Imagine you’re trying to schedule a sales call with a potential customer. You check your calendar, find the open slots, note them, and email the information to your contact. They then have to manually compare these times with their own busy schedule. If they take too long to reply, you may end up with a conflict. This process is frustrating and risky—each extra email increases the chance of losing the sale.
Scheduling appointments doesn’t have to be complicated. An appointment booking app cuts out the back and forth. Here’s how to supercharge your scheduling with appointment booking apps.
What is an appointment booking app?
Appointment booking apps streamline the scheduling process for meetings and other appointments. These apps provide a digital calendar showing real-time availability, where contacts or customers can reserve time slots. If they need to cancel or reschedule appointments, they can use the same link to make a change in the calendar.
Most appointment books also allow you to block dates, ensuring you don’t get booked up when you need time for other work or meetings. Some booking apps also offer advanced features such as automatic reminders and payment processing.
🌟Dream of being your own boss? Learn how to start your own consulting business.
What to look for in an appointment booking app
Appointment scheduling apps are more than just a calendar. Depending on your business, you may be interested in these additional features:
Custom tools
Everyone’s booking process is different. A personal trainer, for example, might ask their clients to sign a waiver before scheduling; a massage therapist may want to give clients the option between 30-minute or one-hour appointments. Look for an online booking system that lets you control your specific scheduling needs, like automated notifications to remind both you and your client about upcoming appointments.
Calendar compatibility
Effective appointment scheduling software syncs with your calendar. The app can help you avoid scheduling conflicts like double bookings with real-time availability updates.
Payment support and integration
Service-based businesses can benefit from online payment processing capabilities. Seamless payment processing can enable you to request a deposit for future appointments. Or it can charge a cancellation fee if someone misses an appointment or cancels at the last minute, protecting you from financial loss.
Some scheduling platforms are compatible with services like PayPal, Stripe, and Square. Choosing an app that integrates with your most frequently used business tools may help you save time by managing multiple aspects of booking and scheduling appointments in one place.
🌟A service business can be a way to tap into a lucrative market. Learn how to turn your expertise into a profitable business.
Best appointment booking apps
- Bookeasy
- Appointment Booking Cowlander
- Tipo
- Meety
- Apntly
- Ointo
- Easy Appointment Booking
- Propel
- IzyRent
- Sesami
The right appointment booking app makes it easy to accept bookings or schedule meetings online. Here are 10 powerful appointment scheduling tools available in the Shopify App Store, all of which integrate with Shopify’s point-of-sale system:
1. Bookeasy
Bookeasy is a simple tool with a range of flexible scheduling features. You can tailor the platform to fit your needs by maintaining a unique schedule for your employees and allowing customers to book with them individually. Bookeasy also supports multiple business locations and separate calendars for your entire team.
Integrations: Shopify POS, Google Calendar, Klaviyo
Features: Ticketing, email notifications, multi-location, staff management, payment processing
Pricing: Free
2. Appointment Booking Cowlander
Cowlander’s versatile scheduling features can customize your registration flow by adding steps or questions. It’s a practical app for adding scheduling functionality to your ecommerce store—for instance, if your product comes with a free Zoom demo and tutorial.
Integrations: Shopify POS, Calendly, Google Calendar, Zoom
Features: Event check-ins, data sync, real-time updates, email notifications, SMS notifications, multi-language, multi-location, payments, deposits, staff management
Pricing: Free plan available;Pro for $15 a month, Elite for $27 a month, Ultra for $37 a month
3. Tipo
Tipo offers a simple, free way to schedule appointments. Built specifically for Shopify, this platform offers integration with Shopify POS, automatic appointment reminders, and a variety of other business tools.
Integrations: Shopify POS, Google Calendar Sync, iCalendar, Zapier,
Features: Customizable design, additional custom fields, email notifications
Pricing: Free plan available; Pro for $6.90 a month
4. Meety
Meety is a streamlined tool for managing various appointment types, including recurring bookings and appointment packages. It also offers advanced features like automated reminders, online payments, and customizable booking pages.
Integrations: Checkout, Shopify POS, Outlook Calendar, Google Calendar, Zoom, Apple Calendar
Features: Event check-ins, data sync, real-time updates, email notifications, multi-language, payments, deposits, staff management
Pricing: Free plan available; Starter for $14 a month, Business for $27 a month, Enterprise for $47 a month
5. Apntly
Apntly allows you to add a scheduling button to any product or service page. You can also create a customized, user-friendly, and standalone booking page for customers. This app integrates with multiple calendar systems as well as Zoom to support digital scheduling.
Integrations: Shopify POS, Zoom, Calendly, Apple Calendar, Google Calendar
Features: Ticketing, event check-ins, data sync, real-time updates, email notifications, SMS notifications, multiple locations, payments, deposits, staff management
Pricing: Free plan available; Starter for $5 a month, Pro for $9 a month
6. Ointo
Ointo’s user interface is simple and intuitive. It integrates with Zoom and Calendar and utilizes a multi-language interface.
Integrations: Shopify POS, Calendly, Zoom
Features: Event check-ins, data sync, real-time updates, email notifications, SMS notifications, multi-language, payments, deposits, staff management
Pricing: Free
7. Easy Appointment Booking
Easy Appointment Booking can handle client bookings for multiple services and supports recurring appointments. It allows you to create subscriptions events and you can also include intake questions with your invites.
Integrations: Shopify POS, Google Calendar, Calendly, Outlook, Klaviyo
Features: Ticketing, event check-in, data sync, real-time updates, email notifications, SMS notifications, multi-location, payments, deposits, staff management
Pricing: Free plan available; Standard for $15 a month, Pro for $25 a month, Pro Plus for $35 a month
8. Propel
Propel supports digital events, meetings, services, and more. It requires no prior technical knowledge and has a sleek, mobile-first design. With Propel, you can also use group appointments to offer classes and webinars. It’s also easy to take deposits and partial payments to solidify bookings.
Integrations: Booking, Sesami, Google Calendar, Calendly, Zoom
Features: Unlimited bookings, email notifications, translations, automated appointment reminders,group booking
Pricing: Free plan available; Pro for $7.95 a month, Premium for $14.95 per month
9. IzyRent
IzyRent lets you tailor your registration process, including the ability to ask clients for more information and offers customizable intake forms.
Integrations: Checkout, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Zoom, Airbnb
Features: Ticketing, event check-ins, data sync, real-time updates, email notifications, multi-language, multi-location, payments, deposits
Pricing: Free plan available; Pro for $24.99 a month
10. Sesami
Sesami supports service-based business as well as meeting scheduling. It offers a tool for automated follow-up emails and integrates with Klaviyo.
Integrations: Shopify POS, Google Calendar, Klaviyo, Slack, Apple Calendar, Omnisend, Sendlane
Features: Ticketing, event check-in, data sync, real-time updates, email notifications, multi-language, accept payments, deposits, staff management
Pricing: Free plan available; Small for $19 a month, Medium for $49 a month, Pro for $129 a month
Appointment booking app FAQ
What is the best app for appointments?
The best app for booking appointments depends on the nature of your business and how you plan to use the tool. A good online scheduling software should provide a booking link that allows clients to reserve and modify appointments.
Is there a free scheduling app?
Yes. Many of the appointment booking apps in the Shopify App Store are free or offer free trials.
Does Shopify have an appointment scheduling tool?
Shopify is compatible with a range of booking tools. Visit the Shopify App Store to view a list of appointment software options built for Shopify.