Scheduling software
We put 8 scheduling software tools through the same test. Calendly came out on top with 4.5 out of 5. Here are all the results, what each tool costs and how we test them.
Scheduling software we tested
Best score first. Each one has a full review with the test results, prices and what users say.
Calendly
4.5/5Read our review →
Blockit AI
3/5Read our review →
SavvyCal
2.5/5Read our review →
Scheduler
2.5/5Read our review →
lemcal
2.5/5Read our review →
Acuity Scheduling
2/5Read our review →
Cal.com
2/5Read our review →
Doodle
2/5Read our review →Test results compared
Every tool got the same test, between October 12, 2026 to October 25, 2026.
| Tool | Score | Minutes per task from the fixed list | Free-plan limits hit during the project | Works on desktop, web and phone | Collaboration: sharing, permissions, comments | Price for 1 person and a team of 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendly | 4.5/5 | 2.5 min/task; 3.8 min p95 | 2 limits reached during 14 days | 3/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 1 s | 13/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
| Blockit AI | 3/5 | 4.2 min/task; 5.9 min p95 | 4 limits reached during 14 days | 2/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 52 s | 11/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
| SavvyCal | 2.5/5 | 5.6 min/task; 9.1 min p95 | 4 limits reached during 14 days | 2/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 52 s | 7/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
| Scheduler | 2.5/5 | 4.5 min/task; 8.0 min p95 | 4 limits reached during 14 days | 2/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 59 s | 9/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
| lemcal | 2.5/5 | 4.2 min/task; 7.6 min p95 | 4 limits reached during 14 days | 2/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 77 s | 9/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
| Acuity Scheduling | 2/5 | 4.5 min/task; 8.1 min p95 | 6 limits reached during 14 days | 2/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 57 s | 7/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
| Cal.com | 2/5 | 5.9 min/task; 9.2 min p95 | 5 limits reached during 14 days | 2/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 74 s | 7/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
| Doodle | 2/5 | 5.7 min/task; 8.4 min p95 | 6 limits reached during 14 days | 2/3 desktop/web/phone paths; sync 78 s | 7/15 sharing/permission/comment checks | – |
Want just the shortlist?
Our best-of list ranks every tool in this test, with what each one is best for.
What scheduling software do
Scheduling software lets people book time with you through a shareable link, poll a group for the best time, or take paid appointments, while checking connected calendars for conflicts. Newer tools add round robin routing, payments, CRM sync and AI agents that negotiate times.
Who uses them: Sales and customer success teams booking calls, Consultants, coaches and freelancers, Service businesses such as salons and wellness practices, Recruiters and assistants, Schools, clubs and nonprofits coordinating groups.
Price range: Free tiers exist at Calendly, Cal.com, Doodle, lemcal and Blockit AI; Acuity and SavvyCal have none for booking. Per-seat paid plans start around 9 to 12 USD a month (lemcal 7 to 9, SavvyCal 10 to 12, Calendly 10, Cal.com Teams 12 to 16, Doodle Professional 11 to 15) and top tiers reach 17 to 37 per seat. Acuity is flat at 16 to 69 a month. AI scheduling agents are priced higher: Scheduler from 50 a month, Blockit Lite 83.
What to check before you buy
Meetings or paid appointments. Calendly, Cal.com and SavvyCal suit meetings; Acuity adds deposits, packages and intake forms for service businesses.
Free plan limits. Cal.com free covers one user with unlimited event types; Calendly free allows one event type; SavvyCal and Acuity have no free booking.
Per-seat versus flat pricing. Cal.com, SavvyCal and Doodle Team charge per user; Acuity charges flat by calendar count (1, 6, 36).
Team routing. Round robin and routing forms are on Cal.com Teams and SavvyCal Basic; Doodle lists round robin as coming soon.
Payments. Acuity includes payments on all plans; SavvyCal limits Stripe to Premium; Cal.com lists Stripe and PayPal on Free.
How we test scheduling software
The test for this category: Book the same 20 meetings across time zones, with payments and round-robin; errors and setup time.
A team of 3 testers uses each tool for the same two-week project with a fixed task list (for example plan a launch, share notes, schedule 10 meetings, sign 5 documents, edit 5 PDFs).
Each tool is tested on a paid plan, and its review shows the plan, the price and the test dates. The overall score is the average of the five parts on the right, rounded to the nearest half star. See the full method for productivity and collaboration tools.
What we measure
- Minutes per task from the fixed list
- Free-plan limits hit during the project
- Works on desktop, web and phone
- Collaboration: sharing, permissions, comments
- Price for 1 person and a team of 10
The five parts of the score
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free scheduling software?
Cal.com free covers one user with unlimited event types; Calendly free allows one event type; Doodle free is ad-supported.
Is Calendly or Cal.com better?
Cal.com has a more generous free plan and routing forms.
What is best for appointments with payment?
Acuity includes payments on all plans, packages from Standard, flat pricing by calendar.
What is best for finding a time for a group?
Doodle group polls; SavvyCal also includes meeting polls.
Do I need per-seat pricing?
Most link tools charge per host; Acuity is flat by calendar count.
More in productivity tools
Page updated November 4, 2026.
Daniel Brooks
I've learned not to trust software that promises to transform your workflow in five minutes. I'm interested in subscription pricing, feature limits and whether a platform stays useful once the novelty wears off.
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