GlossGenius vs. Acuity: Which is Best for Your Business?

In today’s fast-paced entrepreneurial age, you need software that keeps up with your business. Not one that holds you back. Join us as we compare GlossGenius and Acuity, looking at their features, pros, and cons to help you choose the best one for your business.

Acuity Scheduling - Key Features

• Flexible Online Booking: Clients can schedule appointments, fill out intake forms, and make payments in advance. Custom availability, buffer times, and group scheduling are available.

• Extensive Integrations: Works with Stripe, Square, PayPal, QuickBooks, Google Calendar, Zoom, and Mailchimp, among others. Requires Zapier for some integrations.

• Calendar Syncing: Connects with Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud to prevent double bookings.

• Multi-Staff Scheduling: Allows team scheduling with different availability and commission tracking. No built-in payroll, but integrates with payroll software.

• Client Reminders: Automated email and SMS reminders available, but SMS requires a higher-tier plan.

• Reporting & Analytics: Basic appointment and revenue tracking; advanced reports need third-party tools.

• No Built-in Inventory or Loyalty Program: Businesses must integrate with external software for these features.

• POS & Payment Processing: Supports Stripe, Square, and PayPal but does not include built-in POS hardware.

• Website Builder: Best used with Squarespace; requires a separate subscription for a full site.

• Social Media Bookings: Allows businesses to share booking links on Instagram and Facebook, but lacks deep integrations.

Acuity Scheduling is best for businesses that need robust integrations, custom booking flows, and multi-staff management but don’t mind using third-party tools for additional features.

GlossGenius - Key Features

• All-in-One Online Booking System: Provides a user-friendly, branded booking site with automatic appointment confirmations.

• Built-in POS & Payment Processing: Includes card readers, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pay without needing third-party processors.

• Smart Calendar Management: An integrated calendar syncs appointments with built-in availability settings.

• Automated Client Reminders: Unlimited SMS and email reminders are included at no extra cost.

• Comprehensive Reporting: Tracks revenue, appointment trends, client retention, and inventory in-app.

• Built-in CRM & Marketing Tools: Stores client history, payment details, and past purchases. Features include automated marketing campaigns and birthday discounts.

• Inventory Management: Tracks product stock, sends low-stock alerts, and generates sales reports.

• Loyalty Program: Businesses can offer automated rewards and discounts based on client visits.

• Website Builder Included: Every user gets a free, customizable booking website with no extra setup.

• Direct Social Media Integration: Allows Instagram and Facebook bookings directly within the platform.

GlossGenius is best for beauty and wellness businesses that want a sleek, all-in-one platform with built-in CRM, payment processing, and marketing tools, without needing third-party integrations.

Final Thoughts

Acuity Scheduling and GlossGenius both help with appointments, but they suit different needs. Acuity is great for businesses that use many other tools to customize their work.

GlossGenius offers an all-in-one system with built-in payments, client management, inventory, and marketing. It's great for beauty and wellness pros who want a simple experience without extra add-ons. Choose GlossGenius for a fully integrated setup or Acuity for more customization.