Everyone's busy. It's a fact of life.
Our calendars are crammed with meetings, appointments, and errands. And that means scheduling appointments or meetings with someone else can be a Herculean task.
You’re sending endless emails back and forth with a client, asking if they can meet at this date and time… hmm, maybe this time… or how about this time?
And on top of that, add in the timezone gymnastics throughout all of those back-and-forth messages too.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an easy way to sync up your calendars, letting the client schedule with a single click? That’s what booking software is for!
Booking software lets clients see your available time slots so that they can book a time that’s most convenient to them, saving you a lot of unnecessary emails in the process. Plus, it’ll help you streamline business operations and provide customers with the personalized experience they want.
In this article, we’re breaking down the top seven online booking software options for small businesses.
Let’s take a look!
By using a scheduling software, small businesses can enjoy benefits including:
Want the TL;DR? Here’s the basic rundown:
You’ll get more customization options if you choose YouCanBookMe.
You can scale up to an enterprise using Calendly.
You can optimize for mobile best with Calendar.com.
Best Overall |
Runner-Up |
Best for Mobile |
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YouCanBookMe |
Calendly |
Calendar.com |
| Best for small and medium business owners | Best for enterprise-level organizations | Best for businesses who need mobile experiences |
As we considered the best booking software on the market, we looked at factors including:
Let’s get into the list!
The 7 Best Booking Software Apps Of 2024 |
1. YouCanBookMe (YCBM)A scheduling platform that offers rich booking page customization options and auto-adjusts booking page language based on region, making it perfect for individuals, and small to medium-size businesses who rely on client bookings and work across borders and time zones.Read more about YouCanBookMe |
2. CalendlyA powerful scheduling tool designed to simplify scheduling for large people-facing enterprises. Offers advanced features like workflow automations, automatic time zone detection, and integrations with multiple online calendars. |
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If you’re a small business looking for a customizable online booking software, YouCanBookMe is at the top of the list. Founded in 2011, this software equips you with everything needed to set up online scheduling, design and execute a personalized scheduling experience for your customers.
Start by creating your own customizable booking page where clients can schedule a meeting with you in a matter of seconds. Next, set up automated and personalized meeting reminders and follow-ups so you don’t have to worry about no-shows. You can do this through email or SMS.. YouCanBookMe also has dozens of integrations with tools you already use to streamline your workday even more (we’ve noted some below).
YCBM is a great, cost-effective solution for any small business owner or entrepreneur juggling meetings or appointments with many clients (especially clients in multiple time zones). Learn more by taking an interactive tour showing YCBM’s full suite of features.
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Pricing:
Free forever, or opt for one of the paid plans starting at $8.10/month when billed annually.
"At PBJ Learning, we work with clients and agencies in all time zones. Complicating things, we have staff and advisors across the world that have to synchronize with us. Scheduling is a fundamental challenge for anyone that works in multiple time zones, so we use YouCanBookMe for all our meetings. I’ve been a fan since I found out about it years ago and have been satisfied with their service ever since."
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Most people are familiar with Calendly, a booking software that connects with your calendar to run automated scheduling workflows letting clients book with you. For small businesses, Calendly can help you automatically schedule internal team meetings, or use consistent, professional templates to elevate the customer experience. Your unique Calendly link allows others to book time with you in a single click.
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If you’re considering either of the top two booking software options, read our in-depth comparison of Calendly vs. YouCanBookMe. |
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Pricing:
Opt for the free forever plan, or choose a paid plan starting at $10/seat/month.
“I use Calendly to book connection calls (30 minutes or less), to decide on the best times for meetings (using Meeting Polls), and to provide astrology readings for clients (75-90 minutes). I also provide my Calendly booking link in my email signature to decrease needless back-and-forth. I allow anyone to book a call that works best for them by clicking the booking link in my email signature below. My colleagues and connections are always blown away by the efficiency!”
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Calendar.com is a team scheduling software and online calendar app. With this booking software for small business (available for iOS and Android), your calendar and your booking link are both included internally—while you can integrate other calendars, you don’t have to. Share your customized calendar link to let people schedule a meeting with you.
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Calendar.com offers a free forever plan and additional pricing options starting at $20/user/month.
“It’s easy to use, helps me keep organized, integrates with the tools I use the most, helps me remember and keep track of things easily, helps me to stay accountable, helps me save time, helps me stay connected, and communicate with work teams.”
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SimplyBook.me is an online booking system designed for service-based industries. This software is unique because it integrates with social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google, allowing customers to book with your business through avenues like “Reserve with Google” or a “Book Now” button on social media. SimplyBook.me also lets you collect payments upfront through PayPal, Stripe, or Square.
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SimplyBook.me has a free forever plan, or paid plans that start at $8.25/month billed annually.
“I use the application to manage my schedule and receive payments in advance. It solves the cashflow problem, scheduling, time management, and generally allows me to focus on what I am good at, teaching English, Spanish and French… If you’re giving lessons online, and want to let your clients set their own timetable, within the parameters you are willing to work, SimpleBook.me will do all that in a flash, and more.”
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OnceHub (previously ScheduleOnce) offers a no-code meeting builder to help you design meeting journeys that fit your customers’ interaction preferences. Adapt on-the-fly with the range of options at your hands, creating interactive meeting journey workflows that walk your clients through an optimal scheduling experience.
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Use the free forever plan with one user and one booking link, or opt for a paid plan starting at $10/seat/month.
“I love how accommodating [OnceHub] is to my needs. I can rely on appointments that have been booked with me to know that it was all done right and I can really just focus on my job. It allows me to make money and talk to people that I know are really interested.”
— Faith J.
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Acuity Scheduling provides client scheduling, secure payments, and workflow automation. Use the automated appointment booking and reminders to easily let clients book with you, and personalize the experience with custom intake forms. Acuity also features safe ways to collect payments and to offer subscriptions or gift cards. And the mobile app allows clients to book meetings on the go.
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If you’re considering this booking software, see how Acuity compares to Calendly. |
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Acuity does not have a free forever plan. Pricing starts at $16/month.
“The support I have received has been fantastic, also the walkthrough articles are clear and easy to follow if you want to set up integration with other software. The pricing for Acuity is great and I have been able to add users without a massive hike in price paid.”
- Jack H., Health, Wellness, and Fitness
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Setmore’s scheduling software helps you get organized with 24/7 automated online booking, reminders, and payments. Create an all-in-one calendar and a custom booking page to share on your website or social media. After clients schedule, Setmore will automatically send them email or SMS reminders.
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Up to four users can access Setmore for free. Paid plans start at $5/user/month.
“I wouldn’t be able to provide the services that I do without Setmore. I am a sole practitioner (massage therapist) and do not have any staff. I have back to back massages and no down time. Without the online scheduler, it would be VERY difficult for me to set up appointments. Allowing clients to schedule their own appointments makes my job a lot easier and they appreciate it as well. They know their schedules and what works for them so it is convenient for everyone.”
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YouCanBookMe is one of the best scheduling softwares for small businesses. With this online scheduling tool, you can create a custom booking page where clients can easily schedule a meeting with you. They’ll receive automated email or SMS reminders about their appointment.
Yes. Google Calendar offers online appointment scheduling. But, it’s important to understand what your needs are when it comes to booking software and find the right platform that addresses them.
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See how the top two booking software options stack up. Compare YouCanBookMe, Google Calendar, and Calendly. |
Look into a software like YouCanBookMe. With this type of platform, you can create a free booking page and enjoy additional free features like customizing your availability and sharing a personalized booking link. Plus, YCBM integrates with platforms you probably already use on a daily basis, like Zoom, Mailchimp, and Stripe.