Setmore vs zcal
Setmore and zcal are both scheduling & calendar tools. Setmore is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while zcal is aimed at freelancers. zcal costs less, from $7/mo versus $12/mo for Setmore. Both have a free plan.
Appointment booking app for salons, clinics and service businesses
Free, well-designed scheduling pages
| Pricing | Freemium · $12 | Freemium · $7 |
| Starting price | $12/mo | $7/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | 14 days |
| 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 zcal if
Individuals wanting free scheduling.
- Generous free plan
- Clean design
- Polls
Look elsewhere if: Sales teams.
Setmore vs zcal 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
zcal
- Free$0Unlimited links and calendars, meeting polls
- Pro$7/user/moTeams, workflows; small teams
- Business$12/user/moCustom domains, custom email domains
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
zcal · Key features
- Free booking pages
- Group events
- Meeting polls
- Reminders
- Custom questions
- Calendar sync
Cons
- Limited team features
- Fewer integrations
- Small company
Setmore vs zcal: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Setmore or zcal?
zcal starts at $7/mo and Setmore at $12/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Setmore and zcal have a free plan?
Yes, both Setmore and zcal have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Setmore or zcal?
Setmore lists small businesses as a core audience, while zcal is aimed more at freelancers.