Setmore vs TidyCal
Setmore and TidyCal are both scheduling & calendar tools. Setmore is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while TidyCal is aimed at freelancers. Both have a free plan.
Appointment booking app for salons, clinics and service businesses
Lifetime-deal scheduling from AppSumo
| Pricing | Freemium · $12 | Freemium · $12 |
| Starting price | $12/mo | $12/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Freelancers | Freelancers |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, windows, macos | web |
| Country | US · 2011 | US · 2021 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Setmore if
Small service businesses with several staff who want low-cost online booking, reminders and payments.
- Free plan for up to 4 staff with unlimited bookings
- Annual Pro price of $5 per user is very low
- Built for staff and service-based businesses
Look elsewhere if: B2B teams scheduling sales meetings (Calendly) or practices needing detailed intake forms and packages (Acuity).
Choose TidyCal if
Freelancers wanting cheap scheduling.
- Free plan or pay once
- Simple
- Paid bookings included
Look elsewhere if: Teams needing routing.
Setmore vs TidyCal pricing
Setmore
- Free$0Up to 4 users, unlimited appointments, 1 email reminder
- Pro$12/user/mo$5/user/mo billed annually; SMS, deposits, video, 2-way sync
- Live Receptionist$99/moAdd-on; human receptionists answer calls, US only
TidyCal
- Free$0Unlimited bookings and booking types
- Individual Lifetime$29/one-timeVia AppSumo; Zoom/Meet links, 10 calendar connections
- Agency Lifetime$79/one-timeVia AppSumo; round robin, team features
- Pro$12/mo$99/yr ($8.25/mo billed annually); all features
Setmore · Key features
- Branded booking page with services, staff and prices
- Booking via website widget, Facebook, Instagram and QR code
- Payments and deposits through Stripe, Square or PayPal
- Email and SMS reminders with confirmation messages
- Class and group booking alongside one-to-one appointments
- Video appointments with Zoom or Google Meet links
Cons
- Monthly billing costs more than twice the annual rate
- SMS credits capped and vary by country
- Intake forms and reporting lighter than Acuity
TidyCal · Key features
- Booking pages
- Calendar sync
- Paid bookings
- Group events
- Reminders
- Free plan plus lifetime deals
Cons
- Limited team features
- Fewer integrations
- Basic customization
Setmore vs TidyCal: FAQ
Do Setmore and TidyCal have a free plan?
Yes, both Setmore and TidyCal have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Setmore or TidyCal?
Setmore lists small businesses as a core audience, while TidyCal is aimed more at freelancers.