Head to head · UK edition
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Both are built for service businesses. SimplyBook.me has a free plan and more optional features; Acuity has simpler calendar-based pricing and strong packages and intake forms.
Prices as ofGBP or USD as published
Choose SimplyBook.me if
- You want to start on a free plan
- You need SMS and WhatsApp reminders and POS
- You'd like an EU-based supplier
Choose Acuity Scheduling if
- You sell packages, memberships and gift cards
- You want intake forms
- You'd rather pay by calendars (1, 6 or 36) than by bookings and features
Our verdict Both are strong. Start with SimplyBook.me's free plan if budget matters; choose Acuity if packages and intake forms are central and you're happy to pay from day one.
Side by side
| Detail | SimplyBook.me | Acuity Scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Service businesses such as salons, clinics, tutors and fitness; EU-friendly | Service businesses: coaches, therapists, salons and studios |
| Free plan | Yes: 50 bookings a month, 1 provider | No (7-day free trial) |
| Entry price | From $11.90 per month (annual billing) US dollars; UK VAT may be added | From $16 per month (annual billing) US dollars; UK VAT may be added |
| Currency and tax | SimplyBook.me's pricing page showed US dollars when checked. It's an EU-based company and talks about GDPR compliance. Prices are shown in US dollars as published. If you're a UK business, UK VAT may be added at checkout depending on your VAT status; we haven't checked each vendor's UK billing. | Acuity's pricing page shows US dollars only. Prices are shown in US dollars as published. If you're a UK business, UK VAT may be added at checkout depending on your VAT status; we haven't checked each vendor's UK billing. |
| Payments | Stripe, PayPal; POS | Stripe, Square, PayPal |
| SMS reminders | SMS and WhatsApp | From Standard |
| HIPAA option | Standard and above | BAA on Premium |
| UK/EU data angle | EU company (GDPR) | Not checked |
| Teams | Providers by plan | Calendars by plan (1, 6, 36) |
| AI features | Not checked | AI Booking Assistant (Premium) |
| Marketplace | No | No |
| Open source / self-host | No | No |
| Video calls | Zoom | Zoom |
| Integrations | Stripe, PayPal, Zoom, Google and Outlook calendars, QuickBooks and Xero (Premium), Zapier | Stripe, Square, PayPal, Zoom, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, Zapier |
| Third-party ratings | Capterra 4.6/5 (1,293 reviews) Third-party figures as listed around 19 October 2026; not our ratings | Capterra 4.8/5 (5,774 reviews) Third-party figures as listed around 19 October 2026; not our ratings |
| Strengths |
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| Weaknesses |
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| Visit | Visit SimplyBook.me | Visit Acuity Scheduling |
Plans and prices
SimplyBook.me
| Plan | Annual billing (per month) | Monthly billing | Unit | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $11.90 | $13.90 | per month | USD; UK VAT may be added |
| Standard | $24.90 | $29.90 | per month | USD; UK VAT may be added |
| Premium | $49.90 | $59.90 | per month | USD; UK VAT may be added |
Acuity Scheduling
| Plan | Annual billing (per month) | Monthly billing | Unit | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter (1 calendar) | $16 | $20 | per month | USD; UK VAT may be added |
| Standard (6 calendars) | $27 | $34 | per month | USD; UK VAT may be added |
| Premium (36 calendars) | $55 | $69 | per month | USD; UK VAT may be added |
What each costs for a team
| Tool | Free plan | 1 person | 3 people | 5 people | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimplyBook.me | Yes: 50 bookings a month, 1 provider | $11.90 Basic | $11.90 Basic | $11.90 Basic | billed annually |
| Acuity Scheduling | No (7-day free trial) | $16 Starter (1 calendar) | $27 Standard (6 calendars) | $27 Standard (6 calendars) | billed annually |
Monthly list price for the cheapest paid plan that covers that many people, calculated from published per-user, per-staff or per-calendar prices (arithmetic only, no discounts). Tools priced per location or per calendar cost the same within the plan's limits. GBP where the vendor publishes it, otherwise USD. Free plans may cover you instead; see each tool's limits.
Questions people ask
Which is cheaper, SimplyBook.me or Acuity Scheduling?
SimplyBook.me: From $11.90 per month (annual billing) US dollars; UK VAT may be added. Acuity Scheduling: From $16 per month (annual billing) US dollars; UK VAT may be added. Check how each one charges (per seat, per calendar or per location) using the team cost table on this page.
Do SimplyBook.me and Acuity Scheduling have free plans?
SimplyBook.me: Yes: 50 bookings a month, 1 provider. Acuity Scheduling: No (7-day free trial).
Related
- Calendly vs Acuity Scheduling
- SimplyBook.me vs Calendly
- The best Acuity Scheduling alternatives (2026)
- Compare all 21 tools: prices and feature matrix
Full reviews: SimplyBook.me · Acuity Scheduling
Sources
Prices and features as recorded on 2 November 2026 from these pages (research pass 26 October to 2 November 2026). Prices change: check the vendor's page before you buy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- SimplyBook.me: https://simplybook.me/en/pricing
- Acuity Scheduling: https://acuityscheduling.com/pricing