Bookly vs Amelia: Which WordPress Booking Plugin is Better? (2026 Honest Comparison)

Core Booking Features

Included in both Bookly and Amelia

• ✓Unlimited appointments
• ✓Staff scheduling
• ✓Service management
• ✓Customer database
• ✓Email notifications
• ✓SMS notifications
• ✓Multi-language support
• ✓WooCommerce compatibility
• ✓Zoom integration
• ✓Google Meet integration
• ✓Google Calendar sync

Bookly Cost Breakdown

• ✓Free: $0 on WordPress.org, up to 5 services and 1 staff member per install
• ✓Pro, 1 site: $39/yr promo / $99 regular, or $99 lifetime promo / $129 regular — everyday essentials
• ✓Business: $69/yr promo / $129 regular or $129 lifetime promo / $149 regular for 1 site; $129/yr promo / $249 regular or $249 lifetime promo / $349 regular for 5 sites — Pro scope plus advanced tools
• ✓Ultimate: from $159/yr promo / $199 regular or $199 lifetime promo / $299 regular — same feature scope as Business, with Premium support and larger site-count packages
• ✓Bookly Cloud: SMS and WhatsApp work across every plan on a pay-as-you-go basis; new Cloud accounts include a $5 signup credit and up to $400 bonus on the first top-up

Amelia Cost Breakdown

• ✓Free: Basic booking (limited features)
• ✓Starter: $49/yr — 1 domain, core features
• ✓Standard: $89/yr promo / $99 regular, or $269 lifetime promo / $339 regular
• ✓Pro: $199/yr promo / $285 regular for 5 domains, or $449 lifetime promo / $649 regular
• ✓Elite: $339/yr promo / $679 regular for unlimited domains, or $899 lifetime promo / $1,799 regular
• ✓All-inclusive: features bundled, including ones you may not need
• ✓Simple needs: Amelia Starter starts at $49/yr; Bookly Pro now starts lower at $39/yr promo / $99 regular

Bookly Payment Options

• ✓Free: cash/offline payments; Bookly Cloud services are available pay-as-you-go
• ✓Pro: Stripe, PayPal Standard, and Deposit Payments
• ✓Business: PayPal Checkout, Authorize.Net, 2Checkout, PayU, Taxes, Invoices, and Discounts
• ✓Bookly Cloud: SMS and WhatsApp work across every plan on a pay-as-you-go basis

Amelia Payment Options

• ✓Payment providers vary by plan; Standard and higher include multiple payment integrations such as PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, and Razorpay
• ✓WooCommerce integration
• ✓Refund processing
• ✓Tax calculation built-in

Bookly Free

• ✓Basic booking functionality
• ✓1 staff member, 5 services
• ✓Email notifications
• ✓SMS notifications
• ✓Stripe Payments (via Bookly Cloud)
• ✓Simple booking form

Bookly Pro MOST POPULAR

• ✓Unlimited staff & services
• ✓PayPal, Stripe payments
• ✓Personalized booking forms
• ✓Online meetings
• ✓Customer and staff cabinets
• ✓Online access for clients

Amelia Starter

• ✓Core booking features
• ✓Group appointments
• ✓Service extras & coupons
• ✓Square payments
• ✓Recurring appointments
• ✓Deposit payments & invoices

Amelia Standard 10% OFF

• ✓Everything in Starter
• ✓Multiple payment methods (PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, Razorpay)
• ✓Calendar sync & online meetings
• ✓Marketing tools & analytics
• ✓WooCommerce payments
• ✓Customizable design

Bookly Advantages

• ✓Lower current entry price than Amelia Starter: Bookly Pro starts at $39/yr promo vs Amelia Starter at $49/yr
• ✓Clear bundle ladder: Pro essentials, Business advanced tools, Ultimate scale packages
• ✓Longer WordPress.org history
• ✓More third-party integrations
• ✓Lifetime licenses available
• ✓Better performance (lighter plugin)
• ✓More customization options
• ✓WordPress.org history since 2014
• ✓Clean and functional interface

Bookly Disadvantages

• ✗Advanced tools require Business or Ultimate, so teams should choose by feature scope and site count
• ✗Steeper learning curve
• ✗Setup can take longer when the workflow has many services, staff, and locations

Amelia Advantages

• ✓Beautiful, modern interface
• ✓Easier setup and configuration
• ✓All-in-one pricing model
• ✓Better event management
• ✓Built-in calendar sync
• ✓More payment gateways included
• ✓Better customer panel
• ✓Regular feature updates

Amelia Disadvantages

• ✗Smaller community
• ✗Less customization flexibility
• ✗Fewer third-party integrations
• ✗Relatively newer (less proven)
• ✗Heavier plugin impact

Best for Bookly

• ✓Hair salons & spas
• ✓Medical/dental clinics
• ✓Personal trainers
• ✓Consultants & coaches
• ✓Beauty services
• ✓Repair services

Best for Amelia

• ✓Fitness studios & gyms
• ✓Educational centers
• ✓Event organizers
• ✓Photography studios
• ✓Wellness centers
• ✓Multi-location businesses

Which is cheaper: Bookly or Amelia?

Bookly is cheaper at the current entry point: Bookly Pro starts at $39/yr promo / $99 regular, while Amelia Starter is $49/yr. For 5 domains/sites, Bookly Business 5-site is $129/yr promo / $249 regular or $249 lifetime promo / $349 regular, while Amelia Pro 5-domain is $199/yr promo / $285 regular or $449 lifetime promo / $649 regular. Amelia can still be attractive if you want its polished bundled UX, but Bookly now has the lower price in the main 1-site and 5-site comparison paths.

Does Bookly or Amelia work better with WooCommerce?

WooCommerce depth varies by workflow. Amelia includes WooCommerce payments in paid tiers. Bookly covers direct booking payments through Stripe and PayPal Standard in Pro, with additional processors in Business. If a WooCommerce-first checkout is required, test that exact payment flow before choosing.

Which plugin is easier to set up?

Both plugins can be configured quickly, but the experience differs. Our tests showed Amelia took about 15 minutes with guided defaults, while Bookly took about 35 minutes for a fully customized setup. The winner here depends on your scenario — Amelia gets you started faster with defaults, while Bookly gives you more control from the start, letting you tailor everything to your workflow.

Can I migrate from Amelia to Bookly (or vice versa)?

Yes. Export bookings from Amelia via Amelia → Bookings → Export, then import appointment data in Bookly via Bookly → Diagnostics → Import appointments. Menu names can vary by installed version, so verify the export path in your Amelia admin and back up the site before importing.

Which has better customer support?

Both offer good support, but with different approaches. Bookly has a larger community forum and extensive documentation due to its longer market presence. Amelia provides more responsive direct support and better onboarding resources. Support quality is comparable for paid plans.

Do both plugins work with page builders?

Yes, both integrate with popular page builders. Bookly works with Elementor, Gutenberg, and most page builders via shortcodes. Amelia offers dedicated widgets for Elementor and Divi, plus shortcode support for other builders. Amelia’s integration is generally more seamless.

Which is better for multi-location businesses?

Bookly offers a dedicated Locations add-on that lets you manage multiple locations, assign staff members and services to different locations, configure custom settings per location, and display location details in the calendar and automated notifications. Clients can choose their preferred location before selecting date and time. For multi-location businesses, Bookly provides a comprehensive and well-integrated solution through this add-on.

Choose Bookly If:

• ✓Budget under $100/year
• ✓Simple appointment booking needs
• ✓Performance is critical
• ✓You want proven stability
• ✓You want lower current 1-site or 5-site pricing

Choose Amelia If:

• ✓Unlimited annual domain scope matters more than the lowest 1-site or 5-site price
• ✓Need events + appointments
• ✓Design/UX matters
• ✓Want quick setup
• ✓Prefer all-inclusive pricing