Acuity is now Squarespace Scheduling. If you're exploring options — or need better messaging features — here's what's out there.
Squarespace bought Acuity in 2019. For years, not much changed. It still worked the same way.
But recently, the branding shifted. It's now "Squarespace Scheduling" in many places. The product is largely the same, but the direction is clearer: Acuity is becoming part of the Squarespace ecosystem.
If you're already on Squarespace for your website, that's convenient. If you're not, you might be wondering if there's something better suited to how you actually work.
Let's be fair. Acuity earned its reputation for good reasons:
Customizable booking forms
Need clients to fill out intake forms before their appointment? Acuity handles this beautifully. Custom fields, conditional logic, file uploads. It's genuinely good.
Reliable and stable
It's been around since 2006. It works. It doesn't break. For a lot of businesses, that matters more than fancy features.
Solid integrations
Zoom, Stripe, PayPal, Google Calendar, Zapier — the basics are covered. If you need to connect booking to other tools, Acuity usually has a way.
Good for complex scheduling
Multiple appointment types, buffer times, different durations per service, class bookings. Acuity handles complexity well.
No messaging integration
Client texts you on WhatsApp: "Hey, can I reschedule my Thursday appointment?"
Acuity doesn't see that message. You do — on your phone, at 9 PM. You manually check your calendar, find a new slot, type it out, wait for confirmation. The "scheduling software" isn't involved.
No Instagram or Facebook inbox
Same story. Client DMs you on Instagram asking about availability. You're copying and pasting your schedule into a DM. Acuity can't help.
Generic, not industry-specific
Acuity works for therapists, consultants, salons, tutors, photographers — anyone. That's a strength, but also a weakness. It's not optimized for any specific workflow.
Interface feels dated
It works, but it hasn't had a major design refresh in years. Compared to newer tools, it feels like software from a previous era.
Squarespace lock-in
As Acuity becomes more integrated with Squarespace, you might find yourself nudged toward using Squarespace for your website too. Not a problem if you want that. A friction point if you don't.
| Platform | Starting Price | Booking | AI Chat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acuity (Squarespace) | $20/mo | Yes | No | No | No |
| Calendly | $12/mo | Yes | No | No | No |
| Square Appointments | Free-$69/mo | Yes | No | No | No |
| Setmore | Free-$12/mo | Yes | No | No | No |
| Replypop | $29/mo | Yes | Full inbox | Yes | Yes |
What it is: The meeting scheduler everyone knows. Originally for sales/business meetings, now used more broadly.
Pricing: Free (basic), $12-20/mo for more features.
What's genuinely good:
The limitations:
Best for: Consultants, coaches, and B2B services with simple scheduling needs.
What it is: Booking that connects directly to Square payments.
Pricing: Free for individuals, $29-69/mo for teams.
What's genuinely good:
The limitations:
Best for: Solo providers already in the Square ecosystem.
What it is: Free-tier focused scheduling with team features.
Pricing: Free (1-4 users), $12/user/mo for premium.
What's genuinely good:
The limitations:
Best for: Budget-conscious small teams who just need basic booking.
Here's the pattern: Every tool above handles booking. None of them handle conversations.
Think about how clients actually reach you:
With Acuity, Calendly, or Setmore — you're answering these manually. You're the chatbot. You're the automation. You're the one copying your availability into a text message.
The scheduling software just... waits for someone to click a link.
Full disclosure: this is our platform. Here's the honest picture.
What we built for: Service businesses where clients prefer to message rather than click booking links. Salons, spas, clinics, studios — places where the conversation IS the booking process.
How it actually works:
No "click my booking link." No app downloads. The booking happens in the chat.
What Replypop does well:
What we don't do:
Pricing: $29/mo flat. No per-staff fees.
| Feature | Acuity | Replypop |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $20-68/mo | $29/mo flat |
| Custom intake forms | Excellent | Basic |
| Booking page | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp inbox | No | Yes |
| Instagram DMs | No | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger | No | Yes |
| AI responses | No | Yes |
| Client CRM | Basic | Full conversation history |
| Squarespace integration | Native | No |
| Best for | Form-heavy bookings | Messaging-heavy businesses |
Stick with Acuity if:
Consider Replypop if:
Here's the real question: How complicated does your booking need to be?
Acuity is powerful. It can do intake forms, conditional logic, multiple calendars, custom fields, packages, memberships. It's built for complexity.
But most service businesses don't need that complexity. They need:
That's it.
Replypop does those things simply. No 47-field intake forms. No conditional logic wizards. Just: client messages, AI responds, booking happens, reminder sent.
Sometimes the best software isn't the one with the most features. It's the one that does what you actually need — without the overhead.
Can I import my clients from Acuity?
Yes. Export your client list from Acuity as CSV, then import into Replypop. We can help with migration if needed.
What about custom intake forms?
Replypop keeps things simple — basic client info and booking details. If you need 47-field conditional intake forms, Acuity is better for that.
Does Replypop integrate with Squarespace?
Replypop works independently of your website. You can link to your Replypop storefront from any website, including Squarespace.
Is there a contract?
No. Month-to-month pricing. Cancel anytime from your dashboard.
The best way to decide: actually use them.
Acuity has a 7-day trial. Replypop has a free trial.
Set up both. Book a test appointment on each. See which one feels like your business.
No sales calls. Just try it.
Coming from Acuity? We can help you migrate your client list. Just message us.
Questions or feedback? Reach out anytime
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