14 Best Appointment Software for Small Business in 2024

No two small businesses are alike. Hence, finding suitable appointment software for small business may prove challenging. Many business owners fail to find software that works best for their business. 

Perhaps you run a SaaS company and want to meet prospective clients, or maybe you have a service-based business that lets clients book calls; you need appointment scheduling software to streamline the process. 

Despite your needs, appointment software for small business should present your company’s professionalism. Not to mention, such software can also streamline the booking process. 

I have tested numerous appointment scheduling tools. I’ve learned which tools stand apart from the crowd. 

Best Appointment Software for Small Business

The best appointment software combines ease of use and flexibility. They let clients book appointments on their own. This way, they will save you time and effort. 

Your clients can also cancel or reschedule the appointment schedule. All you need to do is show up to the appointments. Let’s look at the 14 best appointment software for small business. 

1. Calendly

Calendly is one of the best appointment software for small business. With Calendly, your clients and customers can schedule appointments in minutes. 

Calendly provides a cost-effective and simple solution for small business owners. Individuals will also love Calendly due to its intuitive and simple UI. 

Calendly

• Admin management
• Security & compliance
• Workflows and integrations
• Availability preferences

This simple automation software can automate scheduling and manual appointment tasks. Once you connect your calendar, you can share the scheduling link. You can also embed the appointment booking link on your website. 

Calendly will showcase real-time availability as per your schedule. Your clients can choose an appointment time as per their relevancy. Then, Calendly will automatically add the meeting to your calendar. 

You don’t need to worry about scheduling your meetings back and forth. This is because Calendly will handle it. The impeccable customer service made me put Calendly first on my list. 

Don’t forget to use Calendly Workflows. This feature will let you send appointment reminders, confirmations, and follow-ups. 

Calendly scheduling solution also works with different types of appointments. Whether you need individual meetings or group meetings, you can do it with Calendly. On top of that, you can adjust the time zone. 

Your and your client’s information will always be safe. This is because Calendly has robust security and compliance measures. 

Thanks to PayPal and Stripe integrations, your clients can make online payments easily. You will receive notifications every time you receive a payment. 

2. TidyCal

TidyCal was launched by AppSumo in 2021. It's one of the simplest and most affordable appointment scheduling for small businesses. If you're searching for something within a tight budget, make sure you choose TidyCal.

It comes with 10+ calendar connections to connect multiple Google accounts. The company is also planning to introduce Microsoft Office and iCloud integrations.

TidyCal

• Custom availability
• Custom email reminders
• Group bookings
• CSV export

With TidyCal, you can store all of your appointment requests in one place. This way, you can make sure someone is not double-booking your time slot.

The features are so simple that people from non-technical backgrounds won't ever find TidyCal confusing. Thanks to the “paid booking feature”, users will be able to book appointments by paying a certain amount.

Whether someone wants to book your time for meetings or seminars, this feature will allow you to take an advanced booking fee from them. Once you receive a payment, TidyCal will send you a notification.

One of the best benefits of TidyCal is that it can keep your meeting interface simple and clean. You can also set specific features, which will allow the platform to ask a set of specific questions during bookings.

While TidyCal doesn't offer any mobile application, you don't need to worry about it. This is because the platform is super responsive on mobile devices. It also integrates with Google Calendar.

3. Acuity Scheduling

Acuity Scheduling is a part of Squarespace. Acuity Scheduling is perfect if you lack technical knowledge but want to customize the appointment process. 

Upon designing the booking page, your clients can choose from recurring appointments. They can also complete the intake form and pay a certain amount in advance. 

Acuity Scheduling

• Automated appointment booking
• Client self-scheduling
• Automatic time zone conversion
• Sign BAA for HIPAA compliance

Acuity Scheduling will let you offer coupons to clients. They can also consider add-on services during the booking process. 

The Acuity Scheduling system has impressive flexibility. You can choose between daily or monthly views for the clients, upload a logo, choose a time zone, etc. You can tweak the time zone to offer more flexibility to your clients. 

However, remember that Acuity Scheduling doesn’t offer SMS reminders for clients. If you want to contact clients before appointments, consider an alternative. 

You can allow your clients to cancel or reschedule the appointments. You can limit how advance or far clients can book an appointment with you. 

Choose the “Make me look busy” option if you want to hide some available times. This way, you won’t seem desperate. 

Before joining the meeting, you can share the link directly. You will also have the option to embed the link directly to your website. Acuity Scheduling will let you create a booking button and QR code for further convenience. 

You can choose from multiple email templates based on the appointment types. For instance, rescheduling templates will be different from follow-ups. 

You can integrate Acuity Scheduling with ClassPass, QuickBooks, Zoom, and Salesforce. Acuity Scheduling supports Stripe, Square, and PayPal payment gateways. 

4. Google Calendar Appointment Scheduling

Google provides online appointment software for small business in Google Calendar. You can create a professional booking page for clients to schedule appointments directly. 

Even if your client doesn’t have a Google account, they can still schedule appointments through Google Calendar. The scheduling functionality is super simple. However, it offers only one-on-one appointments. Businesses with simple appointment needs will find it ideal. 

Google Calendar

• Custom and secure business email
• Security and management controls
• RSVP options
• Simple UI

You can specify how far in advance your clients can schedule appointments. Besides adding time buffers in between appointments, you can set an appointment limit. 

Google will let you send reminder and confirmation emails to your clients. This way, your clients and customers will be notified. 

This appointment software for small business can be integrated with Google Calendar. You can also embed it in Google Meet and other Google apps. 

Thanks to these integrations, Google can easily detect any scheduling conflicts. You don’t need to waste time searching for the issues. 

5. Square Appointments 

Many businesses use Square to accept credit card payments from their customers and clients. If you’re doing so, take a look at Square Appointments. 

Square Appointments is a part of Square’s POS payment processing solution. Like other scheduling software, Square Appointments lets you connect with your clients.

Square Appointments

• Free online booking website
• Google Calendar sync
• Multi-staff appointments
• Cancellation policy and no-show fees

You can also use this platform to track multiple locations and schedules. You will have options to either accept or decline the appointment invitations. 

Clients can schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments at any point in their time. This gives them more flexibility in their schedule. 

As the host, you will have complete control over your schedule and availability. Showcase your normal business hours and omit the specific times when you cannot join a meeting. 

Even though Square offers a free plan, I couldn't create an account and get started. It may be due to some technical glitch. But I believe the free version has enough features to help you get started.

Square schedule meetings by integrating with Google Calendar. You can also integrate with Instagram and Facebook. This will allow clients to schedule directly from social media platforms. 

You can accept the client’s appointment invitations manually or automatically. Choose a preferred option at your convenience. 

6. Picktime

If you’re searching for client-ready appointment software, you cannot go wrong with Picktime. This is the best free appointment software for small businesses in the market. 

Besides providing a free plan and free trials, Picktime comes with unlimited appointment generation. You can also include three team members and operate in two locations. 

Picktime

• 24X7 online booking
• Recurring bookings
• Team management
• Booking widget

You can choose to customize the booking page. Depending on your needs, customize the booking questions and scheduling rules. This way, you can provide a more personalized experience to your clients. 

However, you won’t be able to customize the booking page greatly. Compared to other software, it lacks many customization options. Here are the pros and cons of Picktime.

However, the default booking page looks extremely professional. You can also create your profile in under a few minutes. Let's take a look at the pricing structure.

While the free plan is great, the paid plans will have additional helpful features. Consider choosing the paid plans if you're a small business and need to create a professional image in front of the clients.

However, if you require extensive customization, complex scheduling options, or robust customer support, you might want to consider other tools like Calendly or Acuity Scheduling.

7. Appoint.ly

If you want a simple appointment software for small businesses, consider Appoint.ly. This online scheduling platform will never go wrong in terms of streamlining your business’s operations. 

With Appoint.ly, you can define your schedule and share your availability. The link you share with your clients will contain everything they need. 

Appoint.ly

• Personalized scheduling link
• Time zone synchronization
• Automated event notification
• Chat support

The interface is simple and easy to use. This is why it's best for remote workers, especially the sales team. 

Appoint.ly is also one of the best appointment scheduling solutions for clients from different time zones. They can schedule appointments according to their preferred time slots. 

Appoint.ly will let you share your availability through a system-generated link. You can share this link via emails, messages, or your website. 

Thanks to the time zone synchronization, you can reduce the chances of no-shows. If you don’t want to cancel your appointments with prospects, Appoint.ly will help you a lot. 

You will have various integrations with iCloud, Google Calendar, Office 365, Outlook, and Exchange. 

8. Microsoft Bookings

Microsoft Bookings is another popular appointment software for small business. This software will come as an add-on with Microsoft Enterprise and Business subscriptions. 

This software can organize and manage appointment scheduling. This way, clients can book the available times in your schedule. You don’t need to face any double-booking appointments. 

Microsoft Bookings

• Simplify scheduling
• Customize appointments
• Real-time appointment availability
• New booking calendar

Unlike other software, Microsoft Bookings has a simple rescheduling feature. You can also define the types of appointments you’re planning to offer. Additionally, you can highlight other information, such as availability and business hours. 

When you give these details, Microsoft Bookings will attach them to the bookings page. Your clients won’t have any confusion regarding your flexibility. 

Admins can manage the existing appointments and book new ones for their customers. You will also get to know about their schedules from the in-built directory. 

Additionally, admins can assign permissions and scheduling roles. However, you need the Enterprise subscription for complete user management. 

If your small business relies on Microsoft apps, don’t forget to use Microsoft Bookings. This appointment software for small business can be integrated with MS Teams, Office 365 Suite, and Outlook Calendar. 

However, you may face some limitations with third-party integrations. Hence, it’s best to check them before installing.

9. HoneyBook

HoneyBook is designed specifically for small businesses and freelancers. HoneyBook will simplify the appointment scheduling process if your business handles invoices and contracts. 

While HoneyBook cannot help you with these, it can significantly affect other aspects of your company. Despite being a scheduling app, it can do a lot more. 

HoneyBook

• Customizable to fit your aesthetic
• Easy for your clients to use
• Personalized project portal
• Real-time view

Thanks to top-notch services, you can schedule appointments with your clients effortlessly. You can also manage your project documents on the go. 

Additionally, HoneyBook will let you collect credit card payments right from the dashboard. This way, your clients can pay for the scheduled appointments without any problem. 

When you have all the client communication in one place, you can streamline the overall client management process.

You can also set multiple types of appointments. This will let your clients choose the most suitable services along with a suitable time slot. 

10. Setmore

Setmore will let your clients book appointments with just a few clicks. You can add this appointment software for small business to your WordPress or Weebly website. You can also ask your clients to book meetings through Facebook. 

Clients can book either a single appointment or a set of recurring appointments. This feature is helpful if a client needs to contact you once every week. 

Setmore

• All-in-one calendar
• Website plugin
• Secure online payments
• Email and text reminders

Setmore will allow team members to manage their calendars. One of the best things about Setmore is its application. Available in both the App Store and Play Store, it’s super responsive. 

Setmore also provides personalized SMS reminders for email and clients. Users can also customize different aspects of their appointment scheduling page, including business logo, URL, and custom popup. 

Setmore comes with multiple integrations. For instance, it can be integrated with Stripe and Square to collect online payments. 

If you want to sync this appointment software for small business, Setmore supports social media platforms, video conferencing tools, and Slack. 

If you need advanced features, extensive integrations, or robust team collaboration, you might need to consider other options.

11. SimplyBook.me

If you have a global business, consider SimplyBook.me. This appointment software for small business can schedule appointments in 14 different languages. This will allow your clients to do business with you quickly. 

The interface will display all of your providers, services, and available times. The navigation is easy. Hence, your clients can find the certain things they are looking for. 

SimplyBook.me

• Dynamic booking
• Multiple locations or video meetings
• Client information upon booking
• Reduce no shows & double bookings

On top of that, SimplyBook.me won’t let appointment scheduling stay limited to your website only. Your clients can book appointments through links on social media platforms. They can also visit your GMB to book appointments. 

SimplyBook.me integrates with numerous platforms, including Yahoo, Apple iCloud Calendar, Google, and Outlook Calendars. 

You can also add coupons on the checkout page to track the promotions. Clients can pay through numerous global payment options like PayPal, Stripe, etc. 

Thanks to SimplyBook.me, you can customize your booking site promptly. The available templates will let you showcase your creativity. Choose the perfect one that matches your company. 

The best way to decide if SimplyBook.me is right for you is to consider your specific needs and budget. Pay close attention to its features and determine if they are right for your business.

12. YouCanBookMe

YouCanBookMe is one of the simplest appointment software for small business. Besides small businesses, individual users can also consider YouCanBookMe. 

Upon connecting your calendar, YouCanBookMe will share your availability with clients. They can choose a suitable time. When they schedule an appointment, it will show up on your calendar. 

YouCanBookMe

• Customizable booking page
• Friction-free scheduling
• Group bookings & mutual availability
• Request-only bookings

The booking page provided by YouCanBookMe is highly personalized. You can integrate it with Microsoft Outlook Calendar and Google Calendar. 

You can also include custom fields in your booking form. This way, YouCanBookMe will add the client’s notes to your calendar event. 

If your business hosts webinars and demos, YouCanBookMe has group event support. This will allow multiple people to book the same time slots. 

YouCanBookMe can also streamline messaging related to your appointments. For instance, it will handle initial confirmations, cancellations, or rescheduling notifications. 

Keep in mind that the new pricing structure and potential technical issues might be drawbacks for some users. Consider the free plan to experiment and assess if it meets your needs before upgrading.

13. Calendar.com

Calendar focuses on a more minimalist approach to online appointment scheduling. The clean interface can capture your attention instantly. 

Calendar appointment software can be color-coded. Hence, you can understand the type of appointment you need to attend. 

Calendar

• Free scheduling software.
• Create scheduling events.
• Share your custom link.
• Calendar analytics

You can also build multiple teams with Calendar. This is perhaps the best feature of this platform. It will work with workspaces to organize time slots and schedule pages. 

Calendar comes with basic scheduling tasks and features. You can create customizable appointment events. If you’re out of ideas, the meeting templates will help you get started. 

Upon defining the available hours, send a scheduling link to your clients. This way, they can choose the most convenient time. 

Calendar will let you sync with Office 365, Google Calendar, and Zoom for video conferencing. You can also connect to other tools with Zapier integration. 

14. Vagaro

If you run an online business that operates 24/7, look no further than Vagaro. This appointment software for small business can provide online appointment scheduling with additional business functions. 

This includes marketing tools, a POS platform, payment processing, inventory control, and even payroll. You can also start live streaming with this software. 

Vagaro

• Customizable calendar with waitlist
• Automated notifications & appointment reminders
• 24/7 Live phone, email & chat support
• Business & employee booking widget

With Vagaro, you can include your appointment links on social media pages and websites. You can also publish it on Yelp to gain more exposure. Sharing on the Vagaro application will also prove beneficial. 

However, remember that Vagaro doesn’t let you connect with any third-party calendars. But you will receive admin functions in one platform. 

Keep in mind that the pricing will depend on the number of employees. It will increase depending on your business's size.

Vagaro is best for sending targeted messages to your clients. You can also leverage the benefits of automated client or customer notifications. 

Ready to choose the best Appointment Scheduling Software for Small Business?

With appointment software for small business, you can eliminate the hassle of manual scheduling and appointment processing. 

Online bookings will save you time and effort and allow your business to provide a high-quality customer experience to your clients. 

Remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all software in the market. You need to choose the best scheduling app for small business that benefits your organization in the long run. 

I hope this guide helps you choose the perfect appointment-scheduling software for your small business. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below. 

Frequently Asked Questions