Setmore vs Square Appointments (2026)
By Noahlast updated
Setmore
SetmoreFree online appointment scheduling software with booking pages, payment processing, and reminders for up to 4 users, with unlimited users on the $5/user/month Pro plan.
- Pricing
- Free tier · paid from $5/mo
- License
- Freemium
Best for solo practitioners and small teams of up to 4 staff who need a fully usable free scheduling tool with payment processing built in
Square Appointments
Square AppointmentsScheduling and booking software from Block/Square that bundles online booking, point-of-sale payments, and client management, free for solo providers with paid plans from $49/month.
- Pricing
- Free tier · paid from $49/mo
- License
- Freemium
Best for solo service providers and small teams already using Square for payments who want scheduling bundled into the same account
Which should you choose?
Choose Setmore if…
wins 3/6 use cases
- Your team has up to 4 people and books fewer than 200 appointments a month, which Setmore Free covers at no cost
- You want per-user pricing that stays low as you grow, since Setmore Pro is $5/user/month billed annually with unlimited users and appointments
- You want to pick your payment processor, since Setmore accepts payments through Stripe, Square, or PayPal
- You run online sessions and want Zoom or Google Meet links added to bookings, which Setmore Pro includes at $5/user/month billed annually
- Your front desk wants native Windows and macOS apps as well as iOS and Android apps
Choose Square Appointments if…
wins 3/6 use cases
- You already use Square for point-of-sale payments and want bookings, deposits, and checkout in the same Square account
- You need cancellation policies, no-show fees, multi-staff booking, and a waitlist, which Square Appointments Plus adds at $49/month
- You need resource management, time tracking, service cost tracking, and reporting for a larger team on Square Appointments Premium at $149/month per location
- You are a solo provider who wants scheduling and card payments in one free account, since Square Appointments Free covers one staff member and location at 3.3% + 30 cents per online payment
- You process more than $250,000 a year and want a custom-priced Square Pro plan
Setmore vs Square Appointments: feature comparison
| Feature | Setmore | Square Appointments |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Yesfree plan (up to 4 users) | Yesfree plan (1 staff member, 1 location) |
| Free tier limits | Yes4 users, 200 appointments/mo | Partial1 staff member and 1 location |
| First paid plan | Yes$5/user/mo billed annually, $12 monthly (Pro) | Yes$49/mo for about 2-3 staff (Plus) |
| Larger-team plan | YesEnterprise, custom pricing | Yes$149/mo per location (Premium); Square Pro custom above $250,000 revenue |
| Platforms | Yesweb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Partialweb, iOS, Android (no desktop app) |
| Hosting / license | Noclosed-source, cloud-hosted | Noclosed-source, cloud-hosted |
| Payment processing | YesStripe, Square, or PayPal, including on the free plan | Yesbuilt-in Square payments, 3.3% + 30 cents online (Free), 2.9% + 30 cents (paid plans) |
| Point-of-sale checkout | Unknown | YesSquare point of sale in the same account |
| Appointment reminders | Yesemail on the free plan; SMS from $5/user/mo (Pro) | Yesincluded on the free plan |
| No-show fees, cancellation policies, waitlist | Unknown | Yesfrom $49/mo (Plus) |
| Two-way calendar sync and recurring appointments | Yesfrom $5/user/mo (Pro) | Unknown |
| Video meeting links | YesZoom and Google Meet from $5/user/mo (Pro) | Unknown |
| Resource scheduling and reporting | Unknown | Yesfrom $149/mo per location (Premium) |
| Per-service booking rules | Noreviewers report no per-service rules and thin package management | Unknown |
| Integrations | YesGoogle Calendar, Salesforce, WordPress, Facebook, Instagram | Yesthe broader Square ecosystem |
| External rating (Capterra) | Yes4.6/5 from 959 reviews | Yes4.5/5 from 260 reviews |
Setmore vs Square Appointments: pricing
Every tier both tools publish, as we last checked them — not just the entry price.
Setmore
- FreeUp to 4 users, 200 appointments/month, payment acceptance, branded booking page, mobile apps, email reminders, team collaboration.Free
- ProPer user, billed annually ($12/user/month billed monthly); unlimited users and appointments, SMS reminders, 2-way calendar sync, recurring appointments, no Setmore branding, priority support.$5/mo
- EnterpriseCustom pricing; tailored all-in-one booking system for larger organizations.Custom
Square Appointments
- FreeSingle staff member and location; unlimited staff calendars, online booking site, appointment reminders. Card processing at 3.3% + 30 cents online.Free
- PlusFor teams of roughly 2-3 staff; adds cancellation policies, no-show fees, multi-staff booking, and waitlist. Card processing at 2.9% + 30 cents online.$49/mo
- PremiumPriced per location; adds future bookings report, service cost tracking, and resource management for larger teams.$149/mo
- Square ProCustom pricing for businesses processing over $250,000 in annual revenue.Custom
Setmore vs Square Appointments pricing: which costs less?
Setmore costs less for small teams, with a free plan for up to 4 users and Pro at $5/user/month billed annually, while Square Appointments charges $49/month for Plus and $149/month per location for Premium.
A 3-person team pays nothing on Setmore Free if it stays under 200 appointments a month, $15/month on Setmore Pro billed annually, or $36/month on Pro billed monthly, against $49/month on Square Appointments Plus. Square Appointments Free covers only one staff member and one location. Card fees also differ: Square Appointments charges 3.3% + 30 cents per online payment on Free and 2.9% + 30 cents on paid plans, while Setmore's processing cost depends on whether Stripe, Square, or PayPal is connected. Multi-location businesses pay Square Premium's $149/month once per site.
Which is better for businesses already using Square, Setmore or Square Appointments?
Square Appointments is better for businesses already on Square, because booking, deposits, client records, and point-of-sale checkout run through one Square account.
A client can book online, pay a deposit, and check out in person inside the same Square system, and Capterra reviewers cite integration with the broader Square ecosystem as a strength. Setmore can take Square payments too, alongside Stripe and PayPal, but as a connected processor rather than the same account. Setmore's advantage is processor choice and a free plan that covers up to 4 staff.
Which has more advanced scheduling features, Setmore or Square Appointments?
Square Appointments documents more advanced booking controls, with cancellation policies, no-show fees, waitlists, and multi-staff booking on Plus and resource scheduling, time tracking, and reporting on Premium, while Setmore Pro adds SMS reminders, two-way calendar sync, recurring appointments, and Zoom or Google Meet links.
Setmore reviewers flag the absence of per-service booking rules and thin package and bundle management, which matters for businesses with varied service durations, and Setmore's Android app rates 3.8/5, below the 4.6/5 overall Capterra score. Square Appointments' most advanced features sit on the $149/month per-location Premium plan, and Capterra reviewers cite pricing and per-location cost scaling as recurring complaints.
Can Square Appointments replace Setmore?
Square Appointments can replace Setmore for solo providers and Square merchants, but teams of 2 to 4 would move from Setmore's free plan to Square's $49/month Plus plan.
Moving to Square Appointments adds native point-of-sale checkout, no-show fees, and waitlists. The move gives up Setmore's native Windows and macOS apps, Zoom and Google Meet links, the choice of Stripe or PayPal, and Setmore's Salesforce and WordPress integrations, none of which appear in the Square Appointments listing data.
Strengths and weaknesses
Setmore
Pros
- Free plan is fully usable for up to 4 staff and 200 appointments/month, not a time-limited trial.
- Pro tier unlocks unlimited users and appointments at $5/user/month billed annually.
- Native video-meeting links via Zoom and Google Meet, without a separate video subscription.
- Broad integration list: Google Calendar, Salesforce, WordPress, Stripe, Square, PayPal, Facebook, and Instagram.
Cons
- No per-service booking rules, limiting flexibility for businesses with varied service durations.
- Package and bundle management is thin compared to dedicated salon/fitness scheduling tools.
- Android app is rated noticeably lower (3.8/5) than the platform's overall Capterra score.
- SMS reminders and 2-way calendar sync are locked behind the paid Pro tier.
Square Appointments
Pros
- Free plan is fully usable for a single staff member and location, not just a trial.
- Booking and payments run through one Square account, avoiding a separate payment-processor integration.
- Native iOS and Android apps in addition to the web booking site.
- 4.5/5 rating from 260 reviews on Capterra, with ease of use rated 4.5/5.
Cons
- Free plan carries a higher online card-processing rate (3.3% + 30 cents) than paid tiers.
- Premium plan is priced per location, multiplying cost fast for multi-site businesses.
- Advanced staff management, resource scheduling, and reporting require the $149/month Premium tier.
- Reviewers on Capterra cite pricing concerns and feature limitations as recurring complaints.
Which fits your use case?
| Use case | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small practice of up to 4 staff with fewer than 200 bookings a month | Setmore | Setmore Free covers 4 users and 200 appointments a month at no cost; Square Appointments Free covers one staff member, and Plus costs $49/month. |
| Salon already running Square point of sale | Square Appointments | Square Appointments puts booking, deposits, client records, and checkout in the same Square account the salon already uses. |
| Growing team of 10 that wants unlimited users and appointments on a budget | Setmore | Setmore Pro costs $50/month for 10 users billed annually; Square Appointments positions Plus for 2-3 staff and Premium, at $149/month per location, for larger teams. |
| Studio losing revenue to no-shows and late cancellations | Square Appointments | Square Appointments Plus adds cancellation policies, no-show fees, and a waitlist at $49/month; the Setmore listing data does not describe these controls. |
| Tutor or consultant who runs sessions over video | Setmore | Setmore Pro adds Zoom and Google Meet links to bookings at $5/user/month billed annually, without a separate video subscription. |
| Spa that needs room and resource scheduling with reporting | Square Appointments | Square Appointments Premium adds resource management, time tracking, and reporting, though at $149/month for each location. |
Neither a match?
Both lists carry verified pricing and honest weaknesses for every option.
Popular comparisons
Setmore vs Square Appointments: migration FAQ
Should I use Setmore or Square Appointments?
- Use Setmore if you want a free plan for up to 4 users or low per-user pricing at $5/user/month billed annually; use Square Appointments if you already use Square payments and want booking, deposits, no-show fees, and checkout in one account.
Is Setmore cheaper than Square Appointments?
- Yes for most small teams: Setmore Free covers up to 4 users and 200 appointments a month, and Setmore Pro costs $5/user/month billed annually, while Square Appointments Plus costs $49/month and Premium costs $149/month per location. Square Appointments Free covers only one staff member and one location.
Can Square Appointments replace Setmore?
- Yes for solo providers and businesses already on Square. Teams of 2 to 4 would move from Setmore's free plan to Square's $49/month Plus plan and would give up Setmore's Windows and macOS apps and Zoom or Google Meet links.
Does Setmore work with Square payments?
- Yes, Setmore accepts payments through Square as well as Stripe and PayPal, including on its free plan. Square Appointments uses Square payments natively, at 3.3% + 30 cents per online payment on Free and 2.9% + 30 cents on paid plans.
What are the card processing fees on Square Appointments?
- Square Appointments charges 3.3% + 30 cents per online card payment on its Free plan and 2.9% + 30 cents on its paid plans. Setmore's processing fees depend on whether you connect Stripe, Square, or PayPal and are not listed in its pricing data.