Acuity Scheduling
PaidAppointment scheduling for service businesses
About Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is a SaaS appointment booking platform owned by Squarespace since 2019. G2: 4.7 stars from 5,500+ reviews. Built for service businesses — salons, therapists, personal trainers, consultants, and photographers — who need clients to book time slots, fill out intake forms, and pay upfront. Pricing: $16/mo Emerging (1 calendar, basic features), $27/mo Growing (6 calendars, group classes, packages), $49/mo Powerhouse (36 calendars, custom API, advanced features). No free tier — Acuity eliminated it after the Squarespace acquisition, and Reddit users are consistently vocal about this. Previously had a free plan; losing it is the most common complaint across forums. Payment collection integrates with Stripe, Square, and PayPal. Intake forms let you collect information before appointments automatically. Syncs bidirectionally with Google Calendar, iCloud, and Outlook. Time zone detection handles bookings across geographic regions automatically. The interface is dated compared to newer competitors like Cal.com or Calendly, but the booking flow is reliable and service business workflows are deeply supported. Squarespace users get native integration. Compared to Calendly: Acuity is stronger for multi-service businesses with intake forms and packages; Calendly is cleaner for simple meeting scheduling.
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Emerging
- 1 calendar
- Unlimited appointments
- Basic intake forms
Growing
- 6 calendars
- Group classes
- Packages & memberships
Powerhouse
- 36 calendars
- Custom API
- Advanced reporting
Pros
- Very strong for service businesses
- Excellent intake form customization
- Stripe, Square, PayPal payment collection
- Group classes and packages built in
- Reliable booking flow with time zone handling
- Deep Squarespace integration
Cons
- No free tier since Squarespace acquisition
- Interface feels dated vs competitors
- Pricing high for solo practitioners
- Squarespace branding pushes its ecosystem
- Limited native video conferencing tools
- Reddit widely criticizes removal of free plan
Best For
- Salons, therapists, and personal trainers with complex multi-service booking needs
- Service businesses that collect payment and intake forms before appointments
- Teams already using Squarespace websites who want native scheduling integration
Not Ideal For
- Solo freelancers or consultants who just need simple meeting links — Calendly is cheaper
- Teams that need a free tier to evaluate before committing
Potential Deal Breakers
- Free tier eliminated after Squarespace acquisition — no way to try before committing
- UI is noticeably dated compared to Calendly and newer competitors
- $27-49/mo is expensive for solo practitioners with modest booking volume
Data & Privacy
Owned by Squarespace. No AI training on booking data. Appointment data exportable. Squarespace privacy terms apply. HIPAA compliance available on higher plans.
Who Is This For?
Hands-on tested 2026-05
Signup Experience
Standalone signup or via Squarespace account. Setup wizard for availability and booking types is well-guided. Stripe connection for payments is straightforward.
For Home Users
More powerful than Calendly for service businesses needing intake forms and payment collection. Overkill for simple meeting scheduling.
For Business Users
Excellent for coaches, consultants, and salons needing fully customizable booking flows. HIPAA option on higher plans makes it viable for health practitioners.
Our Verdict
Acuity is the most capable scheduling tool for service businesses with complex needs — intake forms, packages, group classes, and multi-staff calendars all work well. The removal of the free tier is a legitimate gripe. For simple meeting scheduling, Calendly is cleaner and Cal.com is free. Acuity earns its price for appointment-heavy service businesses.