Are you looking for an easy way to schedule appointments with your clients? Implementing an online appointment booking system can streamline the scheduling process for both you and your clients. In this article, I’ll explain how to schedule clients on your WordPress website and share some top-rated tools to help you do that.
The Challenge of Traditional Appointment Booking
Scheduling appointments through email or phone can be time-consuming, often involving a lot of back-and-forth to find a suitable time. This can be especially challenging if your services require advanced booking, such as consultations or in-person services. It’s crucial to provide a quick and smooth way for your website visitors to schedule appointments.
How to Schedule Clients on Your WordPress Website
If you have a WordPress site, there are two primary methods for online appointment booking:
1) Use a Scheduling Plugin
You can use a scheduling or appointment plugin to enable clients to book appointments directly on your website. Numerous WordPress plugins are available that may suit your needs. Remember to go through the steps to evaluate any plugin before installing it.
2) Or…Sign up for an Online Scheduling Tool
Alternatively, you can use an online scheduling tool and include a link on your website to the appointment page provided by that service.
Schedule Clients Using WordPress Plugins
1) Simply Schedule By N Squared
This plugin has outstanding reviews, and the free version has many features —a helpful setup wizard, unlimited appointment types, blackout dates, advanced scheduling options, customizable notification emails and styles, and 1-click support. The paid plans start at $99/year.
2) WP Booking Calendar By wpdevelop, oplugins
WP Booking Calendar was the first booking system developed for WordPress. It offers full-day bookings, time-slot appointments, and event management in one system. This plugin also provides an easy-to-use booking system for displaying availability, receiving bookings, and managing them through a user-friendly admin panel. Plans start at $39 per year for a single-site license.
3) Bookly By Nota-Info
Bookly is a free WordPress plugin that helps you schedule appointments online and manage your booking calendar. While the free version is great to start with, the paid Bookly Pro add-on offers more features, such as online payments and unlimited staff members and services. Bookly Pro is $89 for a regular license.
Schedule Clients Using Online Scheduling Tools
An online scheduling tool allows visitors to schedule a private appointment with you. These tools offer more functionalities and require less maintenance than the above plugins, but most plans are not free.
Please note that this differs from embedding a Google Calendar on your WordPress Site. When you embed a Google Calendar, you are displaying YOUR events.
1) Calendly
Calendly is the most popular free online booking tool today, and its free plan offers many important features.
Calendly allows you to set their availability and share a link, enabling others to book time slots that work for both parties easily. Plus, it integrates with popular calendar apps, streamlining scheduling for individuals and teams. The basic plan is free, and the paid plans start at $10/mo per user.
2) Acuity Schedule
Acuity Scheduling is a great tool for service businesses that need to schedule appointments and take payments. It has an easy-to-use booking webpage and sends reminders to customers. You can also set up recurring appointments and appointment packages. Acuity works with different payment processors. Pricing for the lowest plan is $16/mo per user after the free trial.
3) Setmore
Setmore is a great choice for businesses needing a quick, free booking solution. Its setup is fast and easy: create an account, customize your booking page and team availability, set up scheduling rules, and configure payment processing.
Setmore has a free plan for up to four users, which offers plenty of payment options and integration features. However, the free plan lacks advanced features like coupons and intake forms, and the calendar sync is limited. Paid plans offer many more features and start at $5/mo.
Final Thoughts on Scheduling Clients on Your WordPress Website
Are you looking for a simple way to manage appointments with your clients? An online appointment booking system can make scheduling more efficient for you and your clients.
When selecting a scheduling tool, consider factors such as ease of use, integration with your existing tools, pricing, and specific features that suit your business needs. While I’ve highlighted a few tools for scheduling clients on your WordPress website, there are many more options available.
Take the time to evaluate which plugins or services are the best fit for your business. Start with options that are free or have a low initial cost so you can try them out with minimal risk. Once you’ve chosen the right tool, add online booking to your WordPress website and see how much smoother scheduling becomes for you and your clients!
(Originally published in March 2105. Updated September 2024)
Do you have any favorite scheduling plugins/tools? Please share in the comment below!
Hi Christina,
Thanks for this. I was thinking of using Time Trade and you made it easy to decide!
Bev
Beverly,
I love Time Trade, as it’s super easy to setup
and it sends them emails about the calls. I only pay $49 a year with the professional version: http://www.timetrade.com/products-pro-pricing
and my team manages it.
Glad to help you on your decision 🙂
Great post Christina, I discovered a couple I didn’t know before.
I use Youcanbook.me for mine. Even the free level has a ton of features and like many syncs w/ Google calendar.
There’s a new one that is a phone/tablet app only called Prompt.ly All the features are free right now, while it’s in beta. I haven’t tried it out yet.
Kathy,
Thanks for mentioning these other scheduling systems. Yes there are a lot out there to pick from 🙂
Christina –
Thank your for doing the follow-up to the last article on Google calendar! Very helpful! I’m looking into these right now and you have saved me time. And filled in with a few other options I had not found yet. Thanks!
Greg
Yes I love Google Calendar, and always love sending tips about using it!
Christina do you have a recommendation for a scheduler for multiple users..ie 4 life coaches? I see time trade has the option. Any others?
Betsy,
Since I have not done that, you will just have to try it.
Timetrade has been around a long time, so I trust they know what they are doing.
But as always, the proof is in the pudding 😉
Hi Christina,
I wanted to mention that vCita.com is an online scheduling tool that can integrate with a website and has a plugin for WordPress. I signed on when they had a free version thankfully and I love their service. I use it for generating leads and scheduling free consultations and client calls. Now they only offer a free 14-day trial. It’s been a lifesaver by automatically converting time zones and bringing in leads every month. Love it!
Susan,
cool resource! I didn’t know about vCita.com. Thanks!