Apptoto vs Setmore (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Setmore grades higher than Apptoto: 2.8 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Setmore grades higher on the free plan, ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apptoto
Appointment reminders, two-way texting and online scheduling
Setmore
Appointment booking app with a free plan for up to four staff
Which one is for you
Pick Apptoto if
- Fits if you want reminders sent from Google or Outlook calendars
- Works for small offices that confirm appointments by text
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you are one person: the starting plan has a minimum of 3 users
- Watch out: messages draw on 450 credits a month, and outside the US and Canada they halve
- Pricey if you add reputation management: $30 a month more
- Watch out: premium setup and HIPAA are separate fees
Pick Setmore if
- Fits if you run a salon, clinic or studio with up to 4 staff and email reminders are enough
- Works for taking payment at booking through Square, Stripe or PayPal, which is on both plans
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if your diary is in Google Calendar and you won't pay, as two-way sync is Pro only
- Tight if you stay on Free: 4 users, one email reminder, and no texts, recurring or video appointments, deposits or API
- Pricey if you pay monthly: $12 for every staff calendar, even ones with no login, against $5 on yearly billing
- Watch out: there's no Pro trial, only a 30-day refund, and Live Receptionist is $99 a month extra, US only
- Not for you if you need a waitlist, intake forms or cards on file, which aren't on its features page
How we grade them
| 2.2GPAApptotoFair | 2.8GPASetmoreGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$30 a month for 3 users on yearly billing, then $10 each, against $8 in the middle of calendar tools. | CPro is $5 a person a month on yearly billing, just under the $6 middle for calendar tools, and $12 if you pay monthly. It's per staff calendar, so a six-chair salon is $30 a month on yearly billing. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 14-day trial with no card needed, and no free plan. | BFour staff, unlimited appointments, a booking page, card payments, group classes and one email reminder, with no time limit. The caps you'd meet: 4 users, no text reminders and no two-way sync. |
| Features | CReminders, two-way texting, booking pages and payments, with credits that run out and reputation tools sold as an add-on. | CA booking page, payments, classes, team calendars, reminders and Book Now buttons for Instagram, Facebook and Google. The listing's own gaps show: no waitlist or intake forms, and recurring and video appointments, deposits and the API all need Pro. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and you connect a calendar and build message templates. | B4.67 from about 9,200 App Store ratings, a shade under our bar for an A. Setmore says help runs around the clock by chat, email and phone. One reviewer says the app shows less than the website. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with Google, Outlook and Exchange calendars and an API; no desktop app. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, which few others in this category cover. More than 40 integrations plus Zapier, and an API on Pro only. Two-way sync with Google or Office 365 is Pro only too. |
| Best for | appointment reminders that work off your calendar | small teams that want free online booking |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Apptoto and Setmore. How we grade
Price against what you get
Apptoto starts at $30 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Setmore starts at $5 a month for each person and scores 3.0.
Setmore scores higher and starts $25 a month lower. Of the other calendar and scheduling apps on the chart, 41 score higher than Apptoto for less, and 3 score higher than Setmore for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Apptoto also covers calendar, business texting, appointment booking and review collection.
- Setmore also covers reports.
At a glance
| Apptoto | Setmore | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $30 per month for 3 users and calendars, billed annually ($39 billed monthly) | $5 per user / month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | None | Up to 4 users, unlimited appointments, a Booking Page, online and in-person payments, email confirmations and one email reminder, plus the mobile and desktop apps. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial, no credit card required | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Apptoto | Setmore |
| Price read from | apptoto.com | setmore.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Apptoto
- Price follows the number of users and calendars, and the starting plan has a minimum of 3.
- Automated messages draw on a monthly credit allowance; messaging outside the US and Canada halves the credits.
- Reputation management is an add-on at $30 a month billed annually ($39 billed monthly), and adds 200 message credits.
- A one-time premium setup is available for a fee, and a HIPAA option is priced separately.
Setmore
- The Free plan stops at 4 users and leaves out two-way calendar sync, SMS reminders, recurring appointments, video appointments, deposits and API access.
- Pro is charged per user, and every staff calendar counts as a user even if that person has no login.
- Paying monthly costs $12 per user, more than twice the $5 annual rate. There is no free trial of Pro, only a 30-day refund window.
- Live Receptionist call answering is a separate $99 per month add-on and is offered in the US only.
Key features
Apptoto
- Automated reminders and confirmations
- Reminders go out by text, email or voice call before appointments, and clients can confirm, cancel or ask to reschedule, with replies updating the calendar.
- Two-way messaging
- Clients reply over whichever channel they use, and staff carry on the conversation from the app, with opt-in and opt-out lists.
- Online scheduling
- Booking pages show real-time availability from Google Calendar, Outlook, Exchange and others, for one-on-one or group sessions.
- Campaigns and reputation management
- Calendar-based text and email campaigns, and automatic review requests, are offered; reputation management is a paid add-on.
- Payments
- Deposits, no-show fees, partial or full payments and refunds can be collected for appointments.
- Developer API and MCP server
- A public developer API and webhooks are listed, along with an MCP server for connecting an AI assistant.
Setmore
- Booking Page
- A public page with a custom URL that lists services, staff and live availability so customers can book at any hour. Removing Setmore's branding from it needs Pro.
- Payments
- Take card payments at booking or in person through Square, Stripe, PayPal or LawPay, including Tap to Pay, on both plans. Deposits are a Pro feature.
- Confirmations and reminders
- Email confirmations and one email reminder are free. Pro adds a second reminder and SMS reminders, with 500 SMS credits per Pro team member each month.
- Team calendars
- Each staff member gets a login, working hours, time off and a calendar, with a combined team view, permission levels and built-in team messaging on both plans.
- Classes and recurring appointments
- Group classes with seat reservations are on both plans. Recurring appointments and video appointments by Zoom or Google Meet are listed under Pro.
- Booking from social and search
- Add Book Now buttons to Facebook, Instagram and websites built on WordPress, Wix or Weebly, take bookings through Reserve with Google, and share a QR code.
Plans
Apptoto
Starting plan$30
per month for 3 users, billed annually ($39 billed monthly)
Includes 450 automated message credits a month, unlimited manual messages and booking pages. Each extra user and calendar adds $10 a month billed annually, or $13 billed monthly.
Setmore
Free$0
Up to 4 users, unlimited appointments, a custom Booking Page, group classes, payments through Square, Stripe or PayPal, and email reminders.
Pro$5
per user / month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly)
Unlimited users, two-way calendar sync, SMS reminders, recurring and video appointments, deposits, API access and no Setmore branding.
EnterpriseCustom
A tailored setup for larger organizations, arranged by contacting Setmore's sales team.
Ways to pay less
Apptoto
- Annual discount
23% off when billed annually
The pricing page says paying annually saves 23% against monthly billing.
Setmore
- Annual discount
Pro at $5 instead of $12 with annual billing
Setmore's pricing page shows Pro at $12 per user / month on monthly billing and $5 per user / month on annual billing, about 58% less.
- Nonprofit
Nonprofit discounts on request
Setmore's mission page invites nonprofit organizations to contact the team about discounts. No rate is published.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Apptoto or Setmore?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Apptoto starts at $30 per month for 3 users and calendars, billed annually ($39 billed monthly), and Setmore starts at $5 per user / month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly). One is priced for each person and the other is not, so which costs less depends on how many of you use it.
Which has a free plan, Apptoto or Setmore?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Setmore has a free plan. Apptoto does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Apptoto and Setmore run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Setmore lists macOS and Windows apps. Both list a web app and iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.