US PRODUCT RESEARCH

Acuity Scheduling

Service appointment scheduling with intake forms, deposits, packages and calendar-based capacity. It can operate independently of a Squarespace website.

Checked Oct 15, 2026 · 9 official sources · Desk research

Appointment Scheduling

A GOOD FIT WHEN

Consultants, studios and service businesses selling reserved time.

Client intake and deposits
Packages and memberships on higher tiers
Up to 36 calendars on Premium

LOOK MORE CLOSELY WHEN

You need deep retail stock management or a general-purpose CRM.

SMS starts above Starter
Calendar limits affect growing teams
AI booking is a Premium feature

CATEGORY-SPECIFIC EVIDENCE

Capabilities, controls and depth.

Scores combine core capabilities and workflow depth. Full support earns full points; limited support earns half. Unverified features create a range, and paid-plan requirements are shown in the evidence. How scoring works →

Appointment Scheduling · 28 features

68–96/100 documented fit

Core capabilities28.4 / 32 pts10/10 checks with established status

Workflow depth40–68 / 68 pts8/18 checks with established status

Show checksShowing fewer rows does not change the score.

Appointment Scheduling · 28 weighted capability checks
Feature / weight	Support, evidence & points
Core capabilityCustomer booking pageLet a customer choose an available appointment or service online. 4.8 points maximum	Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Client self-scheduling and intake forms are included. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityCustomer cancellation or reschedulingLet a customer change or cancel a booking within configured policies. 4.8 points maximum	Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Clients can cancel or reschedule through confirmation links, subject to scheduling limits. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkBuffers or advance-booking limitsSet appointment buffers or minimum booking notice to protect scheduling capacity. 7.2 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Add a buffer or minimum notice rule and show unavailable slots. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported7.2 / 7.2 pts Scheduling limits control lead time and client change windows. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkBooking intake questionsCollect custom questions or intake details as part of booking. 7.2 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Make a custom question required and show its answer in the booking record. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported7.2 / 7.2 pts Appointment types can include client intake forms. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityCalendar availability & conflictsUse calendar availability or synchronization to prevent conflicting bookings. 3.2 points maximum	Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Availability is managed through bookable service calendars. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityMultiple staff or resource calendarsCoordinate more than one staff member, provider or bookable calendar. 3.2 points maximum	Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Calendar count is one on Starter, six on Standard and 36 on Premium. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkShared rooms or resourcesPrevent overlapping use of a shared room, piece of equipment or resource. 4.8 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Book two staff against the same resource and show conflict prevention. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Resources limit bookings by available rooms, equipment or other shared capacity. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkGroup booking capacityAllow multiple attendees for a time slot while enforcing a capacity limit. 4.8 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Fill a class to capacity and show what the next attendee sees. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Group classes allow multiple attendees with configured capacity. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityEmail remindersSend automated email reminders for appointments. 3.2 points maximum	Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Email appointment reminders are included. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilitySMS remindersSend appointment reminders through SMS. 3.2 points maximum	Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Text reminders require Standard or Premium. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkCustom reminder contentCustomize appointment notification or reminder wording. 4.8 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Add a preparation instruction to an appointment reminder. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–4.8 / 4.8 pts The reviewed documentation does not establish this specific workflow: custom reminder content. Not verified · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkNotification preferences and controlsControl enabled appointment notifications, channels or customer notification preferences. 4.8 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Show how a channel or reminder is switched off for the relevant recipient or workflow. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Administrators can suppress selected notifications and configure reminder channels. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityPayment at bookingCollect a payment when the appointment is booked. 2.4 points maximum	Supported2.4 / 2.4 pts Supported payment processors collect appointment payments. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityDeposits or prepaymentsCollect a deposit or advance payment for the booked service. 2.4 points maximum	Supported2.4 / 2.4 pts The product explicitly supports deposits. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkLate-cancellation or no-show feesUse a supported payment workflow to collect a configured cancellation or no-show fee. 3.2 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Apply a late-cancellation policy and show the customer charge and record. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–3.2 / 3.2 pts The reviewed documentation does not establish this specific workflow: late-cancellation or no-show fees. Not verified · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkAppointment payment refundsRefund an appointment payment through the platform or its connected payment processor. 4 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Cancel a prepaid booking and show the refund workflow and transaction record. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported4 / 4 pts Refunds are issued through the connected payment processor; Acuity supplies the payment link. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityAI service or scheduling conversationUse AI to answer a booking request or discuss appropriate services and available times. 2.4 points maximum	Limited1.2 / 2.4 pts Booking Assistant recommends services and times on Premium; language and service exclusions apply. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Core capabilityAI completes a bookingHave the AI workflow create a confirmed booking, rather than only supply a link. 2.4 points maximum	Not supported0 / 2.4 pts The documented assistant redirects the customer to checkout to finish rather than completing the booking itself. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkAI uses live scheduling contextAn AI scheduling interaction checks configured availability or existing appointment records. 3.2 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Ask AI about a time made unavailable by another booking. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts The chat widget uses configured services, calendars and actual available slots. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkControl or hand off booking AIDisable AI handling, control its scope or hand a conversation to a person. 4 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Show how staff stop AI handling or take over a booking conversation. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Supported4 / 4 pts Administrators configure and approve widget context and control its publication. Official documentation · Oct 15, 2026Source
Depth checkRoute bookings from form answersDemonstrate: Route bookings from form answers. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Route bookings from form answers. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source
Depth checkExpire a link after one bookingDemonstrate: Expire a link after one booking. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Expire a link after one booking. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source
Depth checkDistribute bookings across available hostsDemonstrate: Distribute bookings across available hosts. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Distribute bookings across available hosts. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source
Depth checkCollect availability through a meeting pollDemonstrate: Collect availability through a meeting poll. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Collect availability through a meeting poll. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source
Depth checkBook a recurring appointment seriesDemonstrate: Book a recurring appointment series. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Book a recurring appointment series. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source
Depth checkPrevent two bookings taking the final slotDemonstrate: Prevent two bookings taking the final slot. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Prevent two bookings taking the final slot. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source
Depth checkPreview booking times across daylight-saving changesDemonstrate: Preview booking times across daylight-saving changes. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Preview booking times across daylight-saving changes. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source
Depth checkRetry failed booking-event deliveryDemonstrate: Retry failed booking-event delivery. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. 2.5 points maximum Ask for a demonstration Demonstrate: Retry failed booking-event delivery. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use two hosts and competing requests. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test.	Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source

Compare in Appointment Scheduling →

AI CAPABILITY CHECK

What does its AI actually do?

AI assistance

Booking Assistant recommends services and available slots, then sends the client to checkout to finish.

Official AI source

Documented capabilities

Recommend services and available times
Answer configured business questions
Guide clients toward appointment checkout

Limits to check

Premium or legacy Powerhouse plan required
Cannot schedule classes or purchase packages, gift certificates or subscriptions
Responses are in English or Spanish

Understand the full price

Starter is $16/month billed annually or $20 month to month, with one calendar.

Billing basis: annual. Unit: month. Currency: USD.

Processor fees
Standard for SMS and packages
Premium for AI and expanded calendars

Verify current pricing with the vendor

Integrations and deployment

Stripe
Square
PayPal
Venmo
Zoom
Google Meet

Validate roles, export and retention against your own requirements; this profile is not a security certification.

US buying context

US product or US-facing official documentation reviewed. Confirm your required edition and account eligibility.

The evidence record

Client self-scheduling, intake forms and timezone conversion are included.

Official evidence

Starter has one calendar; Standard six and Premium 36.

Official evidence

Email reminders are included; text reminders require Standard or Premium.

Official evidence

Collect payments and deposits through supported processors.

Official evidence

Premium assistant guides service and slot selection, then redirects to checkout; classes and package purchases are excluded.

Official evidence

Source library

Research is based on documentation, not a hands-on performance test. Report a correction.

EXPLORE THE ALTERNATIVES

Keep your options open.

Appointment Scheduling alternatives · highest documented score first.

75–98/100 documented fit

Vagaro

Booking and business management oriented to beauty, wellness and fitness operators. Calendar capacity and optional services determine the final bill.

Good fit forSalons, wellness practices and fitness operators combining booking and client communication.

$30.00month for one calendar

View research

70–100/100 documented fit

Calendly

Meeting scheduling for individual professionals and teams coordinating external calls. Its strength is availability sharing rather than running a service location.

Good fit forSales, recruiting and advisory teams booking meetings across calendars.

$10.00seat/month · billed annually

View research

70–100/100 documented fit

SimplyBook.me

Configurable booking software with provider capacity, payment options and selectable custom features. It offers a free entry tier and paid booking quotas.

Good fit forService teams that want a tailored booking site and clear provider limits.

$11.90month · billed annually

View research