Comparison

A free alternative to Apntly for Shopify booking

Apntly (Appointly) is a well-liked, affordable app (5.0 stars, 620+ reviews) and one of the cheapest paid tiers on Shopify. If low headline price is your priority, it's worth a look. But its free plan is limited to a single service and one team member, and SMS is billed per message on top. Here's how we compare.

Add to Shopify
SMS Reminder
Apntly
Bookings (free)
Unlimited services
Single service only
Team members (free)
Included
1
Google Calendar sync (free)
Included, two-way
Limited / paid
SMS reminders
Included free
Pay-per-SMS credits (add-on)
Reviews / maturity
New
5.0, 620+
Starting price
Free — no paid plan
$5/mo

Comparison compiled July 2026 from publicly available information. Apntly may have updated their plans, pricing, or features since. Please verify current details on their listing before deciding.

Where Apntly is strong
A very low starting price ($5/mo)
Simple setup and strong reviews
Deposits on Pro and responsive support
Where SMS Reminder wins
A genuinely usable free plan: unlimited services and free two-way calendar sync, not a single-service tier
SMS reminders and confirmations included free, not pay-per-message credits
More than one team member, free

Who should pick which

Choose Apntly

If you offer a single service and want the lowest possible monthly price.

Choose SMS Reminder

If you want unlimited services, free calendar sync, and SMS reminders — all at no cost.

FAQ

Common questions

Is it really free? +

Yes. Unlimited bookings, two-way Google Calendar sync, and SMS reminders and confirmations are all included at no cost. No per-booking caps and no paid plan.

Do I need to code? +

No. Add the booking button to any page and set your availability.

Does it work on mobile? +

Yes, customers can book on desktop or mobile.

Can clients reply to the reminder? +

Yes. Clients reply to confirm or cancel — or tap the link in the reminder. To reschedule, they pick a new time on the booking page.

How does calendar sync work? +

Two-way: bookings appear on your Google Calendar, and times you block on your calendar become unavailable on the store.

Try the free tier for yourself