Looking for alternatives to Cal.com for your scheduling needs? While Cal.com delivers solid open-source scheduling, many businesses need options with different features, pricing structures, or specialized functionality. Finding the right Cal.com alternative can make appointment scheduling considerably easier, whether you want more intuitive interfaces, better team management, or industry-specific features.
In this guide, we'll explore the top 8 Cal.com alternatives, including Zeeg, Calendly, Doodle, and more. We'll examine their features, pricing, and what makes each distinct to help you find the ideal scheduling solution for your business.
What is Cal.com?
Cal.com (formerly Calendso) is an open-source scheduling platform designed for businesses that want customizable, privacy-focused scheduling. Originally launched as a developer-friendly alternative to mainstream scheduling tools, Cal.com emphasizes flexibility, customization, and user data control.
These are the main features
- Open-source architecture allowing unlimited customization
- Self-hosting option for complete data ownership
- Video conferencing integration (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams)
- Group event scheduling with collective booking pages
- Round-robin distribution for team scheduling
- Calendar integrations with Google, Outlook, and Office 365
- Workflow automation with webhooks and API access
- Basic customization and white-labeling options
- Time zone detection and availability management
- Embeddable booking widgets for websites
What makes Cal.com unique is its open-source nature, allowing developers to modify the code and self-host the solution. This gives teams with technical resources considerable control over how their scheduling system works and where their data lives.
Pricing details
- Free: $0/month - Basic individual scheduling with 1 calendar connection
- Pro: $12/month/user - Includes unlimited event types, branding removal, and workflows
- Team: $20/month/user - Adds team practicability, managed events, and round-robin scheduling
- Enterprise: Custom pricing - Provides dedicated support, advanced security, and custom branding
All paid plans are billed annually with a 14-day free trial. Also good to know about the pricing: Cal.com provides a one-time license purchase option at $999 for businesses wanting to self-host the solution with priority support and premium features.
Why you might use an alternative to Cal.com
Despite Cal.com's strengths, there are several reasons you might consider alternatives:
Technical complexity: Cal.com's open-source model and self-hosting options can require technical expertise that not all businesses have. Many teams need something they can use right away without developer resources.
Limited customer support: Users report that Cal.com's customer support can be slow, especially for free and lower-tier plans, which creates challenges when troubleshooting issues.
Integration gaps: While Cal.com connects with major calendar services, it may lack specialized integrations with industry-specific tools that alternative platforms offer.
User interface limitations: Some users find Cal.com's interface less intuitive than alternatives, with certain functions requiring more steps than necessary.
Newer platform: As a relatively new entrant in the scheduling market, Cal.com may lack the polish and feature completeness of more established competitors.
If you think these could be an issue for you or your business, read on to see what alternatives to Cal.com can be a better fit.
An overview on the best alternatives to Cal.com
1. Zeeg
Zeeg is a powerful scheduling platform that combines ease of use with effective team management features. Unlike Cal.com's developer-focused style, Zeeg provides intuitive scheduling that works right out of the box for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large organizations.
Main features
- Customizable booking pages with professional branding options
- Smart routing to direct clients to the right team member based on their needs
- Team workload balancing for fair distribution of appointments
- Multi-calendar sync with Google, Outlook, and Apple Calendar
- Automatic time zone detection and conversion
- Integrated payment processing through both Stripe and PayPal
- Workflows for automated reminders and follow-ups
- Detailed intake forms to gather client information
- Analytics dashboard for tracking scheduling patterns
- Complete GDPR compliance with European data hosting
The platform stands out by offering sector-specific scheduling features tailored to industries like coaching, healthcare, education, and professional services, making it valuable for businesses in these fields.
What makes Zeeg a good alternative to Cal.com?
GDPR compliance: With European data hosting and complete GDPR compliance, Zeeg provides stronger privacy protections than many alternatives, making it particularly valuable for businesses serving European clients.
User-friendly design: The software is designed for non-technical users, presenting a visual interface where everything can be configured without coding. Business owners or managers can set up services, intake forms, payments, and team settings through an intuitive dashboard. In contrast, Cal.com caters more to developers, with customizations often requiring code-level changes.
Round-robin scheduling: Automatic workload balancing considers each team member's existing schedule and distributes bookings evenly based on customizable rules. This helps businesses managing multiple professionals, like studios, tutoring centers, or clinics. Cal.com offers team scheduling but doesn't natively balance workload dynamically, requiring manual management of availability.
Smart Routing Logic: Built-in intelligence routes clients to the right service provider based on form inputs (like skill level, preferred time, or goals). This helps teams where clients shouldn't directly choose who they book but instead are matched based on availability or specialty. Cal.com's round-robin or collective scheduling lacks this intelligent routing without additional API work.
Comprehensive payment options: Multiple payment gateways, including both PayPal and Stripe, give clients flexibility regardless of their location or preferred payment method. These payments integrate seamlessly with the booking process. Cal.com only works with Stripe, limiting options for businesses with clients who prefer alternative payment methods.
Industry-specific solutions: Zeeg enables tailored scheduling for specific industries like healthcare, education, and professional services, with features designed to address unique scheduling challenges.
Competitive pricing: Zeeg's straightforward pricing structure has more value than Cal.com at equivalent tiers, with a generous free plan and affordable paid options that scale with your business.
If you're looking for a Cal.com alternative that combines ease of use with powerful features and doesn't require developer resources, Zeeg represents an excellent choice for businesses seeking to simplify their scheduling operations.
Pricing
- Starter: Free forever - Perfect for solo users getting started with scheduling
- Professional: 10$/month/user (billed annually) or 12$/month/user (billed monthly) - Best for individuals needing advanced scheduling features
- Business: 16$/month/user (billed annually) or 20$/month/user (billed monthly) - Ideal for teams and power users requiring collaborative scheduling
All paid plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. The Professional plan provides excellent value for individuals and small teams, with features that typically require higher-tier plans from competitors. The Business plan adds team-oriented capabilities at a price point significantly lower than comparable options from other scheduling platforms.
2. Calendly
Trusted by millions of professionals worldwide, Calendly has established itself as one of the most popular scheduling platforms globally. As a pioneer among mainstream scheduling tools, it delivers a clean interface and solid feature set suitable for businesses of all sizes. The platform comes with a lot of pros and cons but here are the main features:
Main features
- One-click scheduling links for fast appointment booking
- Team scheduling with round-robin assignment
- Automated email and text reminders
- Calendar integrations with Google, Outlook, and Office 365
- Video conferencing integration (Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams)
- Customizable booking pages and domains
- Time buffer settings between meetings
- Group event and collective scheduling
- Basic workflow automation
- Payment collection through Stripe
- Reporting and analytics
How is Calendly similar to Cal.com?
- Calendar integrations extend across major services like Google Calendar and Outlook
- Customizable scheduling links adapt to various meeting types
- Team scheduling capabilities include round-robin distribution options
- Automatic time zone detection ensures proper conversion across regions
- Booking widgets can be embedded directly on websites
- Reminder systems provide automated notifications to attendees
- Video conferencing platforms connect seamlessly with scheduling services
What makes Calendly a good alternative to Cal.com?
User experience: Calendly offers a more polished and intuitive interface that requires minimal training. Cal.com, being newer and developer-focused, has a steeper learning curve for non-technical users.
Market longevity: Established much longer in the market than Cal.com, Calendly has developed into a more mature product with fewer bugs and a larger user base.
Closed source vs. open source: Proprietary by design, Calendly's platform doesn't allow you to modify its code or self-host it. Cal.com's open-source nature gives developers more flexibility but requires technical expertise to take advantage of.
Integration ecosystem: Native connections with business tools are more extensive in Calendly's library, while Cal.com relies more heavily on webhooks and API connections.
Pricing
- Free: $0/month - Basic scheduling with one event type
- Standard: $10/user/month (billed annually) - Unlimited event types and advanced features
- Teams: $16/user/month (billed annually) - Team scheduling and admin controls
- Enterprise: Custom pricing - Advanced security, branding, and analytics
Compared to Cal.com, Calendly's pricing is slightly lower at equivalent tiers but offers fewer features in its free plan. The Standard plan gives individuals most of the features they need, while the Teams plan adds collaborative features for growing organizations.
3. Doodle
Doodle takes a different approach to scheduling, focusing on group coordination and polling rather than traditional appointment booking. It's an excellent choice for teams that frequently need to find times that work for multiple participants.
Main features
- Poll-based scheduling for group coordination
- 1:1 meeting scheduling
- Group availability finder
- Calendar integration with Google, Outlook, and Apple
- Automatic time zone adjustment
- Booking page customization
- Deadline setting for responses
- End-to-end scheduling management
- Mobile app for on-the-go scheduling
How is Doodle similar to Cal.com?
- Teams can coordinate schedules and find available times through these platforms
- Major calendar platforms integrate with both scheduling services
- Time zones adjust automatically in both services
- Scheduling pages enable customization options on both platforms
- Team scheduling needs receive support through these solutions
- Mobile applications enable on-the-go management for users
- Scheduling requires the same core calendar information
What makes Doodle a good alternative to Cal.com?
Polling-first approach: Doodle's core revolves around polling participants for their availability, making it ideal for coordinating large groups. Cal.com focuses more on direct appointment booking.
Simplicity vs. customization: Focused on ease of use rather than extensive features, Doodle prioritizes simplicity over deep customization. While Cal.com offers deep customization through its open-source architecture, Doodle provides a more straightforward user experience.
Participant experience: Voting on preferred times without creating an account makes Doodle more accessible for external stakeholders. Cal.com requires more steps for participants to engage with the scheduling process.
User interface: Specifically designed for quick polling and group coordination, Doodle's interface stands apart from competitors. Cal.com's interface caters more to traditional appointment booking and complex scheduling needs.
Technical requirements: Almost zero technical knowledge is required to use Doodle effectively, while Cal.com's more advanced features may need developer input to implement fully.
Pricing
- Free: Basic polling with ads
- Pro: $6.95/month (billed annually) - Ad-free experience with additional features
- Team: $8.95/user/month (billed annually) - Team management and admin controls
- Enterprise: Custom pricing - Advanced security and support
Doodle's pricing is generally lower than Cal.com's, making it a more affordable option for teams primarily focused on group scheduling rather than advanced appointment booking features.
4. Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is an appointment booking platform particularly well-suited for service-based businesses. It provides advanced features for client management, payments, and business operations.
Main features
- Customizable scheduling page with branding options
- Client self-service booking, rescheduling, and cancellation
- Calendar syncing with Google, Outlook, and Apple
- Payment processing with subscriptions and packages
- Intake forms and waivers
- Group class and workshop scheduling
- International scheduling with time zone intelligence
- Email and text reminders
- Reporting and analytics
- Gift certificates and discount codes
- Point of sale (POS) for in-person payments
- Memberships and subscriptions
- HIPAA-compliant scheduling (higher tiers)
How is Acuity Scheduling similar to Cal.com?
- Scheduling pages and links can be customized according to brand needs
- Major calendar platforms connect smoothly with both services
- Time conversion happens automatically across different zones
- Appointments include buffer times to prevent back-to-back scheduling issues
- Teams can coordinate their scheduling through both platforms
- Payment collection options exist in both services
- Basic reporting capabilities help track scheduling patterns
What makes Acuity Scheduling a good alternative to Cal.com?
Service business focus: Acuity is specifically designed for service providers (health professionals, salons, consultants) with features like intake forms, waivers, and packages. Cal.com takes a more generalized approach to scheduling.
Retail capabilities: Unlike Cal.com, Acuity includes retail-oriented features like gift certificates, memberships, and subscriptions. This makes it better suited for businesses that sell services rather than just booking meetings.
Mature platform: As a long-established platform (now owned by Squarespace), Acuity provides a more refined user experience and fewer bugs than newer platforms like Cal.com.
HIPAA compliance: Healthcare providers benefit from Acuity's HIPAA-compliant scheduling on higher-tier plans. Cal.com would require significant customization to meet these requirements.
Squarespace integration: For businesses using Squarespace websites, Acuity enables seamless integration that Cal.com cannot match without custom development.
Higher initial investment: Starting with no free plan and a higher price point than Cal.com, Acuity represents a bigger initial investment for small businesses.
Pricing
- Emerging: $16/month (billed annually) - For individuals with basic needs
- Growing: $27/month (billed annually) - For businesses with additional staff
- Powerhouse: $49/month (billed annually) - For multiple location businesses
- Enterprise: Custom pricing - For larger organizations
Unlike Cal.com's per-user pricing, Acuity charges a flat fee per tier regardless of the number of calendars or staff members (within limits). This kind of pricing can be more economical for teams once you exceed a certain size.
5. HubSpot Meeting Scheduler
Integrated deeply within its larger CRM ecosystem, HubSpot's Meeting Scheduler connects seamlessly with sales, marketing, and customer service tools. It's ideal for businesses already using HubSpot's ecosystem.
Main features
- Integration with HubSpot CRM
- Meeting link sharing
- Group meeting scheduling
- Round-robin meeting distribution
- Automatic time zone detection
- Calendar syncing with Google and Office 365
- Customizable booking pages
- Meeting notifications and reminders
- Lead tracking and qualification
- Reporting and analytics
- Workflow automation
- Sales sequence integration
How is HubSpot similar to Cal.com?
- Meeting types can have customizable booking links
- Team scheduling works efficiently in both platforms
- Time zones detect automatically for accurate scheduling
- Calendar services connect with major providers
- Websites can display booking widgets from either service
- Availability can be customized according to schedules
- Reporting features track basic metrics in both platforms
What makes HubSpot a good alternative to Cal.com?
CRM integration: HubSpot Meeting Scheduler is deeply integrated with HubSpot's CRM, where you can keep and track your CRM database, automatically logging meetings, tracking engagement, and updating contact records Cal.com requires additional setup to achieve similar functionality.
Marketing automation: Seamless follow-up processes can be created with HubSpot by triggering marketing automation workflows based on meeting bookings. Cal.com lacks these native marketing capabilities.
Lead intelligence: When someone books a meeting through HubSpot, you get comprehensive lead intelligence including their company, previous interactions, and engagement history. Cal.com provides more basic contact information.
Sales tools: Powerful features like meeting templates, sequence integration, and deal tracking make HubSpot more suitable for sales teams. Cal.com focuses more on general scheduling.
Learning curve: Considerably steeper learning occurs with HubSpot as part of an extensive platform, while Cal.com is more focused solely on scheduling. This makes Cal.com easier to learn but less powerful in a complete sales context.
Pricing structure: Instead of being offered as a standalone product, HubSpot's Meeting Scheduler is included as part of its CRM Suite, making it potentially more expensive but offering broader usability.
Pricing
HubSpot Meeting Scheduler is included in HubSpot's CRM Suite pricing:
- Free: Basic meeting scheduling with limited features
- Starter: From $15/user/month (billed annually)
- Professional: From $90/user/month for Sales Hub (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Varies by hub, starting around $150/user/month
While HubSpot's entry-level pricing is comparable to Cal.com, its higher tiers represent a significant investment. However, businesses get a complete CRM platform rather than just scheduling tools, making it suitable for organizations looking to unify their customer-facing operations.
6. SimplyBook.me
SimplyBook.me is a flexible online appointment scheduling tool designed for various service-based industries, including beauty, wellness, education, and medical fields. It helps businesses simplify their booking process, manage schedules, and enhance client interactions.
Main features
- Customizable booking website with templates
- Client management system with detailed profiles
- Calendar syncing with Google, Apple, and Outlook
- Social media booking through Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business
- Mobile apps for both clients and administrators
- Payment processing with multiple gateway options
- Email and SMS notifications
- Online intake forms and questionnaires
- Marketing tools (coupons, gift cards, packages)
- Point of sale (POS) integration
- Business analytics and reporting
- HIPAA compliance options
- Multi-language support (14 languages)
How is SimplyBook.me similar to Cal.com?
- Pages for scheduling can be customized to match brand identity
- Services from major calendar providers connect with both platforms
- Notifications operate automatically to remind attendees
- Management of time zones works seamlessly across regions
- Team scheduling functions enable multi-employee businesses
- Booking widgets can be embedded into existing websites
- Payment collection happens during the booking flow
What makes SimplyBook.me a good alternative to Cal.com?
Service industry focus: SimplyBook.me is specifically designed for service businesses with features like resource management, provider schedules, and client databases. Cal.com takes a more general approach to scheduling.
Marketing features: Built-in tools like coupons, gift cards, and memberships are included with SimplyBook.me that Cal.com lacks without additional integrations.
Social media integration: Customers can book directly through Facebook, Instagram, and Google Business profiles without leaving those platforms with SimplyBook.me, unlike Cal.com.
Client mobile app: Dedicated mobile experience for clients allows SimplyBook.me users to manage their appointments, view history, and receive notifications. Cal.com lacks this client-facing mobile experience.
Custom feature system: Modular approaches to functionality let SimplyBook.me users select from over 60 custom features based on their specific needs, making it highly adaptable to different business types.
Booking limits: Monthly restrictions on bookings are imposed by SimplyBook.me on all plans (from 50 to 5,000 per month), while Cal.com offers unlimited bookings on all paid plans.
Pricing
- Free: €0/month - 50 bookings, 1 staff member, 1 custom feature
- Basic: €8.25/month (billed annually) - 100 bookings, 5 staff, 3 custom features
- Standard: €24.90/month (billed annually) - 500 bookings, 15 staff, 8 custom features
- Premium: €49.90/month (billed annually) - 2,000 bookings, 30 staff, unlimited features
Unlike Cal.com's per-user pricing, SimplyBook.me charges based on a combination of booking volume, staff members, and custom features. This kind of pricing can be more economical for small teams and businesses but potentially more expensive for those with high booking volumes.
7. Zoho Bookings
Part of an extensive business software ecosystem, Zoho Bookings delivers scheduling capabilities tightly integrated with Zoho's CRM, mail, and productivity tools. It's an excellent choice for businesses already using other Zoho products.
Main features
- Customizable booking page with branding options
- Team scheduling with resource management
- Multi-calendar sync (Google, Outlook, Zoho)
- Automatic buffer times between appointments
- Payment collection through multiple gateways
- Automated email and SMS notifications
- Service management with custom fields
- Embeddable booking widgets
- Video conferencing integration
- Reporting and analytics
- Mobile apps for management on the go
- Location-based scheduling
- Workflow automation
- CRM integration
How is Zoho similar to Cal.com?
- Pages for booking can be customized to match your brand
- Links for scheduling adapt to different meeting requirements
- Team scheduling enables coordinated availability
- Time zones are detected automatically for convenience
- Websites can display embedded booking widgets
- Payments can be collected during the booking process
- Systems for notification alert users about upcoming meetings
What makes Zoho a good alternative to Cal.com?
Business suite integration: Zoho Bookings integrates seamlessly with Zoho's extensive suite of business applications, including Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail, and Zoho Projects. Cal.com has more limited native integrations.
CRM-driven scheduling: Creating scheduling links directly from CRM contacts is possible with Zoho, which automatically logs meeting information back to contact records for a smooth sales process. Cal.com requires additional setup for similar functionality.
Resource management: Robust capabilities for managing facilities, equipment, and rooms are included in Zoho Bookings, making it suitable for businesses that need to manage physical resources alongside staff availability. Cal.com focuses more on personnel scheduling.
Form builder: Advanced data collection during the booking process is enabled by Zoho's more flexible form builder, while Cal.com offers more basic information gathering.
Pricing structure: Per-user models in Zoho's pricing can be more economical for small teams compared to Cal.com's tiered approach, especially when bundled with other Zoho applications.
Technical requirements: Minimal technical expertise is needed to implement and maintain Zoho compared to Cal.com's developer-oriented approach.
Pricing
- Free: Basic scheduling for individuals
- Basic: 6€/user/month (billed annually) - Team scheduling and advanced features
- Premium: 9€/user/month (billed annually) - Complete scheduling solution
- Zoho One: Bundled with all Zoho applications for 37€/user/month
Zoho's pricing is generally more affordable than Cal.com, especially for small teams. Additionally, businesses already using other Zoho applications can get Bookings as part of the Zoho One bundle, making it an economical choice for existing Zoho customers.
8. Google Calendar Appointment Scheduling
Google Calendar's appointment scheduling feature offers a straightforward way to manage bookings for those already using Google Workspace. While more limited than dedicated scheduling platforms, it provides essential functionality without additional costs.
Main features
- Appointment slots for specific time blocks
- Booking page for appointments
- Google Meet integration for video meetings
- Calendar sharing and permissions
- Automatic time zone conversion
- Email notifications for bookings
- Buffer times between appointments
- Multiple calendar management
- Mobile app access
- Integration with Google Workspace
How is Google Calendar similar to Cal.com?
- Time slots can be created for bookings
- Google's calendar services integrate naturally
- Time zones detect and adjust automatically
- Email notifications inform users about events
- Video conferencing works with scheduling
- Mobile access enables on-the-go management
- Buffer settings prevent back-to-back appointments
What makes Google Calendar a good alternative to Cal.com?
Simplicity vs. functionality: Google Calendar offers more basic scheduling features focused on appointment slots rather than the extensive booking system that Cal.com provides.
Google Workspace integration: Seamless connections with Gmail, Drive, and Meet come standard with Google Calendar without additional setup. Cal.com requires integration configuration.
No payment processing: Payment collection features for paid appointments are absent in Google Calendar, unlike the native options Cal.com offers.
Accessibility: Immediate availability without additional subscriptions makes Google Calendar's scheduling features convenient for Google Workspace users. Cal.com requires a separate purchase or setup.
Learning curve: Familiarity with Google Calendar is widespread among users, making its scheduling features easier to adopt than learning Cal.com's interface.
Technical requirements: Zero technical knowledge is required to use Google Calendar effectively, while Cal.com's more advanced features may need developer input.
Pricing
Google Calendar is available as part of Google Workspace:
- Business Starter: 6,80€/user/month (includes Calendar)
- Business Standard: 13,60€/user/month (includes enhanced Calendar features)
- Business Plus: 21,10€/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
The appointment scheduling feature specifically is only available on Business Standard plans and above, making it slightly more expensive than Cal.com's free tier but potentially more economical for businesses already using Google Workspace for email and productivity.
Which Cal.com alternative is best for your needs?
Choosing the right Cal.com alternative depends on your specific scheduling requirements, technical capabilities, and budget. Here's a quick guide to help you decide:
For ease of use and team management: With its intuitive interface and powerful team capabilities, Zeeg strikes an ideal balance without demanding technical expertise. Service businesses managing multiple professionals particularly benefit from its smart routing and workload distribution features.
For sales and marketing integration: Need your scheduling tightly woven into your sales operations? HubSpot delivers seamless CRM integration for sales teams. Alternatively, Zeeg offers customizable booking workflows that dynamically update your sales pipeline, giving teams another powerful option for connecting scheduling with customer management.
For service-based businesses: While SimplyBook.me and Acuity Scheduling have built their platforms around service providers' needs, Zeeg distinguishes itself differently. Its complete system includes customizable intake forms alongside appointment packaging and resource allocation - specifically engineered for professionals delivering services.
For group coordination: Finding mutually agreeable meeting times becomes effortless with Doodle's polling mechanism. Zeeg tackles this challenge through its collective scheduling feature, employing priority-based algorithms that cleverly accommodate everyone's availability preferences.
For businesses using Google Workspace: Already invested in the Google ecosystem? Basic scheduling comes built into Google Calendar. Taking this foundation further, Zeeg enhances your Google Workspace experience with two-way synchronization, granular visibility controls, and intelligent calendar management capabilities.
For businesses already using Zoho products: Zoho users will find Zoho Bookings fits naturally within their existing workflow. Zeeg elevates this integration with specialized Zoho connectors that create custom workflows, significantly enhancing both Zoho CRM and Projects with sophisticated scheduling features.
For enterprises needing a complete platform: While Calendly owns the most mature feature ecosystem for large organizations, Zeeg's enterprise solution stands out differently. It combines advanced team coordination with fully customizable workflows, detailed analytics, and enterprise-grade security - creating a compelling alternative for complex organizational needs.
Frequently asked questions
What does Cal.com do?
Cal.com is an open-source scheduling platform that helps businesses manage appointments and meetings. It allows users to create customizable booking links, integrate with calendar services, coordinate team availability, and automate scheduling workflows. As an open-source solution, Cal.com can be self-hosted for greater data control or used as a cloud service with multiple pricing tiers.
Is Cal.com better than Calendly?
Whether Cal.com is better than Calendly depends on your specific needs. Cal.com gives more flexibility through its open-source nature and self-hosting options, providing developers greater control and customization possibilities. However, Calendly presents a more polished user experience, broader integration options, and a more mature platform with fewer bugs. Cal.com may be better for technical teams wanting complete control, while Calendly typically works better for businesses seeking a ready-to-use solution.
What is similar to Cal.com?
Several platforms provide similar functionality to Cal.com, including Calendly, Zeeg, Acuity Scheduling, SimplyBook.me, Doodle, HubSpot Meeting Scheduler, Zoho Bookings, and Google Calendar's appointment scheduling feature. These alternatives vary in their focus, with some highlighting ease of use (Zeeg), service business features (Acuity, SimplyBook.me), or integration with broader business platforms (HubSpot, Zoho).
Is Cal.com actually free?
Cal.com has a genuinely free tier with basic scheduling functionality, including one calendar connection and limited features. However, this free plan has significant limitations compared to paid options. For businesses needing team scheduling, multiple calendars, or advanced customization, paid plans starting at $12/user/month are required. Additionally, Cal.com has a one-time purchase option of $999 for self-hosting with all premium features included.
Is Cal.com GDPR compliant?
Cal.com includes GDPR compliance features, particularly when self-hosted, as this gives businesses complete control over their data storage and processing. The cloud version also has privacy features, but businesses serving European customers should carefully review their specific implementation. For organizations particularly concerned about GDPR compliance, alternatives like Zeeg, which has European data hosting and built-in GDPR features, may provide more straightforward compliance without additional configuration.
Sources - all prices and features were last checked on May 9, 2025:
- Acuity Scheduling pricing page
- HubSpot Meeting Scheduler pricing page
- Google Calendar pricing page
