NERDY PICKS · SCHEDULING & BOOKING
Best Scheduling & Booking tools
Let clients book meetings and appointments without back-and-forth.
Prices checked Oct 26, 2026
Which scheduling & booking tool should I start with?
If you want free, start with Calendly, Cal.com, TidyCal. Let clients book meetings and appointments without back-and-forth. Below you'll find 19 tools with what each one does, the free plan and the cheapest solo plan in US dollars, checked Oct 26, 2026.
| Tool | What it does | Free plan | Paid from | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendly | Share a link so people can book a meeting time that fits your calendar. | Yes | Standard: US$12/month, or US$10/month on a yearly plan (US$120/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Cal.com | Open-source scheduling links with a generous free plan. | Yes | Teams: US$16/month, or US$12/month on a yearly plan (US$144/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Acuity Scheduling | Appointment booking for client businesses, with forms, reminders and payments. | No | Starter: US$20/month, or US$16/month on a yearly plan (US$192/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| SavvyCal | Scheduling links that let invitees overlay their own calendar to pick a time. | Unclear | Basic: US$12/month, or US$10/month on a yearly plan (US$120/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| TidyCal | Simple booking pages with a free plan or a one-time lifetime price. | Yes | Lifetime: US$29 one-time | Oct 26, 2026 |
| YouCanBookMe | Customizable booking pages connected to your calendar. | Yes | Individual: US$9/month, or US$8.10/month on a yearly plan | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Setmore | Free appointment scheduler for small businesses with a Book Now button. | Yes | Pro: US$12/month, or US$5/month on a yearly plan (US$60/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| SimplyBook.me | Online booking system and booking website for service businesses. | Yes | Basic: US$13.90/month, or US$11.90/month on a yearly plan | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Square Appointments | Booking and payments for salons, spas and service businesses from Square. | Yes | Square Plus: US$49/month | Oct 26, 2026 |
| zcal | Free scheduling links with personal touches like video greetings. | Yes | Pro: US$10.50/month, or US$7/month on a yearly plan (US$84/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Vagaro | Booking, payments and business software for salons, spas and fitness studios. | Unclear | One Location: US$23.99/month (promo) | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Koalendar | Simple scheduling page with a free forever plan. | Yes | Pro: US$9.99/month, or US$6.99/month on a yearly plan | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Appointlet | Booking pages with intake forms and web conferencing links. | Yes | Premium: US$12/month, or US$9/month on a yearly plan (US$108/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Zoho Bookings | Appointment scheduling from Zoho with a free plan for one user. | Yes | Basic: US$8/month, or US$6/month on a yearly plan (US$72/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Fresha | Booking and payments platform for salons, spas and wellness businesses. | Unclear | Independent: US$19.95/month | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Booksy | Booking app and business software for barbers, salons and beauty pros. | No | Booksy Biz: US$29.99/month | Oct 26, 2026 |
| OnceHub | Scheduling plus forms that route leads to the right person. | Yes | Schedule: US$12/month, or US$10/month on a yearly plan (US$120/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Rallly | Free group scheduling polls to find a time that works for everyone. | Yes | Pro: US$7/month, or US$6/month on a yearly plan | Oct 26, 2026 |
| Picktime | Free appointment and class booking for small businesses. | Yes | Starter: US$4/month, or US$3/month on a yearly plan (US$36/year) | Oct 26, 2026 |
All 19 tools
Calendly
Share a link so people can book a meeting time that fits your calendar.
Free plan: Yes: Always free: one event type, one calendar connection.
Paid from: Standard: US$12/month, or US$10/month on a yearly plan (US$120/year)
Discounts: Yearly billing saves up to 20%.
Cheaper or similar: Cal.com, TidyCal
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Cal.com
Open-source scheduling links with a generous free plan.
Free plan: Yes: Free forever with no usage limits for individuals.
Paid from: Teams: US$16/month, or US$12/month on a yearly plan (US$144/year)
Discounts: Yearly saves 25%.
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, zcal
Some details on this one weren't confirmed on the official pricing page, so we left them blank.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Acuity Scheduling
Appointment booking for client businesses, with forms, reminders and payments.
Free plan: No
Paid from: Starter: US$20/month, or US$16/month on a yearly plan (US$192/year)
Discounts: Annual saves 20%.
Cheaper or similar: SimplyBook.me, Setmore
Checked Oct 26, 2026
SavvyCal
Scheduling links that let invitees overlay their own calendar to pick a time.
Free plan: Unclear: 'Kick the tires for free' before upgrading; limits not stated.
Paid from: Basic: US$12/month, or US$10/month on a yearly plan (US$120/year)
Discounts: Annual: 2 months free.
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, Cal.com
Some details on this one weren't confirmed on the official pricing page, so we left them blank.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
TidyCal
Simple booking pages with a free plan or a one-time lifetime price.
Free plan: Yes: Free forever, no card.
Paid from: Lifetime: US$29 one-time
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, zcal
Checked Oct 26, 2026
YouCanBookMe
Customizable booking pages connected to your calendar.
Free plan: Yes: Free plan.
Paid from: Individual: US$9/month, or US$8.10/month on a yearly plan
Discounts: Yearly billing 10% off; 2-year billing 20% off.
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, Cal.com
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Setmore
Free appointment scheduler for small businesses with a Book Now button.
Free plan: Yes: Free plan ($0).
Paid from: Pro: US$12/month, or US$5/month on a yearly plan (US$60/year)
Discounts: Lower per-month price with annual billing.
Cheaper or similar: SimplyBook.me, Square Appointments
Checked Oct 26, 2026
SimplyBook.me
Online booking system and booking website for service businesses.
Free plan: Yes: Free plan ($0).
Paid from: Basic: US$13.90/month, or US$11.90/month on a yearly plan
Discounts: Save with annual billing.
Cheaper or similar: Setmore, Acuity Scheduling
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Square Appointments
Booking and payments for salons, spas and service businesses from Square.
Free plan: Yes: Square Free: $0/month per location for solo professionals; processing fees apply.
Paid from: Square Plus: US$49/month
Cheaper or similar: Setmore, Vagaro
Checked Oct 26, 2026
zcal
Free scheduling links with personal touches like video greetings.
Free plan: Yes: Free Forever plan for individuals.
Paid from: Pro: US$10.50/month, or US$7/month on a yearly plan (US$84/year)
Discounts: Lower per-month price with annual billing.
Cheaper or similar: Cal.com, Calendly
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Vagaro
Booking, payments and business software for salons, spas and fitness studios.
Free plan: Unclear: Not confirmed in what we read.
Paid from: One Location: US$23.99/month (promo)
Discounts: Intro rate $23.99/month for the first 6 months (regular $30/month).
Cheaper or similar: Booksy, Fresha
Checked Nov 1, 2026
Koalendar
Simple scheduling page with a free forever plan.
Free plan: Yes: Free forever, no time limit.
Paid from: Pro: US$9.99/month, or US$6.99/month on a yearly plan
Discounts: Annual billing saves 30%.
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, zcal
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Appointlet
Booking pages with intake forms and web conferencing links.
Free plan: Yes: Free: up to 25 meetings per month.
Paid from: Premium: US$12/month, or US$9/month on a yearly plan (US$108/year)
Discounts: Save 20% with an annual subscription; 25% off for education and nonprofits.
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, Cal.com
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Zoho Bookings
Appointment scheduling from Zoho with a free plan for one user.
Free plan: Yes: Free for one user.
Paid from: Basic: US$8/month, or US$6/month on a yearly plan (US$72/year)
Discounts: Yearly saves over 25%.
Cheaper or similar: SimplyBook.me, Setmore
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Fresha
Booking and payments platform for salons, spas and wellness businesses.
Free plan: Unclear: Not confirmed in what we read.
Paid from: Independent: US$19.95/month
Cheaper or similar: Booksy, Vagaro
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Booksy
Booking app and business software for barbers, salons and beauty pros.
Free plan: No
Paid from: Booksy Biz: US$29.99/month
Cheaper or similar: Vagaro, Fresha
Checked Oct 26, 2026
OnceHub
Scheduling plus forms that route leads to the right person.
Free plan: Yes: Free plan.
Paid from: Schedule: US$12/month, or US$10/month on a yearly plan (US$120/year)
Discounts: Save up to 18% with yearly billing.
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, SavvyCal
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Rallly
Free group scheduling polls to find a time that works for everyone.
Free plan: Yes: Free (not a trial): up to 3 open polls.
Paid from: Pro: US$7/month, or US$6/month on a yearly plan
Discounts: Pay yearly: save up to 40%.
Cheaper or similar: Calendly, Cal.com
Some details on this one weren't confirmed on the official pricing page, so we left them blank.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Picktime
Free appointment and class booking for small businesses.
Free plan: Yes: Free: 3 users, unlimited appointments.
Paid from: Starter: US$4/month, or US$3/month on a yearly plan (US$36/year)
Discounts: Lower per-user price with yearly billing.
Cheaper or similar: Setmore, SimplyBook.me
Checked Oct 26, 2026
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FAQ
What's the best free scheduling & booking tool?
14 of the 19 scheduling & booking tools here have a free plan, including Calendly, Cal.com, TidyCal, YouCanBookMe. Start with the one whose job description matches yours, and check the free-plan limits in each card before you commit.
What's the cheapest paid scheduling & booking tool?
Of the prices we could confirm, Picktime is cheapest: its Starter plan is US$4/month, or US$3/month on a yearly plan (US$36/year). Next is Setmore: its Pro plan is US$12/month, or US$5/month on a yearly plan (US$60/year). Prices are in US dollars before tax, checked Oct 26, 2026.
How do you check these prices?
We read each tool's official pricing page (or the maker's own help pages) in US dollars before tax, and note the date. If a price isn't shown clearly, we leave it blank rather than guess.
Want to spend less? Tick the tools you pay for in the Nerdy Savings calculator.