Amelia is a polished WordPress booking plugin that tackles both appointments and events in one place. Its smooth front-end wizard and built-in analytics help businesses, like clinics, salons, and course providers, let customers self-schedule 24/7, accept payments, and monitor performance without juggling multiple add-ons.

Why people look for an Amelia alternative

Even with all its bells and whistles, Amelia’s free version feels too basic for most. Upgrading to unlock payments, SMS alerts, or Zoom integration means signing up for yearly fees. Some find the myriad of settings overwhelming. That’s why many start hunting for Amelia competitors that fit their budget or offer a simpler workflow. Finally, because Amelia is a heavyweight plugin, it may be a bit heavier in load, and while highly customizable via settings, it may have slightly less third-party extensibility compared to an ecosystem like WooCommerce or forms plugins.

Amelia Advantages

• All core features out of the box: recurring bookings, group appointments, coupons, deposits, and event ticketing
• Calendar syncing with Google, Outlook, and iCal
• Native payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, plus WooCommerce)
• Dashboard with KPIs, charts, and revenue reports.

Amelia Disadvantages

• The free edition is limited to one employee and no integrations
• Subscription model (starts at $79 per year)
• Steep learning curve for non-technical users
• No way to pick features à la carte

When you need an alternative to Amelia, consider these top Amelia competitors: Bookly, Booknetic, WP Booking Calendar, WooCommerce Bookings, Booqable, Simply Schedule Appointments (SSA). Each brings its twist, whether it’s one-off pricing, advanced rental tools, or lightweight simplicity, so you can pick the Amelia alternative that best matches your needs.

#1. Bookly (WordPress Booking Plugin)

Bookly is a powerful appointment scheduling plugin for WordPress that automates online bookings. As an efficient WP Amelia alternative, it features a sleek booking form you can integrate into any page via shortcode. 

Clients can self-book appointments 24/7, choose staff members they want to book, and even pay online (via PayPal, Stripe, etc., with add-ons). It’s also one of the top Amelia competitors’ plugins for businesses seeking an efficient booking solution for SMBs. The plugin’s backend lets owners manage client appointments, staff schedules, and notifications through an intuitive dashboard.

What are the key differences between Bookly and Amelia? Unlike Amelia’s all-in-one subscription, Bookly uses a one-time Pro license plus optional add-ons, letting you pay only for the exact features you need.

Key Bookly Features

• Step-by-step booking wizard for clients, with support for selecting service, staff, date & time. Fully responsive and translatable (supports WPML for multi-language).
• Unlimited team members with individual working hours, pricing, and Google Calendar sync.
• Automated email and SMS reminders to clients and staff (reduces no-shows). Customizable workflows and templates for confirmations, cancellations, etc.
• Supports PayPal, Stripe, Square, and more (via built-in or add-ons). WooCommerce integration is available to use additional gateways.
• Bookly’s ecosystem of add-ons provides features like service Packages, Coupons, Group Bookings, Waiting Lists, Multi-day (cart) bookings, and more, allowing you to extend core capabilities as needed.

Bookly Disadvantages 

• Bookly’s reliance on paid add-ons is its biggest downside. Important capabilities (recurring appointments, deposits, multiple-day booking, etc.) are not included in the base plugin. 
• Costs can add up quickly for businesses that need those features. Additionally, it’s not ideal for multi-day rentals (no accommodation booking view), and support beyond the initial 6 months requires extra fees. These limitations prompt some users to consider the alternatives below.

Bookly Pricing Policy

• Bookly Free is available at no charge. 
• Bookly Pro offers two license options: a one-time $99 lifetime license (includes updates and support, extendable) or a $33/year unlimited annual license. 
• Additional functionality comes via numerous plugins priced $29–$49 each; fully loading can exceed $1,000, though most businesses find the core license covers their needs.

Bookly is Best for:

Service businesses (spas, salons, clinics, consultants, trainers, tutors, etc.) that want a sleek, customizable scheduler with a single upfront fee and optional add-ons only where needed.

#2. Booknetic (WP Appointment Booking & Scheduling)

Booknetic ranks among the top Amelia competitors by delivering a full-featured booking system with one purchase. As a standout alternative to Amelia, it offers a drag-and-drop form builder, a modern widget outside the default WordPress dashboard, plus built-in payments, notifications, Zoom support, and recurring appointments—no add-ons required. Unlike Amelia’s subscription model, Booknetic bundles most advanced features into tiered, one-time licenses, though it lacks a free starter plan.

Booknetic Plugin Features:

• Customize booking steps, reorder fields, and add extra information with ease
• Unlimited employees and sites, each with its calendar, service categories, durations, padding, and group-booking capacity
• Two-way Google Calendar and Outlook sync, built-in Zoom meeting creation, WooCommerce support, and Zapier/IFTTT webhooks
• PayPal and Stripe out of the box (higher tiers), plus taxes, coupons, and automatic invoice generation
• Automated email, SMS, and WhatsApp alerts for both customers and staff
• View booking stats, revenue figures, and top-performing services or team members directly within WordPress.

Booknetic Disadvantages:

Booknetic is relatively new, so documentation and support can be inconsistent after the first year; there’s no free version (only a demo); its custom interface may clash with some themes and has a learning curve; and you’ll need to budget for support renewals.

Booknetic Pricing Policy:

One-time purchase: Basic $79, Standard $199, and Premium $349—all include lifetime updates and one year of support.

Booknetic is Best for:

Developers, agencies, or multi-location service businesses that prefer a single upfront fee and need deep workflow customization, plus built-in features like WhatsApp notifications and Outlook integration.

3. WooCommerce Bookings

WooCommerce Bookings ranks among the top Amelia competitors thanks to its seamless WooCommerce integration. Priced at $249/year per site, it converts any product into a bookable item, supporting fixed or customer-defined start times, capacity limits, and person-type pricing (for adult, child rates, etc.). You can configure buffer periods, approval workflows, cancellation windows, and .ics export for calendar syncing. As a flexible alternative to Amelia, it’s ideal for shop owners who need bookings tied directly to inventory and payment gateways, though it requires the WooCommerce framework and carries an annual fee.

WooCommerce Key Features:

• Define fixed time slots or allow customers to choose arbitrary start times with a specified duration (useful for hotel check-in/check-out or hourly rentals).
• Capacity and multi-person bookings: Set minimum/maximum participants for a booking.
• Assign “resources” to bookings to avoid double-booking shared assets (like rooms, or a specific staff/equipment).
• Offer special pricing based on quantity or time – e.g., discounts for multi-day bookings, higher prices on weekends, or early-bird discounts. You can set seasonal rates or person-count-based pricing with additional extensions.
• For virtual services, show bookings in the customer’s timezone to avoid confusion. Optionally require admin confirmation for each booking before payment is captured, and enable free cancellations until a certain time – all up to your policy settings.
• It can send WooCommerce-style confirmation emails and reminders to customers for their bookings.

WooCommerce Disadvantages

• High cost: $249 /yr per site, plus extra for add-ons (e.g., Accommodation Bookings, Deposits)
• Requires WooCommerce, adding plugin overhead even if you only need booking
• Interface feels like a product stock calendar rather than an appointment scheduler
• No native staff-calendar view in WP admin; average user rating ~2.7/5.

WooCommerce Pricing Policy

• $249 /yr (single site; includes support, updates, 30-day refund)
• Additional WooCommerce extensions are sold separately
• No free version.

WooCommerce Plugin is Best for

Stores already on WooCommerce wanting to book products or services: Equipment rentals, hotel/BnB bookings (with Accommodation extension), event tickets. Businesses that rely on WooCommerce’s payment gateways, coupons, and inventory tools.

4. WP Booking Calendar

WP Booking Calendar, first released in 2009, lets you handle single-day appointments and multi-day reservations via a front-end availability calendar and back-end timeline. As a robust alternative to Amelia, it adds built-in seasonal pricing and reliable .ics syncing features that Amelia doesn’t prioritize. Recognized among Amelia competitors, it’s tailored for vacation rentals and resource management. While its tiered editions demand careful choice, many find it better than Amelia for complex, multi-day booking workflows.

WP Booking Calendar Features:

• Interactive availability calendar with single-day or time-slot bookings and pop-up selector
• Customizable booking forms: tailor fields and create multiple forms for different services or properties
• Multiple calendars & capacity control: manage unlimited resources and permit several bookings per slot when needed
• Advanced rental tools: seasonal pricing, length-of-stay discounts, deposits, and check-in/out rules
• Online payments (premium): accept PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, or offer pay-on-arrival and bank transfer options
• Email notifications: customizable alerts for new, confirmed, or canceled bookings; choose auto- or manual approval
• .ics sync (Business+): import/export with Google Calendar, Airbnb, Booking.com to avoid double-bookings
• One-time purchase with optional upgrades—no recurring fees, and all data stays in your WordPress database.

WP Booking Calendar Disadvantages

• Free edition limited to one calendar and no online payments
• Deep feature set can feel overwhelming; the setup isn’t as guided as Amelia or SSA
• Key functions (user cancellations, multiple forms) are only available in top-tier plans
• No native staff scheduling—you must treat each team member as a separate resource
• Lacks built-in Zoom or advanced marketing integrations.

WP Booking Calendar Pricing Policy

• Free for basic use
• Personal $79 (one calendar)
• Business Small $149 (adds payments)
• Business Medium $249 (seasonal pricing, coupons)
• Business Large $349 (multiple users)
• MultiUser/Developer $649 (unlimited resources).

WP Booking Calendar is Best for

Power users and technical teams who need a self-hosted booking and rental system without recurring fees—ideal for hotels, vacation rentals, equipment hire, or any scenario requiring fine-tuned availability rules and seasonal pricing.

5. Booqable (Rental Booking System)

Booqable differs from typical WordPress booking plugins by offering a cloud-based rental platform rather than a standalone WP solution. As one of the noteworthy Amelia alternatives, it specializes in equipment and inventory rentals—cameras, bikes, party supplies, or rentable spaces. For businesses seeking an Amelia alternative focused on rentals, Booqable delivers an all-in-one toolkit with inventory tracking, online checkout, and automatic updates. It also ranks among key Amelia competitors, though it requires a subscription instead of a one-time fee.

Booqable Features:

• Real-time inventory tracking: Define daily stock levels to prevent overbooking (e.g. only five bikes available per day)
• Flexible rental periods: Support hourly, daily, or multi-day bookings with custom start and end times
• Product catalog: Showcase items with images and descriptions; customers add to a cart and select rental dates
• Integrated payments & documents: Accept payments (Stripe, etc.), collect deposits, and auto-generate quotes, invoices, and contracts
• Buffer scheduling: Insert prep or maintenance time between rentals to ensure readiness
• Back-office dashboard: Web-based order management, barcode scanning for check-in/out, and customer communication outside WordPress
• WordPress shortcode: Embed your Booqable storefront seamlessly; all data remains hosted on Booqable’s cloud. 

Booqable Disadvantages

• Subscription-based pricing can become costly for small businesses
• All data (bookings, customer info) is hosted in Booqable’s cloud—no self-hosting option
• WordPress integration is an embedded storefront, limiting deep form or theme customizations
• Focused on rentals, not staff-based services
• Lose access to the system if your subscription lapses.

Booqable Pricing Policy

• Essential: $29 /mo ($348 yr)
• Pro: $79 /mo ($948 yr)
• Premium: $249 /mo ($ 2,988 yr)

Booqable is Best for

Rental businesses that require robust inventory management and online storefronts, such as camera shops, bike rentals, event equipment, costume or prop hire, and space bookings. Booqable excels when you need stock tracking, deposit handling, and seamless cloud-based reliability, but is not intended as an alternative to service-focused plugins like Bookly or Amelia.

6. Simply Schedule Appointments (SSA)

Simply Schedule Appointments (SSA) is a freemium booking plugin praised for its ease of use and rapid setup—live in under five minutes with a basic form. Often listed among Amelia competitors, it delivers a friendly UX via a step-by-step wizard and embeds easily with Gutenberg blocks or shortcodes. Its polished interface and top-notch support make SSA a solid Amelia alternative, and premium plans add payments, integrations, and group bookings for those who found Amelia too complex.

SSA Features:

• Guided wizard and native WordPress block let you embed your first booking form in minutes; also supports Elementor, Divi, and Beaver Builder widgets
• Free version offers unlimited appointment types with custom intervals, padding, and blackout dates via a simple GUI
• Mobile-responsive, step-by-step flow with customizable colors, fonts, and text to match your brand
• Email confirmations, reminders, and cancellations; SMS option via add-on; Pro adds Google Calendar two-way sync
• Stripe and PayPal in higher tiers; require upfront payment; WooCommerce, Gravity Forms, and Formidable Forms integrations available
• Business edition supports multiple staff, client-selected providers, and group events (classes, webinars)
• 5-star reviews for fast, helpful customer service; frequent updates and new integrations driven by user feedback.

SSA Disadvantages

• Free version lacks online payments, calendar sync, and third-party integrations
• No support for complex pricing rules or multi-day rentals—appointment-only focus
• Premium plans can be costly (Plus $99/yr, Pro $199/yr, Business $299/yr)
• No native mobile app or built-in analytics dashboard.

SSA Pricing Policy

• Free: Unlimited appointments, email notifications, basic styling
• Plus ($99/yr): Google Calendar sync, MailChimp integration
• Professional ($199/yr): Payments (Stripe/PayPal), SMS, Zoom integration
• Business ($299/yr): Group bookings, multiple team members
• Lifetime: Single-fee option available.

SSA is Best For

Solo service providers and small businesses like coaches, consultants, photographers, or therapists, who need a simple, reliable booking system. SSA’s quick setup and block-editor integration make it ideal for WordPress beginners who want core scheduling functionality without overwhelm.

Compare Amelia’s WP Plugin Features with Other Booking Plugins

Feature	Amelia	Bookly	Booknetic	WooCommerce Bookings	WP Booking Calendar	Booqable	SSA
Unlimited appts.	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X	✓
Calendar views	✓	✓	✓	X	✓	✓	✓
Searchable list	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Separate forms	✓	✓	✓	○	✓	X	✓
Staff schedule	✓	✓	✓	X	○	X	○
Custom pricing	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X
Company hours	✓	✓	✓	X	✓	X	✓
Unlimited forms	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X	✓
Custom design	✓	✓	✓	○	○	X	○
Admin interface	✓	✓	✓	X	✓	✓	✓
Redirect URLs	✓	✓	✓	X	X	X	✓
Customer list	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Local payments	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Payment details	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Currency format	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Auto notifications	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X	✓
Custom templates	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X	✓
ICS support	X	✓	X	X	✓	X	X
Multi-language	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X	✓

Different WordPress booking plugins shine for distinct needs:

• Solo service providers & freelancers: Simply Schedule Appointments or Bookly Lite provide quick setup, unlimited appointments, and essential features at minimal cost.
• Small to mid-sized service businesses: Bookly Pro offers a polished UI, Google Calendar sync, and modular add-ons, making it ideal for salons, clinics, and consultants who need a one-time purchase with scalable functionality.
• Growing teams & event organizers: Amelia and Booknetic bundle advanced features like recurring bookings, group events, and form builders into single licenses, fitting businesses that require enterprise dashboards and deep customization.
• E-commerce stores & rentals: WooCommerce Bookings integrates tightly with product inventories and payment gateways, while WP Booking Calendar and Booqable excel at multi-day reservations, seasonal pricing, or equipment rentals.
• Multilingual or global operations: Bookly, Amelia, and WP Booking Calendar each support WPML or multiple languages out of the box, ensuring smooth booking experiences across regions.

As one of the more streamlined Amelia alternatives, Bookly provides a one-time $99 Pro license with lifetime updates and a modular add-on system, enabling features such as recurring appointments, Zoom integration, and payment gateways through individual purchases, while Amelia requires higher annual subscription tiers for the same capabilities, making Bookly a reliable, flexible, and cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. Try Bookly today!