Appointment Scheduling Software: Free and Paid Apps (2026)
An appointment booking app is worth it if your clients can book on their own, you see the schedule on your phone and every appointment gets its reminder. For a salon, how you collect the deposit and whether it works with WhatsApp also matter. Below you can compare nine options using what each company publishes.
By the Citalu team
What an appointment scheduling app should have
A booking link where the client picks the service, staff member, day and time; a schedule that blocks the time so nobody else takes it; reminders before every appointment; and a way to ask for a deposit if your business uses one. If you work with a team, the schedule has to keep each staff member's hours separate.
Free or paid appointment scheduling apps
Several apps have a free plan with limits: Setmore up to 4 users, Calendly with 1 event type, Reservio up to 40 bookings every 30 days and Koibox with 1 user. They work for getting started, but check what is left out, like reminders or deposits. Citalu has no free plan: it has a 14-day free trial and plans from $9.99 a month.
How you collect deposits
Many apps are built around paying by card. If your clients pay deposits by Zelle or bank transfer and send you the payment receipt, check that the app supports that way of collecting.
How to test a scheduling system before you pay
Enter your real services with their durations, publish your link and make a test booking from your phone as if you were your own client. Cancel and reschedule that appointment. If after a week you aren't using it without thinking, that app isn't right for the way you work.
The differences at a glance
| App | Published price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Citalu | From $9.99 a month (1 staff member); $14.99 up to 5 and $24.99 with no limit | Schedule, online booking and deposits with a receipt |
| AgendaPro | From MXN 299 a month; varies by country | Full management: checkout, inventory and commissions |
| Booksy | MXN 429 a month, or €34.99 plus VAT, depending on the country | Barbershops and salons that want to be in its app |
| Fresha | ARS 8,000 a month (Independent) or ARS 5,300 per team member (Team) | Marketplace and card payments |
| Setmore | Free up to 4 users; Pro from $5 per user a month (billed annually) | Starting free with up to 4 users |
| Calendly | Free with 1 event type; from $10 per seat a month | Scheduling meetings and calls |
| Reservio | Free up to 40 bookings every 30 days; paid plans by volume | Starting free with few bookings a month |
| Koibox | Free with 1 user; €15 to €55 a month | Centers in Spain that need checkout, prepaid packages and Verifactu |
| Bewe | $29, $59 and $89 a month | AI sales assistant, CRM and marketing |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Citalu | AgendaPro | Booksy | Fresha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price for 1 staff member | $9.99 a month | MXN 299 + tax a month | €34.99 + VAT a month | ARS 8,000 a month |
| Free plan | No: 14-day free trial | No: free trial | No: 7-day trial | No: 7-day trial |
| WhatsApp reminders | 150 a month on Estudio and 300 on Salón (fewer in some countries) | 50 to 200 a month depending on the plan; extra packs | Free reminders; channel not stated | 20 free a month per person; paid after that |
| Deposit by transfer, with payment receipt | Yes: Zelle, bank transfer and more | Online card payment | Card payment | Card payment |
| Commission on new clients | No | Not listed on its pricing page | 30% of the first visit with Boost (Spain) | Flat fee if the client comes through its marketplace |
Data from each company's pricing page, checked on October 18, 2026. Prices appear in the currency each company lists, not converted.
How to put it into practice
- Write down what you need: online booking, reminders, deposits or a schedule per staff member.
- Try two or three apps with your real services and a booking from your phone.
- Compare the monthly price with what you lose today to forgotten appointments.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free appointment booking app?
It depends on your limits. Setmore is free up to 4 users, Calendly with 1 event type, Reservio up to 40 bookings every 30 days and Koibox with 1 user. AgendaPro, Booksy and Fresha have no free plan, only a trial. Check whether the free plan includes reminders and deposit collection.
Which appointment apps send WhatsApp reminders?
AgendaPro advertises reminders by WhatsApp, email and SMS. Citalu sends email reminders on all plans and, with CITU on the Estudio and Salón plans, a WhatsApp reminder 24 hours before with a button to confirm.
Do I need to install a program to book appointments?
Not always. Citalu works in the browser on your phone and computer, with nothing to install, and your clients book from your link.
Bring that order to your schedule
Try Citalu with your services and hours. You get 14 days free to see if it fits your business.