Last week, I wrote a post about online scheduling systems and how they can help you streamline your process for scheduling meetings with clients and colleagues. I provided an overview of 7 of the tools available, most of which involve a monthly fee.
I received some comments and e-mails asking for free options, so in this post, I will discuss a few free options, both online and downloadable software, and some of the features you can expect from each.
Acuity Scheduling- Online booking
- Website integration
- Customization
- Unlimited clients
- Unlimited appointments
Acuity Scheduling offers a free single user version, but it does not include a personalized booking site or the ability to accept credit cards.
AppointmentPlugIn- Online booking
- Customization options available
- E-mail confirmations
- Website integration
This tool provides a limited free version that has a limit of 20 appointments per day and advertising in the e-mail confirmations.
CreateAppointments- Online booking
- E-mail confirmations
- Create customer accounts
The free basic version of CreateAppointments has an ad on the bottom of the online scheduler and does not include customization.
4. 
Genbook
- Online booking
- Book Now website button
- Personalized website
- Unlimited staff members
- Unlimited services
Genbook Free limits future scheduling to four weeks. Their paid versions were mentioned in my previous post.
MEMOTXT Scheduler- Free downloadable software
- Search functionality
- Retains client contact information
- Sends out SMS text message appointment reminders
MEMOTXT currently works with all Microsoft platforms, but a Linux and Mac version are in the works.
Pimero Free Edition- Free downloadable software
- Includes appointments, task list planner and contact manager
- Synchronizes multiple PCs
- Secure and automatically encrypts stored data
- Outlook import
The Pimero Free Edition is a feature-heavy downloadable option for standardizing your scheduling process.
7. 
SuperSaaS
- Online booking
- Customization options available
- E-mail integration
- Website integration
- Customer management
The free SuperSaaS plan includes a maximum of 50 registered users and has advertisements.
There are certainly a few solid free scheduling systems available, although the features are somewhat limited. The right solution really depends on your individual needs.
Two of the options listed above are free software you can download and use locally. These are great primarily for in-house scheduling, since they don’t include online booking capability.
Have you used any of these free scheduling systems? Do you have a recommendation?
Image credit: Nathan Sudds
Wicked! this is handy. Thanks for sharing.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:18 am
Thanks for this. We often get asked by clients about appointment booking systems. This will be really useful.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:17 am
Hi! Thanks for taking time to create this post. Do you have any information on the data storage details for the web-based hosting environments? For instance, I noticed one company you highlight is based in Pakistan. If I sign up with their software, will my data be hosted overseas? (I’m in the US.) Just concerned about privacy for me and my clients – especially when I’m considering something offered for free.
Thanks!
Malcolm
June 4th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Thanks, as I have been looking for such software. Currently the MEMOTXT Scheduler download link is not working, so hopefully they will have that fixed soon.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:12 am
i m developing my own an open source scheduling system .
hope , it will be available soon !
thanks 4 sharing the list !
June 4th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
@Malcolm – That’s a very good question and one I unfortunately don’t know the answer to. I would definitely look into that before signing up. There are usually some trade-offs when using a free service over a paid one anyway…just depends how vital those compromises are to you, versus paying a monthly fee.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Hello Alyessa,
Try http://www.appointy.com and see their widget here http://punkyink.com/book-an-appointment/
This is the far best appointment scheduling system I have come across. They have a great service. They actually listen to their clients and this makes them stand out of everybody. I am using it for the past 6 months without any problems.
I would strongly suggest you to try it.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Hmmm… Appointy.com looks promising. And I’ve tried MANY of the top Googled online appointment scheduling systems.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Good article! (and good original article about the for-pay solutions.) Very useful. I’ve tried a number of the pay versions, and some are pretty good solutions. Nothing I found quite met the needs of one of our clients, so my company made its own product, which we just opened up for a beta test: AppointmentPlease.com. We don’t currently have a free version, but there’s a one-month free trial, and prices are very reasonable (and downright cheap for the beta). If something like this is an integral part of your business and is going to be driving revenue, though, I’m not sure I’d use a free version anyway.
Feedback is much appreciated. I don’t think you’ll find a more efficient or easier-to-use online appointment scheduling system out there.
Malcolm – our data center is in St. Louis. If we do come out with a free offering, it will be hosted in the same place.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:31 am