Best online booking systems: 9 options to help you reopen
6-minute read
With thousands of businesses set to reopen from 4 July, could an appointment scheduling app make life easier? Here are nine of the best appointment scheduling software options in the UK right now.
Who makes the top 9?
We’ve rated our best online booking systems for price and features, plus any Covid-19 specific support or price reductions. There’s also a handy section explaining which business types the apps are designed for.
In no particular order, here’s a quick look at nine of the top software options available.
Provider | Anything for Covid-19? | Price |
|---|---|---|
No | From free | |
Yes | From free | |
Yes | From free | |
Yes | From $25 / month | |
No | From £25 / month | |
June sale | From free | |
Yes | From free | |
Yes | From £109 / month | |
No | From $15 / month ($12 with yearly billing) |
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Acuity Scheduling
This scheduling app regularly hits the top 10 lists, thanks to its clean, easy-to-navigate user interface and dashboard, and flexible pricing with a free start-up option. The website doesn’t advertise any specific coronavirus support, however, and you’ll need to make up your mind quickly with the seven-day free trial.
Who’s it for?
- general business
- yoga/fitness studios
- classes/coaching/education
- salons/spas
Top features
- 2 minute set-up demo
- clients can view real-time availability
- self-booking
- handles classes, private sessions and subscriptions
- time zone auto-adjust
- automatic client reminders
- Stripe, Square and PayPal integration
Covid-19 support?
Nothing advertised
Watch out for
The Freebie (free) package provides appointment scheduling only. If you want access to the app’s other features, you’ll need to go for one of the paid deals.
Pricing
Free for the Freebie package, and up to $50 / month for the Powerhouse deal (you’ll get a seven-day free trial)
Fresha
Rated 5/5 by Capterra and trusted by thousands of businesses worldwide, Fresha is the only subscription-free platform for salons and spas. So you can get started for free, and the brand has just released a couple of Covid-19 support features.
Who’s it for?
- salons/spas
- beauty/wellness
Covid-19 support?
- faster card to bank payments
- new SMS text blast feature
Find out more on the Fresha blog
Top features
- built specifically for salons, spas, beauty and wellness businesses
- 5/5 Capterra rating
- network reach, with over 250 million appointments booked worldwide
- POS (point of sale) integration options
- product inventory
- advanced analytics
- Fresha marketplace, Instagram, Facebook and Google integration
Watch out for
If you decide to upgrade to Fresha Plus, you’ll pay 1.29 per cent + £0.20 for each customer transaction and a 20 per cent fee on new clients (if they’ve booked through the Fresha marketplace).
Pricing
Free (fees apply if you upgrade to Fresha Plus)
TIMIFY
This appointment booking app handles some big-name clients, from DHL and Clarins Skin Spa to AON, INTERSPORT and Fitness First. TIMIFY focuses on making online booking as simple as possible, with lots of features for single users and startups, as well as established, bigger businesses.
Who’s it for?
- general business
- salons/spas
- beauty/wellness
- financial services
- real estate
- human resources
- classes/coaching/education
Covid-19 support?
- free for all medical centres, labs and organisations involved in Covid-19 response
- Zoom/GoToMeeting integrations free until 30 June 2020
- 30-day free trial extension
Find out more on the Timify blog
Top features
- fees waived for Covid-19 frontline industries
- free Zoom/GoToMeeting integration (until 30 June)
- unlimited bookings and users
- booking widget available on all packages
- Facebook integration
- Windows, Mac and tablet/mobile app options
- Google calendar sync options
Watch out for
The free Classic package provides basic features only, so you’ll need to upgrade for more advanced tools like recurring bookings and customer history.
Pricing
Free for the Classic package, and up to £48 / month* for the Enterprise deal (you’ll get a 14-day free trial)
*£42 with annual billing
Vagaro
Another schedule app built for the beauty and fitness industry, Vagaro is currently offering a number of coronavirus support measures, including $25 off the monthly subscription. You’ll just need to plan for increased costs if you’re adding staff member profiles.
Who’s it for?
- salons/spas
- yoga/fitness studios
- beauty/wellness
Covid-19 support?
- $25 off monthly subscription
- free live stream integration
- 50,000 free marketing emails
- 1,000 free marketing SMS messages
- free online shopping cart feature
Find out more on the Vagaro support hub
Top features:
- $25 off monthly subscription during Covid-19
- live streaming free during Covid-19
- built specifically for salons, spas, beauty and wellness businesses
- POS (point of sale) integration options
- Instagram, Facebook, Yelp, Gusto, Xero, Gusto and QuickBooks integration
- Google calendar sync options
- automated email marketing options
- one month free trial
Watch out for
During the free trial, you won’t be able to use Yelp booking, email marketing or credit card processing. Again, plan for increased costs if you’re adding staff member profiles.
Pricing
From $25 / month (currently free with Covid-19 discount, and you’ll get a one-month free trial)
Versum
Versum are focused on hair and beauty salons, with 46,000 professionals currently using their software to book appointments. They’ve introduced a new online vouchers feature to support customers during Covid-19, and have more in the pipeline.
Who’s it for?
- salons/spas
- beauty/wellness
Covid-19 support?
Nothing specific, but lots of Covid-19 salon survival tips on the Verum blog
Top features
- online customer vouchers
- excellent industry-specific blog (including Covid-19 guidance)
- built specifically for salons and beauty businesses
- advanced analytics options
- automated marketing options
- integrated customer loyalty program
- POS (point of sale) integration options
Watch out for
Again, you’ll just need to plan for increased costs if you’re adding staff member profiles.
Pricing:
From £25 / month (you’ll get a 14-day free trial)
Setmore
Appointment manager software from Setmore focuses on simple, easy-to-use features. It has a five-star Google rating, is named for best value and ease of use by Capterra and has over 10,000 five-star reviews on App Store.
Who’s it for?
- general business
- beauty/wellness
- salons/spas
- consulting/sales
- trades/contractors
Covid-19 support?
- 64 per cent off until 30 June (one user profile only)
Find out more in Setmore’s June sale info
Top features:
- 64 per cent off Setmore Premium (one user profile only, until 30 June)
- one-click video appointments option
- free package comes with one to four staff logins
- Facebook and Instagram integration
- Slack, Google Calendar and Office 365 integration
- Xero and QuickBooks integration
- weekly projected revenue reporting options
Watch out for
The free Setmore package provides basic features only, and you’ll need to upgrade for more advanced payment functions. The app is also missing a few Premium payment features (Setmore are working on this).
Pricing
Free for the Setmore package, and up to $25 / month for the Premium deal (you’ll get a flexible trial period)
Calendly
Over five million people use Calendly’s online appointment booking software every month, and they’re offering free integrations with Zoom and GoToMeeting until the end of September, to help businesses going through coronavirus hardship.
Who’s it for?
- general business
Covid-19 support?
- Free Zoom and GoToMeeting integration until 30 September
Find out more on the Calendly blog
Top features
- free Zoom/GoToMeeting integration (until 30 September)
- flexible meeting type options
- advanced analytics options
- Facebook integration
- Stripe and PayPal integration
- Google Calendar and Office 365 integration
- intelligent scheduling with caps and buffers
Watch out for
The free Basic package provides basic features only, and you’ll need to upgrade for more advanced options like the Zoom, GoToMeeting and PayPal integrations.
Pricing
Free for the Basic package, and up to $15 per user / month* for the Pro deal (you’ll get a 14-day free trial)
$12 with annual billing
Mindbody
One of the UK’s best-known online scheduling apps, Mindbody focus on salons, spas, beauty and wellness, yoga and fitness studios. They provide the industry with cutting-edge tech and a huge customer community.
Who’s it for?
- salons/spas
- yoga/fitness studios
- beauty/wellness
Covid-19 support?
- free software upgrades/add-ons until 30 June
- price increases suspended
- subscription fee relief for seriously impacted businesses
There’s also the Mindbody One support community and more information on the Mindbody Covid-19 hub
Top features
- free software upgrades/add-ons (until 30 June)
- price increases suspended for 2020
- subscription fee relief for specific businesses
- powerful peer business support through Mindbody One
- 3.7 million classes booked monthly
- advanced marketing options
- POS (point of sale) integration options
Watch out for
The mobile-friendly booking widget isn’t included as standard in the £109 / month Starter package – you’ll need to add it on.
Pricing:
From £109 / month
Gigabook
Geared up for all sorts of business types, and a focus on professional industries, Gigabook guarantee full access to all features at any account level, along with fast and easy set up and multiple integrations. Right now, we couldn’t see any Covid-19 relief features.
Who’s it for?
- general business
- technology teams
Covid-19 support?
Nothing advertised
Top features
- multiple integrations, from Stripe and PayPal to Office 365 and Quickbooks
- advanced dashboard and reporting
- open API
- easy rescheduling
- automated reminders
- simple pricing structure
- intelligent booking capacity tools
Watch out for
Just keep an eye on your user profiles – the more staff who need access, the more you’ll pay.
Pricing
From $15 / month (you’ll get a 14-day free trial)
$12 with annual billing
Are you planning to reopen on 4 July? What’s your biggest concern? Let us know in the comments below.
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Written by
Jessie Day
We create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always take professional advice. Read our full disclaimer
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