Setmore

Overview

Setmore is appointment-scheduling software for service businesses that want clients to book and pay without arranging every visit directly. It is strongest for small teams that need a public booking page and basic team coordination; the free plan’s four-user ceiling makes it less suitable for a larger staff.

Key features

The Booking Page displays services, prices, and availability, and lets clients self-schedule one-to-one appointments or group classes. That makes it useful for businesses that want bookings to happen outside their working hours. Online and in-person payments are supported through Stripe, Square, PayPal, and LawPay, while two-way calendar sync helps keep schedules aligned.

Automated reminders can help reduce missed appointments, but the allowance varies by plan: Free includes one reminder, while Pro team members receive 500 SMS credits per month, with additional credits available in-app. Team profiles, individual logins, permission levels, calendar views, and messaging give staff ways to coordinate without sharing a single account. Integrations include Google Analytics, Mailchimp, website widgets, Zapier, and calendar tools. All customers receive 24/7 phone, chat, or email support.

Setmore offers Android and iOS apps as well as Windows and macOS desktop apps. Healthcare providers can use Setmore Health for HIPAA compliance, enhanced privacy, and healthcare-regulation support.

Pricing

Free: free, billed monthly, for up to four users. It covers the core booking and payment use case, but the one-reminder allowance and user cap can constrain a growing team.

Pro: $5 a month, billed monthly, with annual billing and unlimited users. The advertised $5/user/mo price is based on annual pricing, so check the selected billing period before subscribing. Pro adds 500 monthly SMS credits per team member. It can be tried risk-free for 30 days, with a refund available if unsatisfied; subscriptions automatically renew on the chosen monthly or annual period.

Live Receptionist: $99 a month as a separate plan, available in the US only. Enterprise: custom pricing for larger organisations. These options are for buyers whose needs extend beyond the standard Free and Pro plans.

Who it's for

Setmore suits appointment-based businesses that want self-service booking, payment collection, and shared scheduling in one service, especially small teams or healthcare providers needing HIPAA support. It is a weaker fit for teams that need more than four users without moving to Pro, or for businesses outside the US considering Live Receptionist.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The Booking Page combines service details, availability, self-scheduling, and payments, reducing the steps clients need to take to book.
• Pro: Two-way calendar sync and individual team accounts support coordinated schedules as staff work across appointments.
• Con: Free stops at four users and includes only one reminder, limiting its appeal for larger teams or businesses reliant on frequent SMS reminders.
• Con: The advertised Pro rate is tied to annual billing, and renewal is automatic, so buyers should confirm the billing period and renewal terms.

Alternatives

SimplyBook.me is worth considering for a free plan capped at 50 bookings, one custom feature, and one provider, or if a free trial matters.

Salonist offers a free marketplace-listing plan with 50 appointments per month, online booking, and calendar and scheduling tools; it is a reasonable alternative for a salon wanting that specific free setup.

Zoho Bookings may suit a solo user who can work within its free plan for one user, one event type, and one calendar, with a 15-day premium trial that does not require card details.

Fresha offers Independent and Team plans for one or unlimited team members, respectively, but prices are not provided.

Acuity Scheduling is a paid alternative with a free trial; its Starter plan is $20 a month and includes one calendar.

Orbis Salon is a paid option with a seven-day free trial and a Lite plan at £4.99 a month, capped at one staff member, one location, 30 bookings per month, and five services, with a 50p booking service fee per booking.

GlossGenius is a paid alternative with a Standard plan at $28 a month that includes a custom booking website, unlimited client notifications, email and text marketing, and inventory and retail features.

Kitomba is a paid alternative with Lite and Grow plans; choose it if you are comparing another salon-focused software option.

For more options, browse Salon and Spa Scheduling Software or Appointment Scheduling Software.

Verdict

Setmore is a sound choice for small appointment-based businesses that want clients to book and pay themselves, with team scheduling and a free starting point. Its clearest drawbacks are the Free plan’s four-user and reminder limits and Pro’s annual-price framing; look elsewhere if those constraints or the US-only Live Receptionist plan do not suit your operation.