Appoint.ly is an online scheduling tool that helps service businesses automate bookings, accept payments, and reduce no-shows. It offers a free forever plan and integrates with calendars, payment gateways, and 1000+ apps via Zapier.
Appoint.ly (often referred to as Appointy) is a focused online scheduling platform built for service businesses that want to replace the back-and-forth of email and phone calls with a clean, automated booking flow. It positions itself as a practical alternative to heavyweight scheduling suites, offering a free tier that actually works for solo operators and scaling up to multi-location enterprises. The tool has earned a strong reputation on review sites, with a 4.7-star average on both Capterra and G2.
The core strength of Appoint.ly lies in its simplicity. Setting up a booking page takes minutes: you define your services, set staff availability, and connect your calendar. From there, clients can book directly through your website, social media profiles, or Google. The system handles reminders, payment collection, and rescheduling automatically. For businesses that don't need a full CRM or advanced analytics, this focused approach saves time and reduces friction. The integration with Zapier also opens up connections to over 1,000 other apps, making it easy to sync with email marketing, accounting, or project management tools.
Pricing is straightforward and competitive. The Free plan supports one staff member, five services, and 100 appointments per month -- enough for a freelancer or very small practice to get started without any cost. The Growth plan at $19.99 per user per year (billed annually) adds unlimited services, Google Bookings, and Stripe payments. The Professional plan at $49.99 per team per year includes five staff, gift certificates, and resource scheduling. The Enterprise plan at $79.99 per workspace per year supports multi-location setups, custom branding removal, and dedicated support. All paid plans come with a 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
Appoint.ly is best suited for service-based local businesses: salons, fitness studios, healthcare providers, tutors, and similar professionals who need a reliable booking system without the complexity of a full practice management suite. It is not built for companies that require deep CRM functionality, advanced reporting, or custom API development out of the box. For those use cases, alternatives like Calendly, Acuity Scheduling, or Square Appointments may be a better fit.
In summary, Appoint.ly delivers exactly what it promises: a fast, easy way to accept online appointments, collect payments, and keep your calendar organized. The free plan is generous enough to test the waters, and the paid tiers are reasonably priced for small to mid-sized teams. If your main pain point is manual scheduling and no-shows, this tool is worth a close look.
Features
- Schedule online appointments
- Automate daily tasks and reminders
- Accept payments via Stripe, Square, PayPal
- Reduce no-shows with automated reminders
- Manage multiple staff members
- Integrate with Google Bookings, calendars, and Zapier
Pricing
Pros
- Simple, intuitive interface that is easy to set up
- Free forever plan covers basic needs for solo professionals
- Strong integration ecosystem with 1000+ apps via Zapier
- High user satisfaction (4.7 stars on Capterra and G2)
Cons
- Not designed for complex CRM or heavy data analytics
- Free plan limits to 1 staff, 5 services, and 100 appointments per month
- No native API documentation; custom access must be requested
Best For
Service-based local businesses and solo professionals such as salons, fitness trainers, doctors, and educators who need a straightforward online booking system.