# Acuity Scheduling Problems & Issues 2026 - Sync, Reminders, Pricing

Source: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling
Last analyzed: 2026-10-21
Try or Bye score: 49/100

## Verdict: Bye

Acuity Scheduling disappoints many users (score 49/100). Most reported issues: Why is Acuity so expensive? No free plan and processor fees on top; Confusing UI requiring excessive steps; Acuity double booking and calendar sync problems. Not a good fit for: Businesses needing to migrate or export data; Budget-conscious solopreneurs; Businesses needing extensive integrations. Users most often switch to Calendly, Cal.com, Square Appointments.

## What it is

Acuity Scheduling is online appointment booking software for service businesses such as salons, coaches, therapists and consultants. Clients self-book from a scheduling page, fill intake forms and pay upfront via Stripe, Square, PayPal or Venmo. Owned by Squarespace since 2019; plans run $16-$69/month with no free plan.

## Common errors & fixes

### Acuity Calendar Not Syncing With Google Calendar

Most sync failures come from a disconnected connection (often after a password change) or the wrong calendar being linked. Reconnect under Sync with Other Calendars and wait up to 30 minutes for the first sync.

1. **Wait for the initial sync** — After connecting, allow about 30 minutes for the first sync If nothing appears after an hour, continue with the next fix
2. **Check which calendars are linked** — Go to Sync with Other Calendars in Acuity Confirm the correct Acuity calendar (staff member) is paired with the correct Google calendar
3. **Reconnect after a password change** — Open Sync with Other Calendars Choose Google and disconnect Reconnect and grant access again
4. **Mark blocking events as Busy** — Open the event in Google Calendar Set 'Show as' to Busy so it blocks Acuity availability

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/calendar-not-syncing

### Can't Log In to Acuity Scheduling

Acuity moved accounts to Squarespace logins, which reset passwords. Log in at acuityscheduling.com, follow the redirect to Squarespace, and set a new password there.

1. **Log in through Squarespace** — Go to acuityscheduling.com and click Log in Sign in on the Squarespace page you're redirected to
2. **Reset your password** — Use the Squarespace password reset with the email you used for Acuity Create a new password when prompted

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/cant-log-in

### Acuity Double Booking Appointments

Double bookings happen when outside calendars aren't syncing, two calendars sync with each other, or no resource limits are set. Fix the sync and use resources to cap simultaneous bookings.

1. **Repair calendar sync** — Open Sync with Other Calendars Reconnect any calendar that shows an error
2. **Remove duplicate sync paths** — Stop one of two outside calendars that sync with each other Make sure only one team member syncs a shared calendar
3. **Add resources** — Create a resource for each room/provider Assign it to appointment types to cap bookings at the same time

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/double-booking

### Acuity Showing No Available Times to Clients

Most often caused by private appointment types, Look Busy / Minimize Gaps hiding slots, blocked time or synced busy events, or fully booked resources. If nothing shows, clients see 'Online scheduling is not currently available'.

1. **Turn off Look Busy and Minimize Gaps** — Disable both settings temporarily Reload the scheduling page to see if times return
2. **Check appointment type visibility** — Make the appointment types public, or send clients the direct link to private types
3. **Review availability and blocks** — Check hours for AM/PM mistakes On the Calendar page, remove blocked time or the synced external event covering the slot
4. **Check resources and classes** — Make sure the resource the appointment needs isn't fully booked Add class times to the calendar manually

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/no-available-times

### Acuity Not Syncing With Outlook / Office 365

Two-way sync only works with web-based Outlook.com, Office 365 with an online calendar, or Exchange. Other Outlook setups can only use a one-way subscription, and Microsoft calendars can lag up to 10 minutes.

1. **Identify your Outlook type** — Try logging in at outlook.com and at the Office 365 web portal If neither works, ask your IT team whether you are on Exchange If none apply, set up a one-way calendar subscription instead
2. **Reconnect the Outlook sync** — Go to Sync with Other Calendars Disable the existing Outlook sync Reconnect and choose the default calendar
3. **Make changes in Acuity, not Outlook** — Reschedule or edit appointments inside Acuity; changes made in Outlook are replaced on the next sync
4. **Allow time for updates** — Wait up to 10 minutes before assuming the sync failed

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/outlook-calendar-not-syncing

### Acuity Reminder Emails Not Sending

If one client stops getting reminders, they likely marked an Acuity email as spam - Acuity then blocks all future emails to them until support removes the block. If nobody gets them, check that reminders are active for the appointment type.

1. **Check the appointment type's notifications** — Open the client email settings for reminders Make sure reminders aren't disabled for the affected appointment type
2. **Ask support to unblock a spam-flagged client** — Contact Acuity Customer Support with the client's email Ask them to remove the address from the blocked list Have the client whitelist the sender
3. **Check reminder timing** — Set the reminder at least 1 hour before the appointment Book a test appointment with your own email to confirm delivery

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/reminder-emails-not-sending

### Acuity Scheduler Not Showing on Website

On Squarespace, use the Scheduling block rather than pasted code; elsewhere paste Acuity's embed code into a Custom HTML block. WordPress.com free plans don't allow iframes.

1. **Use the right block** — Squarespace: add a Scheduling block Other sites: copy the embed code from Acuity's direct links/embed settings and paste it into a Custom HTML block
2. **Test on a plain page** — Add the embed to a blank page outside your page builder Hard-refresh or try another browser to rule out caching
3. **Link instead of embed** — If your platform blocks iframes, link a button to your Acuity scheduling page URL

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/scheduler-not-showing-on-website

### Acuity Stripe Payments Not Working

Usually the Stripe account isn't fully activated or the connection went stale. Finish Stripe activation, then disconnect and reconnect Stripe from Payments in Acuity.

1. **Complete Stripe activation** — Log in to Stripe and finish any pending account verification
2. **Reconnect Stripe** — In Acuity, open Payments Disconnect Stripe and connect it again Re-select your payment terms
3. **Register your domain for wallets** — If the scheduler is embedded on your site, register the domain with Stripe so Apple Pay / Google Pay show The standalone Acuity scheduling page is registered automatically

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/stripe-payment-not-working

### Acuity Text Message Reminders Not Sending

Texts only go to clients who opted in, require the Standard plan or higher, and are blocked in some countries. Confirm opt-in, the phone number on the appointment, and that the related confirmation email is active.

1. **Confirm plan and opt-in** — Check you're on Standard or Premium Open the appointment and confirm the client opted in to texts
2. **Fix the phone number** — Open the appointment details Correct the client phone number, including country code for non-US/Canada numbers
3. **Re-activate the confirmation email** — Open client email settings for the appointment type Set the confirmation email to active so the matching admin text sends
4. **Check country support** — Review Acuity's supported-countries list for text messages Fall back to email reminders for blocked countries

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/text-reminders-not-sending

### Acuity Appointments Showing Wrong Time

Wrong times usually come from mismatched time zones between Acuity and your synced calendar, or booking from the client list, which defaults to the client's last time zone. Don't shift times manually for daylight saving - Acuity does it.

1. **Match time zones** — Check the business time zone in Acuity Set the same time zone in Google/Outlook calendar settings
2. **Check the zone when booking manually** — When booking from the client list, verify the time zone before saving
3. **Let Acuity handle daylight saving** — Don't move appointments manually for DST Arizona: choose GMT-7 Arizona

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/wrong-time-zone

### Acuity Zoom Link Not Generated

Zoom links are only created for appointment types selected during Zoom setup, and Acuity connects to only one Zoom account. Enable Zoom on the appointment type or use a static link in the location field.

1. **Enable Zoom for the appointment type** — Open the Zoom integration in Acuity Select every appointment type that should get a unique Zoom link
2. **Pre-approve Acuity in Zoom** — If you see a pre-approval error, open the Zoom App Marketplace Pre-approve Acuity Scheduling (admin may be required), then reconnect
3. **Use a static link workaround** — Turn off the video integration for that calendar Paste a personal meeting link into the calendar's location field

Full guide: https://www.tryorbye.com/products/acuity-scheduling/issues/zoom-link-not-generated

## Common problems

- **Why is Acuity so expensive? No free plan and processor fees on top** (pricing): Plans cost $20-$69/month billed monthly ($16-$55 annually), and features many solo businesses need (text reminders, packages, waitlist) start on the $34 Standard plan. Acuity itself doesn't add a transaction fee, but Stripe/Square/PayPal processing fees still apply to every booking payment.
- **Confusing UI requiring excessive steps** (usability): Users report the platform is 'not user friendly' with a 'poorly designed calendaring interface'. One review mentioned needing 17 steps just to purchase a class bundle. Navigation is unintuitive and business owners struggle to preview the customer experience.
- **Acuity double booking and calendar sync problems** (reliability): Users report busy times from Google/Outlook not blocking slots, duplicate events, and double bookings - one 2026 Trustpilot reviewer said support took weeks to respond. Microsoft and iCloud calendars can take up to 10 minutes to update, and syncs break silently after a password change.
- **No free plan available** (pricing): Unlike Calendly, Cal.com or Setmore, Acuity has no free tier - only a 7-day trial (no card needed). Pricing starts at $20/month billed monthly or $16/month billed annually for a single calendar.
- **Acuity reminders not reaching clients** (reliability): Owners find out clients never got reminders: Acuity silently stops emailing anyone who marked a message as spam, text reminders require client opt-in, and SMS is blocked in some countries. There's no obvious alert in the admin when this happens.
- **Email-only support with slow responses** (support): Acuity offers no phone support, only email. Users report slow customer service and issues that remain unresolved despite multiple contact attempts. For service businesses with urgent booking problems, this is inadequate.
- **Exporting appointments is painful when you want to leave** (usability): Older reviews report the export of large appointment histories timing out or failing, pushing users toward the API (Premium only) to migrate. Fewer recent reports, but leaving Acuity with full history still takes planning.
- **Product feels outdated compared to rest of Squarespace** (usability): Users note that Acuity has been 'stuck in the dark' and feels extremely outdated while Squarespace has done an excellent job updating other features. The platform desperately needs modernization but development seems stalled.
- **Acuity Premium price increase to $69/month** (pricing): The top Premium plan (formerly Powerhouse) went from $61 to $69/month billed monthly and from $49 to $55/month billed annually. Starter ($20/$16) and Standard ($34/$27) were unchanged as of October 2026.
- **Limited reporting and clunky client records** (usability): G2 reviewers repeatedly cite weak reporting and awkward client record management; batch rescheduling only moves appointments in 30-minute increments from the original time.
- **Forced move to Squarespace login** (usability): Acuity moved accounts to Squarespace logins, resetting passwords and creating Squarespace accounts automatically. Users report confusion over which login to use and repeated sign-outs.
- **Group class booking is inadequate** (customization): The group class booking system doesn't allow flexible scheduling across different weeks. Works well for private lessons but fails for group/package-based services, limiting its usefulness for yoga studios, fitness classes, and similar businesses.
- **Acuity outages: slow scheduler and checkout errors** (reliability): Status trackers logged an October 2025 incident with slow loading and 500 errors, and a May 2026 disruption where clients couldn't redeem coupons at checkout. Each outage directly blocks bookings and payments.
- **Limited integrations compared to competitors** (integrations): Acuity has far fewer native integrations than Calendly. Zoom can only connect to one Zoom account per Acuity instance, so teams with separate Zoom accounts end up sending links manually.

## What users like

- **Built-in payment processing**: Acuity allows collecting payments at booking time via Stripe, Square, or PayPal integration. For service businesses, this reduces no-shows and ensures payment before appointments.
- **Automatic timezone adjustment**: The system automatically adjusts for different time zones, reducing confusion for businesses with clients in multiple locations. This is particularly useful for virtual service providers.
- **Intake forms and client management**: Acuity allows custom intake forms at booking time, collecting necessary client information upfront. The client management features help track appointment history and notes.
- **Automatic reminders reduce no-shows**: Email and SMS reminders help reduce appointment no-shows. Users report significant improvement in attendance rates when reminders are enabled.
- **Good Squarespace website integration**: For businesses already using Squarespace, Acuity integrates seamlessly with booking widgets, unified billing, and consistent branding across the website.

## Pricing

- **Starter**: $20.00 (monthly) — hidden costs: $16/mo only when paid annually upfront; payment processor fees on every booking payment
- **Standard**: $34.00 (monthly) — hidden costs: $27/mo when billed annually; processor fees still apply
- **Premium**: $69.00 (monthly) — hidden costs: Raised from $61 to $69/mo ($49 to $55 annual); HIPAA and API locked to this tier
- **Enterprise**: yearly — hidden costs: Custom quote via sales

## Who should and shouldn't use it

- **Businesses needing to migrate or export data** — Avoid: The data export functionality crashes with more than a handful of appointments. This is a known issue with no fix timeline, effectively locking you into the platform or forcing expensive API access.
- **Budget-conscious solopreneurs** — Avoid: With no free plan and starting prices of $20/month plus payment processor fees, Acuity is expensive for light users. Calendly's free tier or Cal.com are better budget options.
- **Businesses needing extensive integrations** — Avoid: Acuity has only 30+ integrations vs Calendly's 140+. If you need a connected tech stack with multiple tools, Acuity's limited integration options will frustrate you.
- **Group class/fitness businesses** — Depends: The group booking system has limitations for flexible scheduling across weeks. It works for basic classes but may not fit complex fitness studio needs. Evaluate carefully.
- **Service businesses taking payments (salons, spas, consultants)** — Good fit: Acuity's strength is payment collection at booking. For service businesses where no-shows are costly, the built-in payment processing is worth the subscription.
- **Squarespace website users** — Good fit: If you're already on Squarespace, Acuity integrates seamlessly with unified billing and consistent branding. The ecosystem benefits outweigh standalone alternatives.
- **Healthcare providers needing HIPAA compliance** — Good fit: Acuity offers HIPAA compliance with BAA on the Premium plan ($69/mo). For healthcare practices, this regulatory compliance is essential and the cost is justified.
- **Sales teams** — Depends: Works but Calendly has better CRM integrations. Sales teams should use Calendly or HubSpot Meetings for lead routing.
- **Teams with several Zoom accounts** — Avoid: Acuity connects to a single Zoom account, so staff with their own Zoom accounts can't each get auto-generated links.

## Alternatives

- **Calendly** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/calendly): Users wanting simpler scheduling switch to Calendly. Gain: cleaner UI, better known, more integrations. Trade-off: less service-business features.
- **Cal.com** (https://www.tryorbye.com/products/cal-com): Users switch for the generous free tier with unlimited features, open-source flexibility, and lower pricing. Appeals to tech-savvy users who want control.
- **Square Appointments**: Square users switch for payment integration. Gain: unified payments, POS integration. Trade-off: Square ecosystem required.
- **SimplyBook.me**: Users needing better customization and booking page flexibility switch to SimplyBook.me. More features for service-based businesses at similar pricing.
- **Setmore**: Budget users switch for free tier. Gain: generous free plan, simple. Trade-off: fewer features, less customization.
- **TidyCal**: Solo users switch for a one-time lifetime price instead of a monthly subscription. Trade-off: far fewer service-business features like packages and intake logic.

## FAQ

### Does Acuity Scheduling have a free plan?

No. Acuity has a 7-day free trial without a credit card, then plans start at $20/month ($16/month billed annually). Calendly, Cal.com and Setmore have free tiers.

### What are the hidden costs of Acuity Scheduling?

Acuity doesn't charge its own transaction fee, but Stripe, Square or PayPal charge processing fees on every payment. The low advertised prices ($16/$27/$55) require annual upfront billing, and text reminders, HIPAA and API access are locked to higher tiers.

### Why can't I export my data from Acuity?

Some users report large appointment exports timing out. Export in smaller date ranges from Reports, or use the API (Premium plan) for a full migration.

### Is Acuity better than Calendly?

Acuity is better for service businesses taking payments (salons, spas, healthcare). Calendly is better for virtual meeting scheduling, offers a free plan, and has 140+ integrations vs Acuity's 30+. Choose Acuity for in-person services with payments; Calendly for virtual meetings.

### Is Acuity Scheduling owned by Squarespace?

Yes, Squarespace acquired Acuity in 2019. Acuity accounts have since been moved to Squarespace logins, which reset passwords and auto-created Squarespace accounts for many users.

### Does Acuity Scheduling offer phone support?

No, Acuity offers email support only. Users report slow response times and unresolved issues despite multiple contacts. For urgent booking problems affecting your business, this lack of real-time support is a significant limitation.

### Is Acuity Scheduling HIPAA compliant?

Yes, but only on the Premium plan ($69/month, $55 annually), which includes a Business Associate Agreement. Starter and Standard are not covered by a BAA.

### How much does Acuity Scheduling cost in 2026?

Starter is $20/month ($16 annually), Standard $34/month ($27 annually), Premium $69/month ($55 annually), plus a custom-quote Enterprise plan. Payment processor fees are extra.

### Is Acuity Scheduling worth it?

Worth it for service businesses that need intake forms, packages and upfront payments. Not worth it for simple meeting booking, where free tools like Calendly or Cal.com do the job.

### Does Acuity charge a transaction fee?

No, Acuity says it doesn't charge for its payment integrations. Your payment processor (Stripe, Square, PayPal) charges its normal processing fees.

### Why is my Acuity calendar not syncing?

Usually the external calendar was disconnected after a password change, the wrong calendar was selected, or the sync is still catching up (initial syncs can take ~30 minutes; Microsoft/iCloud up to 10 minutes). Reconnect under Sync with Other Calendars.

### Why are my clients not getting Acuity reminders?

Check that reminders are active for the appointment type, that the client didn't mark an Acuity email as spam (that blocks future emails), and for texts that the client opted in and you're on Standard or higher.

### Can Acuity connect to more than one Zoom account?

No. One Acuity account connects to a single Zoom account, and each Zoom account can only link to one Acuity instance. Use a static meeting link in the location field as a workaround.

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Try or Bye aggregates problem patterns from user reviews, forums, and app stores. Methodology: https://www.tryorbye.com/methodology