Scheduling software for independent therapists, salons & tutors
Last checked against vendor pricing: September 2026
Who this guide is for
This guide is for solo and small-team businesses that book appointments — independent therapists, salons and barbershops, tutors, and similar one-person or few-staff service businesses. It compares published pricing recorded directly from each vendor's own pricing page, and the calculator below estimates a realistic monthly cost for your specific staff count and booking volume across four tools commonly used by businesses this size.
Price comparison
Monthly billing, no annual discount applied. Annual billing typically saves 15–20% on each of these. Confirm current numbers on the vendor's own pricing page before deciding, since software pricing changes often.
| Tool | Starting price / mo | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acuity Scheduling | $20 (1 calendar) | 7-day trial only | Solo practitioners needing packages, memberships & intake forms |
| Square Appointments | $0, then $49/location | Yes — 1 staff, 1 location | Businesses already taking payments through Square |
| Calendly | $0, then $12/seat | Yes — 1 user, 1 event type | Simple 1-on-1 booking, tutors & consultations |
| SimplyBook.me | $0, then $13.90/mo | Yes — 50 bookings/mo, 1 provider | Multi-staff salons wanting deep feature customization |
Sources: each vendor's official pricing page, cross-checked against third-party pricing trackers, September 2026. Square and SimplyBook.me numbers vary by billing cycle and region — treat the figures above as a starting point, not a quote.
Estimate your real monthly cost
Estimates use each vendor's published monthly-billing tiers as of September 2026 and the plan each tool actually requires for your inputs — not a flat per-seat guess. Square Appointments and SimplyBook.me prices assume a single location. Actual cost can differ based on features you turn on (SMS reminders, payment processing, add-ons) and region.
How pricing was checked
Each price above was recorded from the vendor's own pricing page rather than a third-party estimate, and this guide is rechecked on a regular schedule since providers change plans and tiers often. See the full process on the how we compare page.