Managing appointments through phone calls, texts, and emails is chaotic. You lose track of bookings, double-book appointments, and spend hours on scheduling instead of serving customers. Bookster turns your WordPress site into a 24/7 booking system. 🌐 View All Demos Customers book appointments them
PricingFree downloadThe WordPress.org download is free. Pro versions, add-ons or external services may cost extra.
CompatibilityRequires WordPress 6.2 and PHP 7.4.
SourceWordPress plugins · Nov 3, 2026
01 / Source details
Aboutthistool.
Managing appointments through phone calls, texts, and emails is chaotic.
You lose track of bookings, double-book appointments, and spend hours on scheduling instead of serving customers.
Bookster turns your WordPress site into a 24/7 booking system.
🌐 View All Demos
Customers book appointments themselves, see real-time availability, and receive automatic confirmations. Accept online or in-person payments seamlessly on your WordPress site.
You manage everything from one dashboard.
📌 Documentation | Core Pro vs All Access
💫 Perfect For
Hair salons and barbershops
Spas and beauty clinics
Massage therapists and wellness centers
Personal trainers and fitness coaches
Consultants and coaches
Tutors and education services
Medical and dental practices
Any service business that takes appointments
💙 How It Works
Customers visit your booking page, choose a service, pick their preferred staff member, select an available time slot, and book instantly .
You receive an email notification and can view all appointments in your calendar dashboard. No more back-and-forth scheduling.
🔥 Key Features (100% Free)
Unlimited Bookings & Services
Create unlimited services with custom names, descriptions, and photos
Set individual duration and pricing for each service
Configure different availability for different services
Add buffer time between appointments (e.g., 15-minute cleanup)
Block off days for vacations or holidays
Set minimum advance notice for bookings (e.g., require 24-hour notice)
Customer Booking Experience
Clean, mobile-friendly booking form that works on all devices
Multi-step process: choose service → select staff → pick time → enter details → confirm
Customers see only available time slots (no double-booking)
Optional customer account dashboard to view and manage their bookings
Customers can cancel or reschedule appointments themselves
Payment Options
Accept cash/check for in-person payment
Accept PayPal payments online (customers pay when booking)
Stripe integration available via premium addon for credit card payments
Mark bookings as paid or unpaid manually
Track revenue in the analytics dashboard
Automatic Notifications
Email confirmation sent to customers immediately after booking
Reminder emails sent before appointment
Email notifications sent to admin when new bookings arrive
Customize email templates with your branding
All emails sent automatically – no manual work required
Admin Dashboard
View all appointments in Bookster → Calendar menu
Switch between day, week, and month calendar views
Click any appointment to view or edit details instantly
Filter appointments by status (confirmed, pending, cancelled)
Search for specific customers or appointments
Drag appointments to different dates to reschedule
Color-coded by service or staff member for quick overview
Analytics & Reports
Track total bookings and revenue right from dashboard
View performance by service (which services are most popular)
Monitor individual agent performance
Make data-driven decisions about staffing and services
Premium Addons (Optional)
Upgrade your booking system with these customizable options:
Staff Management
Add unlimited team members from Bookster → Agents menu
Set individual working hours for each staff member
Assign specific services to specific team members
Let customers choose their preferred agent or assign automatically
Track performance and bookings per agent
Booking Form
Customize booking form steps (reorder, add, or remove steps)
Add custom fields to collect specific information
Enable recaptcha, brand logo, timezone selector, and more for your booking system.
Advanced Features (coming in future addons)
Group bookings and classes
Recurring appointments
Multiple locations management
SMS notifications via Twilio
Design Toolkit for Block Editor and Elementor
Getting Started
Adding the Booking Calendar to Your Site
Method 1: Shortcode (Works Anywhere) Add [bookster_booking_form] to any page, post, or widget area.
Method 2: Block Editor 1. Edit the page where you want the booking form 2. Click the + button to add a block 3. Search for “Bookster” 4. Select the Bookster Booking Form block 5. Publish the page
Method 3: Classic Editor Paste [bookster_booking_form] directly into your content.
Viewing and Managing Appointments
01Go to Bookster → Calendar in your WordPress dashboard
02You’ll see all appointments in calendar format
03Click any appointment to view details or make changes
04Use the view buttons at top to switch between day/week/month views
05Use filters to show appointments based on agents or booking status
Creating a Manual Booking (For Walk-Ins or Phone Bookings)
06Go to Bookster → Calendar
07Click the + New Appointment button (or click an empty time slot)
Check 1: Verify the shortcode Make sure you added [bookster_booking_form] exactly (with square brackets).
Check 2: Clear cache If using a caching plugin, clear your cache: WP Rocket → Clear Cache or similar.
Check 3: Theme conflict Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme (Twenty Twenty-Five) to test. If it works, there’s a theme conflict.
Customers not receiving email confirmations
Check 1: Email settings Go to Bookster → Integrations → Email tab and confirm email notifications are enabled.
Check 2: Check spam folders Ask customers to check spam/junk folders. Add your domain to their contacts.
Check 3: WordPress email issues WordPress email can be unreliable. Install an SMTP plugin like YaySMTP to improve email delivery: 1. Install YaySMTP plugin 2. Connect it to Gmail, SendGrid, or Mailgun 3. Send a test email to verify
Check 4: Test with yourself Create a test booking using your own email to confirm emails are sending.
Time slots not showing as available
Check 1: Working hours configured Go to Bookster → Settings → Schedule and verify hours are set for the day in question.
Check 2: Agent availability If using staff members, check Bookster → Agents and verify the agent works on that day.
Check 3: Minimum advance notice Check Bookster → Settings → General → Restrictions , if you require 24-hour notice, today’s appointments won’t show.
Check 4: Service duration If your service is 2 hours but only 1 hour remains before closing time, that slot won’t appear.
Double bookings happening
This shouldn’t happen with Bookster. If it does:
Check 1: Multiple admin users If multiple people manage bookings, ensure everyone refreshes the calendar before creating appointments.
Check 2: Contact support If this persists, contact Bookster support with specific examples.
PayPal payments not working
14Go to Bookster → Settings → Payments tab
15Verify your PayPal email address is correct
16Confirm PayPal is enabled (toggle should be blue/on)
17Test in PayPal sandbox mode first
18Check if PayPal account is verified and can accept payments
19Review PayPal transaction logs for error messages
Calendar showing wrong timezone
20Go to Settings → General in WordPress
21Set your city timezone correctly (e.g., “New York” or “Berlin”)
22Save changes
23Go to Bookster → Settings and verify timezone matches
24Clear browser cache and reload
Third-Party Services
Bookster uses these external services to provide full functionality:
FullCalendar.io
Purpose: Renders the interactive booking calendar
Privacy: No personal data sent to FullCalendar
Terms: https://fullcalendar.io/license
Stripe.com (Optional – only if using Stripe addon)
Purpose: Process credit card payments
Data shared: Customer name, email, payment amount
Privacy: https://stripe.com/privacy
PayPal.com
Purpose: Process PayPal payments
Data shared: Customer name, email, payment amount
Privacy: https://www.paypal.com/privacy
When customers make payments, they’re redirected to Stripe or PayPal’s secure servers. Bookster does not store credit card numbers.
Support
Need help? We’re here for you:
Documentation : Visit Bookster’s detailed guides
Support Forum : Post questions in the WordPress.org support forum
Email & Live Chat Support : Contact us through the Bookster website
Video Tutorials : Watch setup videos on our YouTube channel
Response time: We typically respond within 4 hours on business days and 12 hours on weekends.
We’d Love Your Feedback ❣️
If Bookster helps your business, please leave us a review on WordPress.org! It takes 60 seconds and brightens our day. Click here ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to share your experience .
Have a feature request? We’re actively developing new features based on user feedback. Submit your ideas here .
Compatibility
Works With All Major WordPress Themes:
Brandy
WP Shadcn
GeneratePress
OceanWP
Divi
Avada
And thousands more
Page Builders:
Elementor
Gutenberg (Block Editor)
Classic Editor
Beaver Builder
WPBakery
What’s Next?
After installing Bookster:
25Run the setup wizard
26Add the booking calendar to a page
27Create a test booking to see the customer experience
28Customize email templates with your branding
29Share your booking page link with customers
30Start accepting appointments 24/7!
Your new booking system is ready to help you grow your business. Welcome to Bookster! 🚀
See it in action
Screenshots & previews.
User-friendly booking formApprove and update an appointment in the salon booking systemManage the appointment booking calendar in WordPress dashboardStep-by-step guide to setting up an online booking system with WordPress & BooksterSet up time slots and working hoursAdd multiple services and service categoriesAdd agents and their availabilityCustomize and publish your WordPress appointment schedule booking systemEasily navigate your scheduling dashboard, manage bookings, and view performance
02 / Source details
Gettingstarted.
Quick Install (Recommended)
01Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress dashboard
02Search for “Bookster”
03Click Install Now next to Bookster – WordPress Appointment Booking Plugin
04Click Activate when installation completes
05The Setup Wizard will appear automatically
Upload ZIP File
06Download the Bookster plugin ZIP file
07Go to Plugins → Add New
08Click Upload Plugin button
09Click Choose File and select the ZIP file
10Click Install Now , then Activate Plugin
After Activation: 4-Step Setup Wizard
The setup wizard walks you through configuration in about 5 minutes:
Step 1: Set Your Schedule * Click Start Setup when the wizard appears * Enter your business hours (when you’re available for appointments) * Set your time slot intervals (e.g., 30-minute appointments) * Add buffer time between appointments if needed * Mark days off (weekends, holidays)
Step 2: Create Your Services * Click Add Service to create your first service * Enter service name, description, and duration * Upload a photo (optional but recommended) * Set the price * Assign to a category if using multiple service types * Repeat for all services you offer
Step 3: Add Staff Members * Click Add Agent to add your first team member * Enter their name and email address * Set their working hours (can be different from business hours) * Assign which services they can provide * Add more team members as needed
Step 4: Add Booking Form to Your Website * Copy the shortcode shown in the wizard: [bookster_booking_form] * Go to Pages → Add New to create a new page * Title it “Book Appointment” or “Schedule Now” * Paste the shortcode into the page content * Click Publish * Visit the page to see your live booking calendar
Done! Your booking system is now live and ready to accept appointments.
03 / Source details
Frequently asked questions.
How do customers book appointments?
Customers visit the page where you added the booking calendar (using the shortcode or Gutenberg block). They follow these steps: 1. Choose a service from the list 2. Select their preferred staff member (or any available) 3. Pick a date and available time slot 4. Enter their name, email, and phone number 5. Choose payment method and complete booking 6. Receive instant confirmation email
Can I accept payments online?
Yes. Bookster includes PayPal integration for free. Go to Bookster → Settings → Payments tab to connect your PayPal account. For credit card payments through Stripe, you’ll need the Stripe addon .
How do I set up email notifications?
Email notifications work automatically after activation. To customize them: 1. Go to Bookster → Integrations → Email tab 2. You’ll see templates for confirmation emails and reminders 3. Edit the subject line and message content 4. Use placeholder tags like {appt_number} , {customer_name} and {service_name} 5. Set when reminder emails send (e.g., 24 hours before appointment) – this feature is COMING SOON 6. Click Save Changes
Can customers cancel or reschedule their own appointments?
Yes, if you enable the customer dashboard , then the customers can log in and manage their appointments.
How do I block off time for lunch or breaks?
It’s easy to adjust opening hours. Go to Bookster → Settings → Schedule and add work periods (e.g., 9am-12pm, 1pm-5pm).
Can different staff members have different schedules?
Yes. When adding or editing an agent using the Bookster Core Pro version: 1. Go to Bookster → Agents 2. Click on a staff member’s name 3. Choose Work Schedule section 4. Set custom hours for that agent 5. Click Save
Their availability will only show during their working hours.
How do I add a booking button to my navigation menu?
Go to Appearance → Menus Create your booking page first (with the shortcode) Find that page in the “Pages” section Click Add to Menu Drag it to your desired position Click Save Menu Alternatively, you can also add the class bookster-booking-button to any button.
Does it work on mobile phones?
Yes, the booking calendar is fully responsive. Customers can book appointments from smartphones, tablets, or computers. The calendar automatically adjusts to screen size.
Can I see which services are most popular?
Yes, go to Bookster → Dashboard → Top Services in your WP dashboard. You’ll see:
Total bookings per service
Revenue by service
Busiest times and days
Staff performance metrics
How many services can I create?
Unlimited. The free version has no restrictions on the number of services or bookings.
Is there a limit on monthly bookings?
No. You can receive unlimited appointments every month at no additional cost.
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