Arketa vs Acuity Scheduling: what is best for your studio in 2026?

All pricing verified on each company’s own pricing page in August 2026.Acuity and Arketa are two very different software suites that can support your studio in very different ways. They also have very different price points for their vastly different focuses, with Acuity giving you appointment software for $16/month, while Arketa’s lowest tier for Individuals costs $49/month billed annually. What is going to be best for you? Well, that depends on what you want the software to cover.

Acuity is great for scheduling. It has really well designed calendar rules, can easily handle time zones, and even supports class scheduling. On some of its higher tiers, you can also get support for things like memberships.

Arketa specializes in being a business platform, where scheduling is just a part of the suite. Arketa has a strong focus on on-demand video as well as livestream classes.

If you really just want scheduling software, Acuity is going to be a perfectly serviceable pick for you. If you need more, you may want to look at Arketa or other competitors.

Key facts about Acuity and Arketa:

• Acuity costs $16-$49/month billed annually (or $20-$61 month-to-month). You get a 7-day free trial, and there’s no additional processing fee past the normal processing costs.
• Arketa’s only public price is their lowest tier, Individual, which is $49/month billed annually. They also charge a 3% transaction fee on top of the Stripe processing fees.
• Neither Acuity or Arketa includes a website.

What does each platform put at the center of the product?

Acuity, a Squarespace company, focuses on scheduling and booking. That means it has great features here, like staff calendar rules, intake forms, and time zone management. It does also support class scheduling, and at higher tiers you can get support for memberships and packages.

Arketa has a focus on virtual. It has its roots in on-demand, which is why they support an unlimited library even on its lowest plan.

What does each platform leave out?

Acuity doesn’t offer a website (Squarespace is a separate subscription). It also doesn’t support on-demand video and has only a few marketing features like appointment reminders and confirmations.Arketa’s $49 Individual plan includes unlimited video and scheduling but no website. Arketa’s top tier, which has its pricing hidden behind a demo, is where you can get access to a custom branded website.

What does the real stack actually cost?

The price of these platforms isn’t as easy to compare as you would likeA solo teacher using Acuity for booking, with a Squarespace site and separate marketing tools like for email, will pay multiple subscriptions to cover what all-in-one business software like Arketa or OfferingTree offers. Add a $16 Squarespace plan and email software for around $15/month, and the stack you need with Acuity is close to that $49 that Arketa’s Individual plan costs, but that is before Arketa’s 3% transaction fee.

Does either platform include a website or marketing tools?

No, neither Acuity or Arketa has a website or a full suite of marketing tools at their lowest tiers.

For Acuity, you don’t get access to complex marketing tools, only appointment reminders and confirmations. You need a separate Squarespace subscription for a website.

Arketa’s custom branded website offering starts at their higest tier, Studio Suite, with no published pricing. Arketa has some marketing tools in every tier, but things like email and text campaigns start at Studio Growth.

Where is Acuity better than Arketa?

Acuity has really strong scheduling depth. With features like buffers, really complex staff calendar functionality, and availability controls, Acuity is really strong for a business that truly just needs to add scheduling software to their stack.

Where is Arketa better than Acuity?

If you’re looking for a suite that handles more than just scheduling, Arketa is a much better option. With things like unlimited on-demand and a CRM, it is often better value for a studio that needs more than just a solution to one part of their stack.

Is OfferingTree a good fit if you’re choosing between Arketa and Acuity?

OfferingTree can be a great fit when adding it to the mix.

Realistically, if you just need scheduling software for as cheap as possible, Acuity will still be the choice. If you are looking for a suite, you should consider looking at OfferingTree.

OfferingTree, unlike both Acuity and Arketa, includes a website even at its lowest tier, along with unlimited on-demand video. It also publicly publishes prices: Individual plans from $26/month billed annually ($35 month-to-month). Studio plans run $100 to $225/month with unlimited team members at the top, and all plans above the lowest have a 0% additional transaction fee.See the full studio pricing breakdown, how it compares against Arketa, or against Acuity.

Frequently asked questions about Arketa vs Acuity

Is Acuity Scheduling cheaper than Arketa?

As a subscription, yes: Acuity’s Starter plan is $16/month billed annually ($20 monthly) against Arketa’s $49/month Individual plan. Once you add what Acuity leaves out, a website and marketing tool, the stacks land closer together, and Arketa’s on-demand video has no Acuity equivalent at any price.

Can Acuity Scheduling handle classes and memberships like Arketa?

Partially. Acuity supports class scheduling on every tier and adds memberships, packages, and gift certificates from its Standard plan ($27/month annual, $34 monthly) up. What it doesn’t offer at any tier is on-demand video, a website, or marketing automation beyond appointment reminders, all of which are part of what Arketa bundles.

Does Arketa include on-demand video the way Acuity doesn't?

Yes. Unlimited on-demand video and livestream class management are included on Arketa’s $49 Individual plan. Acuity has no video hosting at any tier, so on-demand content requires a separate tool regardless of which Acuity plan you’re on.

What does Arketa cost compared to Acuity's pricing?

Acuity publishes $16 to $49/month billed annually ($20 to $61 monthly), with a 7-day free trial and no added transaction fee. Arketa publishes $49/month billed annually for Individual, plus a 3% transaction fee on top of Stripe. Its Studio tiers are demo-gated with no public number.

Is there a wellness-specific alternative with everything bundled at a published price?

For a solo instructor or small studio that wants scheduling, a website, on-demand video, and marketing automation in one published price, OfferingTree covers all four: Individual plans from $26/month and Studio plans from $100 to $225/month, with 0% additional transaction fees on Pro, Pro Plus, and Studio plans.