Zoho Bookings alternatives: 4 free & open-source picks
Compare recorded free and open-source options, their capabilities and operating requirements. Source dates are shown below; licenses, hosted limits and project activity can change.
A proper provider-and-service booking system, provided you will also become its PHP and MySQL caretaker.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installUpload the release to PHP hosting, create a MySQL database, edit the configuration and run the web installer; Docker is optional
dataBookings, providers, services and customers live in MySQL; configuration and logs live on the web server, with optional Google Calendar synchronization
the catch vs Zoho BookingsIt has no Zoho application ecosystem or managed operations, and the owner must maintain the PHP and MySQL server.
setupPHP and MySQL hosting with database permissions; Google Calendar sync additionally requires a Google Cloud OAuth application
facts verified 2026-08-10
One staffer gets reminders, classes and Square checkout for 100 bookings a month; growth wakes the paywall.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup
dataBooking, customer, service and staff records live in Appointy's cloud, with connected calendar and payment data also handled by their respective providers
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs Zoho BookingsIt lacks Zoho's ecosystem integrations and free two-way calendar sync, while capping the account at 100 appointments and five services.
facts verified 2026-08-10
Four staff, payments, classes and 200 monthly bookings; SMS, recurring appointments and two-way sync cost extra.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup
dataBooking, customer and staff records live in Setmore's cloud, with calendar and payment records also passing through connected providers
setup✓ installs clean
the catch vs Zoho BookingsThe free plan caps appointments at 200 and excludes two-way sync, SMS and recurring bookings, with no deep Zoho integration.
facts verified 2026-08-10
A serious free solo booking stack where Square operates; processing fees remain and the feature mix varies by country.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installCreate or use a Square seller account and enable Appointments
dataAppointment, customer, staff and transaction records live in Square's cloud
the catch vs Zoho BookingsIt does not replace Zoho integrations, is limited to supported Square countries and the free plan is designed for one provider.
setupA Square seller account and identity verification, and the service must be available in the user's country
facts verified 2026-08-10
latest recorded source check 2026-08-10 · check current terms at the source
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy!Appointments | GPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 4,300 | 2026-07 |
| Appointy Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
| Setmore Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
| Square Appointments Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
Zoho Bookings: People pay because a booking tool must never double-book them, leak private events, or send the wrong time to a client.
Questions about these alternatives
Is there a free alternative to Zoho Bookings?
Yes: Easy!Appointments, Appointy Free, Setmore Free and 1 more. These are recorded free or open-source options. Compare their feature limits, licenses, hosting costs and current availability before choosing.
Should I just build my own Zoho Bookings?
Our verdict is KINDA. The visible appointment scheduling loop is buildable, but a credible replacement needs more than the first screen. Zoho Bookings earns its keep through OAuth, calendar reliability, so expect a weekend or multi-day build and a narrower personal scope. Review the scope, implementation prompt and trade-offs in the Zoho Bookings build guide.
