Two subscriptions vs one purchase. Here's the math.
Acuity Scheduling charges $33/month ($1,328 over 3 years). Fresha charges $18/month ($725 over 3 years). Helix includes bookings as part of a $279 one-time purchase — plus scheduling, CRM, time tracking, and full accounting. You save $1,049 vs Acuity Scheduling and $446 vs Fresha over 3 years. Break even in weeks, not years.
| Feature | Acuity Scheduling | Fresha | Helix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public booking page | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Service menu | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Availability display | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Booking confirmations | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Intake forms | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Deposit collection | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cancellation policies | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Booking reminders | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | $33/mo | $18/mo | $279 once |
| 5-Year Cost | $2,485 | $1,357 | $279 |
Acuity Scheduling and Fresha are both popular choices for bookings, but they solve the problem differently. Acuity Scheduling at $33/month costs more but tends to offer deeper functionality in its core area. Fresha at $18/month keeps costs low but relies on integrations for anything beyond basics. Both are subscriptions — meaning you pay every month whether you use them heavily that month or not.
The third option most people miss: stop subscribing entirely. Helix includes bookings as part of a $279 one-time purchase. No monthly drain. Everything is integrated — your bookings connects directly to your CRM, scheduling, invoicing, and time tracking. No Zapier. No copying data between apps.
SaaS tools increase prices an average of 11.4% per year — five times general inflation. Here is what that looks like for these three tools:
By year 5, Acuity Scheduling has cost you $2,206 more than Helix. Fresha has cost you $1,078 more. That money goes to a subscription company. With Helix, it stays in your business.
Choose Helix if: You're a solo operator or small team who wants to own your tools and stop paying monthly for bookings.
Helix is built for solopreneurs and small teams (1-3 people) who run service-based businesses. If you are a plumber, photographer, house cleaner, personal trainer, nail tech, landscaper, or any other trade where you book clients, do work, and send invoices — Helix replaces the 3-5 subscriptions you are currently paying for. Everything is integrated: your calendar connects to your CRM, your jobs auto-generate invoices, your time tracking feeds your accounting. No Zapier. No copying between apps. $279 once — or $99 today and two more payments — and you own your tools forever.