11 Best Scheduling Apps for Small Business: Avoid Appointment Chaos

Efficient time management is the bedrock of small business success. Uncover the ideal scheduling app tailored to your needs in our comprehensive guide. We’ve curated a list of contenders, each competing for the title of the best scheduling app for small business. Whether you’re optimizing field service scheduling, managing online meetings, looking for pick-up shift apps, or simplifying employee timesheets, these apps strike the perfect balance between functionality and user-friendly design. Join us as we explore their unique features and how they can transform the way small businesses navigate their schedules—because precision and efficiency are keys to sustained success.

Evaluation Criteria

🖥️ User interface: Evaluate the app’s user interface for its intuitiveness and ease of use in a small business setting.
🛠️ Features: When choosing the best scheduling app for small business, assess the range of features offered, including appointment scheduling, meeting coordination, and employee timesheet management.
🔄 Customization: Explore the app’s ability to adapt to the unique needs of various small businesses, allowing for tailored scheduling solutions.
🤝 Integration: Consider the app’s compatibility with other tools and platforms commonly used by small businesses.
📱 Mobile accessibility: Examine the performance and functionality of the best scheduling app for small business on mobile devices.
👥 Collaboration capabilities: Evaluate the app’s capacity to facilitate collaboration among team members.
💲 Cost-effectiveness: Analyze the app’s pricing structure in relation to the features provided.

❗ Note: We do not accept paid entries for our evaluation of the best scheduling app for small business.

Shifts by Everhour provides an intuitive solution for managing employee schedules with ease. From flexible scheduling options to mobile accessibility, it’s the ideal solution for optimizing workforce management in any industry.

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Comparison Table

Tool	Features	Pricing	Cost-Effectiveness
Shifts by Everhour	Shift creation and scheduling, Real-time updates, Availability management, Kiosk, Customizable reporting	Free	High
Sling	Shift scheduling, Labor cost monitoring, Time clock functionality, Time off requests	Free, Premium ($1.25/user/month), Business ($3.40/user/month)	High
Homebase	Shift scheduling, Availability tracking, Time off requests, Shift swaps	Basic (Free), Essentials ($20/month), Plus ($48/month), All-In-One ($80/month)	High
Calendly	Calendar integrations, Standardized scheduling, Overview team activity	Basic (Free), Essentials ($8/seat/month), Professional ($12/seat/month), Teams ($16/seat/month), Enterprise (Custom)	High
Deputy	Shift scheduling, Employee communication, Forecasting and budgeting	Scheduling ($3.50/user/month), Time and Attendance ($3.50/user/month), Premium ($4.90/user/month), Enterprise (Custom)	High
Shifty	Scheduling, Employee self-service	Free	High
Setmore	Appointment scheduling, Time zone detection, Class and group scheduling	Free (up to 4 users), Premium ($5/user/month), Team ($5/user/month)	High
Appoint.ly	Online scheduling features, Integrations, Time zone synchronization	Basic (Free), Pro ($8/user/month), Enterprise (Custom)	High
Planable	Content collaboration and scheduling, Approval workflow, Integration with social platforms	Free, Basic ($11/user/month), Pro ($22/user/month), Enterprise (Custom)	High
Acuity Scheduling	Customizable booking pages, Automated reminders, Time zone auto-adjustment, Integrations	Emerging ($16/month), Growing ($27/month), Powerhouse ($49/month)	High
Picktime	Widget and forms, Reminders, Team management, Manual data entry	Free, Starter ($3/user/month), Pro ($2.25/user/month)	High

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Best Scheduling App for Small Business: 11 Top Picks

1. Shifts by Everhour

Shifts by Everhour is your solution for comprehensive work scheduling, adept at streamlining workforce management and shift planning. This free scheduling app for small business is tailored to meet the dynamic scheduling needs of businesses, providing a robust set of features for efficient employee schedule creation, management, and optimization. Whether you run a small business or oversee a large workforce, Shifts by Everhour is designed to teach you how to schedule shifts.

Key features

• User-friendly shift creation: Shifts by Everhour makes it easy to create and edit shifts. The intuitive interface allows quick assignment of shifts to employees and seamless schedule adjustments.
• Real-time updates: Keep your team well-informed with real-time updates. Employees can view schedules, swap shifts, and request time off directly from the mobile app or web portal, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.
• Availability tracking: Easily monitor employee availability and preferences, gaining a clear view of who can work when to prevent scheduling conflicts.
• Kiosk: Simplify clocking in and out with the Kiosk feature, allowing employees to do so quickly without a steep learning curve.
• Customizable reporting: Gain valuable insights into labor costs and scheduling efficiency with Shifts by Everhour’s reporting tools.

Pricing

Shifts by Everhour is available for free. 

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2. Sling

Sling is scheduling software for small business, offering an extensive array of tools to streamline employee scheduling across businesses of various sizes and industries. Boasting a user-friendly platform, Sling simplifies workforce management, making it a preferred solution for those in search of efficient scheduling options, particularly catering to the unique needs of small businesses. The robust features and intuitive design make Sling an ideal choice for small enterprises seeking to enhance productivity and streamline scheduling processes.

Key features

• Shift planning: Effortlessly create, edit, and manage shifts, whether establishing regular schedules or tailoring shifts to meet specific business requirements.
• Shift notifications: Automatic shift notifications are a key feature of Sling, actively reducing absenteeism and ensuring punctuality among employees.
• Labor cost monitoring: Gain valuable insights into labor costs with Sling’s reporting and analytics tools, facilitating effective management of labor expenses.
• Time clock functionality: Accurately track employee hours using Sling’s built-in time clock features, supporting both clock-in and clock-out capabilities.
• Time off requests: Streamline the time-off request and approval process as employees submit requests directly through the app.

Pricing

• Free plan.
• Premium plan: $1.25 per user per month.
• Business plan: $3.40 per user per month.

3. Homebase

When it comes to the best scheduling app for small business, Homebase is a standout choice, offering a comprehensive set of features tailored to businesses of all sizes. This user-friendly software simplifies employee scheduling and management, helping you optimize your workforce efficiently, especially beneficial for small businesses seeking seamless scheduling solutions.

Key features

• Flexible shift creation: Small businesses often require adaptable scheduling to accommodate changing needs. Homebase allows for easy creation and adjustment of shifts, whether following regular schedules or customizing shifts to meet unique business requirements
• Availability tracking: In small teams, knowing employee availability is crucial. Homebase empowers employees to update their availability, assisting managers in scheduling shifts that align with individual preferences and constraints.
• Time off requests: Streamlining administrative processes is vital for small businesses. With Homebase, employees can request time off directly through the app, simplifying the request and approval process.
• Shift swaps: Small businesses often rely on a tight-knit team. Homebase facilitates collaboration by enabling employees to initiate shift swaps.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: Free.
• Essentials Plan: $20 per month per location.
• Plus Plan: $48 per month per location.
• All-In-One Plan: $80 per month per location.

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4. Calendly

Calendly is an automated schedule builder designed to simplify employee scheduling, allowing you to program availability, share it effortlessly, and seamlessly integrate schedules with employee calendars. This best scheduling app for small business enhances the booking and appointment process, ensuring your employees are prepared at all times, while client meetings receive the attention they deserve.

Key features

• Easy and intuitive user interface: Scheduling becomes quick and straightforward with Calendly’s user-friendly interface. Input your availability preferences, and Calendly takes care of the rest, streamlining every process without unnecessary complications.
• Automation: Calendly excels in automation, handling tasks such as bookings, rescheduling, appointments, and even emails. This ensures a seamless and efficient scheduling process for small businesses.
• Calendar integrations: This software seamlessly integrates with multiple calendars and scheduling systems, including Outlook, Google, iCloud, and more. 
• Standardized scheduling: Calendly empowers users to create and save templates, facilitating the standardization of meeting types. 
• Overview team activity: Utilize the admin dashboard to review all types of meetings, participants, and agenda items. This feature provides valuable insights to ensure your small business team remains productive and engaged.

Pricing

• Basic: Totally free.
• Essentials: $8 per seat, monthly.
• Professional: $12 per seat, monthly.
• Teams: $16 per seat, monthly.
• Enterprise: Based on derived quotes.

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5. Deputy

Deputy is the best scheduling app for small business and a powerful employee scheduling and workforce management software designed to streamline the scheduling process and enhance team productivity. It offers a wide range of features to simplify scheduling, time tracking, and employee communication, making it an optimal choice for small businesses aiming to streamline their operations.

Key features

• Intuitive scheduling: Deputy’s user-friendly interface makes creating and managing schedules a breeze. Drag-and-drop shifts, assign tasks, and view schedules at a glance, ensuring a seamless scheduling experience for small business owners.
• Employee communication: Keep your small business team informed and engaged with Deputy’s communication tools. Send messages, notifications, and updates directly through the platform, fostering effective communication within the team.
• Forecasting and budgeting: Plan your labor costs effectively with Deputy’s forecasting and budgeting tools. Predict future labor needs and optimize schedules to meet your small business budget, ensuring financial efficiency.
• Employee self-service: Empower your employees with self-service features. They can access schedules, request time off, and swap shifts using the Deputy mobile app or web portal. This feature promotes autonomy and engagement among small business employees.

Pricing

• Scheduling: $3.50 per user per month.
• Time and Attendance: $3.50 per user per month.
• Premium: $4.90 per user per month.
• Enterprise: Customized pricing.

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6. Shifty

Shifty is the go-to mobile app if you’re seeking to create a work schedule efficiently, specially tailored for individuals and small businesses. This straightforward application is designed for simplicity, making it a valuable tool appreciated by small businesses looking for effective scheduling solutions.

Key features

• Scheduling: Utilize Shifty to efficiently manage your staff, assign duties and tasks, and attach time slots. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface ensures quick and easy management for individual employees or your entire staff.
• Mobile-friendly: Shifty is optimized for mobile devices and connected apps, offering your workforce the convenience of managing schedules on-the-go. This mobile-friendly approach simplifies scheduling for small businesses, ensuring flexibility for both employers and employees.
• Employee self-service: Features that empower employees with self-service options, such as accessing schedules, requesting time off, or swapping shifts, can enhance autonomy and engagement.

Pricing

• Free: $0

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7. Setmore

Another contender for being the best scheduling app for small business, Setmore is an automated online appointment app with features and capabilities that bring significant value to your business.

Key features

• Appointment scheduling: Setmore offers intuitive appointment scheduling accessible through your browser, desktop/laptop, or mobile device. Booking appointments on your Setmore calendar takes just a few seconds, streamlining the appointment management process for small businesses.
• Time zone detection: As a versatile shift schedule generator, Setmore can automatically detect and update time zones, ensuring accurate scheduling and reflecting changes in daylight saving time. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses with clients or team members in different locations.
• Class and group scheduling: Setmore supports class and group scheduling, making it suitable for businesses offering workshops, classes, or group sessions.

Pricing

• Free: $0 per user, monthly – up to 4 users.
• Premium: $5 per user, monthly (billed annually).
• Team: $5 per user, monthly (billed annually).

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8. Appoint.ly

Appoint.ly is a small business scheduling app that brings simplicity to online scheduling. With an easy-to-use interface, Appoint.ly allows you to effortlessly set your appointment and share your availability through a link. Its versatility also makes it an excellent scheduling software for service businesses managing teams in multiple countries and time zones.

Key features

• Online scheduling features: Appoint.ly offers a hassle-free way to share your availability through a link, which can be easily distributed via messages, emails, or integrated into your website. This feature streamlines the scheduling process for small businesses.
• Integrations: Appoint.ly seamlessly integrates with popular calendar platforms such as Google Calendar, iCloud, Outlook, Office 365, and Exchange. This ensures a cohesive scheduling experience, enhancing productivity for small businesses.
• Time zone synchronization: Facilitating global collaboration, Appoint.ly includes time zone synchronization, making it easier to plan meetings with individuals around the world. This functionality minimizes the risk of scheduling conflicts and no-shows.

Pricing:

• Basic Plan: Free.
• Pro Plan: $8 per user per month.
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing.

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9. Planable

Planable stands out as a robust social media collaboration and planning tool designed to simplify the creation, scheduling, and approval of social media content. Tailored for teams engaged in social media campaigns and content calendars, Planable offers a comprehensive set of features to enhance the efficiency of small businesses managing their online presence.

Key features

• Content collaboration: Planable serves as a centralized hub, allowing small business teams to collaboratively work on social media content. Multiple team members can review and provide feedback on posts before publication.
• Visual planning: It enables users to preview their social media feed’s appearance before content goes live, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing online presence.
• Content scheduling: Small businesses can efficiently plan and organize their content calendars with Planable’s content scheduling feature. This functionality allows for the scheduling of posts in advance, ensuring a consistent posting schedule across various social media platforms.
• Approval workflow: This feature facilitates thorough review and approval by relevant stakeholders before content is published, contributing to quality control and messaging consistency.
• Integration with social platforms: With seamless integration into major social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, Planable offers small businesses a direct pathway to publish content

Pricing

• Free plan
• Basic plan: $11 per user per month
• Pro plan: $22 per user per month
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing.

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10. Acuity Scheduling

Acuity Scheduling is an online appointment scheduling software designed to help businesses streamline the booking and appointment management process. It is particularly popular among service-based businesses, consultants, and professionals who need a convenient way for clients to schedule appointments. 

Key features

• Customizable booking pages: Tailor your booking pages to create a branded experience for clients. The user-friendly platform ensures a seamless booking process, reinforcing your business identity.
• Automated reminders: Reduce no-shows with email and SMS reminders that keep clients informed about upcoming appointments, enhancing client engagement.
• Time zone auto-adjustment: Simplify scheduling for a global clientele with auto-adjustment for different time zones.
• Video conferencing integrations: Effortlessly join online appointments with seamless integrations with popular video conferencing software.
• Payment integrations: Streamline the financial aspect of your services with integrations with Stripe, Square, and PayPal. Acuity Scheduling allows businesses to accept payments when customers book appointments, ensuring a seamless transaction process.

Pricing

• Emerging: $16 per month
• Growing: $27 per month
• Powerhouse: $49 per month

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11. Picktime

Picktime is one of those go-to scheduling programs for small business, finely tuned for the specific needs of small businesses. Whether you’re handling meeting spaces, coordinating appointments, or managing various schedules, Picktime simplifies the process, ensuring your appointments run smoothly. Discover an easy and tailored scheduling experience with Picktime.

Key features

• Booking widget for 24/7 online appointments: Embed a booking widget on your website, allowing customers to schedule appointments online at any time. 
• Comprehensive booking forms: Utilize booking forms to gather crucial information about your customers’ needs before their first appointment, enhancing preparation for personalized services.
• Reminders to manage attendance: Combat no-shows effectively with automated reminders, enhancing communication and reducing the likelihood of missed appointments.
• Team management with personal calendar integrations: Efficiently manage appointments by seamlessly adding them to team members’ personal calendars. This feature enhances coordination and ensures everyone is on the same page.
• Manual data entry for duplication: Duplicate schedules and other data effortlessly, streamlining repetitive scheduling needs for improved efficiency.

Pricing

• Free
• Starter: $3 per user per month
• Pro: $2.25 per user per month

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Why Use a Specific Scheduling Tool for a Small Business?

Using a specific scheduling app for small business offers several advantages:

1. Efficiency: Best scheduling apps for businesses streamline the appointment and booking processes, saving time for both businesses and customers. This efficiency is crucial for small businesses with limited resources.
2. Improved customer experience: User-friendly scheduling tools often provide a seamless experience for customers, allowing them to book appointments at their convenience. This can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
3. Reduced no-shows: Many scheduling tools come with automated reminders, reducing the likelihood of no-shows. This feature is especially valuable for small businesses, ensuring that booked appointments are honored.
4. Enhanced organization: Scheduling tools often include features for team coordination, calendar integrations, and efficient data management. This helps small businesses stay organized and ensures everyone is on the same page.
5. Customization: Specific scheduling tools may offer customization options, allowing small businesses to tailor the tool to their unique needs. This flexibility is essential for adapting to different industries and business models.
6. Cost-effective solutions: Many scheduling tools offer pricing plans suitable for small businesses, providing cost-effective solutions that align with budget constraints.
7. Scalability: As small businesses grow, having a dedicated scheduling tool allows for seamless scalability. The tool can adapt to the increasing demands and complexities of a growing business.
8. Integration with other systems: Some scheduling tools integrate with other business systems, such as payment processors or customer relationship management (CRM) tools. This integration streamlines operations for small businesses.

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Best Scheduling App for Small Business: Conclusion

In summary, the adoption of scheduling apps for small business is a game-changer. From enhancing customer experience to streamlining internal operations, these tools address the unique challenges faced by smaller enterprises.

Shifts by Everhour stands out as a comprehensive and best-for-all solution. Its user-friendly interface simplifies scheduling tasks, ensuring the right people are in the right place at the right time. With features like real-time updates, mobile clock-in/out, and customizable reporting, Shifts by Everhour empowers businesses to streamline operations and gain valuable insights. As an invaluable asset with a free-to-use pricing model, Shifts by Everhour proves to be the best scheduling app for small business, aiming for efficient and effective workforce scheduling.