Calendly vs Acuity vs SavvyCal: Top Scheduling Software for Handyman & Home Service Pros
As a handyman, general contractor, remodeler, painter, HVAC tech, or electrician, you spend too much time on the phone. A good scheduling tool lets clients book estimates, service calls, or consultations online, saving you hours. We break down Calendly, Acuity, and SavvyCal to help you pick the right one for collecting payments, handling different job types, and managing your bookings.
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The Quick Answer
If you're a handyman or home service pro just starting out, picking the right scheduling tool is key.
* **Calendly:** Best for simple estimate bookings or quick client calls. Easy to set up if you just need a link for your website or email. * **Acuity Scheduling:** Ideal if you need to take deposits for materials, offer different service packages (e.g., 2-hour repair vs. full-day project), use client intake forms to gather job details (e.g., "What's the plumbing issue?"), and keep client notes. * **SavvyCal:** Good if you often schedule follow-up meetings with clients or suppliers and want a smoother, less formal booking experience than a basic link.
Side-by-Side Breakdown
Let's look at the basic facts for each tool.
* **Calendly:** Has a free plan for one type of booking (e.g., "30-min Estimate"). Paid plans are $10-16 per user per month. It's simple and connects well with many other tools, but basic. Good for general contractors who mostly just need to book initial consultation calls. * **Acuity Scheduling:** Costs $16-61 per month, depending on features. This tool is built for service businesses. It handles collecting payments or deposits for jobs, selling packages (like a "Half-Day Handyman Block" for $X), intake forms to get details on what needs fixing (e.g., "Describe the broken pipe"), and managing all your client notes in one place. * **SavvyCal:** Runs $12-20 per month. It aims to make scheduling feel more natural. It shows your available times right on top of another person's calendar (if they share it), so it's less like filling out a form. Useful for remodelers scheduling follow-up calls with architects or designers.
When to Choose Calendly
Choose Calendly if:
* You are a solo handyman or independent electrician who mostly needs to book simple 15-minute estimate appointments. * You need a clean link for your website or business card so potential clients can easily pick a time. * The free plan is usually enough if you only offer one type of booking, like a "Free On-Site Quote." * You don't need to take payments or detailed job information upfront. * You have a small team (e.g., two painters) and want to route new client calls to whoever is free.
When to Choose Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is a better fit if:
* You run a busy general contracting business, HVAC company, or plumbing service that needs to collect a deposit before an on-site visit or job. * You offer different service packages, such as a "Basic Electrical Check-up" for X price, or a "Full Home Remodel Consultation" for Y price. * You need detailed intake forms to ask specific questions before a visit (e.g., "What type of faucet needs repair?", "What is the square footage of the room to be painted?"). * You want clients to be able to reschedule or cancel appointments easily without calling you. * You plan to grow and need a system to manage client details, past jobs, and send automated reminders about upcoming appointments.
When to Choose SavvyCal
SavvyCal is a good option if:
* You, as a remodeler or general contractor, frequently schedule follow-up meetings with architects, suppliers, or sub-contractors. * You want a smoother way to book calls that feels less like a cold form and more like finding a mutual open slot. * You often send your scheduling link to other professionals and want to make it super easy for them to pick a time that works for both of you, especially if they also use SavvyCal or share their calendar. * You're looking for a cleaner, more modern look for your scheduling page compared to Calendly's basic design.
The Verdict
Here's the bottom line for home service pros:
* **Calendly:** Best for simple estimate bookings and quick client calls if you're just starting out or need a very basic free option. * **Acuity Scheduling:** Your best bet if you need to take payments or deposits, manage many types of services, and get detailed job info from clients. * **SavvyCal:** Good for general contractors or remodelers who frequently schedule meetings with other pros and want a more polished, less formal booking experience. * **Recommendation:** Start with Calendly's free plan for basic estimates. If you find yourself needing to collect payments, offer different service types, or get detailed job descriptions upfront, switch to Acuity.
How to Get Started
Getting started is straightforward for each.
* **Calendly:** Go to calendly.com and sign up for free. Link it to your Google or Outlook calendar. Make your first event type, like "30-Minute Free Estimate," and put the link on your website or in your email signature. * **Acuity:** Visit acuityscheduling.com and start a free trial. Set up your handyman services or remodeling consultations and your available hours. Connect a payment system like Stripe to take deposits. Then, share your booking page link with clients. * **SavvyCal:** Head to savvycal.com and sign up. Connect your work calendar. Create a custom scheduling link and add it to your email footer or share it directly when arranging meetings with partners.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can Calendly accept payments?
Yes, on the Professional plan ($16/month). Calendly integrates with Stripe and PayPal to collect payment at booking. For full service business appointment management including packages, Acuity is more capable.
Does Acuity work for group classes?
Yes. Acuity supports group classes with capacity limits, waitlists, and package purchases. This makes it popular among fitness instructors, yoga studios, and workshop facilitators.
What is the Calendly free plan limit?
Calendly Free allows one active event type — for example, a 30-minute call. If you need multiple event types (15-minute intro, 60-minute deep dive, group session), you need the Standard plan at $10/month.