Battle of the Scheduling Giants: Book Like a Boss vs. Calendly

If you’re an entrepreneur, coach, or service provider, having a reliable scheduling tool is essential. Both Calendly and Book Like A Boss (BLAB) are at the top of their game, but which one reigns supreme for your particular needs? Let’s break it down:

Core Similarities

Both BLAB and Calendly excel at the basics:

Easy Online Booking: Clients can self-schedule appointments according to your availability.
Calendar Integrations: Syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, etc., to prevent double-bookings.
Appointment Reminders: Automatic reminders reduce client no-shows.
Customization: Control your availability, appointment types, and booking page style.

Book Like a Boss: Where It Excels

Mini-Website Functionality: BLAB booking pages look like professional websites. Add sections for about you, testimonials, services, and more.
Accept Payments: Take deposits or full payments directly during the booking process.
Sell Products/Services: Great for selling consultations, packages, digital products, and more alongside scheduling.
Expanded Customization: More granular control over the look and feel of your booking pages.
Focus on Client Experience: Designed to turn bookers into loyal, connected clients.

Calendly: Simplicity and User Base

Unbeatable Simplicity: For super basic scheduling needs, Calendly is quick to set up and user-friendly.
Larger User Base: Its popularity fosters familiarity for some clients.
Team Scheduling: Offers robust features for round-robin scheduling and group events across larger teams.
Integrations Galore: Connects with tons of tools like Zoom, Stripe, and more.

Features at a Glance

Who They’re Ideal For

Book Like a Boss: Solopreneurs, coaches, small service-based businesses wanting to streamline appointment bookings and increase online sales. Emphasis on creating a strong brand experience.
Calendly: Individuals and large teams who prioritize simple scheduling. Great for internal meetings or collaborating with others frequently using Calendly.

Deeper Dive

Absolutely! Let’s take that deeper dive into Book Like A Boss (BLAB) and Calendly’s offerings for more nuanced decision-making:

Booking Page Showdown

BLAB: You’re essentially creating mini-websites. Add branding elements, images, testimonials, FAQs, an “About Me” section, portfolios, and more. Perfect for converting those on the fence about booking.
Calendly: Clean and uncluttered, but your customization is limited to colors and a logo. Ideal for pure functionality without extensive branding requirements.

Payment Handling

BLAB: Seamless payment integration with Stripe and PayPal. Offer package deals, subscriptions, or charge per session. This transforms the booking page into a point of sale.
Calendly: Requires external workarounds. Options include sending separate invoices through other software or setting up “paid consultations” that link to pre-designed payment pages.

Client Relations

BLAB: Includes basic CRM-like features. Store client contact information, booking history, add client notes, and create client profiles. Useful for nurturing the client relationship beyond just the initial appointment.
Calendly: Offers minimal client management. Relies on integrations with your external CRM tools to add details about clients.

Notifications & Follow-ups

BLAB: Highly customizable email and SMS notifications for both you and your clients at different stages in the booking process. Even allows two-way texting for direct conversations.
Calendly: Offers decent customization options for reminders and confirmations, but you’ll need an upgraded plan to enable SMS notifications.

Additional Features

BLAB:
- Gift Certificates: Easy creation and management.
- “Bump List” for cancellations: Fill last-minute openings quickly.
- Embeddable Calendars: Add booking tools to other parts of your website and content.
Calendly:
- Workflows: Design sequences (ex: confirmation followed by a questionnaire)
- Reporting: More detailed analytics on usage and invitee metrics.
- Team Functionality: Robust options for shared availability & large group scheduling.

The Niche Factor

BLAB leans heavily into supporting service-based businesses focusing on individual or smaller group coaching sessions. It excels if you sell products alongside your scheduling needs.
Calendly has broad appeal. From HR departments needing interview scheduling to individuals sharing their availability without complex needs. Its strengths lie in its team-focused solutions.

Choosing Wisely

Ask yourself these questions:

Is creating a branded, “mini-website” style booking page important to my client conversion?
Do I intend to take payments and/or sell products directly during the booking process?
Do I value building deeper client relationships with integrated notes and client profiles?
Do I need team calendar management, complex meeting coordination, or event scheduling?

More “Yes” answers to questions 1-3 point toward Book Like a Boss. A focus on question 4 suggests Calendly might be a better fit.

Don’t Forget Free Trials!

The best way to make the final decision is to test-drive both. Experiment with the features, set up sample appointments, and evaluate the flow from a client’s perspective.

Pricing

Both offer free plans with limitations. Here’s how paid plans compare:

BLAB: Starts at $9/month, focusing on single-user features and sales capabilities.
Calendly: Starts at $8/month for single users, scales up for teams or advanced functionality.

The Verdict

If you want a booking system that doubles as a sales and client management tool, Book Like A Boss delivers. If scheduling without add-ons is your main goal, Calendly gets the job done. Ultimately, the best choice hinges on your business’s specific requirements.

Though I do say that the features of the BLAB (Book Like A Boss) software in my personal opinion goes way above and beyond the basic Calendly software

Click Here To Get A Free Trial Of Book Like A Boss