Acuity Scheduling has long been the quiet overachiever in the appointment software world. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t shout about being “all-in-one,” and it isn’t trying to run your entire business for you, and that’s exactly the point. For beauty professionals who value clean workflows, client self-booking that actually works, and a system that stays out of the way once it’s set up, Acuity has earned a loyal following.
This review takes a clear-eyed look at where Acuity shines, where it shows its limits, and who it truly makes sense for in today’s beauty business landscape.
Key Features to Consider
Before getting into the specifics, it’s worth understanding what Acuity is built to do—and just as importantly, what it isn’t. Rather than piling on tools for every possible business scenario, Acuity focuses on getting the fundamentals right: booking, availability, payments, and client communication.
The features below are the ones that shape the day-to-day experience for beauty professionals and ultimately determine whether Acuity feels like a streamlined solution or a limiting one.
Cost
Acuity Scheduling keeps pricing straightforward with tiered monthly plans designed to scale with your business. The tiered pricing is as follows:
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Starter: $16/mo.
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Standard: $27/mo.
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Premium: $49/mo
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Enterprise: Custom pricing available.
As you might suspect, the more expensive the tier you sign up for, the more features and capabilities become available to you.
Thankfully, Acuity Scheduling doesn't require any contracts or long-term commitments, so you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel as your needs change. While Acuity Scheduling doesn’t offer a free forever plan, like Square Appointments, its predictable pricing and flexibility make it a solid option for service-based businesses that want professional scheduling without unnecessary complexity.
Customization
Acuity Scheduling offers practical customization that focuses on the booking experience rather than surface-level flair. You can tailor your intake forms, appointment types, availability rules, and automated messages to match how your business actually operates, not force your workflow into a rigid system.
Branding options let you adjust colors, logos, and client-facing text, while higher-tier plans open the door to deeper tweaks like custom CSS and API access.
Features
Acuity Scheduling focuses on doing the essentials exceptionally well. Even on its lower-tier plans, you get unlimited appointments, client self-booking, automated confirmations and reminders, payment processing, and flexible availability rules.
More advanced features like SMS reminders, packages and memberships, gift certificates, and multiple staff calendars are unlocked as you move up tiers, rather than added à la carte. That means fewer surprise add-ons, but potentially paying for things you don't quite need or use.
Integrations
Acuity Scheduling bring when it comes to calendar, workflow, and marketing integrations. It syncs seamlessly with Google Calendar, iCloud, Outlook, and other major calendars, automatically blocking availability and preventing double bookings without manual oversight.
Beyond the basics, Acuity plays well with other tools many service businesses already use, including Stripe, Square, PayPal, Zoom, QuickBooks Online, and email marketing platforms like Mailchimp. While it doesn’t offer the sprawling marketplace of some all-in-one systems, its integrations are intentional, reliable, and geared toward keeping scheduling, payments, and client communication tightly connected.
Online Booking
Acuity Scheduling offers a streamlined online booking experience that prioritizes ease for both clients and service providers. Clients can book, reschedule, or cancel on their own, while customizable availability rules, buffers, and booking limits help you protect your time and reduce unnecessary back-and-forth.
The system runs quietly in the background, automatically updating your schedule and keeping everything organized without constant oversight.
Calendar
Acuity’s calendar is clean, intuitive, and built to prevent scheduling headaches. Real-time syncing with Google Calendar, iCloud, and Outlook ensures availability stays accurate and double bookings don’t slip through.
You can manage appointment types, working hours, and multiple calendars in one place, making it easy to balance client bookings with personal time. A popular, standout feature among businesses of any size is Acuity's ability to minimize gaps beteween appointments, limiting downtime throughout the day.
CRM
Acuity keeps client management simple and functional. Each client profile stores contact details, appointment history, intake forms, and internal notes, giving you the context you need before each visit.
While it doesn’t aim to be a full-scale CRM, it covers the essentials well enough for service-based businesses that want organization without overcomplication.
Reminders
Acuity Scheduling’s reminder system is built to cut down on no-shows without creating extra admin work. Automated email reminders are included across plans, with SMS reminders available on higher tiers, keeping clients informed and accountable ahead of their appointments.
You can customize both the timing and messaging to fit your workflow, but the templates lean more functional than flashy. The focus is reliability over decoration, and for most service businesses, that's typically worth it.
Reporting
Acuity keeps reporting clean, focused, and easy to digest, but it may feel limited to those looking to get more granular with their data. You can track appointments, revenue, and client activity without digging through overly complex dashboards.
While it doesn’t offer the deep, payroll-style analytics of larger all-in-one platforms, Acuity’s reports cover the essentials well and can be exported for deeper analysis if needed. It’s a practical setup for businesses that want visibility into performance without managing a full analytics suite.
Inventory
Acuity Scheduling doesn’t include built-in inventory management by design. The platform stays focused on scheduling, payments, and client flow rather than trying to be an all-in-one retail system.
For businesses that sell products alongside services, inventory tracking typically lives in an external POS or accounting tool, which Acuity can then integrate with.
Loyalty Program
Acuity Scheduling doesn’t offer a native loyalty or rewards program within the platform. Instead, it keeps its focus on scheduling and client communication, leaving loyalty programs to dedicated marketing or POS tools.
If rewarding repeat clients is a priority, many businesses pair Acuity with third-party referral or CRM platforms, like ReferralCandy, to run loyalty campaigns externally.
Website Builder
Acuity Scheduling doesn’t include a full website builder, but it doesn’t leave you stranded either. You can embed Acuity’s booking tools directly into an existing website or use a hosted scheduling page if you don’t have one yet.
This approach works especially well for businesses already using platforms like Squarespace or WordPress, where Acuity integrates cleanly and keeps booking front and center. Rather than replacing a website builder, Acuity acts as a flexible scheduling layer that fits neatly into whatever site you’re already running.
POS/Payment Processing
Acuity Scheduling includes integrated payment processing through Stripe, Square, and PayPal, making it easy to take deposits, full payments, and even recurring charges directly through the booking system. Everything ties seamlessly to appointments, reducing manual reconciliation.
While Acuity doesn’t offer a proprietary POS or hardware, its payment integrations are reliable, competitive, and used by thousands of businesses worldwide.
Marketing
Acuity Scheduling keeps marketing focused on client communication rather than broad promotional campaigns. Built-in tools include automated appointment reminders, follow-ups, and thank-you emails that help nurture client relationships and encourage repeat bookings.
For more advanced marketing—like email newsletters, promotions, or loyalty campaigns, Acuity integrates with platforms such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or third-party CRMs. This lets you run targeted campaigns and track results while keeping the scheduling system clean and distraction-free.
Now that we’ve covered the core functionality and how it supports your business operations, let’s hear from other beauty pros and see how Acuity Scheduling performs in real-world salons and spas.
What Other Beauty Pros Are Saying About Acuity Scheduling
Many pros highlight Acuity’s reliability and clean interface, noting that it keeps their schedules organized and their clients engaged. While it doesn’t offer the full suite of tools that some all-in-one platforms provide, most users find that its focus on core functionality, combined with integrations for payments and marketing, makes it an indispensable part of running and growing a modern beauty business.
The Final Verdict: Vagaro Pros and Cons
Acuity Scheduling delivers a focused, reliable platform that helps beauty professionals streamline appointments, client communication, and payments, but it does have some limitations, like no built-in inventory management or rewards programs features.
Overall, Acuity is a practical, user-friendly solution for solo providers and small teams who want efficient scheduling and client management without unnecessary complexity. While it doesn’t include every tool found in full all-in-one systems, its ease of use, affordability, dependable performance, and strong integrations make it a smart choice for beauty businesses looking to save time and stay organized.
If you found this review helpful, follow along with the Beauty Playbook for more honest breakdowns, smarter tools, and insights built for beauty pros.