Calendly vs Acuity: Scheduling Comparison (2026)
Calendly and Acuity are leading scheduling platforms. Which should you choose?
Quick Verdict:
Choose Calendly if you want simplicity, better integrations, and free tier for individuals. Choose Acuityif you need payment collection, service business features, and intake forms. Different strengths for different use cases.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Calendly | Acuity | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Meeting scheduling | Service booking | - |
| Pricing | $0-15/seat/m | $16-49/m | Calendly (free tier) |
| Free Tier | 1 event type | ❌ No | Calendly |
| Payments | Stripe, PayPal (paid) | Native (all plans) | Acuity |
| Intake Forms | Basic questions | ✅ Advanced forms | Acuity |
| Integrations | 100+ apps | 50+ apps | Calendly |
| Team Features | Round-robin, collective | Staff management | Tie |
| White-label | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (higher tiers) | Acuity |
| Video Conferencing | Zoom, Teams, Meet | Zoom, Google Meet | Calendly |
| CRM Integration | Salesforce, HubSpot | Basic | Calendly |
Pricing Comparison
Calendly: Free (1 event type), Essentials $10/seat/m, Professional $15/seat/m, Teams $15/seat/m (annual billing)
Free tier: 1 event type, 1 calendar, unlimited bookings
At 5 seats (Teams): $75/month
Acuity: Emerging $16/m, Growing $27/m, Powerhouse $49/m (billed monthly)
All plans include payment collection
At Growing tier: $27/month (unlimited bookings)
Note: Calendly has free tier. Acuity requires payment but includes payment collection on all plans.
Where Calendly Wins
1. Simplicity
Calendly is simpler: connect calendar, set availability, share link, get booked. Faster setup and easier client experience.
2. Free Tier
Calendly Free includes 1 event type, unlimited bookings, and calendar sync. Acuity has no free tier.
3. Integrations
Calendly integrates with 100+ tools including Zoom, Teams, Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zapier. Larger ecosystem.
4. Team Scheduling
Calendly Teams includes round-robin scheduling, collective events, admin controls, and team analytics.
5. Video Integration
Calendly supports Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet natively. More video conferencing options.
Where Acuity Wins
1. Payment Collection
Acuity collects payments at booking on all plans: Stripe, PayPal, Square. Required deposits and full prepayment.
2. Intake Forms
Acuity includes advanced intake forms with conditional logic, file uploads, and custom questions. Better for service businesses.
3. Service Features
Acuity includes packages, subscriptions, gift certificates, client management, and recurring appointments.
4. White-label
Acuity offers white-label scheduling on Growing and Powerhouse tiers. Custom branding for agencies.
5. Pricing Model
Acuity charges per account, not per seat. Better for solo practitioners adding staff.
Use Case Recommendations
Sales meetings: Calendly for CRM integration.
Consulting/coaching: Acuity for payments.
Team scheduling: Calendly for round-robin.
Service bookings: Acuity for intake forms.
Final Recommendation
Choose Calendly if you prioritize simplicity, free tier, and integrations. Choose Acuity if you need payment collection, intake forms, and service business features. Both are excellent for their target use cases.
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