Bookster – Appointment Booking Management System
Manage real-time bookings with ease. Multi-step booking form, multiple services and locations, built-in customer dashboard.
Safe pick
Yes — Bookster is a safe, well-maintained plugin to use in 2026. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 4 weeks ago, and scores 80/100 on our health check.
- Actively developed — last update 4 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 121.3% vs the previous 30 days
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Bookster stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| appointment booking | #40 |
| appointment calendar | #49 |
| appointment scheduling | #35 |
| appointments | #39 |
| contact form | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 7 reviews
About Bookster
From the official readme · v3.3.0Description
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.
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
- Add taxes, fees and discounts to bookings
- No limits on number of appointments per month
- Offer service add-ons and upsell options
Smart Scheduling
- Set your working hours for each day of the week
- 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
- Go to Bookster → Calendar in your WordPress dashboard
- You’ll see all appointments in calendar format
- Click any appointment to view details or make changes
- Use the view buttons at top to switch between day/week/month views
- Use filters to show appointments based on agents or booking status
Creating a Manual Booking (For Walk-Ins or Phone Bookings)
- Go to Bookster → Calendar
- Click the + New Appointment button (or click an empty time slot)
- Select the service and staff member
- Choose date and time
- Enter customer information (name, email, phone)
- Select payment method
- Click Create Appointment
- Customer automatically receives confirmation email
Troubleshooting
Booking calendar not showing on my page
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
- Go to Bookster → Settings → Payments tab
- Verify your PayPal email address is correct
- Confirm PayPal is enabled (toggle should be blue/on)
- Test in PayPal sandbox mode first
- Check if PayPal account is verified and can accept payments
- Review PayPal transaction logs for error messages
Calendar showing wrong timezone
- Go to Settings → General in WordPress
- Set your city timezone correctly (e.g., “New York” or “Berlin”)
- Save changes
- Go to Bookster → Settings and verify timezone matches
- Clear 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:
- Run the setup wizard
- Add the booking calendar to a page
- Create a test booking to see the customer experience
- Customize email templates with your branding
- Share your booking page link with customers
- Start accepting appointments 24/7!
Your new booking system is ready to help you grow your business. Welcome to Bookster! 🚀
Installation
Quick Install (Recommended)
- Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress dashboard
- Search for “Bookster”
- Click Install Now next to Bookster – WordPress Appointment Booking Plugin
- Click Activate when installation completes
- The Setup Wizard will appear automatically
Upload ZIP File
- Download the Bookster plugin ZIP file
- Go to Plugins → Add New
- Click Upload Plugin button
- Click Choose File and select the ZIP file
- Click 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.
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.
Changelog
Sep 2, 2026 – Version 3.3.0
- New: Logs tool page for tracking system activity
- New: Add customer note placeholder for email templates
- Improvement: Redesigned UI for Service page and Addon page
- Improvement: Enhanced mobile UI
- Fix: Timezone daylight saving time handling
- Fix: Optimized breaking changes related to Book Status data and JavaScript module loading
May 11, 2026 – Version 3.2.2
- Updated: Hide My Bookster menu from users that don’t have agent record
- Fixed: Error using manager data in the “My Bookster” screen
Apr 22, 2026 – Version 3.2.0
- Added: Easily add the license and Upgrade
- Updated: Import landing page in setup wizard
- Updated: Booking permission for guest customer (Allow or Disable guest to book, login, create account)
- Improved: Various UI elements
- Fixed: Bugs with timezone issues for UTC
- Fixed: Several minor bugs
Mar 16, 2026 – Version 3.0.1
- Added: Addon links & documentation
- Added: Coupon notice for Bookster Core Pro version — Eligible early users will now see a coupon notice in the admin
- Updated: Services can now be set to a price of zero
- Improved: Addons remain fully usable even after a license expires
- Improved: The Update Addon button is disabled on an expired license, prompting renewal before updating
- Improved: Admins will no longer receive notices about expired licenses
- Fixed: 404 error when clicking the Customize button on the Setup Wizard’s Complete screen
- Fixed: A bug where the current version was missing for addons that had not yet been installed
- Fixed: Other minor bugs
Mar 9, 2026 – Version 3.0.0
- New: Setup Wizard with 4-step onboarding
- New: Notice Panel in Bookster admin for pending booking approvals
- Improved: Addon Pages with Update All button
- Improved: Optimize & update several libraries
Jan 07, 2026 – Version 2.2.0
- New: Add on Page, with Go Pro button
- New: Add a custom opening calendar to service schedule
- New: Booking Form now has better design, and various features
- Improved: Optimize Booking Form performance overall
- Fixed: Several UI issues
- Fixed: Several Bugs
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Bookster alternatives
All appointment booking plugins →
FAQ
Bookster: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 2, 2026
Is Bookster free?
Yes. Bookster is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Bookster safe to use in 2026?
Yes — Bookster is a safe, well-maintained plugin to use in 2026. It runs on 100+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 4 weeks ago, and scores 80/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Bookster?
Bookster is active on 100+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 12,461 times since it launched in January 2024. It was downloaded 1,120 times in the last 30 days.
Does Bookster work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested Bookster up to WordPress 7.1.2, the latest release. It requires WordPress 6.2 or newer.
What PHP version does Bookster need?
Bookster requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Bookster last updated?
The latest version, 3.3.0, was released on September 3, 2026 (4 weeks ago).
Who makes Bookster?
Bookster is developed and maintained by Bookster.
What are the best alternatives to Bookster?
The most popular alternatives to Bookster are Appointment Booking Plugin (100K+ installs), Online Scheduling and Appoi… (60K+ installs) and Simply Schedule Appointments (50K+ installs).
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