Acuity Scheduling
Google Calendar
| Feature | Acuity Scheduling | Google Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $20/mo | Free / from $6/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | service-providers, consultants, salons-spas, fitness-trainers | individuals, teams, google-users, students |
| Founded | 2006 | 2006 |
| Online Booking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payment Processing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reminders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Packages Memberships | ✓ | ✗ |
| Intake Forms | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Group Classes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Gift Certificates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Event Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals | ✗ | ✓ |
| Appointment Slots | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Insights | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shared Calendars | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Google Calendar Pros
- Free
- Great integrations
- Smart suggestions
- Cross-platform
✗ Google Calendar Cons
- Limited customization
- Basic views
- Requires Google account
The Verdict
Acuity Scheduling is built for service providers and consultants, with a focus on online-booking and payment-processing. Google Calendar targets individuals and teams and leads with event-scheduling and reminders.
On pricing, Google Calendar is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $6/mo compared to $20/mo for Acuity Scheduling. That $14/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Google Calendar 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 Google Calendar 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.