Ifyou'relookingforacustomizableWordPressbookingpluginthatmakessettingupanappointmentaseasyaspossibleforyourvisitors,automatesstaffscheduling,andacceptsonlinepayments,you'vecometotherightplace.
Asalong-timeuserofWordPress,I'vecomeacrossloadsofbookingplugins.Soforthispiece,Iconsideredandresearcheddozensofoptionsanddidin-depthtestingonthetopcontenderstonarrowitdowntothesesevenWordPressappointmentbookingplugins.
ThereareliterallyhundredsoffreeandpremiumappointmentbookingpluginsforWordPressand,consequently,plentyof(longish)listsofthebestones.Sowhatmakesthislistdifferent
Here,I'veselectedthestandoutplugins.Itwouldhavebeeneasytoproduceanotherlonglist,butI'vetriedtoweedoutthe"alsorans"andleaveyouwiththecreamofthecrop.Forinstance,pluginsthatonlydisplayavailableappointmentsbutoffernowaytomakeabookingweren'tconsidered.I'vealsoonlyfocusedontrueWordPressplugins—notembeddablethird-partyappslikeCalendly.
Also:Ididn'tjustreadtheseapps'marketingmaterialsandcustomerreviews.IspentdozensofhoursresearchingandtestingthebestWordPressappointmentbookingplugins.Ieitherusedthedemositesorinstalledandactivatedeachoneinturn,configuredthesettingsaccordingly,andtestedtheappointmentbookingfunctionality.
ThebottomlineisthatalltheseWordPressappointmentbookingpluginsalldomuchthesametovaryingdegrees.Andwhilesomeareindustry-specific,manyareversatileenoughtoworkinvarioussectors.AsIwastestingtheplugins,here'swhatIwaslookingfor:
Easeofuse.Therearetwosidestoconsiderhere.Onthebackend,youwantauser-friendlyadmindashboardtoviewandmanagebookings,andonthefrontend,youwantabookingformthatmakessettingupanappointmentaseasyaspossibleforvisitors.Anypluginthatfailedthisfirsttestwaseliminated.
Customizationoptions.You'llalsowantsettingsthatallowyoutomodifythebookingexperience,suchasacustomizablecalendarorbookingformthatyoucanplaceanywhereonyourwebsite.IwasalsolookingforintegrationoptionswithstandardcalendartoolssuchasGoogle,Outlook,andiCal.
Automations.Abigpartofintroducinganappointmentbookingsystemisautomatingyourworkflow.Forexample,triggeringautomatedappointmentconfirmationsandremindersuponbookingforboththesiteadminsandtheusers.
Multipleservices,schedules,andstaff.Insomecases,you'llwantapluginthatsupportsmultipleserviceproviders,suchaspersonaltrainers,doctors,anddentists,ondifferentschedules,inoneormorelocations.
Payments.You'llalsowantoptionsforacceptingonlinepaymentsforappointments,possiblysupportingmultiplelanguagesandcurrencies.
Overall,IwhittledthelistdowntothesevenbestappointmentbookingpluginsforWordPress.
Bestfor
Standoutfeature
Pricing
Multi-site,multi-servicebusinesses
Insightfuladmindashboard
Freeliteversionavailable;startsat$79/year
Accommodationavailability
Supportsanunlimitednumberofbookingresources(propertiesorservices)
Freeversionavailable;startsat$79/year
Separatestaffandmanagerdashboards
Extensivepaymentgatewayoptions
Freeliteversionavailable;startsat$99/year
Servicebusinesses
Real-timebookingsofcustomtimeslots
Freeliteversionavailable;startsat$59/year
Hotelsandvacationproperties
Synchronizesbookingsacrossonlinetravelplatforms(OTAs)
Salon-basedbusinesses
Mobileappforstaffmemberstomanageschedules
Freeversionavailable;startsat$69/year
Consultantsandsmallbusinesses
Brilliantsetupwizardgetsyoulivein5minutes
Freeversionavailable;startsat$99/year
Ameliapros:
Perfectformulti-site,multi-servicebusinesses
Providesaninsightfuladmindashboardwithkeymetrics
Ameliacons:
Somepeoplemayfeeloverwhelmedbyallthefeatures
TheAmeliaWordPressbookingpluginforappointmentsandeventsisperfectformulti-site,multi-servicebusinessessuchaslawfirms,fitnessgyms,healthclinics,andspasalons.Thepluginenablescustomerstoselecttherightservice,withtherightperson,andmakesiteasyforthemtorescheduleappointments.
WithAmelia,youcansendautomatedemail,SMS,andWhatsAppnotificationsandremindersforbooked,canceled,orrescheduledappointments,andyoucanchoosewhetheryouwanttosendthemtoemployees,customers,orboth.
Inthebackend,businessowners/managersgetadashboardwithwidgets,charts,andtablessummarizingvariousmetricsandKPIs,likeapprovedappointments,revenue,andemployeeworkload,plusanupcomingschedule.TheWYSIWYGeditorletsyoucustomizecolors,information,andfontstomakeappointmentbookingformsandeventcalendarformsthatfityourwebsite.
Onthefrontend,youcanchoosefromseveralstylesofmobile-friendlybookingforms,likeaclassicstep-by-stepappointmentbookingform,acatalogbookingform,oraneventlistbookingform.Customerscanquicklypickservices,employees,location,dateandtime,andpaymentdetailsandchangeanysettingswithoutleavingthebookingpage.
Thefreeliteversioniswell-equipped,butyou'llwantthepremiumversionforonlinepayments,WhatsAppintegration,recurringappointments,unlimitedemployees,customnotifications,reminders,multilingualsupport,anddifferenteventticketoptions.
BookingCalendarpros:
ImportandexportbookingstoyourGoogleCalendar
BookingCalendarcons:
Thefrontenddisplaycanlookalittlesimplisticcomparedtootherapps
BookingCalendarisidealforallbusinesssizes,frompersonalsitestomulti-userserviceslikeaccommodationbookings,equipmentrentals,andresourcescheduling.Visitorscancheckavailabilityinthecalendarandthenmakeareservationfortheirpreferreddaysortimeslots.
Althoughthepluginlooksrelativelysimplisticonthefrontend,itsupportsunlimitedbookingresources,likepropertiesorservices,eachwithitsowncalendar,topreventdoublebookings.So,youcandisplayunavailable,pending,andbookeddates(indifferentcolors)forthevariousresources.
Ithasauser-friendlyadmindashboardforreceivingandmanagingbookingsinacalendarovervieworlistingpanel.Youcanconfigurethebookingformstructureandselectyourcalendarskintofityoursitedesign.Youcanalsocustomizeemailtemplatesfordifferentbookingactions.
Yougetevenmorefeaturesasyoumoveupthroughthepremiumversions.Forexample,youcanstartsettingdifferentratesforseasons,daysoftheweek,ornumberofdaysselected.Thereareevenoptionsforearlyorlast-minutebookingdiscounts.Thecustomizationhereisniceandmeansit'llworkforawidevarietyofbusinesses.
BookingPresspros:
Separatedashboardsforsiteadminsandstaffmembers
Extensiverangeofpaymentgatewaysandfreeadd-ons
BookingPresscons:
Someusersmayfindthepremiumplansabitpricey
BookingPressisacomprehensiveWordPressappointmentbookingpluginforanyservice-basedindustry,includinghealthandwellness,gyms,salons,medicalclinics,serviceandmaintenance,equipmentrentals,andprofessionalservices.
Behindthescenes,therearetwotypesofdashboards:oneforsiteadminsandoneforstaffmembers.Thisallowsanyoneonyourteamtoaddandviewtheirappointments,setdaysoff,addservices,andtracktheirperformance.
Intheadminpanel,yougetabuilt-ineditortocustomizeyourbookingform,fromcolorsandfontstotitlesandlayout.Plus,youcansetautomaticnotificationsandremindersviaemail,WhatsApp,orSMS.BookingPressalsosyncswithothercalendarslikeGoogleandOutlooksothatstaffcanschedulebookingswithotheritemsintheirpersonalcalendars.
Onthefrontend,youcanconfigureastep-by-stepbookingformtakingvisitorsthroughyourmenuoptions.Forexample,selectyourhairstylistandtypeofcut,addanyextras,chooseadateandtime,applyanycoupons,andtakeadepositpayment.
MotoPressAppointmentBookingpros:
Workswithmulti-location,multi-servicebusinesses
Letsyouaddandcustomizeunlimitedservicesandemployees
MotoPressAppointmentBookingcons:
Onlydisplaysbookingformasawidgetratherthanafullpage
TheMotoPressappointmentbookingpluginmakesiteasyforservice-basedcompaniesthatusemeetings,classes,orsessionstoacceptbookingsandappointmentsonline.Itworkswitharangeofappointment-basedbusinessesthatoffermultipleservicesinseverallocations.Forexample,youcouldrentoutrecordingstudiosinthreecitiesformusicproduction,podcastproduction,andrecordingsessions.Othertypicalbusinessesinclude:
Barbershops,hairdressers,andbeautysalons
Tutoringbusinessesandonlineclasses
Healthcareandmedicalcenters
Sportsfacilitiesandfitnessinstructors
Visitorstoyoursitecanbookappointmentsstep-by-stepviathemobile-optimizedbookingformwidget.Forexample,selectacategory/service/location/person,chooseasuitabledate/time,andmakethepayment(onlineoruponarrival).Regularclientsalsohavetheoptiontologintotheiraccountstoschedulerecurringappointmentsfaster.
Youcansendautomatedemailnotificationsandreminderstoclientsandstaffmembersbeforeandaftertheappointment.Plus,there'sanoptionalpremiumextensiontointegrateTwilioforSMSnotifications.
Theuser-friendlyadmindashboardletsyoucustomizemultiplesettings.Youcanaddtimeslotbookingfornumerousservices,addlock-outhours,addandmanageemployees,setemployeeschedulesandholidays,creatediscountcoupons,andallowcustomerstobookmultipleservices.
Thedashboardalsogivesyouabird's-eyeviewofbookingsinlistandcalendarformat,soadminsandteammemberscanquicklychecktheircurrentappointments.Asidefromthebookingwidget,youcanalsocreatewidgetstoshowcaseemployees'experienceanddesignlistsofservicesandlocations.
MotoPressHotelBookingpros:
Syncallyourbookingsfromonlinetravelplatforms(OTAs)inonecalendar
ManageyourbookingsfromanywherewiththededicatedHotelBookingmobileapp
MotoPressHotelBookingcons:
Ifyouneedtheoptionaladd-onsformanagingpayments,itbecomesexpensive
MotoPressalsooffersahotelbookingplugin:anall-in-onepropertymanagementsuiteforhotels,resorts,vacationhomes,apartments,campsites,bedandbreakfasts,andothertypesofrentalproperties.It'scapableofhandlingunlimitedproperties—includingunlimitedroomsintheaccommodation—orasingleproperty,anditcanalsoprocessmultiplebookingsbyoneuserinonereservation.
Youcancustomizethesettingsforyourpropertytypefromtheuser-friendlyadmindashboard.Forexample,youcansetthenumberofseasons,bookingrules(minimumandmaximumnights),rates(room,occupancy,weekly,monthly),extraservices,taxesandfees,discountsandcouponcodes,andemailnotifications.
Onyoursite,visitorscanchecktheavailabilityofindividualpropertiesorroomsinacolor-codedcalendaroruseadedicatedsearchform.Youcanmanuallyconfirmbookingrequestsintheadmindashboardorprocesstheminstantlyviaemailoruponpayment(infullorfixeddeposit).ThepluginacceptspaymentsviaseveralgatewayslikePayPal,Stripe,and2Checkout,butyoucanalsointegratemorethroughadedicatedWooCommercepaymentextension.
Thepluginenablesyoutosynchronizeallbookingsacrossonlinetravelplatforms(OTAs)likeAirbnb,Booking,TripAdvisor,HomeAway,oranyotherthatsupportsiCal(withnoper-bookingorper-propertycommission).Plus,youcanalsoaddandmanageyourbookingsonyourmobilephonewiththededicatedHotelBookingmobileapp.
SalonBookingSystempros:
Manageyourbookingsfromthemobileapp
AddfunctionalitylikeSMSnotificationswith30+freeadd-ons
SalonBookingSystemcons:
Wouldbenefitfrommorefrontendstylingandlayoutfeatures
TheSalonBookingSystempluginisidealforbeautysalons,hairdressers,barbershops,andspas,butit'salsobeenusedbyeverythingfromCOVIDtestcentersandhealthcarecenterstotherapistsandtutors.
Thesiteadmincanview,add,andcancelreservationsfromtheirGoogleCalendarwithtwo-waysynchronization.Andonthebackend,there'saneasy-to-useadminpanelforconfiguringsalonsettingsbyaddingsaloninformation,settingemailnotifications,creatingschedulingrules,definingyourservices,andaddingyourassistants.Thepluginautomaticallycreatesthreedefaultpages—Booking,Bookingmyaccount,andThankyouforbooking—alongwithtwoassistantsandthreeservicestogetyoustarted.
Youcancustomizethelookandfeeloftheform'sstylewiththreedifferentbookingformsizesaccordingtoyourpagelayoutandacustomcolorpalette.Onceyou'reupandrunning,there'sacalendarandlistviewofbookingsandareportssectionwithstatsonreservationsandrevenues.
Onthefrontend,visitorsseeastep-by-stepbookingsystem.Atthecheckout,youcanenableguestcheckoutorofferaFacebookloginfornewvisitors.Meanwhile,existingcustomerscanlogintocheck,reschedule,andcancelbookings,viewtheirreservationhistory,andmakenewappointments.
SimplyScheduleAppointmentspros:
Brilliantsetupwizardgetsyourfirstappointmenttypeliveinfiveminutes
Comeswithunlimitedcalendars,appointments,andnotifications
SimplyScheduleAppointmentscons:
RequirestheBusinessEdition(whichispricey)formultiplestaffandresources
SimplyScheduleAppointmentsisaneasy-to-useWordPressappointmentbookingplugin.It'sidealforconsultantsandsmallbusinesseswhowanttoschedulephone/videocallsforconsultations,interviews,orotherpredefinedservices.Butit'snotlimitedtothosedisciplines—youcouldeasilyuseitforbookinglessons,handypersonservices,hairappointments,oranythingelse.
Iwasreallyimpressedwiththesetupwizard,andtruetoitsclaims,Ihadmyfirstappointmentbookingformliveinfiveminutes.Comparedtootherplugins,it'sadreamtoconfigure.
Youcandecidewhenyou'reavailableforappointmentsandblockoffdateswhenyoudon'twanttobedisturbedforbookings—nomorephonecallsorback-and-forthemailstofindameetingtimethatworks.Youalsogettoaddbuffertimeandsetuptime,so,forexample,youcouldsetaleadtimeoftwodaystoallowformeetingpreparationandabufferof15minutesbeforeandafterabookingforextraflexibilityinyourschedule.
Thefreeversionisexcellent,butthepremiumversiongivesyouextrafeatureslikeStripeandPayPalforpayments,SMSnotificationswithTwilio,ZoomandGoogleMeetforvirtualmeetings,andGoogleCalendarSyncwithyoursite'sbookingsystemtocheckyourpersonalcalendarforconflicts.
Ifyou'relookingfortheCalendlyofWordPressbookingplugins,thisisit.
IfyouwanttotakebookingsonyourWordPresssite,you'llneedapluginorathird-partyapp.Ifyou'realreadyusingastandaloneappandarecomfortablewithitsfunctionality,thatmaybeyourbestbet.Butifyou'restartingfromscratch,thenchoosingandinstallingaWordPresspluginmakesmoresense—it'sfully-integrated,offersthesamefunctionality,andusuallycostsless.
Alltheappointmentbookingpluginslistedherecomewithafreeversion,soyoucangetafeelforwhattheyofferbeforeinvestinginthepremiumversion.Whileoneortwoareindustry-specific,manywillworkinvariousscenarios,sodon'tbeafraidtoseewhichworksbestforyou.
IfIwerechoosingoneformybusiness,I'dgoforSimplyScheduleAppointments.Butwhichonewillyouchoose