Acuity Scheduling Features and Pricing in 2026: The Complete Buyer's Guide

Choosing a scheduling platform means weighing what you actually get against what you actually pay. Acuity Scheduling has been a popular option for years, but in 2026 the pricing tiers can be confusing, and the feature gaps catch people off guard.

This guide maps every significant Acuity feature to its pricing tier so you know exactly what you're buying before you commit.

Acuity Scheduling Pricing: Three Plans, No Free Tier

Acuity (now owned by Squarespace) offers three plans. Annual billing saves roughly 20%. There is no free plan, only a 7-day trial.

If you want the deeper cost analysis (including what you'll spend on Zoom, Stripe fees, and AI tools on top), our Acuity pricing breakdown covers the real numbers.

Now let's see what features you're actually getting at each price point.

Starter Plan Features ($20/mo): The Basics

The Starter plan handles scheduling fundamentals for a single practitioner. Here's what's included:

• Client self-scheduling with a branded booking page
• Real-time availability that syncs with your calendar
• Two-way calendar sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud
• Automatic timezone detection for international clients
• Email confirmations and reminders (customizable timing and content)
• Payment collection through Stripe, Square, or PayPal
• Deposits and prepayments at the time of booking
• Custom intake forms to gather client info before sessions
• Appointment buffers to prevent back-to-back scheduling
• Embeddable booking widget for your website
• Unlimited appointment types with unique durations and pricing

This covers the basics well. If you're a solo practitioner who only needs scheduling and payment collection, and you don't need SMS reminders or packages, the Starter plan works.

What Starter is missing: SMS/text reminders, group scheduling, packages/subscriptions, gift certificates, membership sales, and the ability to remove Acuity branding from your booking page.

Standard Plan Features ($34/mo): Where Most People Land

Standard adds the features that most coaches and consultants actually need. Honestly, several of these should be in the Starter plan, but here we are.

Everything in Starter, plus:

• SMS/text reminders to reduce no-shows (this is huge, email-only reminders get ignored)
• Packages and subscriptions so clients can buy bundles of sessions
• Group scheduling for classes, workshops, and multi-person events
• Gift certificates that clients can purchase and redeem
• Membership sales for recurring access
• Remove Acuity branding from your booking page
• Up to 6 staff calendars for small teams

This is the plan most solo coaches and consultants should get. SMS reminders alone cut no-shows dramatically, and session packages let you sell in bulk (which means predictable income). The jump from $20 to $34 is steep for what amounts to features that should be standard, but the no-show reduction typically pays for itself.

For a guide on building packages that sell, check our coaching session pricing guide.

Premium Plan Features ($61/mo): For Teams and Compliance

Premium is built for larger operations. If you're a solo creator or coach, you probably don't need this.

Everything in Standard, plus:

• Up to 36 staff calendars for larger teams
• HIPAA compliance (critical for therapists and healthcare providers)
• Multiple time zone support with advanced scheduling rules
• Custom API access for building your own integrations
• White-label booking experience with full brand control
• Advanced workflow automation beyond standard reminders
• Priority email support (still no phone or live chat, though)

The Premium plan makes sense in two scenarios: you're a healthcare provider who needs HIPAA compliance, or you're running a practice with more than 6 staff members. For everyone else, Standard covers what you need.

The Feature Gap: What Acuity Doesn't Include at Any Price

Here's where things get tricky. No matter which Acuity plan you choose, these features are missing entirely:

No built-in video conferencing. Acuity integrates with Zoom, Google Meet, and GoToMeeting, but you need your own account with those services. Zoom Pro runs $13/month. Google Meet requires a Google Workspace subscription. These costs stack on top of your Acuity plan.

No session recording. If you want to record sessions for client review, your own reference, or to repurpose as content, you need Zoom's recording feature (Pro plan required) or a separate tool like Riverside.

No AI session summaries. Tools like Otter.ai ($17/mo) or Fireflies.ai generate automated meeting notes, key takeaways, and action items. Acuity doesn't touch this, so you're adding another subscription.

No digital product sales. You can't sell downloadable resources, course recordings, or templates through Acuity. You'd need Gumroad, Stan Store, or a similar platform.

No built-in landing page or profile. Acuity gives you a booking page, not a full professional profile. If you want to showcase testimonials, a bio, services, and social proof alongside your booking, you need a separate website.

When you add these tools together, the real cost of running paid video sessions through Acuity climbs to $95-$169/month. Our full cost breakdown details the math.

Acuity Features Compared: What $34/mo Gets You Elsewhere

To put Acuity's feature-to-price ratio in context, here's how other platforms compare at a similar (or lower) price point:

Acuity wins on intake form complexity and Squarespace integration. But if you're a creator or coach who runs paid video sessions, you're paying for scheduling and then paying again for everything else.

Our best booking platforms for coaches guide breaks down which tool fits which use case.

Who Gets the Most Value from Acuity's Features?

Not every platform works for every business. Here's an honest look at who should (and shouldn't) pick Acuity.

Acuity is a strong choice if you:

• Run an established service business (salon, fitness studio, medical practice) with steady revenue
• Need HIPAA-compliant scheduling for healthcare
• Already have Zoom, a website, and your payment stack sorted
• Use Squarespace and want native integration
• Have a team of 2-36 people who each need their own calendar

Acuity is probably not the best fit if you:

• Want video, scheduling, and payments in one tool
• Are a solo creator or coach just getting started
• Don't want to pay $34+/month before you've earned anything
• Want to record sessions and build a library of digital products
• Need AI-powered session notes and action items

For creators and coaches who want the full stack without assembling it piece by piece, Talkspresso handles video, scheduling, payments, recording, AI summaries, and digital product sales in one platform. No monthly fee. You pay 10% only when you earn from paid sessions.

Try Talkspresso free. Keep 90% of every paid session.

How to Decide: A Simple Framework

Still not sure? Answer these three questions:

1. Do you run paid video sessions? If yes, Acuity alone won't cover it. You'll need Zoom ($13/mo), possibly AI notes ($17/mo), and a way to sell recordings. The total cost lands at $95+/mo. Talkspresso includes all of this for $0/mo upfront.

2. Is your monthly session revenue above $400? If you're consistently earning $400+/month, Acuity's flat subscription becomes more cost-effective than a percentage-based model. Below that threshold, the percentage model saves you money during slow months.

3. Do you already have your tool stack built? If you've got Zoom, Stripe, a website, and you're happy with the setup, Acuity slots in as a solid scheduling layer. If you're building from scratch, an all-in-one platform saves time and money.

The best approach: test both. Acuity offers a 7-day free trial. Talkspresso is free with no trial expiration and no credit card required. Set up profiles on each, run a few test bookings, and see which workflow feels right.