“Free” can mean a small monthly allowance, unlimited bookings with restricted services, or development-store access only. Match the free plan to your complete workflow.
What can you actually run for free?
Some free booking plans are suitable for an ongoing simple service. Others are best used to evaluate an app before upgrading. The important question is whether the free plan covers your booking volume and essential features together.
The following facts come from official listings checked September 22, 2026. This is a selection by Cowlendar, not an independent ranking. Shopify subscription and payment costs are separate from app pricing.
| App | Documented free allowance | Important boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Cowlendar | Free plan; see usage allowance, all features | Paid tier needed beyond the allowance |
| Apntly | Unlimited bookings, 1 service, 1 staff member | Advanced features require paid plans |
| Appointo | Unlimited services and bookings | Reminders and calendar integrations are paid features |
| Easy Appointment Booking | 1 event, unlimited bookings/team | More advanced workflows require upgrades |
| Meety | Unlimited bookings and team members | Unlimited services and advanced capabilities vary by tier |
| BookThatApp | 10 bookings listed | Verify how that allowance is counted |
| Sesami | Development-store plan | Not a free live-store plan |
Hoppy also advertises a free plan, but the checked listing does not state a booking quota clearly enough for us to call it unlimited. Confirm the current limits with the vendor.
Find the first feature that forces an upgrade
Calendar conflict detection, reminders, deposits and multiple staff are common decision points. A free plan with unlimited reservations may still require a paid tier for your working calendar connection.
Write down the essential features before comparing plans. For a solo free consultation, a narrow free plan may be enough. For paid group classes with waitlists and reminders, compare the appropriate paid plans from the start.
Estimate the next stage, not only launch week
Model your expected service count, staff count, bookings and revenue. Check whether an upgrade is based on usage, resources or features. Include any messaging or subscription/bundle charges disclosed by the vendor.
Avoid configuring a business-critical workflow around a feature that disappears after a trial. Distinguish a permanent free tier from a temporary paid-plan trial in your notes.
Set up and test one real service
- Create a representative service product with a clear duration and price.
- Configure availability, staff, buffers and booking notice.
- Add the supported booking widget to the correct product template.
- Complete a booking on a phone using a customer email address.
- Test a conflict, cancellation and any payment change.
- Confirm which plan features were active during the test.
Cowlendar's free plan lets you evaluate all features before choosing a paid revenue tier. If you need unlimited ongoing free bookings for a simple service, compare the other documented options fairly. The best free choice is the one that stays usable for your actual operation.
Official sources
Common questions
Is Cowlendar free for unlimited bookings?
No. The checked free plan allows five bookings per month. Paid tiers are based on booking revenue.
Can a free booking app still create other costs?
Yes. Shopify, payment processing, optional messaging and features outside the free tier may have separate charges.
Written by the Cowlendar team. Recommendations reflect our editorial judgment; we make Cowlendar. App facts are based on the linked public documentation checked on September 22, 2026, not a claim of independent hands-on testing. Pricing and plan limits can change.
Originally published Jun 25, 2026.
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