Alternatives
Acuity is a capable appointment scheduler aimed at service providers. BookWave covers the same booking ground and adds a store, POS, and website builder — with a free plan so you can launch before you pay.
BookWave has a permanently free plan — an online booking page, up to 30 bookings a month, 3 services, and email confirmations, with no credit card required. You can have a live booking link today and only upgrade when volume justifies it.
Salons sell retail, garages sell parts, studios sell class packs. BookWave includes a real store with variants and inventory, plus POS for counter sales, sharing one stock list with your online shop.
Rather than embedding a scheduler into a site you build elsewhere, BookWave gives you a drag-and-drop website with the booking section built in, publishable to your own domain.
| Capability | Acuity Scheduling | BookWave |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Trial-based; paid from the start of regular use | Permanently free plan, no credit card required |
| Online store | Focused on appointments, packages, and gift certificates | Full product catalogue with variants, stock, and orders |
| Point of sale | Not a POS product | Built-in POS sharing inventory with the online store |
| Website builder | Scheduling embeds into an external site | Native drag-and-drop website builder with custom domain |
| Stay bookings | Appointment-oriented | Multi-night check-in/check-out bookings for hotels and rentals |
Comparison reflects how each product is architecturally positioned and is kept to durable, structural differences rather than pricing or plan limits, which change frequently. Acuity Scheduling is a trademark of its respective owner; check their site for current details.
Yes. BookWave offers a permanently free plan covering an online booking page, 3 services, 30 bookings a month, and automatic email confirmations, with no credit card required.
Yes. Custom booking form fields let you collect health details, project briefs, vehicle details, or anything else you need before an appointment.
Free to start, no credit card required. Set up your booking page and store in minutes.
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