Calendly vs Acuity vs SavvyCal: Best Appointment Scheduling for Self-Employed Tradespeople
As a self-employed tradesperson, every minute counts. You can't be stuck playing phone tag for estimates when you could be on a job site, earning money. A good scheduling tool turns client inquiries into booked jobs, giving you all the details you need upfront. Calendly is easy for quick calls, Acuity handles deposits and job forms, and SavvyCal is for smooth coordination with partners. Let's find the best fit for your roofing, plumbing, or flooring business.
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Quick Answer
Use Calendly Free if you just need to book simple first calls for a roofing estimate or a quick plumbing consultation. It's good for getting initial contact without back-and-forth emails. Choose Acuity Scheduling if you need clients to book specific services like a boiler repair or a tile installation, pay a deposit, and fill out forms with job details like square footage or site access. Use SavvyCal if you often need to coordinate complex meetings with suppliers or other general contractors where showing both calendars helps find a time fast.
How They Compare
Calendly's free plan allows one type of meeting, like a '15-Minute Estimate Call' — enough for many starting out. The $10/month Standard plan adds unlimited meeting types (e.g., 'Roof Inspection,' 'Leak Diagnosis') and automated text reminders, which can cut down on no-shows for an on-site visit. Acuity Scheduling starts at $16/month and is built for service businesses. It lets you take credit card payments or deposits through Stripe or PayPal right when a client books a 'New Shower Install' or 'HVAC System Check.' It also handles intake forms to get job specifics (e.g., 'type of flooring,' 'age of furnace') and lets you sell service packages like a 'Seasonal HVAC Maintenance Plan.' SavvyCal costs $12/month. It's unique for showing both your calendar and the client's (or partner's) calendar side-by-side to find a mutual time easily. This is less for direct client bookings but could be handy for coordinating a complex job with multiple subcontractors or suppliers.
When to Choose Calendly
Calendly is the right choice when your main goal is to get potential clients on the phone for an initial chat about a project. Think '15-minute intro call for a kitchen remodel quote' or 'quick consultation for a leaky faucet.' Many people recognize Calendly links, so they're more likely to click and book without hesitation. Its free tier is solid for one basic meeting type. Upgrade to the $10/month Standard plan if you need different types of meetings, like a '30-minute on-site estimate' versus a '1-hour project review call,' or if you want automatic text reminders to cut down on missed appointments, which can cost you travel time and missed income.
When to Choose Acuity
Acuity Scheduling is your go-to if you need clients to book specific trade services, pay a deposit upfront, and give you job details before you even arrive. This is perfect for a self-employed plumber booking 'Drain Cleaning' or a roofer scheduling a 'Full Roof Replacement Consultation' that requires a deposit to secure the date. Acuity lets you embed forms directly into the booking process, so you can ask for things like 'project address,' 'type of existing flooring,' or 'description of electrical issue.' This saves you phone calls and helps you show up prepared with the right tools or materials. It handles payment collection seamlessly with Stripe or PayPal, which is key for securing work. You can also sell service packages, like a 'Yearly HVAC Tune-Up Package' or 'Regular Commercial Cleaning.' If you use Squarespace for your business website, Acuity connects easily.
When to Choose SavvyCal
SavvyCal is less about booking direct client jobs and more about making it super easy to schedule meetings with important partners, suppliers, or other contractors. For example, if you need to coordinate a meeting with a general contractor for a big project, or with a material supplier to discuss a large order, SavvyCal's overlay feature is excellent. It shows both your calendar and their calendar side-by-side, making it fast to find a time that works for everyone. This reduces back-and-forth emails and projects a professional image when you're dealing with high-value relationships, even if it’s for a simple plumbing supply order or a flooring material delivery.
The Verdict
For most self-employed tradespeople, start with Calendly Free for simple introductory calls or estimate bookings. It's free and gets the job done for basic scheduling. If you need to collect deposits for a job, get detailed client information through forms (e.g., job scope, access instructions), or sell service packages, switch to Acuity ($16/month). It's built for your kind of service business. SavvyCal ($12/month) is probably overkill for most direct client bookings, but consider it if you frequently schedule with other businesses, suppliers, or general contractors and want to make that process extremely smooth. All three offer free trials, so try them out to see what fits your daily workflow best.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Calendly
Free 1-event-type plan, Standard from $10/month
Acuity Scheduling
Service business scheduling with payments, from $16/month
SavvyCal
Overlay scheduling, best invitee experience, from $12/month
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Calendly free?
Yes. Calendly's free plan supports one event type and one calendar integration with unlimited bookings. It is sufficient for founders who need to schedule one type of meeting (e.g., a 30-minute discovery call).
Can Calendly collect payments?
Yes, Calendly supports Stripe and PayPal payment collection on the Standard plan and above. For more advanced payment features (packages, subscriptions, deposits), Acuity Scheduling is a better fit.
What is the best scheduling tool for a solo consultant?
Calendly Standard ($10/month) covers most solo consultant use cases: multiple meeting types, automated reminders, Zoom/Google Meet integration, and basic payment collection. If you sell session packages, upgrade to Acuity Scheduling.
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