment processing.Supported Calendars: Google Calendar, Outlook, Office 365, iCloud, and more.Pricing: Calendly offers a free plan with basic features, and paid plans start at $8/user/month, offering advanced options like group scheduling and integrations.
  9. OnceHub: Best for Advanced Scheduling SolutionsOnceHub is a powerful scheduling and appointment booking platform that caters to businesses of all sizes. It offers advanced features such as round-robin scheduling, automatic time zone detection, and customizable booking pages. With OnceHub, you can streamline scheduling processes and improve customer satisfaction. You can further ramp up the potential of this powerful tool by setting up workflow automation through meaningful OnceHub integrations.Supported Payment Systems: OnceHub primarily focuses on scheduling and does not provide built-in payment processing.Supported Calendars: Google Calendar, Outlook, Office 365, iCloud, and more.Pricing: OnceHub offers a 14-day free trial, and paid plans start at $10/user/month, offering features like multi-user booking pages and Salesforce integration.
  10. Paperform: Simplifying Appointment Scheduling with Personalized FormsIn the bustling world of appointment scheduling solutions, Paperform stands out as a versatile platform that allows businesses to create custom scheduling forms that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. You can create anything from simple appointment bookings to complex registrations. Simply create your form, connect your calendar, set up automated emails, and share the forms.Supported Payment Systems: Stripe, Paypal, Square, Braintree, Chargebee + 90 more.Supported Calendars: Google Calendar.Pricing: 14-day free trial. Essential plan $24/mo (billed annually).

Incorporating the best scheduling software into your scheduling toolkit can enhance your scheduling automation capabilities and provide greater flexibility to meet your business needs. Whether you're a solopreneur or managing a team, these tools offer efficient solutions for appointment scheduling.

Conclusion

Selecting the best appointment scheduling app or software for your business is crucial for streamlining operations, enhancing client experiences, and boosting your professional image. Consider your specific needs and budget when choosing from the above options. With the right scheduling tool in place, you can focus on what matters most—growing your business and serving your clients effectively.

Related Articles

Most Popular Posts