Quick Verdict / TL;DR
The Verdict: Setmore is the top choice for budget-conscious wellness professionals who need robust scheduling without monthly fees; its free plan rivals paid competitors.
Best For: Solo yoga teachers, new coaches, therapists, and wellness practitioners who want professional scheduling automation without breaking the bank.
Price: Starts at $0 (Free Forever plan) with paid plans from $5/month.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)
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What to Expect
Are you a wellness professional drowning in booking chaos? Juggling DMs, emails, and texts just to schedule a single yoga class or coaching session? The constant back-and-forth isn't just time-consuming, it's costing you clients and burning you out before you even start your session.
Having spent years evaluating scheduling solutions specifically for the wellness industry, I've tested dozens of platforms from enterprise-level systems to simple calendar tools. What makes a scheduling platform truly work for wellness professionals is different from other industries; you need to handle both 1:1 sessions and group classes, accept payments seamlessly, and maintain the personal touch that's crucial in our field.
In this comprehensive review, I'll break down Setmore's features, analyze how it stacks up against competitors like Acuity and Calendly, and help you determine if it's the right fit for your wellness practice.
What Is Setmore?
Setmore is a cloud-based appointment scheduling platform that creates a professional booking experience for your clients. In simple terms, it gives you a personalized booking page where clients can view your availability, book services or classes, and pay, all without any manual intervention from you.
Primary Purpose: Automate the entire booking process for service-based businesses, with particular strength in handling both individual appointments and group classes.
Target Audience: Solo practitioners, small wellness teams, yoga studios, coaching practices, and therapy clinics.
The "Vibe Check" (Expert Analysis): Based on extensive user feedback and platform analysis, Setmore delivers a clean, intuitive experience that feels more like a simple day planner than complex software. Users consistently report that it "just works" without overwhelming them with unnecessary features, a critical factor for wellness professionals who want to focus on their practice, not their tech stack.
Deep Dive: Key Features & Benefits
📅 Professional Booking Pages
What it is: Fully customizable client-facing booking portal Benefit: Eliminates scheduling back-and-forth while presenting a professional brand image that builds client trust
👥 Group Class Management
What it is: Create bookable group sessions with capacity limits and waitlists Benefit: Perfect for yoga classes, group coaching, or workshops: manage multiple clients per time slot effortlessly
💳 Integrated Payment Processing
What it is: Accept payments through Square, Stripe, and PayPal directly in the booking flow
Benefit: Get paid instantly when clients book, reducing no-shows and improving cash flow
🔔 Automated Reminder System
What it is: Email and SMS notifications sent automatically to reduce no-shows Benefit: Protects your revenue and maintains professional communication without manual effort
📱 Mobile-Optimized Experience
What it is: Responsive design that works seamlessly on all devices Benefit: Clients can book on the go, increasing conversion rates and accessibility
🏥 HIPAA Compliance Option
What it is: Business Associate Agreement and security features for healthcare providers Benefit: Therapists and health coaches can safely handle protected health information
🔄 Calendar Integration
What it is: Two-way sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, and other platforms Benefit: Maintain one source of truth for your schedule across all your tools
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Unmatched Free Plan Value: Most competitors charge $15-30/month for features Setmore includes free, like group bookings and payment processing.
Wellness-Specific Design: Unlike generic scheduling tools, Setmore understands the unique needs of service-based wellness businesses.
Instant Professional Upgrade: Transforms your business from "DM me to book" to a polished, automated system in under 30 minutes.
No Learning Curve: Interface is intuitive enough that both you and your clients can use it immediately without training.
Reliable Performance: Users report 99%+ uptime with fast loading speeds that won't frustrate clients during booking.
❌ Cons
Limited Customization on Free Plan: Advanced branding and custom fields require paid upgrades, which may feel restrictive for established businesses.
Basic Reporting: Financial and client analytics are more limited compared to comprehensive practice management systems like SimplePractice.
No Native Marketing Tools: Lacks built-in email marketing or client relationship features that some all-in-one platforms provide.
SMS Reminders Cost Extra: While email reminders are free, SMS notifications require a paid plan, which is standard but worth noting.
Curated Comparison
| Feature | Setmore | Acuity Scheduling | Calendly | Square Appointments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free | $14/month | Free (limited) | Free |
| Group Bookings | ✅ Free | ✅ Paid plans only | ❌ | ✅ Limited |
| Payment Processing | ✅ Free | ✅ All plans | ❌ Paid only | ✅ Free |
| HIPAA Compliance | ✅ Available | ✅ Available | ❌ | ❌ |
| Best For | Budget-conscious wellness pros | Established practices | Simple 1:1 booking | Square ecosystem users |
| Setup Complexity | ⭐⭐ Simple | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Complex | ⭐ Very Simple | ⭐⭐ Simple |
Analysis: While Acuity offers more advanced features like intake forms and package selling, its $14/month starting price makes it less accessible for new practitioners. Calendly excels at simple 1:1 scheduling but lacks the group booking capabilities essential for yoga teachers and workshop leaders. Setmore strikes the perfect balance, sophisticated enough for professional use, simple enough for quick setup, and generous enough in its free offering to support growing businesses.
Who Should Use Setmore (and Who Shouldn't)
✅ Use Setmore if you are:
- A solo yoga teacher or wellness coach just starting out
- Managing both 1:1 sessions and group classes
- Looking for professional scheduling without monthly fees
- Tired of the back-and-forth booking eating into your time
- Need HIPAA compliance for therapy or health coaching
- Want to start accepting online payments immediately
❌ Look for alternatives if you:
- Need comprehensive client management with detailed intake forms
- Require advanced package selling and membership features
- Want built-in email marketing and client relationship tools
- Manage a large team with complex scheduling needs
- Need extensive reporting and analytics for business decisions
- Prefer an all-in-one solution that handles contracts and invoicing
Pricing & Plans
Free Plan ($0/month):
- Unlimited appointments
- Up to 4 staff members
- Group class bookings
- Square payment processing
- Email reminders
- Custom booking page
Pro Plan ($5/month):
- Everything in Free
- SMS reminders
- Remove Setmore branding
- Advanced calendar sync
- Priority customer support
Team Plan ($12/month):
- Everything in Pro
- Advanced team features
- Multiple location support
- Enhanced reporting
Health Plan ($25/month):
- HIPAA compliance
- Business Associate Agreement
- Advanced security features
- Telehealth integrations
View current pricing details →
Value Analysis: The free plan offers exceptional value, providing features that competitors charge $15-30/month for. Most solo wellness practitioners can operate indefinitely on the free plan, making it perfect for testing the waters or maintaining lean operations.
FAQs About Setmore
Q: Is Setmore really free forever? A: Yes, the core features remain free permanently. It's not a trial; you only pay if you need advanced features like SMS reminders or HIPAA compliance.
Q: Can I use Setmore for both yoga classes and private coaching? A: Absolutely. You can create "Services" for 1:1 sessions and "Classes" for group bookings, making it perfect for hybrid wellness businesses.
Q: How does payment processing work? A: You connect your Square account (free), and clients pay when they book. Setmore doesn't take additional fees; you only pay Square's standard processing rates.
Q: Is it suitable for therapists and healthcare providers? A: Yes, Setmore offers a specific Health plan with HIPAA compliance and a Business Associate Agreement for handling protected health information.
Q: What happens if I outgrow Setmore? A: You can export your client data and appointment history at any time. Many users successfully scale with Setmore's paid plans, but migration is always possible.
Final Verdict
Setmore is a standout choice for wellness professionals who want to professionalize their booking process without the hefty price tag of enterprise solutions. Its free plan is genuinely powerful enough for most solo practitioners, while paid upgrades offer meaningful value when you're ready to scale.
The platform's understanding of wellness-specific needs, from group classes to HIPAA compliance, sets it apart from generic scheduling tools. While it may not replace a comprehensive practice management system, it excels at its core mission: making booking effortless for you and your clients.
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