Acuity vs. Calendly vs. Breely: Which Scheduling Tool is Right for You as a Web Designer or Service Provider?
As a Squarespace designer and educator, I talk to a lot of service-based business owners who need a simple way to book clients without a lot of tech headaches. And one of the most common questions I hear is: “Which scheduling tool should I use?”
So let’s take a closer look at three popular scheduling tools: Acuity, Calendly, and Breely, with examples to help you decide which is the best fit for YOUR business.
💡No matter which one you choose, keep in mind:
Your scheduling tool is only as robust as your setup. Be sure to connect it with your calendar so your availability is accurate.
If you want to accept payments, check which payment providers connect with your scheduling tool and set up a business account (typically PayPal, Square, and/or Stripe).
If you are holding video calls, decide if you want to do that over a tool like Google Meet (free with a Google account) or Zoom (a paid tool), and set up your account in that tool.
If you need HIPAA, you can use a tool with HIPAA features, but you have to make sure things are compliant on your end, too.
🔧 1. Acuity Scheduling (Built into Squarespace, but $$)
Price: Starts at $16/month when paid annually
Free Plan: None, 7 day free trial
Why people like it:
Acuity is powerful and flexible. It’s especially attractive to Squarespace users because it’s owned by Squarespace and is integrated directly into your site. Another plus is that you can allow customers to add tips. Acuity also offers easy upsells with checkout add-ons. If you have a Squarespace website and want everything under one roof, this is the way to go. It also has a handy mobile app.
Real-World Use Case:
Michelle, a web designer, uses Acuity to book 1:1 strategy calls, design intensives, and client check-ins. Her clients can pick a time, answer intake questions, and pay all in one place. She uses the built-in intake forms to prep before each call and connects Acuity to Zoom for automatic links. She doesn’t need a waitlist or e-signatures and is willing to pay a small premium to keep everything inside Squarespace.
Drawbacks:
The interface feels dated
It’s more expensive than other tools
HIPAA compliance is only available at the $61/month tier
No easy waitlist feature
No e-signature capability
The Bottom Line:
If you need a powerful scheduling tool and love that it’s built into Squarespace, Acuity works. But the cost can be hard to justify if you’re just starting out.
📆 2. Calendly (Clean + intuitive, but limited features)
Price: starts at $10/month for annual plans
Free Plan: limited to one event type and one calendar connection, can’t accept payments, no chat support
Why people like it:
Calendly is all about simplicity. It’s fast, clean, and easy to use. You’ll often see it used by consultants and coaches who want an easy way for clients to book calls and that’s all.
Real-World Use Case:
Sara, a business coach, uses Calendly to let potential clients schedule discovery calls. Her free version embeds on her Squarespace website and connects to Google Calendar and Zoom. When someone books, Calendly sends an automatic email with a Zoom link, and it’s on both calendars instantly.
Nice extras (with a paid plan):
Text reminders
Group events
Drawbacks:
No HIPAA compliance
No native e-signatures or waitlists
Lacks some flexibility for more complex bookings (like multi-step client onboarding)
The Bottom Line:
Great for simple bookings and a slick experience. But once you need contracts, forms, or waitlists, it’s not built for that.
✨ 3. Breely (The surprise MVP for service providers)
Price: Just $7/month
Free Plan: 10 clients per month and no payment processing (all other features are included!)
Why people love it:
Breely is the new kid on the block, and if you want advanced features without the high price tag, give it a try. For just $7/month, you get functionality you’d typically find in tools costing $50+.
Real-World Use Case:
Jasmine, a health coach, needed a HIPAA-compliant booking system to meet with clients. She switched to Breely because it included easy bookings for clients, signups for classes, text reminders, and integrated e-signatures, all for $7/month. She embedded Breely on her Squarespace site using a code block and was up and running in under an hour.
Standout Features:
Perfect for solo providers, wellness pros, designers, and educators
HIPAA compliance included
Built-in waitlists (for when you’re booked but people still want in!)
E-signature functionality
Free, regular office hours from the Breely team so you can get help when you need it
It’s newer, so the team is engaged with feature requests
Drawbacks:
The interface isn’t quite as sleek as Calendly's, but it’s improving
Doesn’t have direct Squarespace integration, but can be embedded manually
Not as well-known (yet!), so there’s less community content or tutorials (but see office hours above)
The Bottom Line: Breely offers enterprise-level features at small business pricing. If you're building a sustainable solo business and want a powerful, affordable scheduling tool, it’s hard to beat this one.
📊 Feature Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Acuity | Calendly | Breely |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $16/mo | $10/mo | $7/mo |
| Integration with Squarespace | Native | Manual Embed | Manual Embed |
| Take Payments | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| E-Signatures | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Waitlists | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
⚡️My Pick: Breely
While Acuity may be built into Squarespace and Calendly gets points for having a free tier, Breely is my go-to recommendation for most service providers, especially those just getting started or looking to cut unnecessary expenses.
You shouldn’t have to pay more than a fancy coffee a month just to book client calls and send agreements. Breely delivers big features at small-business prices.
Check out the video below for more, or head over to breely.com and start your 14-day free trial.
