Find feature-rich and in-budget scheduling solutions. Explore the top 5 alternatives to MS Bookings for Dynamics 365 users.

1. Top 5 Alternatives to Microsoft Bookings for Dynamics
365 CRM Users
If you’ve been riding the Microsoft Bookings wave, you know how essential a good
scheduling tool can be. But what if we told you the ocean of booking solutions is vast and
brimming with Microsoft Bookings alternatives that might perfectly fit your unique needs?
You will uncover tools with intuitive designs, flexible pricing, and features that might make
you reconsider your current booking setup. So buckle up, and let’s set sail on this voyage of
scheduling discovery!
1. Calendar 365
Calendar 365 is a comprehensive scheduling solution primarily tailored for Dynamics CRM
users. As it tightly integrates with Dynamics 365 CRM, it offers businesses a seamless
experience to manage their appointments, tasks, and resources directly within their CRM
environment.
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2. Features:
● Event Types & Duration: Users can set different event types, such as 15-minute
consultations, 1-hour meetings, or group events. Each event type can have its unique
settings and availability.
● Time Zone Intelligence: Calendly automatically detects the time zone of the person
booking the appointment, ensuring there’s no confusion about the meeting time.
● Buffer Time: Users can set buffer times before or after meetings to prevent
last-minute bookings or to ensure breaks.
● Integration with Other Calendars: Calendly can sync with Google Calendar, Office
365, Outlook, and iCloud, ensuring that you never get double-booked.
● Customization: Users can brand their Calendly link and booking pages with company
colors and logo.
● Automated Notifications: Send confirmation and reminder emails or SMS messages
to attendees.
Limitations:
● Limited Free Version: The free version of Calendly is quite limited. It offers only one
event type, and many of the more advanced features are behind a paywall.
● Limited Customization: While basic customization is available, users might find the
options for adjusting the look and feel of the booking page to be limited compared to
some other platforms.
● No Native CRM: While Calendly does integrate with CRMs via third-party connectors,
it doesn’t have its own built-in CRM functionality.
● Complexity for Multi-User Scheduling: While it offers round-robin and collective
availability, the setup can be complex for teams with multiple members, especially if
various rules or conditions need to be applied.
● Price Point: For businesses or professionals needing advanced features, the pricing
can get relatively high, especially compared to other scheduling tools with similar
capabilities.
3. BookingLive
BookingLive is a versatile online booking and reservation system designed for a broad range
of industries, from healthcare and education to events and tourism. It offers basic
appointment scheduling features and functionalities to manage courses, classes, events, and
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3. more. Tailored to accommodate both B2B and B2C enterprises, the software is suitable for
businesses of all sizes.
Features:
● Versatility in Booking Types: BookingLive is not just for meetings; it facilitates
reservations for courses, events, classes, and other appointment types.
● Automated Notifications: Automated SMS and email reminders ensure that both the
service providers and clients are always in the loop.
● Integration Capabilities: BookingLive can be integrated with a wide variety of
third-party applications, including CRM systems, payment gateways, and marketing
tools.
● Resource Management: The platform allows businesses to manage and allocate
resources effectively. This can include rooms, equipment, or even staff.
● Payment Handling: Integration with numerous payment gateways like PayPal and
Stripe makes processing payments smooth and efficient.
Limitations:
● Learning Curve: While BookingLive is comprehensive, its wide range of features can
make it overwhelming for some users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
● Price: Depending on the functionalities required, the software can be relatively
pricey, especially for smaller businesses or startups with limited budgets.
● Customization Restrictions: Despite offering customization options, there might be
some limitations when it comes to deeply personalizing or tweaking specific features
to unique business needs.
4. Calenso
Calenso is an online scheduling tool that offers personalized booking experiences for users
and their clients. The platform focuses on making the booking process as seamless and
efficient as possible, aiming to save time and reduce administrative tasks.
Features:
● Personalized Booking Experiences: Calenso allows businesses to create booking
pages tailored to their brand, thus enhancing customer experience.
● Smart Scheduling: The platform suggests suitable appointments based on predefined
parameters, streamlining the booking process for the user.
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4. ● Automated Reminders: To minimize no-shows, Calenso sends automated reminders
to attendees through email or SMS.
● Integrations: Calenso can be integrated with various tools, helping businesses
manage their workflows efficiently.
● Online Payment Processing: If a business wishes to collect payment for
appointments or services, Calenso supports online payment functionalities.
Limitations:
● Limited Advanced Features: While Calenso is rich in basic functionalities, it might not
offer advanced features found in more comprehensive booking platforms.
● Customization Restrictions: Calenso provides personalized booking pages, there
could be some limitations in deeply tailoring the look and feel of the platform
according to very specific branding needs.
5. Bookafy
Bookafy is an online appointment scheduling software that caters to businesses and
professionals, offering them an automated system to book meetings, appointments, and
calls. Its intuitive design and integration capabilities make it a popular choice among users
who prioritize functionality coupled with a user-friendly interface.
Features:
● Variety of Booking Options: Bookafy supports both one-on-one appointments and
group events, providing flexibility to users based on their requirements.
● Integration with Calendars: The platform can sync with major calendar apps like
Google Calendar, Office 365, and Outlook. This ensures that users are never
double-booked and always have a consolidated view of their schedule.
● Customizable Branding: Users can tailor their booking page to reflect their brand
aesthetics. This includes customization of colors, logo, and even the URL.
● Automated Notifications: Bookafy sends out automated SMS and email reminders to
clients, reducing the chances of no-shows.
● Online Payments: The platform integrates with payment gateways, enabling
businesses to charge for appointments if necessary.
Limitations:
● Pricing Structure: Depending on the feature set required, Bookafy can become
pricey, especially for smaller businesses or solo professionals.
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5. ● Limited Customization: Even though users can brand their booking pages, deeper
customization of the platform according to very specific needs might be restricted.
Conclusion
It is evident from the above discussion that while MS Bookings is a powerful tool, numerous
worthy alternatives are available to cater to diverse business needs. If there is one
alternative that truly stands out for Dynamics CRM users, is Calendar 365. Seamlessly
integrating with Dynamics 365 CRM, Calendar 365 offers a familiar environment and
enriches it with custom entities, a unified view, and deep personalization capabilities. For
businesses anchored in the Microsoft ecosystem, it offers the promise of both continuity and
enhanced functionality.
Find a detailed comparison between Calendar 365 and Microsoft Bookings here:
Book your Calendar 365 Demo
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