Acuity Scheduling
eM Client
| Feature | Acuity Scheduling | eM Client |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $20/mo | Free / from $49.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | service-providers, consultants, salons-spas, fitness-trainers | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2006 | 2007 |
| Online Booking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payment Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reminders | ✓ | ✗ |
| Packages Memberships | ✓ | ✗ |
| Intake Forms | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Group Classes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Gift Certificates | ✓ | ✗ |
| ✗ | ✓ | |
| Calendar | ✗ | ✓ |
| Contacts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tasks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Acuity Scheduling Pros
- Highly customizable for service businesses
- Integrated payment processing (Stripe, Square, PayPal)
- Robust reminder and follow-up email system
- Supports packages, memberships, and gift certificates
✗ Acuity Scheduling Cons
- No free plan available
- Interface feels dated compared to modern alternatives
- Limited to Squarespace ecosystem for some features
✓ eM Client Pros
- One-time purchase
- Feature-rich
- Good Exchange support
- Modern UI
✗ eM Client Cons
- Desktop only
- Free limited to 2 accounts
- Occasional sync issues
The Verdict
Acuity Scheduling is built for service providers and consultants, with a focus on online-booking and payment-processing. eM Client targets professionals and windows users and leads with email and calendar.
On pricing, Acuity Scheduling is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $20/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $29.950000000000003/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
eM Client has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Acuity Scheduling requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Acuity Scheduling offers broader built-in capabilities (8 features vs 6), while eM Client takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.