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Scheduling & Booking

Acuity Scheduling vs Microsoft Bookings

Which scheduling & booking tool is right for you? Compare features, pricing, and user reviews to make the best choice.

Acuity Scheduling

From $16
G2 4.6 · 410 reviews

Service-based businesses and solo-to-small teams (e.g., coaches, therapists, salons, fitness, consultants) that need client self-booking, automated reminders, and payment collection.

Microsoft Bookings

From $7
G2 3.8 · 37 reviews

Microsoft 365-centric small and mid-sized businesses and internal teams that want simple, reliable appointment scheduling tied directly to Outlook/Exchange calendars (e.g., professional services, IT/helpdesk, HR, education, healthcare admin, and customer-facing appointment teams).

Side by side

Acuity SchedulingMicrosoft Bookings
PricingFrom $16/month (billed annually)From $7/user/month (via Microsoft 365 Business Basic)
G2 Rating4.6 (410 reviews)3.8 (37 reviews)
Best ForService-based businesses and solo-to-small teams (e.g., coaches, therapists, salons, fitness, consultants) that need client self-booking, automated reminders, and payment collection.Microsoft 365-centric small and mid-sized businesses and internal teams that want simple, reliable appointment scheduling tied directly to Outlook/Exchange calendars (e.g., professional services, IT/helpdesk, HR, education, healthcare admin, and customer-facing appointment teams).

Pros and cons

Acuity Scheduling

Pros

  • Easy for clients to book and reschedule online
  • Strong automation for reminders and confirmations reduces no-shows
  • Flexible scheduling rules (buffers, availability, appointment types)
  • Built-in payments and sales tools (deposits, packages, gift cards)

Cons

  • No permanent free plan (pricing starts on paid tiers)
  • Advanced customization and complex setups can take time to configure
  • Some integrations and multi-location/staff features require higher-tier plans

Microsoft Bookings

Pros

  • Included with many Microsoft 365 business plans, reducing incremental software cost
  • Tight Outlook/Exchange integration helps prevent double-booking and keeps calendars in sync
  • Easy to deploy for teams already using Microsoft 365 and Teams
  • Good fit for internal and external appointment scenarios with straightforward configuration

Cons

  • Limited advanced customization and workflow automation compared to dedicated scheduling platforms
  • Payments, marketing, and deep CRM integrations are less robust than specialist tools
  • Branding and booking-page flexibility can feel constrained for customer-facing use cases

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