Bookr: A simpler Acuity Scheduling alternative for independent service businesses
Bookr is a mobile-first booking page builder that lets independent service professionals accept client bookings without Acuity's complexity or per-booking fees. Set up your public booking link in minutes, share it, and clients book themselves.
How Bookr differs from Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is a feature-rich online booking system designed for teams and enterprise workflows. Bookr takes a different approach: it's built for solo practitioners and small teams who want a booking page, not a full CRM. You get a public link (bookr.app/yourname), set your services and availability once, and share that link with clients. No monthly seat fees, no per-booking charges. The free tier covers 20 bookings per month and 5 services, which works for stylists, trainers, tutors, and therapists just starting out. As of June 2026, Bookr charges a flat £8.99 per month for the Pro tier (automated reminders, Google Calendar sync, analytics) rather than scaling costs with your booking volume.
What you get with Bookr's free tier
Bookr's free plan includes a public booking page, up to 5 services, and 20 bookings per month at no cost. You can set your availability once and let clients self-serve. Walk-in mode lets you add drop-in clients in one tap, useful for hair salons or fitness studios with cancellations. The free tier is genuinely useful for solo professionals testing a booking system before committing to a paid plan. If you exceed 20 bookings in a month, you upgrade to Pro (£8.99/mo or £59.99/yr). This flat-rate pricing contrasts sharply with Acuity's per-booking model, which compounds costs as your business grows.
Pro features: reminders, sync, and analytics
Bookr Pro adds three features that Acuity Scheduling users often pay extra for: automated reminders sent 24 hours and 1 hour before each appointment, two-way Google Calendar sync so your Bookr bookings appear in Google Calendar and vice versa, and booking analytics showing your revenue, top services, and client retention. Custom branding lets you replace the Bookr logo with your own. For small teams, the Business tier (£14.99/mo or £119.99/yr) adds team management for up to 5 staff members with separate calendars, client history and notes, no-show protection via card on file, and Stripe payment deposits. This tiered approach means you only pay for what you need.
Mobile-first design and offline reliability
Bookr is built for your phone first, not desktop second. The app uses SwiftData for offline-first operation, meaning your bookings sync when you're back online, and the app works even if your internet drops during a client check-in. Your data is reinstall-proof via iCloud KV storage. Acuity Scheduling is web-centric; Bookr assumes you're running your business from your pocket. This matters for stylists working in salons without reliable WiFi, personal trainers at outdoor sites, or therapists managing walk-ins between sessions.
Payment deposits and no-show protection
Bookr Business tier integrates Stripe for payment deposits, so clients can pre-pay or pay a deposit when they book. No-show protection lets you store a card on file and charge a cancellation fee if a client doesn't show up. Acuity Scheduling handles payments via their own integrations; Bookr lets you use Stripe directly, keeping you in control of your payment flow. The card-on-file feature is especially valuable for service businesses where no-shows eat into revenue.
Who Bookr works best for
Bookr is built for independent service professionals: hair stylists, barbers, nail technicians, personal trainers, tutors, therapists, coaches, and cleaners. Small teams of 2 to 5 staff sharing a calendar also fit well. Acuity Scheduling targets larger teams, agencies, and multi-location businesses. If you're a solo practitioner or small team looking for a straightforward way to let clients book online without monthly overhead, Bookr is the lighter alternative. If you need advanced routing, custom integrations, or multi-team hierarchies, Acuity may still be your fit.
Download Bookr and set up your free booking page in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bookr cheaper than Acuity Scheduling?
Yes. Bookr Pro costs £8.99/month flat, with no per-booking fees. Acuity Scheduling charges a monthly base fee plus per-booking rates that scale with your volume, making it pricier as you grow. Bookr's free tier also covers 20 bookings, whereas Acuity's free plan is more limited.
Can I sync Bookr with Google Calendar?
Yes, on the Pro tier and above. Bookr automatically syncs your bookings to Google Calendar in both directions, so your calendar stays up to date without manual copying.
Does Bookr accept payments from clients?
Bookr Business tier integrates Stripe for deposits and full payment at booking. You can require a deposit, full payment, or leave payment optional at checkout.
Can I add team members to Bookr?
Yes, on the Business tier. You can add up to 5 staff members, each with their own calendar and availability. Clients see all available staff and book with whoever suits them.
What happens if a client doesn't show up?
Bookr Business includes no-show protection: you can store a card on file and charge a cancellation fee if the client doesn't arrive. This helps protect your revenue from no-shows.
Do I need a website to use Bookr?
No. Bookr gives you a public booking link (bookr.app/yourname) that you can share directly on social media, text, or email. That link is your booking page.