Simply Schedule Appointments (SSA) is a booking plugin built around the WordPress block editor. If you build your site in Gutenberg and want Google Calendar and Zoom integration without addons, SSA is worth a close look. The free version covers more ground than most booking plugins offer at no cost.
What SSA Includes for Free
The free version is notably capable: unlimited appointment types, Google Calendar sync (read and write), customer email notifications, admin email notifications, basic availability rules, and a Gutenberg block for embedding the booking form. For a simple solo scheduling setup, the free version may be all you need.
Plus ($99/year) adds: team bookings, Zoom integration, customer rescheduling/cancellation, Stripe payments, and SMS notifications. Professional ($199/year) adds MailChimp and ConvertKit integration, WooCommerce payments, and priority support.
Step 1: Create an Appointment Type
Go to Appointments -> Appointment Types -> Add New. Configure:
- Duration – appointment length in minutes
- Buffer time – padding after each appointment before the next can start
- Minimum notice – how far in advance appointments must be booked
- Maximum notice – how far into the future customers can book
- Capacity – number of simultaneous bookings for the same time slot (for group appointments)
Step 2: Configure Availability
Each appointment type has its own availability schedule. Set the days and time ranges you are available for that specific type. This lets you have different hours for different appointment types – for example, phone consultations available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, but in-person meetings only Tuesday and Thursday 10am-3pm.
Need help configuring this for your business? Describe your booking setup and get a free estimate.
Step 3: Google Calendar Sync
Go to Appointments -> Settings -> Google Calendar. Connect your Google account. SSA reads your Google Calendar to check for conflicts – if you have another event during a proposed appointment time, SSA marks that slot as unavailable automatically. New appointments created through SSA are added to your Google Calendar.
This is the free version’s standout feature. Most booking plugins charge for calendar sync; SSA includes it at no cost. The sync is bidirectional: blocks from Google Calendar prevent SSA bookings, and SSA bookings appear in Google Calendar.
Step 4: Add the Booking Form to Your Site
SSA has a dedicated Gutenberg block – “SSA Booking Calendar”. Add it to any page using the block editor. Select the appointment type from the block settings. The calendar embed shows available times inline on your page.
For classic editor or shortcode use: [ssa_booking appointment_type_id=X]. Find appointment type IDs in the SSA settings panel next to each appointment type name.
Step 5: Zoom Integration (Plus)
Connect your Zoom account in Appointments -> Settings -> Zoom. After connecting, enable Zoom for specific appointment types in their settings. Each booking automatically generates a unique Zoom meeting link included in confirmation emails. No manual link creation needed.
Customising Confirmation Emails
Go to Appointments -> Settings -> Notifications. SSA uses template-based emails with variables like {customer_name}, {appointment_date}, {appointment_time}, and {zoom_link} (if Zoom is connected). Edit the subject and body for customer confirmation, customer reminder, admin notification, and cancellation emails.