Canny Picks / Scheduling
Online booking for a local service business
Salons, clinics, trainers and repair shops need customers to book and pay without a phone call. The right tool charges by location. The wrong one charges for every employee.
Prices checked October 5, 2026 on each company's own pricing page. Written by Canny Software, Palm Desert.
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Square Appointments, free, or $49 a month
The free plan has no monthly fee and you pay card processing only. Plus is $49 a month per location, no matter how many staff take bookings. Booking, reminders and payment are one system. The trade is that you take payments through Square: 2.6% plus 15 cents in person on the free plan.
Acuity Scheduling, $27 to $34 a month
The Standard plan is a flat $34 a month, or $27 billed annually, for up to six calendars. It has the best intake forms and packages, and it works with the payment processor you already have. A seventh calendar means the $61 plan.
Calendly
It is a meeting scheduler, billed per seat. Five people on the Teams plan cost $80 a month, or $64 on annual billing, and you still do not get a service menu or a checkout built for a shop.
What five people actually pay
| Tool | Entry price | Five staff | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square Appointments | $0 | Plus, $49 a month per location | Tied to Square for payments. Online card rate is higher than in person. |
| Acuity Scheduling | $20 a month ($16 yearly) | Standard, $34 a month ($27 yearly) | Acuity branding stays until the top plan. No free plan. |
| Calendly | $10 per seat | Teams, $80 a month ($64 yearly) | Per-seat pricing. Built for meetings. |
| Zoho Bookings | Free for 1 user | Per-user pricing | Your own domain and branding need the top plan. |
Per-month prices in US dollars before tax. Annual-billing prices are shown as the monthly equivalent where the company lists them that way.
How to decide in two minutes
If you take payment at the counter or want deposits at booking, use Square. If you already have a card processor you like, use Acuity.
If you only need people to pick a time for a call, the free tier of Calendly is fine for one person. Do not buy seats for a whole shop.
Common questions
Does Square Appointments work without Square hardware?
Yes. Customers can book and pay online. A card reader is only needed for in-person payments.
Can customers book from my website?
Yes. Every tool here gives you a booking link or a button to place on your site.
Will it send reminders?
Yes. Email and text reminders are included in the tools we recommend, which is where most of the value comes from: fewer no-shows.
Paying for more than one of these?
List everything on the stack audit page and see a free draft of what to cut.