- Square Appointments: Best overall
- Setmore: Best for unlimited appointments
- Calendly: Best for appointment booking via email
- Zoho Bookings: Best for resource management
- Appointy: Best for workflow automation
- Doodle: Best for teams with schedulers
- SimplyBook.me: Best for medical offices
Updated: Mar 21, 2024, 9:04pm
Scheduling can be a laborious process for many business owners. Going back and forth with people about availability, sending confirmations and rescheduling can seem like a full-time job but it doesn’t need to be. The best apps for scheduling remove you from most of the process, leaving you to show up and do your job on the appointment. Forbes Advisor reviewed 10 of the most popular apps out there to come up with this list of the seven best scheduling apps of 2024.
The Best Scheduling Apps of 2024
Forbes Advisor Ratings
Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Best For | Starting Price | Key Features | LEARN MORE | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Square Appointments | 4.8 | Best Overall | Free; $29 per location, per month | YesTask management, recurring payments, mobile app, automated appointment reminders | Learn More | On Square's Website | |||
Setmore | 4.5 | Best for Unlimited Appointments | Free; $5 per user, per month | Unlimited appointments, mobile app (iOS and Android), recurring payments (with premium plans), class booking and task management (for a fee) | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
Calendly | 4.5 | Best for Appointment Booking Via Email | Free; $10 per user, per month | Syncs with major email service providers, email reminders (with paid plans), group events (with paid plans), mobile app and task management | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
Zoho Bookings | 4.4 | Best for Resource Management | Free; $6 per staff, per month | Email reminders, round-robin appointment allocation, time zone conversion, group events and recurring events (with paid plan) | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
Appointy | 4.3 | Best for Workflow Automation | Free; $19.99 per month | Automatic reminds, mobile app, up to 100 appointments per month with free plan, unlimited services (with paid plan) and task management | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
Doodle | 4.2 | Best for Teams With Schedulers | Free; $6.95 per user per month | Unlimited meetings, group polls, video integrations and unlimited booking pages | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
SimplyBook.me | 4.1 | Best for Medical Offices | Free; $8.25 per user per month | Admin app, client app, HIPAA compliant, accept payments (paid plans) | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review |
Methodology
Forbes Advisor’s five-star reviews for best scheduling apps are based on a proprietary scoring system. We used four primary rating categories: pricing, general features, additional features and reviews.
When it came to general features, we wanted to know whether or not the app offered booking availability, calendar syncing, a booking page and email notifications. We also wanted to see if there were software integrations. For additional features, we looked for real-time tracking, task management and client portals. When it came to reviews, we looked at whether the app received a three-and-a-half-star rating or higher on three major review platforms.
What You Need to Know About Choosing Scheduling Apps
When looking for a scheduling app, you want to know that it is easy for you to use and easy for the client to use. For many people, the more the app can sync and integrate with automatic workflows, the more useful it will be. While most scheduling apps offer a free version, most users will want to upgrade to a paid version with more features that make scheduling appointments or resources easier. This is why it’s important to look beyond the free version and see whether or not the paid versions will incorporate the features you need for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a scheduling app?
A scheduling app is a tool that allows prospects or customers to book time with you automatically. It uses a web portal that shows your calendar options and lets the scheduling party pick a time that works best for them.
What are some features that a paid scheduling app has that a free app might not?
Some of the upgraded features that you find when you pay for a scheduling app include email confirmations, resource management, custom staff permissions, calendar sync and software that makes it easier to schedule bookings.
Why do I need a scheduling app?
Scheduling apps eliminate the back and forth of trying to find a time that works for everyone. The apps show what times are available, and the prospect can pick a time that works best for them. It eliminates the bulk of the work in managing a schedule.
What is the purpose of appointment reminder systems?
Appointment reminder systems help those with busy schedules remind clients about upcoming appointments to reduce the risk of missed and canceled appointments. It eliminates extra work in having someone call or text people physically to remind them about appointments.
What are some benefits of scheduling apps?
Benefits that you can reap from using scheduling apps include saving time by not having to handle the scheduling process manually, having the app sync automatically with all of your calendars―both personal and for your team members―having the app send and receive reminders and notifications via text messages and/or email automatically, eliminating issues around double-booking or unnecessary gaps during interview days or client meetings and, if you collect payments as part of your business, reminders and notices can make it easier to get your payments on time.