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The 8 Best Calendly Alternatives to use in 2024

Tristan BERGUER - Product Manager lemcal
Liucija Adomaite
Content Writer at lemcal

August 27, 2024

Calendly is a very popular online appointment scheduling tool that simplifies finding time for meetings. 

Calendly has reported that over 20 million individuals and businesses worldwide use their platform around 230 countries. But it turns out that the tool is far from ideal.

We analysed Calendly in and out in this in-depth Calendly review, and found out that the tool has some serious limitations.

It's been observed recently that more and more users are seeking Calendly alternatives in search of a scheduling platform that's both less expensive and does more than streamlined scheduling.

In this article, we analyzed the leading scheduling tools on the market and put therm to test to see if they are better than Calendly.

What we found is that there are great Calendly alternatives for you to try based on pricing, capabilities, features and support.

What is the best Calendly alternative? The Overview:

  1. lemcal is the overall best Calendly alternative with advanced personalization for cheaper
  2. Doodle is the best alternative for Calendly in group scheduling
  3. HubSpot Meetings is the best alternative to Calendly for no cost if you're already a HubSpot CRM user
  4. Timetap is the best Calendly alternative for different meeting types
  5. Setmore is the best Calendly alternative for service-based businesses
  6. Snap Schedule 365 is the best alternative to Calendly for workforce management
  7. Connecteam is the best Calendly alternative for non-office workers
  8. Google Calendar's Appointment Scheduling is the best free Calendly alternative for existing Google Suite subscribers

8 Top Calendly Alternatives to use in 2024

1. lemcal

One of the best Calendly alternatives is lemcal. lemcal is a better Calendly alternative for several reasons, including its wider range of features, greater customization options, and more affordable pricing plans. Overall, lemcal is a more versatile and customizable scheduling tool than Calendly, and it offers better value for money.

Here's why lemcal is a better Calendly alternative: 

  • Better features: lemcal offers more features than Calendly, including multiple event types, group events, and customizable booking pages. Calendly's free version is limited to only one event type.
  • Advanced customization: lemcal allows for more customization than Calendly. You can create a unique booking page with lemcal that reflects your brand and target audience. Calendly offers basic customization options.
  • Better price: lemcal's free version offers more features than Calendly's free version, and lemcal's paid plans are more affordable.

Rating

G2 - 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Product Hunt - 4.8/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pricing

lemcal's paid plans are more affordable than Calendly's, offering comparable features at a lower price point. For example, lemcal's Pro plan starts at $7 per month, while Calendly's Essentials plan starts at $10 per month. Moreover, lemcal also offers customized enterprise plans that may be more cost-effective than Calendly's enterprise solutions.

What do users say?

A Verified User in Computer Software with small-business (50 or fewer emp.) says:

"It is easy to use, helps me schedule (1) sales calls, and (2) internal calls without any back-and-forth. A customized page with additional media features helps me show off content before sales meetings."

Another user calls lemcal "Game Changing." According to them, Calendly seems a very basic tool compared to lemcal. They said:

"The booking page is not only user-friendly but BEAUTIFUL. It pulls info from your linkedin, you can attach a video, etc on the same page as the calendar. This gives the user much more information about you and the company, especially if they're on the fence. Calendly is very basic compared to this and doesn't have anything that helps conversions to a booked meeting."

This user found lemcal to be a "great solution":

"What I like best about lemcal is its simplicity and efficiency in meeting scheduling. It offers a user-friendly booking page that I can personalize, and the one-click Calendly schedule import feature is a major time-saver."

Meanwhile, Maxence D., the podcast host, thinks that lemcal is "the personalized version of Calendly."

The Verdict

lemcal is the ideal alternative to Calendly for businesses that prioritize personalized booking experiences, high conversion rates, and seamless integration with sales tools. 

By creating a personalized and engaging booking experience, lemcal helps its users to drive conversions. Features like embedded videos, customizable branding, and social media links on the booking page can leave a lasting impression on potential clients, increasing the likelihood of booking a meeting.

Overall, lemcal's focus on personalized booking page, reducing no-shows and driving results makes it a power tool for sales teams and businesses focused on growth.

2. Doodle

Doodle is a versatile online scheduling tool that simplifies the process of finding a time that works for everyone involved. It allows you to create polls with multiple date and time options. You can then share these polls with participants, who can indicate their availability.

It also helps to find optimal times by automatically identifying the best time slots based on everyone's responses, eliminating the need for manual coordination.

Rating

G2 - 4.4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Capterra 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Doodle and Calendly both offer useful features for scheduling, but Doodle may be a better choice for certain users due to the following reasons:

  • Group Scheduling: Doodle specializes at group scheduling with its Group Polls feature, making it easier to find a common time that works for everyone. While Calendly also offers group scheduling options, it may not be as intuitive or straightforward as Doodle.
  • Price: Doodle offers competitive pricing, especially for individual users and small teams. For those seeking a cost-effective scheduling solution, Doodle may be more attractive than Calendly's premium plans.
  • Simplicity: Doodle's interface is known for its simplicity and ease of use. If you prioritize a straightforward scheduling tool without too many bells and whistles, Doodle might be a better fit than Calendly, which some users find more complex.

Pricing

Based on starting prices, Doodle is slightly cheaper than Calendly for individual users. Doodle's paid plans start at $6.95 per month for individuals (Doodle Professional) and go up to $8.95 per month (Doodle Team). Meanwhile, Calendly's paid plans start at $8 per month for individuals (Calendly Essential) and can go up to $16 per user per month for teams (Calendly Teams).

The Verdict

Doodle is a better alternative to Calendly for group scheduling due to its intuitive "Group Polls" feature, simpler interface, and competitive pricing, especially for smaller teams and individuals seeking a straightforward scheduling solution.

3. HubSpot Meeting Scheduler

HubSpot CRM offers many tools and features for both marketing and sales teams, and their meeting scheduler feature is one of them. While it's not a standalone meeting booking tool, HubSpot scheduler still offers some great features.

Rating

HubSpot Sales Hub:  G2 - 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

HubSpot Meeting Scheduler is a great alternative to Calendly because of:

  • Scheduling Links: Users can create personalized scheduling pages based on their availability, which can then be shared via email or embedded on websites. This allows prospects or clients to book meetings directly into the user's calendar, automatically syncing with their connected calendar (Google Calendar or Office 365).
  • Group Meetings: HubSpot facilitates the scheduling of meetings with multiple participants by finding a time that works for everyone involved. It also offers round-robin scheduling, allowing prospects to select their time and meet with any available team member.
  • Integrations: The meeting scheduling feature seamlessly integrates with other HubSpot tools, such as the CRM and marketing automation platform, as well as popular video conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
  • Automation: HubSpot automates various aspects of the meeting scheduling process, including sending confirmation emails, reminders, and follow-up emails. This helps to reduce manual tasks and improve overall efficiency.

Pricing

HubSpot Meeting Scheduler offers free basic meeting scheduling functionality, which is included in HubSpot's free CRM plan.

More advanced features like group meetings and round robin scheduling are available in HubSpot's paid CRM plans, starting at $45/month.

The Verdict

HubSpot Meeting Scheduler is a great alternative to Calendly for teams already using HubSpot's CRM, as it seamlessly integrates with other HubSpot tools and offers both free and paid plans. It provides personalized scheduling links, facilitates group meetings, automates various tasks, and integrates with popular video conferencing tools.

4. Timetap

TimeTap is an online appointment scheduling software designed to streamline and simplify the booking process for businesses and organizations of all sizes. It offers a great variety of advanced features but it all comes at a price. Overall, Timetap is not a cheap solution.

Rating

G2- 4.4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Timetap is a great alternative to Calendly thanks to its:

  • Advanced Features: TimeTap provides a broader range of features compared to Calendly, including group scheduling, multi-day event booking, client intake forms, and waitlists. This makes it a more comprehensive solution than Calendly for businesses with diverse scheduling requirements.
  • Scalability: TimeTap is designed to scale with businesses as they grow, accommodating multiple staff members, locations, and complex scheduling scenarios.
  • Integrations: While both platforms offer integrations, TimeTap integrates with a wider range of specialized software, such as EHR/EMR systems for healthcare providers.
  • Customer Support: TimeTap is known for its responsive and knowledgeable customer support, which can be crucial for businesses that rely heavily on their scheduling software.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, the key difference between TimeTap and Calendly is that their pricing structures differ. TimeTap's pricing is primarily based on the number of staff members and calendars, while Calendly's pricing is per user. TimeTap has a higher starting price than Calendly and, unlike Calendly, does not offer a free plan.

TimeTap plans start at $19.95/month for one staff member and one calendar. Their professional plan starts at $39.95/month for up to 5 staff members and multiple calendars. It's fair to say that Timetap's prices are on the higher end of the market.

The Verdict

TimeTap is a superior alternative to Calendly for businesses with complex scheduling needs due to its advanced features, scalability, extensive integrations, and dedicated customer support. While it comes at a higher price point and lacks a free plan, TimeTap can be quite an investment. 

5. Setmore

Setmore is a cloud-based appointment scheduling software designed to help businesses of all sizes manage appointments, bookings, and customer interactions efficiently. Setmore offers features specifically designed for service-based businesses, such as salons, spas, fitness studios, and healthcare providers. If your company specializes in any of these services, you are better off without Calendly.

Rating

Capterra - 4.6/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Here are the main areas in which Setmore exceeds Calendly:

  • Features for Service-Based Businesses: Setmore is tailored towards service-based businesses like salons, spas, and healthcare providers. It offers features like staff scheduling, resource booking, and class management that are specifically designed for these types of businesses.
  • Pricing: Setmore offers a free plan with more features than Calendly's free plan, including unlimited appointments, email reminders, and basic customization. Setmore's paid plans are also generally more affordable than Calendly's, making it a better option for budget-conscious businesses.
  • Customer Reviews: Setmore allows you to display customer reviews on your booking page, which can help build trust and credibility with potential clients.
  • Social Media Integration: Setmore integrates seamlessly with Facebook and Instagram, allowing customers to book appointments directly through your social media pages.
  • Customer Support: Setmore is known for its responsive and helpful customer support, providing assistance through phone, email, and live chat.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, Setmore has some clear advantages to Calendly. 

Setmore free plan offers a relatively robust set of features, including unlimited appointments, email reminders, payments with Square, and up to 4 staff logins.

Setmore's paid plans are generally less expensive than Calendly's, particularly for larger teams. 

Setmore's Pro plan is $9 per user per month (billed annually) or $12 month-to-month. It includes text reminders, recurring appointments, up to 2 staff logins (billed annually) or unlimited staff logins (billed monthly), and more.

The Verdict

Setmore is a great alternative to Calendly for service-based businesses due to its specialized features like staff scheduling, resource booking, and class management. It also offers a more generous free plan, affordable pricing, integrated customer reviews, social media integration, and responsive customer support.

6. Snap Schedule 365 

Snap Schedule 365 is a cloud-based workforce management software designed to streamline and optimize employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, and labor cost management. It caters to businesses of all sizes and industries, aiming to improve operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Rating

G2 - 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Capterra - 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why Snap Schedule 365 can be a better solution than Calendly?

If you are looking for a tool that does more than streamlined appointment scheduling with external contacts, Snap Schedule 365 can be a great alternative to Calendly. Here's the main advantages that Snap Schedule 365 users get:

  • Focus on Workforce Management: Snap Schedule 365 is specifically designed for comprehensive workforce management, including scheduling, time tracking, labor cost management, and employee self-service. Calendly, on the other hand, is primarily an appointment-scheduling tool.
  • Employee-Centric Features: Calendly primarily focuses on external client scheduling; Snap Schedule 365 offers a range of features tailored towards employee needs, such as: a self-service portal for employees, automated callouts, and mobile accessibility.

Pricing

The pricing model of Snap Schedule 365 is an annual subscription based on the number of employees.

The base subscription of Snap Schedule 365 is: 1-5 employees: $450/year, 6-10 employees: $430/year per employee, 11-20 employees: $405/year per employee, 21-40 employees: $380/year per employee.

Additional Costs include an employee access add-on, which is $36 per employee per year (for mobile access).

The Verdict

If you need a comprehensive workforce management tool with advanced scheduling, time tracking, and labor cost management features, Snap Schedule 365 offers better value despite its higher price.

7. Connecteam

Connecteam helps businesses manage their non-desk workforce digitally, all in one place. The app facilitates communication within your team through features that might include company announcements, chat functionalities, or task delegation. Connecteam is an all-in-one employee management app designed for the deskless workforces. 

Rating

Capterra - 4.8/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

G2 - 4.7/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why is Connecteam a better alternative to Calendly?

Connecteam isn't a direct competitor to Calendly, primarily an appointment scheduling tool for external clients. But Connecteam offers particular benefits for businesses that:

  • Focus on deskless workforce: Connecteam is designed for deskless workforces, while Calendly focuses on appointment scheduling for individuals and businesses of all types.
  • Employee Engagement: Connecteam emphasizes employee engagement and communication with features like social feeds, employee recognition, and surveys. 
  • Feature Set: Connecteam offers a broader range of features beyond scheduling, including time tracking, task management, communication tools, and training modules.
  • Operational Efficiency: Connecteam streamlines various operational tasks, such as time tracking, task management, and shift swapping. This can help improve efficiency and reduce administrative overhead for businesses with deskless employees.

Connecteam's scheduling feature is generally good, and it's easy to navigate and understand. While it integrates with some popular payroll and HR systems, it lacks more advanced integrations. 

Pricing

Connecteam offers free plan available for up to 10 users which grants full access to hubs and features. Connecteam's free plan is great solution for very small teams and businesses who are just starting out. 

When it comes to paid plans (billed annually, per user per month), Connecteam offers a basic plan of $29/month which includes Operations Hub, and advanced plan of $59/month which includes Operations and Communications Hubs. The expert plan comes at $99/month with Operations, Communications, and HR & Skills Hubs.

Connecteam's free plan is more generous, offering all features for up to 10 users, while Calendly's free plan is more limited.

The Verdict

Connecteam is a superior alternative to Calendly for businesses with deskless workforces, as it offers comprehensive employee management features beyond scheduling, such as communication, task management, and time tracking. It also prioritizes employee engagement and operational efficiency, making it an ideal all-in-one solution for non-desk teams.

8. Google Calendar's Appointment Scheduling

Google Calendar's appointment scheduling feature allows users to manage their availability. It lets clients, partners, friends, or family book time with users directly on Google Calendar via a personal booking page.

Google's scheduling feature is an ideal add-on tool for existing Google Workspace subscribers, who can unlock a broader range of features. It also works for Business and Enterprise subscription plans.

Users who want Google Calendar's scheduler for personal use must have Google One Premium. 

Rating

n/a

Why Google Calendar appointment scheduling is better than Calendly?

Google Calendar appointment scheduling offers several advantages over Calendly. Individual users with paid Google One plans and those within the Google Workspace ecosystem will find Google scheduler particularly beneficial because of its:

  • Better Cost: Included with Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise plans, or available with a paid Google One subscription for individual users. Calendly requires a paid subscription for more advanced features.
  • Integration with Google Workspace: Seamlessly integrates with other Google apps for a smooth workflow.
  • Simplicity: Offers a simple and intuitive interface that may be easier to use than Calendly for some users.
  • Privacy: Google's privacy policies are generally considered more transparent and user-friendly than Calendly's.

Pricing

Google Calendar's appointment scheduling is included in Google Workspace, which offers various subscription plans. To access appointment scheduling, you'll need one of the following plans with a one-year commitment: Business Starter for $6 per user per month, Business Standard for $12 per user per month, and Business Plus for $18 per user per month. Contact Google Sales for Enterprise plan pricing. 

A limited free version also exists, but it only allows you to schedule one appointment at a time.

Google Calendar's appointment scheduling feature can be a more cost-effective option than Calendly since it is:

  • Included with Google Workspace (Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise): If you already have one of these plans, appointment scheduling is included at no additional cost.
  • Available with Google One: Even without a Workspace subscription, individuals can access this feature through a paid Google One plan, which can be more affordable than Calendly for basic scheduling needs.
  • Transparent Pricing: Google's pricing for Workspace and Google One is straightforward and predictable, unlike Calendly's tiered pricing structure, which can be more complex.

The Verdict

Google Calendar's appointment scheduling is a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative to Calendly, especially for individuals and businesses already using Google Workspace or Google One. It seamlessly integrates with other Google apps and offers transparent pricing.

Key Takeaways

While Calendly is still of the most widely used tool for scheduling appointment, we see the rise of alternative platforms like lemcal, Doodle, HubSpot Meeting Scheduler, TimeTap, Setmore, Snap Schedule 365, Google Calendar, and Connecteam.

More and more businesses and teams express the need for more advanced and complex scheduling software that does more than just simplifying the process of booking a meeting.

These alternatives offer unique advantages in terms of features, pricing, customization, and target audience. By evaluating these options based on your business requirements, you can find a scheduling tool that better aligns with your goals and budget.

Ideally, you should find a meeting scheduler that not only automates meetings but also increases your productivity to a whole new level, driving revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Calendly actually free?

No, but Calendly has a free plan which includes our basic features.

Does Calendly have a competitor?

Calendly has many competitors. Some of its best competitors include lemcal, Doodle, HubSpot Meeting Scheduler, Setmore, but there are many more.

Does Google have a Calendly equivalent?

Well, kind of. Google Calendar's appointment scheduling feature allows users to manage their availability. It lets clients, partners, friends, or family book time with users directly on Google Calendar via a personal booking page. Both Google Calendar and Calendly let you sync multiple calendars. But Google Calendar is the only one that lets you view your scheduled events and remaining availability all in one calendar.

Is there a Microsoft alternative to Calendly?

Microsoft 365 is a massive suite of tools with Word, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Bookings. Microsoft Bookings is included with Microsoft 365 and is a good alternative to Calendly.

Is Calendly actually free?

No, but Calendly has a free plan which includes our basic features.

Does Calendly have a competitor?

Calendly has many competitors. Some of its best competitors include lemcal, Doodle, HubSpot Meeting Scheduler, Setmore, and there are many more.

What can I use instead of Calendly?

lemcal, Cal.com or Doodle. Each of them has its own advantages, so our advice is to take a look at the reviews that analyze every tool from inside out.

PRM Tool
Rating
Best for
Free Pan
Product Hunt - 4.8
star
star
star
star
star-half
G2 - 4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
Reduced no-shows and personalized booking
Connection to 1 calendar, 3 active meeting types, unlimited availability schedules, multiple attendees, multiple integrations, ultra-customization,customized questions to qualify your prospects, native lemlist integration, reminders, embed on your website, import existing configurations
G2 - 3.8
star
star
star
star
Basic Scheduling Needs
Calendar sync, reminders and notifications, add your logo and pick a color for your booking page
G2 - 4.8
star
star
star
star
star-half
Scheduling between multiple team members
3 team members, 2 locations, 2 classes, unlimited appointments, email notifications, online booking page, PayPal payments, 8+ integrations
G2 - 4.4
star
star
star
star
star-half
Group polling and availability sharing
1 booking page that includes ads, One 1:1 meeting that includes ads
G2 - 4.7
star
star
star
star
star-half
Rich integrations and widely used scheduling
1 event type, basic integrations with tools like Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud, automated notifications, scheduling page, availability sharing
G2 - 4.4
star
star
star
star
star-half
Appointment management
Bookings and reminders limited to 100, 1 user, 1 calendar connection, 5 event types
G2 - 4.5
star
star
star
star
star-half
Unlimited appointments
Unlimited appointments, mobile app (iOS and Android), class booking, task management (for a fee)

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