Need to stop playing phone tag with clients just to book a simple appointment? Microsoft Bookings might help. This scheduling tool comes with your Microsoft 365 subscription and lets people book time with you online. But what Microsoft Bookings features are actually worth using?
Let's look at what Microsoft Bookings features can do, what they can't do, and whether there are better options out there. Plus, we'll show you Zeeg - a scheduling tool that might work better for your business.
What is Microsoft Bookings?
Microsoft Bookings is basically an online appointment scheduler that's built into Microsoft 365. When someone books with you, it automatically shows up in your Outlook calendar and sends them a confirmation email. If you're doing a virtual meeting, it can even create a Teams link automatically.
Core Microsoft Bookings features
Here's what the main Microsoft Bookings features include:
Online booking pages
One of the most useful Microsoft Bookings features is the ability to create a webpage where clients book appointments 24/7. They see your available times and pick what works for them. You can add your business info and logo, though the page will still look pretty much like a Microsoft product.
Managing your team
The team management Microsoft Bookings features let you set up different types of appointments and assign them to specific staff members. For example, if you run a hair salon, you might have different booking options for cuts, colors, and styling - each with different stylists.
This works well for small teams where everyone does different things. Each person can have their own availability settings too.
Email reminders
Among the notification Microsoft Bookings features, you'll find automatic confirmation emails when people book and reminder emails before their appointment. This helps cut down on no-shows.
But here's the catch: The Microsoft Bookings features don't include text message reminders, which is what a lot of people actually prefer these days.
Works with Microsoft stuff
This is probably the strongest of all Microsoft Bookings features. Everything syncs perfectly with Outlook, Teams, and your other Microsoft apps. Book a meeting and it's automatically in your calendar with a Teams link ready to go.
If you already live in Microsoft land, these integration Microsoft Bookings features work really smoothly.
Prevents double-bookings
The calendar sync Microsoft Bookings features check your Outlook calendar before letting someone book a time slot. So if you already have a meeting at 2 PM, nobody can book you for 2 PM through the booking page.
These Microsoft Bookings features only work with Microsoft calendars though. If you use Google Calendar or Apple Calendar for some things, you might run into problems.
Buffer time and availability
The scheduling Microsoft Bookings features let you set up buffer time between appointments (like 15 minutes to grab coffee) and block out time for lunch breaks. You can also set different availability for different days of the week.
Advanced Microsoft Bookings features
Microsoft Bookings features also include some fancier options:
Multiple locations
The multi-location Microsoft Bookings features help if your business has multiple offices or locations. You can manage appointments across different sites and make sure people book at the right place.
Custom questions
The form customization Microsoft Bookings features let you add custom fields to your booking form to collect specific information. Like asking new clients to fill out a health form before their first appointment.
Basic reporting
The analytics Microsoft Bookings features show stats like how many appointments you had, no-show rates, and how busy each staff member is. But these reporting Microsoft Bookings features are pretty basic compared to what you'd get with a dedicated scheduling tool.
Group appointments
The group booking Microsoft Bookings features let you set up classes or group sessions where multiple people book the same time slot. Good for fitness classes, workshops, or group consultations.
What Microsoft Bookings features can't do
Here are the main limitations of Microsoft Bookings features:
No payment processing
The Microsoft Bookings features don't include payment collection when people book appointments. So if you want to charge upfront or take deposits, you'll need to handle that separately.
Limited customization
While the branding Microsoft Bookings features let you add your logo and colors, you can't really make the booking page look like your brand. It's going to look pretty Microsoft-y no matter what.
No mobile app
Microsoft actually discontinued their mobile apps for Bookings. So the mobile Microsoft Bookings features are limited to using the website or the general Microsoft 365 app.
Doesn't play well with non-Microsoft tools
The integration Microsoft Bookings features work great within Microsoft's system, but if you use tools outside it - like a CRM that's not Microsoft, or Google Calendar, or other business apps - you might have trouble getting everything to work together.
Microsoft Bookings pricing
Microsoft Bookings aren't sold separately. They come with Microsoft 365 business plans, but only the more expensive ones:
- Business Basic ($6/month): No Microsoft Bookings features
- Business Standard ($12.50/month): Microsoft Bookings features included
- Business Premium ($22/month): All Microsoft Bookings features included
So if you're already paying for Microsoft 365 Business Standard or higher, you get Microsoft Bookings features for free. But if you only need scheduling, paying $12.50/month for the whole Microsoft suite might be overkill.
Who should use Microsoft Bookings?
Microsoft Bookings make sense if you:
- Already use Microsoft 365 for everything else
- Need basic appointment scheduling without fancy features
- Mostly do virtual meetings through Teams
- Have a small team that needs to coordinate schedules
- Don't need to collect payments when people book
The Microsoft Bookings features aren't great if you want lots of customization, need payment processing, or use mostly non-Microsoft tools.
A better alternative: Zeeg
If Microsoft Bookings features feel too limited, Zeeg might be a better fit. Unlike Microsoft Bookings features, Zeeg is built specifically for scheduling and has features that actually make sense for modern businesses.
Zeeg works with Apple Calendar (which Microsoft Bookings features don't support), lets you collect payments when people book, and gives you way more control over how your booking pages look and work. Plus, it's GDPR compliant if you have international clients.
While Microsoft Bookings features cost $12.50/month as part of Microsoft 365, Zeeg has a free plan that includes two scheduling pages and unlimited appointments. Their paid plans start at $10/month and include features Microsoft Bookings features don't have.
Bottom line
Microsoft Bookings features are fine if you're already deep into Microsoft 365 and just need basic scheduling. But if you want more advanced features, better customization, or don't want to pay for the whole Microsoft suite, there are better options out there.
The main question is: do you need Microsoft Bookings features that work with Microsoft stuff, or do you need scheduling features that actually work well? If it's the latter, you might want to look at alternatives like Zeeg that are built specifically for scheduling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Microsoft Bookings features
What Microsoft Bookings features are good for?
The Microsoft Bookings features work for basic appointment scheduling if you already use Microsoft 365. The core Microsoft Bookings features are fine for simple booking needs like consultations, meetings, or service appointments. They work best for small teams that don't need fancy features.
What is replacing Microsoft Bookings features?
Microsoft isn't getting rid of Microsoft Bookings features, but many people are switching to dedicated scheduling tools like Zeeg, Calendly, or Acuity because they offer more advanced features and flexibility than Microsoft Bookings features provide.
What's the difference between Outlook and Microsoft Bookings features?
Outlook is your personal calendar for managing your own schedule. Microsoft Bookings features create public pages where clients can book appointments with you. They work together - appointments made through Microsoft Bookings features show up in Outlook automatically.
How do you customize Microsoft Bookings features?
The customization Microsoft Bookings features include adding your logo, changing colors, and creating different appointment types. But these Microsoft Bookings features are pretty limited - you can't change the layout much or make it look completely different from Microsoft's style.
