SBM Portal vs Acuity Scheduling: Which Is Better for Your Business?
SBM Portal and Acuity Scheduling both offer online booking, but differ in invoicing, payment options, and industry focus. Compare features, pricing, and see which fits your business.
SBM Portal vs Acuity Scheduling: Overview
Choosing between SBM Portal and Acuity Scheduling depends on what your business needs beyond basic appointment booking. Both platforms handle online scheduling well, but they differ significantly in invoicing, payment flexibility, and industry focus.
This comparison breaks down features, pricing, and limitations so you can pick the right platform for your service business.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SBM Portal | Acuity Scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking | Yes | Yes |
| SMS reminders | Yes (included) | Paid add-on ($7/mo) |
| Invoicing | Built-in | No |
| Payment processing | Stripe + Interac | Stripe or Square |
| Loyalty discounts | Auto-applied | No |
| Multi-branch | Yes | No |
| Customer CRM | Full CRM with history | Basic client profiles |
| Multi-industry | Yes (all service businesses) | Limited (wellness focus) |
| Pricing | $29–99 CAD/month | $16–49 USD/month |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days |
Where SBM Portal Wins
Built-In Invoicing
Acuity doesn't include invoicing. If you need to send invoices to clients, you'll need a separate tool like QuickBooks or Wave. SBM Portal generates invoices directly from appointments — parts, labor, taxes, and payment collection all in one place.
Payment Flexibility
Acuity processes payments through Stripe or Square, but doesn't support Interac e-Transfer. For Canadian businesses where clients prefer Interac, SBM Portal is the only option that handles both Stripe and Interac natively.
Loyalty Discounts
SBM Portal automatically applies loyalty discounts for returning customers. Acuity has no built-in loyalty feature — you'd need to manually create discount codes.
Multi-Branch Support
If you operate more than one location, SBM Portal manages centralized scheduling with location-specific availability. Acuity is single-location only.
Where Acuity Wins
Lower Entry Price
Acuity's Emerging plan starts at $16 USD/month (~$22 CAD), which is cheaper than SBM Portal's Starter plan at $29 CAD/month. If you only need basic scheduling for a solo operation, Acuity costs less.
Deep Integrations
Acuity integrates with a wide range of third-party tools through Squarespace and Zapier: Google Calendar, Outlook, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and more. If your workflow depends on these integrations, Acuity's ecosystem is more mature.
Class and Group Booking
Acuity handles group classes and workshops better than SBM Portal. If you run fitness classes, workshops, or group sessions, Acuity's class scheduling is more developed.
When to Choose SBM Portal
- You need invoicing alongside booking (no QuickBooks required)
- You're a Canadian business wanting Interac support
- You have multiple locations or branches
- You want loyalty discounts without manual setup
- You serve auto repair, pet, or home service industries
When to Choose Acuity
- You're a solo operator on a tight budget
- You need deep Zapier/third-party integrations
- You run group classes or workshops
- You're already on Squarespace
- You don't need invoicing
The Bottom Line
Acuity is a solid scheduling tool with strong integrations and a lower entry price. But if your business needs invoicing, multi-payment support, or multi-branch management, SBM Portal delivers more value in a single platform.
For a detailed feature breakdown, visit our full SBM Portal vs Acuity comparison page.
Try SBM Portal free for 14 days — see the difference for yourself.