Acuity Scheduling vs Square Appointments: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Acuity Scheduling is built for service-businesses, while Square Appointments suits retail-pos. For most users Acuity Scheduling is the stronger default, but Square Appointments can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Square Appointments has the lower entry price.
Acuity Scheduling and Square Appointments look similar on the surface; the differences show up in practice. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Acuity Scheduling | Square Appointments | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Booking | Booking |
| What it's known for | Full appointment-booking platform (now Squarespace Scheduling) with intake forms, packages, classes and payments, built for service businesses. | Booking tied to Square's POS and payments ecosystem: free single-user plan, integrated checkout, no-show protection for in-person businesses. |
| Pricing | No free plan, 7-day trial; ~$16/mo Starter, ~$27/mo Standard, ~$49/mo Premium (annual) | Free (1 location); ~$49/mo per location Plus, ~$149/mo per location Premium; + processing fees (2.5%+15c in-person) |
| Best audience | Service businesses, coaches and studios that need intake forms, classes, packages and payments. | In-person retail and service businesses already using or considering Square for payments. |
| Best for | service-businesses, appointments | retail-pos, payments |
| Entry price | ~$16/mo (annual) | Free |
| Biggest strength | Deep feature set for service businesses (classes, packages, payments). | Free plan for a single user with integrated checkout. |
| Main caveat | No free plan, only a 7-day trial. | Free plan supports only 1 user and lacks no-show protection. |
Features compared
The feature sets only partly overlap. Here is what each one actually gives you:
Acuity Scheduling key features
- Appointment booking with intake forms (all plans)
- Packages, gift certificates and group classes
- Multiple calendars (up to 6 Standard / 36 Premium)
- Deposits, tips and invoicing at booking
Square Appointments key features
- Booking tied to Square POS and payments
- Free single-user plan
- Card-on-file and no-show/cancellation fees (paid)
- Online booking site and embeddable widget
Pricing tiers side by side
Acuity Scheduling plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ~$16/mo (annual) | 1 calendar, reminders, intake forms |
| Standard | ~$27/mo (annual) | up to 6 calendars, packages, group classes |
| Premium | ~$49/mo (annual) | up to 36 calendars, multiple locations, advanced reporting |
Square Appointments plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 location/user, online booking, payments (processing fees apply) |
| Plus | ~$49/mo per location | no-show protection, waitlists, multiple staff |
| Premium | ~$149/mo per location | advanced features for larger operations |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Acuity Scheduling wins
A full appointment-booking platform (now Squarespace Scheduling) built for service businesses, not just meeting links.
- Deep feature set for service businesses (classes, packages, payments).
- Intake forms included on every plan.
That makes it the stronger pick for service businesses, coaches and studios that need intake forms, classes, packages and payments.
Where Square Appointments wins
Scheduling built into the Square POS/payments ecosystem, with a free single-user plan and integrated checkout.
- Free plan for a single user with integrated checkout.
- Tight integration with Square payments and hardware.
That makes it the stronger pick for in-person retail and service businesses already using or considering Square for payments.
Verdict: choose by fit
Both are good at the job, so let your priorities decide.
- Choose Acuity Scheduling if you fit its core audience — service businesses, coaches and studios that need intake forms, classes, packages and payments.
- Choose Square Appointments if you fit its core audience — in-person retail and service businesses already using or considering Square for payments.
FAQ
Is Acuity Scheduling better than Square Appointments?
Acuity Scheduling is the stronger default for most users, but Square Appointments can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Acuity Scheduling and Square Appointments?
Acuity Scheduling is a full appointment-booking platform (now Squarespace Scheduling) built for service businesses, not just meeting links. Square Appointments is scheduling built into the Square POS/payments ecosystem, with a free single-user plan and integrated checkout.
Which is cheaper, Acuity Scheduling or Square Appointments?
Entry pricing differs: Acuity Scheduling starts at ~$16/mo (annual), while Square Appointments offers a free tier. Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Acuity Scheduling and Square Appointments: