Acuity Scheduling vs SimplePractice for Therapists (2026 Comparison)
Updated for 2026. Covers pricing, features, HIPAA compliance, and a direct recommendation based on your practice type.
If you are choosing between Acuity Scheduling and SimplePractice, the short answer is this:
Choose Acuity if you need a smart, flexible scheduler that connects to your existing tools. Choose SimplePractice if you want one system that handles scheduling, notes, billing, and telehealth.
The longer answer depends on what stage your practice is at and what you actually use. Here is the full breakdown.
A quick note for transparency:
This article includes affiliate links for both Acuity and Simple Practice. That means if you choose to explore or sign up through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.I share this because I believe in being open, not because I believe one system is “better” than the other. This comparison is written to help you choose what genuinely fits your practice, even if that means using neither of them.
Where Acuity Wins
Scheduling flexibility. Acuity is built around appointment booking and does it better than most all-in-one platforms. You get detailed availability rules, intake forms, package management, gift certificates, and group class scheduling out of the box.
Squarespace integration. If your website is on Squarespace, Acuity embeds natively. Clients book directly from your site without being redirected to a third-party page. This keeps the experience clean and branded.
Modular approach. Acuity works well alongside tools you already use: Google Calendar, Zoom, Stripe, and others. If you do not need notes or billing inside your scheduling tool, you are not paying for features you will never touch.
Cost for simple practices. A cash-pay therapist who only needs scheduling and automated reminders can run on the Powerhouse plan at $49/month and have a professional, HIPAA-compliant setup without overpaying for an EHR.
Where SimplePractice Wins
All-in-one operations. SimplePractice combines scheduling, progress notes, treatment plans, telehealth, and insurance billing into one platform. If you accept insurance, this alone makes it worth the cost.
Built-in telehealth. No Zoom subscription needed. Telehealth is included on the Essential plan and up.
AI note-taking. SimplePractice now includes an AI note taker that generates session summaries. Worth evaluating carefully given privacy considerations, but a meaningful time-saver for high-volume practices.
EHR compliance. For practices that need full electronic health records, SimplePractice is built for it. Acuity is not.
The Question Most Therapists Skip
Before choosing between these two, ask yourself one thing: what does my website do with this booking system?
If someone finds you on Google, visits your site, and then has to navigate to an external page to book, you are losing clients at the last step. The booking system and the website need to work together.
Acuity integrates directly into Squarespace. SimplePractice has its own client portal link, which works but creates a separate destination outside your site.
If your website is not optimized to receive and convert visitors before they even reach the booking button, that is the first thing to fix. A professional site built around trust and clear calls to action will do more for your practice growth than any scheduling tool.
Bohöra builds Squarespace templates specifically for therapists and wellness professionals. If your site is not converting the traffic it receives, start here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acuity Scheduling HIPAA compliant? Yes, but only on the Powerhouse plan ($49/month). You also need to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with Acuity. Lower plans do not qualify.
Is SimplePractice HIPAA compliant? Yes. All paid SimplePractice plans include HIPAA compliance and a BAA.
Can I use Acuity Scheduling with SimplePractice? Some therapists use both: SimplePractice for notes and billing, Acuity for client-facing scheduling. It works but adds cost. Most practices are better served by committing to one system.
Does SimplePractice integrate with Squarespace? Not natively. You can add a SimplePractice booking link to your Squarespace site, but it redirects clients outside your site rather than keeping them on it.
Which is easier to set up? Acuity has a faster setup and a more intuitive initial configuration. SimplePractice has a steeper learning curve given the breadth of features, but their onboarding support is solid.
What do solo therapists say about SimplePractice? The most common reflection from cash-pay solo therapists: "I don't use half of what I'm paying for." SimplePractice is powerful. It is also overkill if you do not bill insurance or need full EHR documentation.
Bottom Line
Acuity and SimplePractice are not really competing for the same therapist. They solve different problems at different stages of practice growth.
Solo, cash-pay therapist who wants professional scheduling without EHR overhead: Acuity.
Therapist who accepts insurance, needs telehealth built in, or wants one platform for clinical and administrative workflow: SimplePractice.
The choice is not about which tool is better. It is about which tool matches how you actually practice.
