Whether you’re managing a salon, a hotel, a clinic, or client appointments, the right WordPress booking plugin can save you time and help your business run smoothly. Below are the best booking plugins for WordPress, compared by features, ease of use, and price.
🥇 1. Amelia
Best for: Service businesses, consultants, salons
Amelia is a powerful, modern booking solution with a clean interface. It works perfectly for appointments, group bookings, and even recurring events.
Key Features:
- Frontend calendar & booking form
- SMS/email notifications
- WooCommerce integration
- Employee and service management
- Stripe & PayPal support
Pricing: Starts at $49/year
🥈 2. Bookly
Best for: Freelancers, coaches, spas
Bookly is one of the most customizable booking plugins with drag-and-drop UI and tons of add-ons.
Key Features:
- Fully responsive booking form
- SMS/email reminders
- Google Calendar sync
- Online payments
- Multi-language support
Pricing: Free version available; Pro starts at $99 (one-time)
🥉 3. WP Simple Booking Calendar
Best for: Vacation rentals, property booking
This is a simple but effective plugin for showing availability on a calendar. It’s great for Airbnb-style rentals.
Key Features:
- One-click date selection
- Multi-calendar support
- Shortcode integration
- Lightweight and easy to use
Pricing: Free version available; Pro starts at $39/year
👉 Visit WP Simple Booking Calendar
🧰 4. BookingPress
Best for: Small business owners who want zero coding
BookingPress is easy to set up and includes a variety of booking features without add-ons.
Key Features:
- Built-in payment gateways
- Fully responsive design
- Admin calendar dashboard
- Multiple time slots & services
Pricing: Free; Pro starts at $79/year
🧑🏫 5. Calendly (via Embed)
Best for: Consultants & remote professionals
While not a native WordPress plugin, Calendly can be embedded seamlessly on your WordPress site.
Key Features:
- Syncs with Google/Outlook
- Time zone detection
- Payment support via Stripe
- Group events and team booking
Pricing: Free for basic use; Pro from $10/month
💡 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right booking plugin depends on your business type, budget, and the complexity of bookings you handle. Here’s a quick recap:
| Plugin | Best For | Free Version | Payment Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia | Service businesses | No | ✅ |
| Bookly | Freelancers & spas | ✅ | ✅ |
| WP Simple Booking Calendar | Vacation rentals | ✅ | ❌ |
| BookingPress | Small businesses | ✅ | ✅ |
| Calendly | Remote pros | ✅ | ✅ |