Acuity Scheduling costs $20/mo.
These cost $0.
4 free alternatives to Acuity Scheduling, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Acuity Scheduling vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $20/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appointy Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Acuity Scheduling vs Appointy Free → |
| Setmore Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Acuity Scheduling vs Setmore Free → |
| Square Appointments Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Acuity Scheduling vs Square Appointments Free → |
| zcal Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Acuity Scheduling vs zcal Free → |
The picks
4 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Appointy Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedOne staffer gets reminders, classes and Square checkout for 100 bookings a month; growth wakes the paywall.
The catch vs Acuity SchedulingThe 100-appointment cap and five-service limit arrive quickly, while advanced intake, packages, subscriptions and payment options are thinner than Acuity's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- your data
- Booking, customer, service and staff records live in Appointy's cloud, with connected calendar and payment data also handled by their respective providers
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 02
Setmore Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedFour staff, payments, classes and 200 monthly bookings; SMS, recurring appointments and two-way sync cost extra.
The catch vs Acuity SchedulingThe free plan stops at 200 appointments and omits recurring appointments, SMS reminders, two-way sync and Acuity's advanced intake and package tools.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- your data
- Booking, customer and staff records live in Setmore's cloud, with calendar and payment records also passing through connected providers
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 03
Square Appointments Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedA serious free solo booking stack where Square operates; processing fees remain and the feature mix varies by country.
The catch vs Acuity SchedulingThe free plan is solo and country-dependent, ties payments to Square processing and leaves more advanced team and resource features paid.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Create or use a Square seller account and enable Appointments
- setup
- A Square seller account and identity verification, and the service must be available in the user's country
- your data
- Appointment, customer, staff and transaction records live in Square's cloud
- checked
- 2026-08-10
- 04
zcal Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedForms, Stripe payments, email reminders and group classes are free; teams are paid and zcal takes 3%.
The catch vs Acuity SchedulingIt lacks Acuity's client records, packages, subscriptions and class administration; teams are paid and Stripe payments carry a 3% commission.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup
- your data
- Account and booking records live in zcal's cloud; Stripe processes and stores payment details for paid bookings
- checked
- 2026-08-10
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Acuity Scheduling open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Acuity Scheduling?+
The top free alternative to Acuity Scheduling is Appointy Free (free). One staffer gets reminders, classes and Square checkout for 100 bookings a month; growth wakes the paywall. Other popular Acuity Scheduling replacements include Setmore Free, Square Appointments Free, zcal Free.
How much does switching from Acuity Scheduling to a free alternative save?+
Acuity Scheduling starts at $20/month per seat ($240/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Appointy Free saves $1,200 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Acuity Scheduling clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Acuity Scheduling is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The visible appointment scheduling loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. Acuity Scheduling earns its keep through OAuth, calendar reliability, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope.
What is the catch when switching from Acuity Scheduling to Appointy Free?+
The 100-appointment cap and five-service limit arrive quickly, while advanced intake, packages, subscriptions and payment options are thinner than Acuity's.
