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# Basic vs advanced mode

> Learn the differences between basic and advanced reservation modes in Aura and choose the one that best fits your business.

## Two ways to manage your schedule

Aura offers two operating modes for reservations. The mode you choose determines how much control you have over services, resources, durations, and pricing.

## Quick comparison

| Feature                   | Basic Mode | Advanced Mode           |
| ------------------------- | ---------- | ----------------------- |
| General availability      | Yes        | Yes                     |
| Fixed duration            | Yes        | Yes (plus more options) |
| Multiple services         | No         | Yes                     |
| Resources (people, rooms) | No         | Yes                     |
| Variable duration         | No         | Yes                     |
| Per-service pricing       | No         | Yes                     |
| Custom fields             | No         | Yes                     |
| Per-resource availability | No         | Yes                     |
| Per-service availability  | No         | Yes                     |

## Basic mode

Basic mode is designed for businesses with a simple schedule. With this mode:

* You set up a single general availability (the days and hours your business accepts appointments).
* All reservations have the same duration.
* You don't need to define services or resources.
* Aura simply checks for an available time slot and creates the reservation.

**Ideal for**: Businesses with a single service or where all appointments last the same amount of time. For example, a consultant who has 1-hour meetings, or a small salon that offers only one type of service.

## Advanced mode

Advanced mode gives you full control over how reservations are managed. With this mode you can:

* Create multiple **services**, each with its own duration, price, and configuration.
* Define **resources** (professionals, rooms, equipment) and assign them to services.
* Set up specific availability for each resource and each service.
* Offer variable durations that the customer can choose from.
* Add custom fields to collect additional information at the time of booking.

**Ideal for**: Businesses with multiple services, several professionals or rooms, and more complex needs. For example, a physiotherapy clinic with multiple therapists and different treatment types, or a hair salon with several stylists and services of varying duration.

> **Tip**
>
> If you're just getting started or your business is straightforward, we recommend starting with Basic mode. You can always switch to Advanced mode later when you need it.

## How to switch modes

To switch between Basic and Advanced mode:

1. Go to your agent's settings.
2. Find the reservations section.
3. Select the mode you prefer: **Basic** or **Advanced**.
4. Save your changes.

> **Warning**
>
> When switching from Advanced to Basic mode, the services and resources you've created will still exist, but they won't be used while you're in Basic mode. You won't lose any configuration.