Best Alternatives to Acuity Scheduling in the UK (2026)
Why Look Beyond Acuity Scheduling?
Acuity Scheduling is a solid online booking tool starting at around £16 per month, but it isn't the right fit for every UK small business. Some owners find it lacks industry-specific features, while others need deeper integrations with UK payment providers like Zettle or SumUp, or stronger accounting links to Xero, FreeAgent, or Sage.
Whether you run a beauty salon, a trades business, a fitness studio, or a restaurant, there's a booking solution better matched to your needs. This guide covers the strongest alternatives available in the UK in 2026.
Best Alternatives at a Glance
Fresha — Best Free Option for Beauty and Wellness
Fresha offers a genuinely generous free tier that includes online booking, a built-in CRM, and integrated payment processing — making it one of the most compelling no-cost alternatives to Acuity for salons, spas, and therapists. It's intuitive to set up and widely used across the UK beauty and wellness industry.
- Free core plan with no monthly subscription
- Integrated card payments with transparent UK processing fees
- Automated appointment reminders to reduce no-shows
- GDPR-compliant client data management
Square — Best for Businesses That Also Take In-Person Payments
Square POS combines a free scheduling and booking tier with one of the UK's most trusted point-of-sale systems. If you take payments both online and in person — think mobile therapists or market traders — Square's unified dashboard makes reconciliation straightforward, and its transparent UK fees mean no surprises.
- Free plan available with core booking features
- Integrated payments with clear, transparent UK fees
- Works seamlessly alongside Square's POS hardware
- Quick and easy to set up for small teams
Treatwell Connect — Best for Salons Wanting Marketplace Visibility
Treatwell Connect at £25 per month goes beyond basic scheduling by listing your business on the Treatwell marketplace, giving you exposure to new clients already searching for beauty and wellness services across the UK. Automated reminders and 24/7 online booking reduce admin and missed appointments considerably.
- All-in-one booking and client management platform
- Built-in marketplace to attract new UK customers
- Automated reminders included as standard
Mindbody — Best for Fitness Studios and Class-Based Businesses
Mindbody at £129 per month is a premium platform purpose-built for gyms, yoga studios, and fitness businesses. Its built-in client discovery marketplace helps new members find your studio, and dedicated iOS and Android apps give both staff and clients a polished experience.
- All-in-one booking, CRM, and integrated payments
- Client-facing app improves retention and class sign-ups
- Strong reporting and membership management tools
Jobber — Best for Field Service and Trade Businesses
Jobber at £49 per month is designed specifically for field service businesses such as cleaners, landscapers, and electricians. It handles scheduling alongside quoting, invoicing, and job tracking — areas where Acuity simply doesn't compete. Its mobile apps are excellent for teams working out in the field across the UK.
- Comprehensive scheduling combined with job and invoice management
- Strong mobile apps for on-the-go teams
- Integrates with Xero and other UK-friendly accounting tools
ResDiary — Best for UK Restaurants and Hospitality
ResDiary at £69 per month is a flat-fee restaurant reservation platform with no per-cover commissions — a key advantage over some competitors. It includes GDPR-friendly guest data management, making it a responsible choice for UK hospitality businesses mindful of their data obligations. A 14-day free trial lets you test it before committing.
- Flat monthly fee with no commission on bookings
- GDPR-compliant guest data tools built in
- 14-day free trial available
Which Alternative Is Right for Your Business?
The best Acuity alternative depends entirely on your industry and budget. For beauty and wellness, start with Fresha (free) or Treatwell Connect (£25/mo) for marketplace reach. Fitness studios should evaluate Mindbody despite the higher price point, while trades and field service businesses will get far more value from Jobber or Commusoft.
Restaurants and hospitality venues are best served by ResDiary, which is built around the specific needs of UK hospitality. If you need a simple, free starting point with strong payment integration, Square remains hard to beat.
Final Thoughts
Acuity Scheduling works well as a general-purpose booking tool, but UK small businesses benefit from choosing software designed around their specific sector. Most of the platforms listed here offer free trials or free tiers, so it's worth testing two or three before committing. Always verify that your chosen tool supports Making Tax Digital-compatible accounting integrations if invoicing and VAT reporting are part of your workflow.