Helix vs Acuity Scheduling

Acuity is clean scheduling with great intake forms. But at $20-$34/month, you're paying $240-$408/year for just one piece of the puzzle. Helix is $279 once — scheduling plus everything else.

Choose Helix if:

  • You need more than just scheduling and intake forms
  • You want CRM, invoicing, and accounting included
  • You want to own your tools, not rent them

Choose Acuity if:

  • You need deep Squarespace website integration
  • You need advanced custom intake forms and waivers
  • You want a scheduling-first tool with class/group booking

Bottom line: Acuity Growing costs $240/year. Powerhouse costs $408/year. Both are scheduling only — no invoicing, no CRM, no financial tracking. Helix is a one-time purchase of $279 that includes scheduling plus everything else you need to run your business. Break-even vs Growing: ~14 months. Break-even vs Powerhouse: ~8 months. Over 3 years, Acuity Powerhouse costs $1,224. Helix costs $279.

Key Numbers

Interactive Comparison

Acuity is pre-selected below. Add any other tools you're paying for to see the full picture.

Acuity Growing: $20/mo = $240/year. Powerhouse: $34/mo = $408/year. Break-even with Helix: ~8-14 months.

Acuity Scheduling Pricing Breakdown

Emerging (1 calendar) $16/mo · $192/yr
Growing (6 calendars) $20/mo · $240/yr
Powerhouse (36 calendars) $34/mo · $408/yr
Owned by Squarespace Acquired 2020
Helix (one-time) $279 once
Break-even vs Helix ~8 months (Powerhouse) · ~14 months (Growing)

The Real Difference

What Acuity Gets Right

Acuity has a clean, professional scheduling experience that clients actually enjoy using. The custom intake forms and waivers are excellent — better than most competitors. If you're on Squarespace, the native integration is seamless. Class and group booking work well for studios and workshops. For pure scheduling with good forms, Acuity delivers.

Where Acuity Falls Short

No invoicing, no CRM, no financial tracking, no time tracking. Acuity is scheduling and intake forms — that's it. Since Squarespace acquired Acuity in 2020, the product has been increasingly pushed toward the Squarespace ecosystem. If you're not on Squarespace, you're a second-class citizen. And paying $240-$408/year for scheduling alone, when you still need to buy invoicing and accounting separately, adds up fast.

Why People Switch

Most Acuity defectors hit one of three triggers: (1) they need more than scheduling — invoicing, CRM, accounting — and are tired of paying for 3-4 separate tools, (2) Squarespace acquisition concerns — they've seen features deprecated and pricing changes since the buyout, or (3) they've done the math and realized $408/year for scheduling + $516/year for FreshBooks + $144/year for Calendly adds up to $1,068/year when Helix is $279 once.

Switching from Acuity to Helix

Day 1

Export your data

Export your client list and appointment history from Acuity as CSV. Download your custom form templates for reference. Takes about 10 minutes.

Day 1

Set up Helix

15-minute setup. Import your clients, recreate your appointment types and availability. Configure your services and pricing. The Setup Wizard walks you through everything.

Day 2-3

Parallel run

Run both systems for a few days. Test your booking flow, make sure clients can schedule, and get comfortable with the full suite.

Day 4+

Cancel Acuity

Once you're confident, cancel your Acuity subscription. Update your booking links and enjoy having everything in one tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Helix a real Acuity Scheduling replacement?

Yes for solopreneurs who need more than scheduling. Helix includes scheduling plus CRM, invoicing, expense tracking, and time management — all for $279 once. Acuity only does scheduling and intake forms.

How much does Acuity Scheduling cost per year?

Acuity Growing plan is $20/month = $240/year. Powerhouse plan is $34/month = $408/year. Both are owned by Squarespace since the 2020 acquisition.

Why are people leaving Acuity Scheduling?

Three main reasons: needing more than just scheduling (CRM, invoicing, accounting), concerns about the Squarespace acquisition changing the product direction, and paying $240-$408/year for scheduling when full business suites exist for less.

Does Acuity include invoicing or CRM?

No. Acuity is scheduling and intake forms only. You need separate tools for CRM, invoicing, and accounting. Helix includes all of these for $279 once.

Can I import my Acuity data into Helix?

Yes. Export your client list and appointment data from Acuity as CSV. Recreate your appointment types and availability in Helix. Most users complete the switch in under an hour.

Ready for more than just scheduling?

Acuity costs $240-$408/year for scheduling alone. Helix is $279 once for everything.

Calculate Your Savings

Also Compare

· Data sourced from official pricing pages