6 Best CRM for Appointment Scheduling – Updated List 2024

As someone who’s deep into the professional grind, I get the scheduling struggle – the endless emails and calls just to sync up. But there’s a fix: automated appointment scheduling software.

Picture this – no more hunting for that perfect meeting time or missed appointments.

I’ve got the lowdown on the 6 best CRM for appointment-scheduling options in this blog. They’re not just about meetings but nailing your calendar game.

Here’s a quick overview of the best scheduling software that will help you say goodbye to double bookings and hello to smoother client connections!

Which Is the Best CRM for Appointment Scheduling?

Short on time? Here’s a quick look at my top 3 picks for the best appointment-scheduling CRM:

BIGContacts:

BIGContacts is an excellent choice for startups and small businesses. It excels at contact management and email marketing, crucial for building relationships with potential and existing clients. It also offers a variety of features to help you schedule appointments, such as online booking, reminders, and integrations with popular calendar apps.

SimplyBook.me:

This user-friendly CRM is perfect for businesses of all sizes, offering online booking, appointment scheduling, client management, and marketing tools. However, some users find that the mobile app could use some improvements to make on-the-go scheduling even smoother.

YouCanBook.me:

This is a great option for teams that need to schedule appointments with multiple clients. It offers team booking, group scheduling, and conflict detection. While it offers great core functionality, some users find the customization options somewhat limited.

6 Best CRM for Appointment Scheduling in 2024

To compile this list, I have assessed each tool’s ease of use and scalability, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of consultants. My evaluation includes my experiences, insights from reputable reviews, and feedback from industry peers.

1. BIGContacts – Best for Contact Management & Email Marketing for Startups & Small & Medium Businesses

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BIGContacts is a CRM platform that’s designed to help small businesses manage contacts, streamline workflows, and enhance email marketing efforts. I found it particularly effective for appointment scheduling, as it integrates a range of features that let you organize meetings directly from your CRM.

You can set automated reminders, schedule follow-ups, and use custom fields to track appointment-specific details. The built-in calendar syncs effortlessly with your email, so your appointments are always up to date.

Additionally, the CRM’s user-friendly dashboard makes it easy to track interactions, ensuring no appointment slips through the cracks. For businesses, BIGContacts truly acts as a powerful CRM for appointment scheduling, giving you more control over your customer relationships.

What You’ll Like:

• Meeting and appointment tracking with shared or individual calendar views
• Task management for repetitive actions such as manual data entry, meeting reminders, and recurring events
• Custom fields to tailor appointment details to your business needs, ensuring all relevant information is easily tracked and accessible
• Seamless integration with Google and Office 365 Calendars to keep your appointments automatically synced, helping you avoid double-bookings and stay organized
• Awesome human support 24/7 via phone, chat, and knowledge base
• The interface is user-friendly and helps in navigating easily

What You May Not Like:

• No downloadable or on-premise version
• No dedicated account manager for the free plan, unlike the paid

Pricing:

Forever free for small teams. Paid starts at $9.99/month.

2. SimplyBook.me – Best for Client Management

Image Source: SimplyBook.me

I used SimplyBook.me to streamline my appointment scheduling, which worked wonders. As one of the best appointment scheduling software options, it allowed me to manage client bookings through multiple channels, such as my website, Facebook, and even Instagram.

The software also sends automated SMS or email confirmations, which my clients appreciate. Its integration with Google Calendar kept everything in sync. I could easily customize the booking interface to reflect my brand, which gave my business a professional touch. SimplyBook.me also supports online payments via platforms like PayPal and Stripe, which makes transactions easier for my clients.

One of my favorite features was the class and membership system, perfect for scheduling recurring appointments or setting up group sessions. Plus, its promotion tools helped me retain customers by offering discounts and sending reminders to those who hadn’t booked in a while.

What You’ll Like:

• Customizable booking pages that seamlessly align with your brand to enhance customer trust and improve conversion rates
• Integration with Google and Outlook calendars for seamless scheduling
• Extensive support for various payment gateways, such as PayPal and Stripe, for seamless transactions
• Automated reminders to significantly decrease the number of missed appointments, saving time and money

What You May Not Like:

• Some users reported difficulty in accessing their accounts after subscription lapses
• Customer support can be unresponsive at times

Pricing:

Starts at $9.19/month.

3. Zendesk – Best for AI-based Automation

Image Source: Zendesk help

I used Zendesk to manage my small business’s customer service operations. I created tickets for customer inquiries, tracked the progress of those tickets, and communicated with my customers directly through the platform.

Zendesk also made it easy for me to schedule appointments with my customers. I could create a booking page on my website, and customers could choose a time that worked for them. I would then receive a notification when a customer booked an appointment, and I could confirm the appointment through Zendesk.

Zendesk is one of the best appointment scheduling software because it is easy to use, comprehensive, and affordable. It also integrates with other popular business applications, such as Google Calendar and Outlook.

What You’ll Like:

• AI-powered chatbots to automate routine inquiries and improve response times
• Collaboration tools with features like internal notes and shared ownership to ensure consistent and well-informed customer service
• Customizable dashboards and reports to give valuable insights into team performance and customer satisfaction
• Custom ticket forms to gather the necessary information upfront, streamlining appointment bookings and reducing back-and-forth communication

What You May Not Like:

• Setting up for large businesses can be complex, often leading to delays and increased costs
• Customer support often has slow response times, leading to customer frustration and dissatisfaction

Pricing:

Starts at $19/month.

4. Engagebay – Best for Marketing Automation

Image Source: EngageBay

I used Engagebay to manage my small business’s marketing and sales efforts. It was a very user-friendly platform that included all the features I needed to create targeted email campaigns, landing pages, and marketing workflows.

One of the things I liked most about Engagebay was its appointment-scheduling features. I added a scheduling widget to my website so potential clients could book appointments directly. I could also share a scheduling link via email or social media.

Engagebay is also integrated with my Google Calendar to avoid double-booking appointments. Engagebay is one of the best meeting scheduling software on the market because it is easy to use, affordable, and feature-rich.

What You’ll Like:

• The intuitive drag-and-drop makes creating marketing campaigns and automated workflows, even for someone without any coding experience
• Effortless appointment booking directly from the website or emails to help convert more leads into scheduled consultations
• Milestone tracking feature to set and track milestones for your marketing campaigns and sales goals
• Social media post scheduling in advance to save time

What You May Not Like:

• Some users have reported inconsistencies with email deliverability, potentially impacting the effectiveness of email marketing campaigns
• Not suitable for highly complex, multi-step workflows and advanced personalization

Pricing:

Starts at $14.9/user/month.

Read more: 8 Best EngageBay CRM Alternatives: Detailed Comparison

5. YouCanBookMe – Best for Team Booking

Image Source: YouCanBookMe

I used to deal with the constant back-and-forth of scheduling meetings with multiple team members until I discovered YouCanBook.me. This web-based scheduling software provided each team member with a personalized booking page that synced with our calendars.

Clients could easily see our real-time availability and book appointments without needing to email or call. The team booking feature made it incredibly simple to coordinate schedules, manage teams, and avoid conflicts. With automated notifications and reminders, the number of no-shows decreased significantly.

But what set YouCanBook.me apart was its flexibility. I could customize booking pages, set buffer times between meetings, and even accept payments through the platform. Plus, the integrations with video conferencing tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams made scheduling virtual meetings a breeze.

What You’ll Like:

• Customizable booking pages to personalize my booking page to match the brand voice, making it look professional and inviting
• Multiple calendar integrations like Google Calendar, so you never have to worry about double-bookings
• Payment processing directly through the platform to simplify the invoicing process
• Group bookings feature to quickly set up group sessions or workshops, allowing multiple people to book at once

What You May Not Like:

• While generally reliable, there have been a few instances where the system experienced minor glitches
• A mobile app would make it even easier to manage bookings on the go

Pricing:

Starts at $9/month.

6. Hubspot – Best for Centralized Sales, Marketing, & Support Operations

Image Source: Hubspot

I used HubSpot to manage my small business’s customer relationships. It was a user-friendly platform with all the features I needed to track my leads, contacts, and deals. I was also impressed with HubSpot’s email marketing and live chat features, which helped me nurture leads and convert them into customers.

One of the things I liked most about HubSpot was its appointment scheduling features. I created a booking page on my website so potential clients could book appointments directly. I could also share a scheduling link via email or social media. HubSpot is also integrated with my Google Calendar to avoid double-booking appointments.

HubSpot is one of the best appointment-scheduling software options on the market. Overall, I was satisfied with HubSpot and would recommend it to any small business owner looking for an all-in-one CRM platform.

What You’ll Like:

• Visual workflow builder to automate repetitive marketing tasks, such as lead nurturing email sequences, internal notifications, and data updates
• Lead capture tools like customizable forms, pop-up CTAs to landing pages, and live chat to attract and capture leads
• Social media management to schedule and publish content across multiple social media platforms directly from HubSpot
• Sales pipeline management to track deals and opportunities from initial contact to close and leverage AI-powered insights to prioritize sales activities and improve win rates

What You May Not Like:

• While HubSpot provides a variety of templates for emails, landing pages, etc., the extent of customization might be restrictive
• Exporting or migrating your data can be complex and time-consuming

Pricing:

Starts at $20/user/month.

Read more: 10 Best HubSpot Alternatives Worth Trying in 2024 

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of products or tools chosen for this article follows an unbiased, systematic approach that ensures a fair, insightful, and well-rounded review. This method employs six key factors:

1. User Reviews / Ratings: Direct experiences from users, including ratings and feedback from reputable sites, provide a ground-level perspective. This feedback is critical in understanding overall satisfaction and potential problems.
2. Essential Features & Functionality: The value of a product is ascertained by its core features and overall functionality. Through an in-depth exploration of these aspects, the practical usefulness and effectiveness of the tools are carefully evaluated.
3. Ease of Use: The user-friendliness of a product or service is assessed, focusing on the design, interface, and navigation. This ensures a positive experience for users of all levels of expertise.
4. Customer Support: The quality of customer support is examined, taking into account its efficiency and how well it supports users in different phases – setting up, addressing concerns, and resolving operational issues.
5. Value for Money: Value for money is evaluated by comparing the quality, performance, and features. The goal is to help the reader understand whether they would be getting their money’s worth.
6. Personal Experience / Experts’ Opinions: This part of the evaluation criteria draws insightful observations from the personal experience of the writer and the opinions of industry experts.

Optimize Your Scheduling With CRM for Appointment Scheduling

Finding the best CRM for appointment scheduling can be very helpful in the quest to streamline your scheduling. A well-suited CRM not only automates and simplifies the booking process but also enhances your client experience by providing a seamless and professional way to manage appointments.

By centralizing your client interactions and scheduling in one platform, you can eliminate the issue of double bookings, reduce no-shows, and optimize your time. The ability to sync with your calendar, send automated reminders, and even process payments directly from your CRM saves you countless hours and improves overall efficiency.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use CRM with effective scheduling capabilities, BIGContacts is worth considering. Its intuitive interface, integration with your favorite calendar tools, and forever-free plan make it a compelling option for businesses and individuals.

Frequently Asked Quetions

What is a CRM for appointment scheduling?

A CRM for appointment scheduling is like a super-organized assistant for your calendar. It not only lets you manage appointments but also ties them to your customer information, making it super easy to track leads, send reminders, and keep everything connected.

What different features are needed in an appointment scheduling CRM?

You'll need a calendar view, online booking, automated reminders, and payment processing. If you have a team, features for group scheduling and staff management are crucial. Lastly, integrations with your existing tools, like email and video conferencing, will streamline your workflow.

What is the best scheduling software for personal use?

BIGContacts is a suitable choice for a free and simple way to manage your schedule. It's designed with ease of use in mind and offers a forever-free plan, perfect for those who want a no-fuss appointment scheduling software free solution without breaking the bank. Plus, it's not just about appointments – you also get essential contact management to keep things organized.

How to choose the best CRM for calendar scheduling?

Prioritize a CRM that offers seamless calendar integration, automated reminders, and the flexibility to book appointments directly from the platform. Consider your team's size and specific needs, and don't hesitate to take advantage of free trials to test the waters before committing!

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