Setmore alternative that scales with you
Cicini vs Setmore — both make it easy to start booking for free. Cicini keeps up as you grow with Stripe checkout, advanced automation, and multi-location on the roadmap.
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Choosing a Setmore alternative that scales
Setmore earned its reputation by being genuinely free and genuinely simple. Its free plan supports up to four staff calendars, a branded booking page, and built-in Teleport video calls — a great way for a small team to start taking appointments online without a bill.
The trouble starts when the business grows. Two-way calendar sync, SMS reminders, and recurring appointments all sit behind the paid Pro plan, which is priced per user per month — so your cost climbs with every seat. Cicini is a Setmore alternative built so the easy free start never turns into a wall: Stripe checkout, automation, and flat, predictable plans are part of the same platform.
How Cicini and Setmore differ
Setmore is optimized for a small team that wants free, no-fuss booking. That focus is its strength — and its ceiling. Per-user pricing, one-way calendar sync on the free plan, limited reporting, and no way to sell session packages are common friction points once a business starts to scale.
Cicini is built for the whole arc of a service business. You start free, then add full-price Stripe checkout, automated email and SMS reminders, client profiles and notes, and more as you need them — with intake forms, waitlists, deposits, and multi-location on the roadmap — without migrating to a new tool. The booking experience stays simple; the operation underneath grows up with you.
The difference isn't the start — it's how far the same tool takes you.
Cicini vs Setmore: feature-by-feature
| Capability | Cicini | Setmore |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan to get started | Yes — $0 forever | Yes — up to 4 calendars |
| Branded online booking page | ||
| Two-way calendar sync (Google/Outlook/Apple) | Google sync + FreeBusy busy-block (beta) — Outlook/Apple on roadmap | Paid Pro only (free is one-way) |
| Payments & deposits at booking | Full/deposit Stripe + gift cards (paid plans) — packages/memberships on roadmap | Via integrations; processing on Pro |
| SMS appointment reminders | Yes — on paid plans | Paid Pro only |
| Automated workflows | Yes — built-in automation | Limited |
| Sell packages & memberships | Full/deposit Stripe + gift cards (paid plans) — packages/memberships on roadmap | |
| Pricing model | Flat plans ($0 / $19 / $49 / custom) | Per user, per month |
| Multi-location support | On roadmap | Limited |
| Reporting & analytics | Yes — booking, revenue, utilization | Basic |
| Client profiles, notes & intake forms | Yes — profiles & notes; intake on roadmap | Limited |
| Waitlist management | On roadmap | Limited |
| API & webhooks | API keys + webhooks (Pro+) — limited quotas on Pro | Limited |
| HIPAA compliance (BAA) | HIPAA-compliant security · BAA / Health tier on Enterprise roadmap |
Setmore plans and features change; check their pricing page for current details. Comparison reflects publicly available information as of 2026.
When businesses choose Cicini over Setmore
When businesses choose Cicini over Setmore
- They love a free start but expect to grow beyond a 2–4 person team
- They want predictable flat pricing instead of paying per user every month
- They want Google calendar sync today and two-way blocking as it ships on the roadmap
- They want full-price Stripe checkout at booking (deposits and packages on roadmap)
- They plan to sell session packages or memberships when those payment options launch
- They run, or plan to run, more than one location and want multi-location on the roadmap
Explore the full appointment scheduling software feature set, or see transparent scheduling software pricing.
Switching from Setmore
Switching from Setmore
One tool, from solo to multi-location
One tool, from solo to multi-location
Compare other scheduling tools
Cicini vs Setmore: frequently asked questions
Clear answers about booking, clinic workflows, pricing, and getting started with Cicini.
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Contact our teamFrequently asked questions
Is Cicini a good Setmore alternative?
Yes. Cicini gives you the same easy, free way to start taking online bookings, then keeps up as you grow. Where Setmore tends to nickel-and-dime advanced features and is best for small 2–4 person teams, Cicini bundles payments, automation, and staff scheduling into transparent plans — so you never have to switch tools later.
How does Cicini pricing compare to Setmore?
Both offer a genuinely free plan. Setmore charges per user per month for Pro features like SMS reminders and two-way calendar sync, so costs climb as your team grows. Cicini uses flat, transparent plans — Free at $0, Starter at $19/mo, Professional at $49/mo, and custom Enterprise — so you can predict your bill instead of paying per seat.
What are the best Setmore alternatives?
Teams that outgrow Setmore often compare Cicini, Calendly, Acuity Scheduling, and SimplyBook.me. Cicini is a strong fit when you want flat pricing, built-in Stripe checkout, staff scheduling, and automation without per-seat surprises. See our compare hub for side-by-side pages on each alternative.
Does Setmore have a free version?
Yes — Setmore offers a free plan for basic online booking with limits on staff and features. Cicini also starts free with online booking and email reminders, then scales on flat paid plans. Many teams switch when Setmore’s per-user Pro fees add up as the team grows.
Is Setmore worth it?
Setmore works well for very small teams that only need simple booking. Cicini is worth comparing if you want predictable flat pricing, Stripe checkout, and room to grow without switching platforms. Start on Cicini’s Free plan or 30-day trial to see which fits your workflow.
Does Cicini include payments at booking like Setmore?
Cicini connects to Stripe for full-price checkout at booking on paid plans. Deposits and per-service payment rules are on the roadmap. There is no separate Cicini application fee on top of your processor.
How does Cicini calendar sync compare to Setmore?
Cicini offers Google Calendar outbound sync (beta) — new bookings appear on your Google schedule. Two-way busy blocking plus Outlook and Apple Calendar sync are on the roadmap. Setmore gates two-way sync behind its paid Pro plan, which is a frequent source of double-booking complaints.
How hard is it to migrate from Setmore to Cicini?
Most teams are live the same day. You recreate your services and staff, connect Google Calendar and Stripe, and publish your branded booking page. Our team can help you move client lists and set up automations — see our migration support to plan your switch with no downtime.
Start free, scale without switching
Start a free trial or book a demo to see how Cicini keeps the easy start you like about Setmore — and grows with Stripe checkout, automation, and multi-location on the roadmap.
30-day free trial on paid plans · Free plan at $0 · Cancel anytime