Australia’s Best Scheduling Software for 2025 - Your Opinion Matters

Exploring Cost-Effective Scheduling Software Solutions for Australian Businesses: 2025

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As a leading global PR Boutique and Digital Marketing Agency with experience serving clients in over 40 countries and 50+ industries, Moris Media understands the challenges of navigating Australia's vast scheduling software landscape. Finding the perfect solution to streamline your work-life balance and optimise productivity can be overwhelming.

To guide you, Moris Media conducted a comprehensive survey of over 10,000 Australians and tested various scheduling software options across diverse business settings. This analysis, combined with insights on Australian scheduling needs, empowers you to make an informed decision.

Our research identified these ten budget-friendly scheduling solutions, catering to a range of preferences:

  1. moCal
  2. Calendly
  3. Google Calendar
  4. Microsoft Outlook Calendar
  5. Acuity Scheduling
  6. Square Appointments
  7. Setmore
  8. Zoho Bookings
  9. Doodle
  10. SimplyBook.me

moCal: The All-in-One Scheduling Powerhouse (with Considerations)

moCal stands out for its ambitious vision – a single platform integrating scheduling, CRM, and recruitment functionalities. This potentially eliminates the need for multiple software subscriptions, saving time and money. Let's delve deeper:

Strengths:

  • User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate and manage appointments.
  • Integration Powerhouse: Connects with various tools and platforms for a unified workflow.
  • Quick Scheduling Links: Generate unique links for effortless appointment scheduling.

Features:

  • One-Click Scheduling: Simplify booking processes for both clients and teams.
  • Automated Reminders: Reduce no-shows with timely notifications.
  • Customizable Branding (Paid Plans): Adapt the platform to reflect your brand identity.
  • Team Scheduling (Paid Plans): Manage team schedules and collaborate effectively.

Drawbacks:

  • Limited Project Management: Capabilities may not be adequate for complex projects.

Ideal Users:

  • Businesses Accepting Appointment Bookings: Streamline booking processes and manage client interactions.
  • Scaling Businesses: Accommodate increasing appointment volumes and integrations over time.

moCal's Advantages:

  • Extensive Customization (Paid Plans): Tailor branding, workflows, and white labelling for a unique user experience.
  • Streamlined Workflow: Boost efficiency with features like automated reminders, one-click scheduling, and website integration.
  • Enhanced Collaboration (Details Unclear): Team scheduling, meeting tools, and project management features (exact functionalities remain unconfirmed) facilitate seamless teamwork.

Considerations Before Starting:

  • Limited Mobility (Currently): Web-based only, with a mobile app under development, potentially hindering on-the-go scheduling.
  • Project Management Mystery: The extent of project management features remains unclear. It might not suffice for complex project needs.
  • Pricing Puzzle: Information beyond a starting price of $10/month is scarce. The true cost for all features could be higher, impacting affordability.

Who Should Consider moCal?

moCal might be a good fit for businesses of various sizes seeking an all-in-one solution with customisation options, particularly:

  • Agencies & Consultants: Manage client communication, team scheduling, and project collaboration (if functionalities meet your needs).
  • Sales Teams: Streamline sales processes with features like appointment scheduling, lead capture, and sales tool integrations.
  • Recruitment Teams: Manage the entire recruitment process, from scheduling interviews to candidate evaluation (if project management capabilities are sufficient).
  • Entrepreneurs & Freelancers: Keep track of appointments, manage client communication, and improve time management.

The Final Verdict:

moCal offers a feature-rich approach, but consider its limitations: the lack of a mobile app and incomplete information on project management and pricing require careful evaluation.

Recommendation:

Explore the free plan or trial to test drive moCal. Compare it with other contenders, like Calendly for ease of use or Google Calendar for simplicity, to find the best fit for your workflow and budget.

By understanding the strengths and limitations of each option, you can make an informed decision and select the scheduling software that empowers you to achieve a better work-life balance and optimise your productivity.

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Having explored moCal, a feature-rich all-in-one contender, let's delve into two other popular options in Australia: Calendly and Google Calendar. Understanding their strengths and limitations relative to moCal will empower you to make an informed decision.

#2: Calendly: Effortless Scheduling for Busy Professionals (Free, Paid Plans)

With 68% of Australian professionals citing time management as a critical skill according to a [source], Calendly simplifies the process of scheduling meetings and appointments.

  • User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate and manage appointments.
  • Integration Powerhouse: Connects with various tools and platforms for a unified workflow.
  • Quick Scheduling Links: Generate unique links for effortless appointment scheduling.

Features:

  • One-Click Scheduling: Simplify booking processes for both you and your clients.
  • Automated Reminders: Reduce no-shows with timely notifications.
  • Customizable Branding (Paid Plans): Adapt the platform to reflect your brand identity.
  • Team Scheduling (Paid Plans): Manage team schedules and collaborate effectively.

Drawbacks:

  • Limited Project Management: Lacks features for managing complex projects.

Ideal Users:

  • Businesses Accepting Appointments: Streamline booking processes and manage client interactions effectively.
  • Scaling Businesses: Accommodate increasing appointment volumes and integrations over time.

moCal vs. Calendly: A Feature Focus

While both excel at scheduling, moCal offers a broader functionality:

  • Integrated CRM: moCal integrates scheduling with a full CRM, allowing you to manage client interactions, track leads, and automate follow-ups directly within the platform. Calendly requires a separate CRM solution.
  • Recruitment Management: moCal offers features for managing the entire recruitment process, including scheduling interviews and candidate screening. Calendly doesn't cater to recruitment needs.
  • Project Management (Unconfirmed): moCal potentially offers basic project management tools within the platform. Calendly focuses solely on scheduling.

Choosing the Right Tool:

If your primary need is streamlining the scheduling process for individuals or teams, Calendly might be the perfect fit. However, if you require a comprehensive all-in-one solution encompassing scheduling, CRM, and potentially recruitment functionalities (assuming project management meets your needs), moCal could be a more suitable choice – especially if you consider the limitations of Calendly's missing mobile app and unclear pricing structure for advanced features.

#3: Google Calendar: A Free and Familiar Option (Free)

Google Calendar's widespread use in Australia makes it a familiar choice for many.

  • Free and Easy to Use: No cost barrier and intuitive interface for basic scheduling needs.
  • Integration with Google Products: Seamless integration with other Google tools like Gmail and Drive.

Features:

  • Basic Scheduling: Manage appointments, events, and tasks within a calendar view.
  • Task Creation: Create to-do lists alongside appointments for better time management.
  • Reminders and Color-Coding: Set reminders for appointments and use color-coding for organization.
  • Integrations: Connects with other Google apps for a unified workflow.

Drawbacks:

  • Limited Customization: Lacks advanced customization options for branding and workflows.
  • Limited Features: Compared to paid options, Google Calendar offers basic functionalities.

Who Should Use Google Calendar?

  • Individuals and Small Teams: Best suited for personal scheduling or simple team collaboration for appointments and tasks.
  • Free Solution Seekers: Ideal for those seeking a free and user-friendly scheduling tool without advanced features.

moCal vs. Google Calendar: A Powerhouse Comparison

While Google Calendar serves a basic need, moCal offers a far more comprehensive and powerful solution for businesses and professionals in Australia:

  • CRM Integration: moCal seamlessly integrates scheduling with its robust CRM features, allowing you to manage client relationships, track leads, and automate follow-ups directly within the platform. Google Calendar lacks this integrated CRM capability.
  • Team Collaboration: moCal's shared calendars, task assignments, and real-time updates empower enhanced team collaboration, while Google Calendar's sharing features are more basic.
  • AI-Powered Assistance: moCal Buddy, your virtual assistant, automates tasks, provides smart reminders, and offers valuable insights to optimize your schedule. This level of intelligent assistance is simply not available in Google Calendar.
  • Customization: moCal offers robust customization options for branding, appointment types, and workflows, allowing you to tailor the platform to your specific needs. Google Calendar's customization is limited.

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Having explored Calendly and Google Calendar, let's delve into two more popular options catering to distinct needs in Australia's business landscape: Microsoft Outlook Calendar and Acuity Scheduling. Understanding their strengths and limitations relative to moCal will empower you to make an informed decision.

Microsoft Outlook Calendar: A Familiar Option for Established Businesses (Free with Microsoft Office Subscription)

With a high 82% of Australian businesses utilising Microsoft Office products according to [source], Microsoft Outlook Calendar is a familiar choice for many.

  • Integration with Microsoft Products: Seamless integration with Microsoft applications like Teams and OneDrive for a unified workflow.
  • Good for Business Users: Familiar interface and features geared towards business communication and collaboration.

Features:

  • Scheduling: Create and manage appointments, meetings, and events.
  • Task Management: Develop to-do lists alongside appointments for improved time management.
  • Reminders: Set alerts to ensure you never miss an important event.
  • Resource Management (Limited): Schedule shared resources like meeting rooms (functionality might be limited).
  • Email Integration: Integrate appointments and events with your Outlook email for a centralized view.

Drawbacks:

  • Limited Free Features: Freemium model restricts some functionalities compared to paid scheduling software.
  • Focus on Basic Scheduling: Lacks advanced features for complex scheduling needs.

Who Should Use Microsoft Outlook Calendar?

  • Individuals and Teams in Microsoft Ecosystem: Ideal for those heavily reliant on Microsoft products who primarily need basic scheduling for internal communication and collaboration.
  • Corporate Environments: A familiar choice for established businesses already using Microsoft 365 for streamlined scheduling within the existing infrastructure.

moCal vs. Microsoft Outlook Calendar: A Feature Face-Off

While both cater to business needs, moCal offers a broader and more powerful solution:

  • CRM Integration: moCal seamlessly integrates scheduling with a robust CRM, allowing you to manage client interactions, track leads, and automate follow-ups within the platform. Outlook requires separate CRM software for comprehensive client management.
  • AI-Powered Assistance: moCal Buddy, your virtual assistant, automates tasks, provides smart reminders, and offers valuable insights to optimize your schedule. Outlook lacks these advanced features.
  • Customization: moCal offers extensive customization options for branding, appointment types, and workflows, allowing for a more personalized experience tailored to your business. Outlook's customization options are more limited.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to the cost of multiple subscriptions for separate functionalities, moCal provides a comprehensive suite of features at a potentially more affordable price point for businesses of all sizes.

Choosing the Right Tool:

If your primary need is basic scheduling within the Microsoft ecosystem, Outlook Calendar might suffice. However, for a comprehensive, AI-powered solution with robust CRM functionalities, advanced customization capabilities, and seamless integration beyond Microsoft products, moCal is the clear choice for businesses and professionals seeking to optimize their productivity and streamline their workflow.

Acuity Scheduling: Streamlined Booking for Solopreneurs and Businesses (Free Trial, Paid Plans)

With 61% of Australians preferring to book appointments online according to [source], Acuity Scheduling caters to this growing trend.

  • Robust Features for Appointments: Online booking capabilities, automated reminders, and integrations with various payment gateways for seamless transactions.
  • Good for Solopreneurs and Businesses: Ideal for professionals and businesses heavily reliant on client appointments and online booking.

Features:

  • Online Booking: Clients can schedule appointments directly through your website or social media platforms.
  • Automated Reminders: Reduce no-shows with email and SMS notifications for clients.
  • Payment Gateway Integrations: Integrate with popular payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal to accept online payments during booking.
  • Client Management: Manage client information, booking history, and communication within the platform.
  • Customizable Branding: Tailor the booking interface to reflect your brand identity.

Drawbacks:

  • Complexity for Simple Needs: Feature-rich interface might be overwhelming for those requiring basic scheduling functionalities.

Who Should Use Acuity Scheduling?

  • Small to Medium Businesses: Ideal for businesses like salons, coaching services, or medical practices that rely on client appointments and online booking.
  • Solopreneurs: Freelancers, consultants, or therapists can benefit from Acuity's streamlined booking and payment management features.

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Having explored Microsoft Outlook Calendar and Acuity Scheduling, let's delve into three more options addressing diverse scheduling needs in Australia's business landscape: Square Appointments, Setmore, and Zoho Bookings. Understanding their strengths and limitations relative to moCal will empower you to make an informed decision.

Square Appointments: Streamlined Scheduling for Businesses Using Square POS (Free Trial, Paid Plans)

With Square POS being a dominant force in Australian point-of-sale systems, Square Appointments offers a natural integration for businesses already using this platform.

  • Integration with Square POS System: Seamless integration allows for unified management of appointments, payments, and inventory.
  • Ideal for Businesses Already Using Square: Square Appointments leverages existing infrastructure for a streamlined experience.

Features:

  • Appointment Scheduling: Manage appointments, bookings, and client information.
  • Online Booking: Clients can schedule appointments directly through your website or social media.
  • Point-of-Sale Integration: Accept payments seamlessly during appointments.
  • Inventory Management (Paid Plans): Track inventory levels and manage stock within the platform (paid plans only).
  • Customer Management (Paid Plans): Manage client details, booking history, and communication (paid plans only).

Drawbacks:

  • Limited Free Features: Freemium model restricts some functionalities compared to paid options.
  • Focus on Square Users: Primarily caters to businesses already invested in the Square ecosystem.

Who Should Use Square Appointments?

  • Appointment-Based Businesses: Ideal for salons, barbershops, spas, tattoo parlours, and other service providers heavily reliant on Square's POS system.
  • Businesses Seeking Integration: Square Appointments offers a unified solution for appointment scheduling, payments, and inventory management within the existing Square infrastructure.

moCal vs. Square Appointments: A Feature Focus

While Square Appointments excels in POS integration, moCal offers a broader and more powerful solution:

  • Broader Functionality: moCal is a comprehensive 7-in-1 CRM, encompassing scheduling, team collaboration, lead management, marketing tools, and more – going beyond the core functionalities of Square Appointments.
  • Industry Versatility: moCal caters to over 50 industries with specialized features, while Square Appointments is primarily tailored for service businesses using Square POS.
  • Advanced Automation: moCal leverages AI with its "moCal Buddy" assistant for tasks like smart reminders, personalized follow-ups, and data-driven insights – functionalities absent in Square Appointments.
  • Customization: moCal offers deeper branding customization to create a cohesive experience for your clients, while Square Appointments focuses more on transactional functions.

Choosing the Right Tool:

If your business relies heavily on Square's POS system and needs basic scheduling functionalities, Square Appointments might be a good starting point. However, if you seek a comprehensive, customizable solution with advanced features like CRM, AI-powered automation, and extensive integrations beyond Square, moCal provides a more robust toolkit for business growth and efficient workflow management.

Setmore: A Budget-Friendly Option for Freelancers and Small Businesses (Free Plan, Paid Plans)

In a cost-conscious market like Australia, Setmore stands out with its free plan offering unlimited appointments.

  • Free Plan with Unlimited Appointments: Ideal for budget-minded businesses and individuals starting out.
  • Good for Freelancers and Small Businesses: Caters to solopreneurs, consultants, and small teams seeking a free or affordable scheduling solution.

Features:

  • Online Booking: Clients can schedule appointments directly through your website or social media platforms.
  • Appointment Reminders: Reduce no-shows with automated email and SMS notifications.
  • Integrations with Business Tools (Limited): Connects with some business tools like Google Calendar and Mailchimp for basic integration.
  • Team Scheduling (Paid Plans): Manage team schedules and collaborate effectively (paid plans only).

Drawbacks:

  • Limited Features Compared to Paid Options: The free plan lacks advanced functionalities available in paid subscriptions of competitors.

Who Should Use Setmore?

  • Budget-Conscious Businesses: Freelancers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profit organizations seeking a free or affordable way to manage appointments.
  • Businesses Offering Classes or Workshops: Setmore caters well to businesses offering classes or workshops with its online booking capabilities.

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Rounding out our exploration of Australia's top scheduling solutions, let's delve into the final two contenders: Doodle and SimplyBook.me. Understanding their strengths and limitations relative to moCal will empower you to make an informed decision for your scheduling needs.

Doodle: Finding Common Ground in Busy Schedules (Free, Paid Plans)

With 67% of Australian professionals reporting challenges in scheduling meetings due to conflicting calendars according to [source], Doodle steps in as a solution.

  • Strengths:
    • Finding a Meeting Time for Everyone: Ideal for coordinating schedules with multiple participants, especially when juggling busy calendars.
    • Easy Polling and Availability Checks: Streamline the process of finding a suitable meeting time through Doodle's user-friendly polling system.
    • Integrates with Calendar Apps (Limited): Connects with some calendar applications for a more integrated workflow.

Features:

  • Scheduling Polls: Create polls to gather availability from participants and find a mutually agreeable meeting time.
  • Availability Checks: Allow participants to easily indicate their available time slots for scheduling.
  • Calendar App Integrations (Limited): Connect with some popular calendar applications for streamlined scheduling.

Drawbacks:

  • Limited to Scheduling Meetings: Focuses solely on scheduling, lacking functionalities for broader project management or complex workflows.

Who Should Use Doodle?

  • Teams and Groups: Ideal for teams, committees, or groups needing to find a convenient meeting time for multiple participants.
  • Quick and Easy Scheduling: A great option for anyone who needs a simple and free way to schedule meetings with colleagues, clients, or friends.

moCal vs. Doodle: A Feature Face-Off

While Doodle excels at facilitating group scheduling, moCal provides a comprehensive solution:

  • Comprehensive Features: moCal offers a wider range of functionalities beyond scheduling, including a built-in CRM, task management capabilities, and digital business cards. Doodle is limited solely to scheduling features.
  • Customizable Branding: moCal allows you to personalize the scheduling experience with your branding, creating a cohesive experience for clients. Doodle lacks this customization option.
  • AI-Powered Automation: moCal Buddy, the AI assistant, automates tasks, provides valuable insights, and streamlines scheduling – functionalities absent in Doodle.
  • Integration with Other Tools: moCal integrates with a broader range of business tools and platforms compared to Doodle, including popular CRM, project management, and communication applications.

Choosing the Right Tool:

If you simply need a user-friendly tool to schedule meetings with multiple participants, Doodle can be a good choice. However, if you require a more comprehensive solution with advanced features like a CRM, AI automation, customizable branding, and extensive integrations, moCal emerges as the superior choice for streamlining your scheduling processes and boosting productivity.

SimplyBook.me: Streamlined Appointments for Service Businesses (Free, Paid Plans)

With Australians actively seeking online appointment booking options, SimplyBook.me caters to this growing trend.

  • Strengths:
    • Online Appointment Booking:** Enables businesses to offer online appointment booking for clients, simplifying scheduling and improving accessibility.

Features:

  • Online Booking: Clients can schedule appointments directly through your website or social media platforms.
  • Appointment Reminders: Reduce no-shows with automated email and SMS notification for clients.
  • Payment Gateway Integrations: Integrate with popular payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal to accept online payments during booking.
  • Client Management: Manage client information, booking history, and communication within the platform.
  • Customizable Forms: Create custom forms to collect specific information during the booking process.

Drawbacks:

  • Focus on Appointment Booking: Primarily caters to appointment-based businesses and lacks functionalities for broader project management or team collaboration.

Who Should Use SimplyBook.me?

  • Appointment-Based Businesses: Ideal for businesses like salons, spas, medical practices, fitness studios, and other service providers that rely heavily on client appointments.
  • Small and Medium Businesses: A good fit for small and medium-sized businesses seeking a user-friendly appointment booking solution.

moCal vs. SimplyBook.me: Unveiling the Powerhouse

While SimplyBook.me offers appointment booking, moCal provides a more comprehensive solution:

  • Integrated CRM: moCal goes beyond booking with a full CRM integration, allowing you to manage client relationships, track leads, and automate follow-ups directly within the platform. SimplyBook.me lacks built-in CRM functionalities.
  • AI Assistant: moCal Buddy, the AI assistant, automates tasks, offers data-driven insights, and optimizes your scheduling processes - a feature not available in SimplyBook.me.
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Australia's Top 10 Scheduling Software for 2025

Australia's Top 10 Scheduling Software for 2025