Once you’ve landed a sales lead, the first thing you need to do is to find a meeting time that suits you and your potential customer. Online booking and scheduling apps help make this possible. They can typically sync with your Google or Outlook calendar and make it easy for people to find a time in your schedule that suites them. Even across time zones.
In this article, we’ll explore the best appointment scheduling apps of 2024 to streamline your sales call scheduling – particularly if you’re running Facebook lead ad campaigns.
Top 6 Appointment Scheduling Apps
Finding the perfect scheduling app can significantly enhance your productivity as well as lead conversions.
Here are the top 6 appointment scheduling apps that cater to various needs and will help you convert leads to sales.
Best for Customization: Acuity Scheduling
Best for Small Teams: Setmore
Best for Point-of-Sale Integration: Square Appointments
Best for Versatility: SimplyBook.me
Best for Entrepreneurs: Book Like A Boss
Excellent All-Rounder: Calendly
Acuity Scheduling – Best for Customization
Price: Varies (Custom Pricing Available)
Pros:
Highly customizable booking site and notifications.
Allows customization of appointment types and durations.
Automated appointment reminders with up to three emails and one text message.
HIPAA compliant, suitable for health services.
Cons:
Complex user interface can be frustrating.
Customization options might be overwhelming for new users.
Acuity Scheduling excels in customization. Tailoring the booking site and notifications to match your brand can be transformative for businesses. Medical practices needing HIPAA compliance or consultancies with specific appointment requirements will find Acuity meets their needs.
Automated appointment reminders, with up to three emails and one text message, ensure clients never miss an appointment. Extensive customization options, though flexible, can overwhelm new users. Automatic appointment reminders can help streamline this process.
The powerful user interface can sometimes be complex, causing frustration. Despite these minor drawbacks, Acuity Scheduling remains a top choice for businesses needing a highly customizable solution.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 3/5
Features: 5/5
Setmore – Best for Small Teams
Price: Free plan available for up to four users
Pros:
The free plan is generous and allows for unlimited appointments. You can schedule as many as you need without any restrictions.
User-friendly scheduling solution.
Customized booking page that can be shared on websites and social media.
Supports class scheduling for group appointments.
Cons:
Limited advanced features compared to paid plans.
Somewhat basic customization options.
Setmore is ideal for small teams, offering a generous free plan with unlimited appointments for up to four users, perfect for startups and small businesses. Its user-friendly interface allows even those with minimal technical skills to navigate the system and automate scheduling. Creating a customized booking page to share on websites and social media helps businesses reach a broader audience.
Setmore excels in ease of use and basic features but lacks advanced functionalities found in paid plans. Basic customization options may limit its appeal for businesses with complex scheduling needs. For small teams seeking a straightforward and efficient scheduling solution, Setmore is a solid choice.
Rating:
Price: 5/5
Design: 4/5
Features: 3/5
Square Appointments – Best for Point-of-Sale Integration
Price: Varies based on features and usage
Pros:
Seamless integration with Square’s POS system.
Accepts secure payments without hidden fees.
Supports various payment methods, including contactless and chip cards.
Combines service and product transactions for a simplified checkout process.
Cons:
Best suited for businesses already using Square POS.
Costs can add up with additional features and high transaction volumes.
Square Appointments excels in point-of-sale integration, making it ideal for service-based retail businesses. It accepts secure payments without hidden fees, ensuring smooth transactions.
Supporting contactless and chip cards, it offers a versatile checkout experience. Combining service and product transactions simplifies the checkout process.
Square Appointments is best suited for businesses already using Square’s POS system. Costs can add up with additional features and high transaction volumes. Despite these considerations, Square Appointments remains a top contender for businesses needing comprehensive POS integration.
Rating:
Price: 3/5
Design: 4/5
Features: 5/5
SimplyBook.me – Best for Versatility
Price: Varies (Monthly Plans Available)
Pros:
Supports multiple languages and payment options
Integrates with various payment processors for online and onsite transactions
Manages bookings across multiple locations and assigns staff accordingly
Includes features for sending reminders and collecting client feedback
Cons:
Interface can be complex for new users.
Some advanced features require higher-tier plans.
SimplyBook.me epitomizes versatility, catering to various industries such as health and wellness and education. Supporting multiple languages and payment options, it is ideal for international businesses. Integration with various payment processors allows both online and onsite transactions.
Managing bookings across multiple locations and assigning staff is simple, making it suitable for diverse service businesses. It includes features for sending reminders and collecting client feedback, enhancing engagement and satisfaction in resource management.
The interface can be complex for new users, and advanced features may require higher-tier plans. Despite minor drawbacks, its versatility makes SimplyBook.me a top choice for a flexible scheduling solution.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 3/5
Features: 5/5
Book Like A Boss – Best for Entrepreneurs
Price: Varies
Pros:
Dual function as an appointment scheduler and basic website builder.
User-friendly interface.
Personalized booking page that reflects brand identity.
Integrated payment processing.
Supports strategic upselling on booking pages.
Cons:
Limited advanced features compared to more specialized apps.
Some customization options might be too basic for larger businesses.
Book Like A Boss is ideal for entrepreneurs and freelancers, serving as both an appointment scheduler and a basic website builder for new businesses. Its user-friendly interface simplifies scheduling, making it accessible for freelancers and small business owners.
Users can create a personalized online booking page reflecting their brand identity, enhancing their professional image. Integrated payment processing enables payments during booking, streamlining operations. The platform supports strategic upselling, allowing users to add upsells and cross-sells on booking pages.
While lacking some advanced features of specialized apps, Book Like A Boss is excellent for entrepreneurs needing a straightforward scheduling solution.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 4/5
Features: 3/5
Calendly – Excellent all rounder
Price: Varies
Pros:
Automatically integrates with Google Calendar, Outlook, Office 365, and iCloud
Supports different types of meetings with unique settings
Round-robin, collective, and group scheduling for team meetings
Automated email and SMS notifications and reminders
Cons:
Limited customization options compared to Acuity Scheduling.
Some integrations require higher-tier plans.
Calendly is an excellent all-rounder, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar, Outlook, Office 365, and iCloud to automatically show availability. Users can create different types of meetings, each with unique settings, making Calendly versatile for various scheduling needs.
For round-robin, collective, or group scheduling for team meetings, Calendly is an excellent choice to schedule meetings while adhering to scheduling rules and simplified scheduling. Automated email and SMS notifications ensure that neither you nor your meeting participants miss an appointment.
Although Calendly’s customization options are limited compared to Acuity Scheduling, its ease of use and extensive integrations make it a top choice for many businesses. Some integrations require higher-tier plans, but the overall value Calendly provides is undeniable.
Rating:
Price: 4/5
Design: 4/5
Features: 4/5
How to Choose the Best Appointment Scheduling App
Choosing the best appointment scheduling app for your business can be challenging. Consider these key factors:
Seek scheduling software with customizable booking pages, email and SMS reminders, and integration with other applications. These features streamline booking, allowing clients to accept bookings and pay for appointments independently. Automated reminders reduce no-shows and improve client engagement, making it easier to reschedule appointments.
Evaluate the level of customer support and security features. Responsive support is crucial for minimizing disruptions, and robust security ensures adequate data protection.
Another critical factor is budget. Examine the pricing structure, including potential hidden fees or costs for additional features. For small teams and solopreneurs, apps like Setmore offer free plans with excellent value.
Lastly, consider your business’s specific needs, such as industry-specific features or managing bookings across multiple locations.
Wrapping Up
Recapping the main points, Acuity Scheduling stands out for its customization capabilities, while Setmore is perfect for small teams with its generous free plan. Square Appointments excels in point-of-sale integration, making it a top choice for retail businesses. SimplyBook.me offers versatility across various industries, and Book Like A Boss is tailored for entrepreneurs. Calendly remains an excellent all-rounder with its seamless calendar integrations and team scheduling features.
Choosing the right appointment scheduling app depends on your specific needs and business operations. Whether you prioritize customization, ease of use, lead conversion or integration capabilities, there’s a solution out there for you.
Reflect on your business requirements and consider the features that will bring the most value. Remember, the best scheduling app is the one that simplifies your workflow and enhances your productivity.
The right tool can transform how you manage your appointments, freeing up your time to focus on what truly matters—growing your business and serving your clients. Take the insights from this post, and choose the app that best fits your needs.
