Setmore is one of the most popular free booking tools, and plenty of small businesses start there. But as you grow — adding staff, locations, payments or marketing — you may start searching for Setmore alternatives that fit your business better.
This guide answers the most common questions (is Setmore free? how much does Setmore cost? does Setmore support multiple locations?) and explains what to look for in an alternative, especially if you're a UK business.
Yes — Setmore has a free plan. At the time of writing, Setmore's published pricing shows:
Setmore's pricing page also lists some limits on the free plan, including no SMS reminders, no two-way calendar sync and Setmore branding that can't be removed. Prices are in US dollars and can change, so always check Setmore's own pricing page for the latest details.
Setmore's Pro plan is priced per user. That's affordable for a solo business, but the cost rises with every team member you add. For example, a team of six on monthly billing would pay roughly six times the single-user price.
When you compare alternatives, work out the total monthly cost for your whole team, not just the headline price.
The most common reasons we hear are:
Look for pricing that doesn't penalise you for growing. Check whether you pay per user, per booking or a flat monthly fee, and whether there's commission on bookings. Our free online booking systems guide explains the hidden costs to watch for.
Taking card payment when customers book is one of the best ways to cut no-shows. See our guide to the booking system with payment setup that works best.
If customers book a room, court or chair — or choose between sites — your system needs to handle that natively. Read booking software for multiple locations.
Your bookings should appear in the calendar you already use. See our guide to booking systems with Google Calendar.
You'll manage your day from your phone. See what to look for in a booking app.
| Setmore | Dyal | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan; Pro priced per user (USD) | £10 a month, first 3 months free |
| Pricing model | Per user on Pro | Flat monthly plan |
| Commission on bookings | No | No |
| Card payments at booking | Via integrations | Built in with Stripe |
| Bookable resources (rooms, courts, chairs) | Staff and services | Staff, rooms, courts, chairs and equipment |
| Multiple locations | Check plan details | Built in, location-first booking |
| Branded booking page and website widget | Yes | Yes |
| Discount codes, email campaigns, reviews | Limited | Built in |
| AI phone receptionist | No | Optional add-on |
| UK-based | No | Yes |
Competitor details are based on publicly available information at the time of writing and may change.
If you're a solo business with simple appointments and you're happy with the free plan, Setmore may be all you need. If you're growing a team, running resources or multiple sites, or want payments and marketing in one place, it's worth comparing alternatives.
If you're comparing several tools, our other guides may help:
Setmore offers a free plan for up to 4 users with unlimited appointments. Some features, such as SMS reminders and removing Setmore branding, are on paid plans.
It depends on your needs. Truly free plans often come with limits or commission. Low-cost software without commission can be better value — see our free booking systems guide.
Check Setmore's current plans for multi-location details. If you run several sites, choose software with location-first booking, per-site hours and reporting.
Set up your services and availability in the new system, add upcoming bookings, then update your booking link on your website, Google Business Profile and social media.
Dyal is UK-built booking software with flat pricing, no commission, payments, multiple locations and marketing tools built in. See Dyal's plans — from £10 a month, with your first 3 months free.