- Online Booking: Allow customers to book appointments and classes directly from your website.
- Staff & Availability Management: Control individual and company-wide availability with flexible rules.
- WordPress Integration: Fully embedded booking experience using the official WordPress plugin.
- Online Payments: Accept and manage payments through Stripe before or after appointments.
- Customer Communication: Automated email and text reminders reduce no-shows and cancellations.
- Integrations: Connect with Google Calendar, Zoom, Mailchimp, Zapier, and Google Analytics.
Startbooking
Simple online scheduling software for small service-based businesses
Updated April 8, 2026
Startbooking Overview
Start Booking is an online scheduling and appointment management platform designed for small businesses and service professionals. It helps users accept bookings, manage staff availability, collect online payments, and communicate with customers from one centralized system.
With strong WordPress integration, calendar syncing, and built-in CRM features, it focuses on reducing admin work while improving booking experiences for clients.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Featured |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $79/year (Billed Annually) | 1 Staff Account, Unlimited Services & Bookings, Google Calendar 2‑Way Sync |
| Business | $149/year (Billed Annually) | 5 Staff Accounts, Text Notifications with Credits, Upsells & Packages |
| Pro | $299/year (Billed Annually) | 10+ Staff Accounts, Priority Support, Webhooks & Zapier Integration |
| Enterprise | Custom Quote | Custom Implementation, Dedicated Support, Advanced Configuration |
Price details: https://www.startbooking.com/pricing
Pros
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| Vagaro | Start Booking is significantly simpler and more affordable for small teams compared to Vagaro’s per-user pricing. It focuses on essential scheduling and CRM features without overwhelming users, making setup faster and ongoing management easier for solo professionals and small service businesses. |
| Calendly | Unlike Calendly’s meeting-focused approach, Start Booking is built specifically for service businesses. It supports classes, group bookings, staff management, and payments in one system, offering more operational depth at a predictable annual price. |
| Acuity Scheduling | Start Booking offers a cleaner interface and stronger WordPress-native integration than Acuity. Its flat yearly pricing can be more cost-effective for businesses needing multiple staff accounts without rising monthly costs. |
| SimplyBook.me | Compared to SimplyBook.me’s add-on based pricing, Start Booking bundles most features into each plan. This reduces complexity and makes it easier for small businesses to understand exactly what they are paying for upfront. |
| Amelia | Start Booking requires less technical setup than Amelia and includes hosted booking options alongside WordPress. It is better suited for users who want quick deployment without managing advanced plugin configurations. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| Vagaro | Compared to Vagaro, Start Booking lacks industry-specific tools like inventory management and built-in marketing automation. Larger salons or spas may find Vagaro better suited for complex, multi-location operations. |
| Calendly | Calendly offers more advanced integrations for corporate workflows and enterprise scheduling. Start Booking may feel limited for teams that primarily need meeting coordination rather than service-based appointment management. |
| Acuity Scheduling | Acuity provides deeper customization for intake forms and complex booking logic. Power users who rely heavily on conditional workflows may find Start Booking less flexible. |
| SimplyBook.me | SimplyBook.me supports a wider range of niche features through add-ons. Start Booking’s more streamlined feature set may not cover very specialized booking requirements. |
| Amelia | Amelia can be more cost-effective long-term for WordPress-only users with one-time licensing. Start Booking’s subscription model may be less appealing for users who prefer lifetime licenses. |
Reviews
- Trustpilot Review (Rating: 2.5/5): Multiple reviewers report that Start Booking goes down for hours at a time, with one saying it stayed offline for 24 hours and caused lost income. They describe “absolutely zero customer support,” a nonworking 1-800 number, emails that never receive replies, and a chat feature that only lets users send messages without real-time help. One long-term customer paying $25 a month complains about paying extra for basic features and plans to switch to Calendly.
- Capterra Review (Rating: 3/5): The available snippet notes that Start Booking “checks all the basic boxes” for online booking and packages core features into a “neat and tidy” solution, suggesting it covers essential scheduling needs without unnecessary complexity.
