Top 10 Appointment Scheduling Software for Small and Midsize Businesses

Posted 3 years ago by colin

As your small business continues to grow, you may want to consider integrating appointment scheduling software into your system. This will allow you to schedule time with clients without wasting money and manpower booking appointments over the phone.

As a small to medium-sized business, your needs are different from those of other companies. That’s why we’ve put together a list of scheduling software that’s right-sized for your business.

Unbooked appointments mean money left on the table. And as more and more people start their shopping process online, you simply can’t afford to miss out on potential customers.

So check out our list of the 10 best appointment scheduling software for SMBs below. Did we miss any? Let us know which scheduling software you use!

Top 10 Scheduling Software for SMBs

Doodle
Calendly
MindBody
YouCanBook.me
Setmore
SimplyBook.me
HoneyBook
HouseCall Pro
10to8
Acuity Scheduling

1. Doodle

Doodle’s scheduling software and API allow it to work across other platforms like Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar as well as plug in directly to apps like Slack and Zoom.

With Doodle, you can sync your Google Cal, Office 365 or iCal to avoid double-booking; simplify booking 1:1 meetings by utilizing the platform’s built-in scheduling assistant; and easily schedule group meetings by providing a shareable Doodle URL and avoiding an email back-and-forth.

2. Calendly

Calendly’s meeting lifecycle platform lets you easily schedule appointments through a centralized hub. The platform simplifies appointment booking for your business by having you set availability preferences, providing you with a Calendly link to send customers or embed on your website, and letting your customers book their own appointments, which are then added to your calendar.

Calendly lets you put scheduling on autopilot, only offering appointment times to customers that are actually available — reducing double-booking. You can also use it to send automated reminder emails and thank-you notes to customers, giving you more time to focus on your business.

3. MindBody

MindBody is a health- and wellness-focused scheduling software that is popular with gyms, spas, and fitness studios. The software offers many of the features you’d expect out of a booking platform, including online scheduling and automated text reminders for customers, as well as some enhanced features like appointment booking through Facebook and access to marketing tools.

The platform has pushed beyond just appointment scheduling software, enabling companies to create searchable business listings on the platform and stream video directly and on-demand to customers.

4. YouCanBook.me

YouCanBook.me is an online scheduling tool that’s popular with small businesses, as the software has both free and paid tiers, based on the features that you need for your business. The free tier has a decent range of tools and abilities, including online scheduling, cancellations and rescheduling; a configurable booking form; an integrated Captcha test to block spam bots; and automated text notifications and email confirmations.

The paid tier builds in some enhanced features and perks, such as the ability to integrate with multiple Google or Microsoft calendars, automatic rebooking, and the ability to redirect customers to a specific URL after they’ve booked an appointment with you.

5. Setmore

Similar to other software solutions on this list, Setmore is an online scheduling software that offers both free and paid tiers based on the customer’s needs. A key difference with Setmore is that it also functions as a payments platform.

Setmore’s free tier lets companies create up to four users, set unlimited appointments, send automated email reminders, and accept customer payments through Square. Businesses at this tier also gain access to a custom booking page with a unique URL, can integrate with their social media accounts, and can host video meetings through Teleport. Companies at the paid tier can enable two-way calendar syncs, accept payments from Square and Stripe, and host video meetings through Teleport and Zoom.

6. SimplyBook.me

The SimplyBook.me appointment scheduling software is designed (according to the platform) specifically for all service-based industries. SimplyBook.me has a range of features built into the free version of the platform, which include the ability to add and customize services to be booked, the option to display customer reviews on your booking page, and the ability to add and customize multiple service providers to your business account, each with individual schedules.

For businesses wanting a more tailored experience for their customers, SimplyBook.me also offers up to 60 paid custom features, such as adding required intake forms upon customer booking, WordPress and Joomla integration, booking functionality with Facebook and Instagram and customer CSV file importing.

7. HoneyBook

HoneyBook is an online scheduling software that’s geared toward service-based small business owners. HoneyBook is designed to help small business owners manage their bookings throughout the entire sales process — from scheduling initial meetings with prospects to sending contracts and invoices — by combining tools like invoices, contracts and project management features in one place.

HoneyBook also offers an array of features to customers, including mobile management through the HoneyBook app; integrations with Zoom, QuickBooks, and the Google Suite; and branded templates to streamline communication with customers.

8. HouseCall Pro

The HouseCall Pro appointment scheduling software is popular with service providers in the construction trades, including verticals like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. With this in mind, the HouseCall Pro platform has cobbled together a handful of helpful resources, such as online booking, Google Calendar integration, real-time dispatching, digital invoicing, mobile payment processing, and a mobile app for Android and iOS.

HouseCall Pro’s paid tiers give customers access to a host of advanced features, including employee GPS tracking, customizable text notifications, a website chat bubble, and QuickBooks integration.

9. 10to8

Unlike some of its competitors, 10to8 is a cloud-based appointment scheduling software, meaning that the service is always running and available for customers. Once you’ve set your availability and preferences with the software, customers schedule their own appointments and 10to8 helps manage the rest, including sending automated confirmation and reminder messages, two-way syncing with your calendars, and integrating with other business apps like Zoom and Salesforce.

Higher paid tiers with the 10to8 software offer the ability to customize the branding of your messaging and booking page, as well as the ability to book more appointments per month and create more staff logins associated with your business.

10. Acuity Scheduling

-Acuity Scheduling, owned by Squarespace, boasts that it offers more than just appointment scheduling services, which are fairly robust on their own. Acuity enables you to send a customized scheduling page to customers so they can make and reschedule appointments themselves, manage multiple locations and employees, and have customers fill out intake forms at the point of booking so you’ll have all the information you need ahead of an appointment.

Beyond scheduling, with Acuity you can accept online payments through integrations with Stripe and PayPal, meet clients easily through video conferencing integrations, and send customized reminder emails and texts to reduce no-shows.

About The Author

Colin Thompson is a content writer at Ecwid. He writes about marketing, business development, and promotion for our Ecwid Partners. He loves cats, Chicago sports, deep dish pizza and going on hikes.