The Acuity alternative with the full API on every plan
Acuity locks its REST API behind Powerhouse, its most expensive tier, and scales price by how many calendars you need. Astrocal gives you the full API, flat-rate pricing, and a native MCP server on every plan, including free.
Which is right for you?
Astrocal is right for you if...
- You need API access without upgrading to Acuity's top Powerhouse tier
- You want flat-rate pricing instead of paying per calendar for each staff member
- You need native MCP support so AI agents can manage scheduling out of the box
- You want a free plan (Acuity doesn't offer one)
Acuity is right for you if...
- You need PayPal or Square payment processing (Astrocal supports Stripe only)
- You require HIPAA compliance for healthcare appointment data
- You rely on Acuity's built-in SMS reminders for reducing no-shows
Astrocal vs Acuity
| Feature | Astrocal | Acuity | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat monthly fee: $49/mo for your whole team | Per calendar: $20–$61/mo (1 calendar on Emerging, 36 on Powerhouse) | Acuity charges per calendar (one per staff member). A team of 6 on Acuity Growing costs $49/mo for only 6 calendars. Astrocal Grow is $49/mo for everyone. |
| REST API | Full read/write API with OpenAPI 3.1 spec, all plans including Free | API access on Powerhouse plan only ($61/mo) | Acuity restricts API access to its most expensive tier. Astrocal includes the full API on every plan. |
| MCP / AI agent support | Native: @astrocal/mcp-server on npm | Not available | — |
| Widget embed | Native embed: renders in your DOM, not an iframe | Iframe embed | — |
| White-label booking | Your domain, your brand. No Astrocal branding on paid plans. | Branding removal on Powerhouse plan only ($61/mo) | — |
| Webhooks | All plans including Free | Available on all plans | — |
| Stripe payments | Built in: taken at booking time, on all plans including Free | Stripe, PayPal, and Square supported | — |
| Calendar sync (Google, Outlook, CalDAV) | Two-way sync on all plans | Two-way sync on all plans | — |
| Free plan | Up to 10 bookings/month, full API, webhooks | No free plan, 7-day trial only | — |
| PayPal / Square payments | Not available, Stripe only | PayPal and Square supported on all plans | — |
| HIPAA compliance | Not available | Available on Powerhouse plan ($61/mo) | — |
| SMS reminders | Email reminders only | SMS reminders on Growing plan and above | — |
What does it actually cost for a team of 6?
Astrocal
- No per-calendar pricing
- API on every plan
- Native MCP server
- DOM-native widget embed
Acuity
- No per-calendar pricing
- API on every plan
- Native MCP server
- DOM-native widget embed
At the Large team (36+ calendars) tier, you’d Save $12/mo + get API on every plan compared to Acuity for a team of 6.
Migrating from Acuity Scheduling? Here’s how.
- 5 min
Export your appointment types
Note your Acuity appointment type settings: durations, availability, pricing, and intake forms. Screenshot or copy the settings you need from your Acuity dashboard.
- 5 min
Recreate your services in Astrocal
Use the Astrocal dashboard to set up equivalent event types, or POST to /v1/event-types if you prefer the API. Match your durations, availability, and booking rules.
- 3 min
Update your booking links
Replace your Acuity booking links wherever they appear: your website, email signature, social profiles. Or embed the Astrocal widget directly on your site so your booking URL never changes again.
- 5 min
Reconnect integrations
Connect your calendars via OAuth (Google, Outlook, or CalDAV). Reconnect Stripe if you take payments. Set up webhooks for any automations you need.
Total estimated time: ~20 minutes
What carries over
- Your availability preferences and working hours
- Appointment durations and buffer times
- Client contact details (export from Acuity)
What to rebuild
- Custom branding and booking page theme
- Stripe payment connections
- Webhook automations
Pricing that scales with bookings, not seats
Start free with 10 bookings a month, no credit card. Paid plans from $12, and team members never cost extra.
Free
For prototyping
- 10 bookings/month
- 1 calendar connection
- 30 req/min API rate
- Calendar sync
- Email notifications
Launch
For going live
- 50 bookings/month
- 3 calendar connections
- 60 req/min API rate
- Everything in Free
- Custom branding
Grow
Most PopularFor growing products
- 500 bookings/month
- 20 calendar connections
- 500 req/min API rate
- Everything in Launch
- Priority support
Scale
For high volume
- 5,000 bookings/month
- 100 calendar connections
- 2,000 req/min API rate
- Everything in Grow
- Dedicated support
No per-seat pricing. Ever. See full pricing →
Frequently asked questions
Try Astrocal free. No card, no commitment.
Full API access from day one. Set up in about 20 minutes.