Scheduling meetings efficiently has become essential for businesses of all sizes. Calendly has long been one of the most popular scheduling tools on the market, helping professionals eliminate the back-and-forth emails typically required to find meeting times. However, as businesses evolve and requirements change, many are looking for Calendly alternatives that better address their needs.
That's why in this article we'll explore why you might want to consider other options, and introduce you to Zeeg, the best alternative to Calendly, especially if you're looking for complete scheduling features, but better flexibility, and stronger privacy compliance.
Understanding Calendly and its limitations
Calendly revolutionized meeting scheduling by providing a simple link that displays your availability, allowing recipients to select convenient times. That's not news. The platform automatically adds appointments to both parties' calendars and sends confirmation notifications. And beyond their basic scheduling, Calendly also has things team calendar coordination, integrations with various business tools, and automated workflows. It's a pretty complete tool. However, like in everything, Calendly has pros but also has some cons.
Let's have a look at Calendly's main limitations:
1. No Apple Calendar integration for new users
Since August 2024, Calendly discontinued iCloud Calendar integration for new users. While existing users with connected iCloud calendars can continue using this feature, it's no longer available for new sign-ups. This creates a significant hurdle for Apple ecosystem users who rely on iCloud for calendar management.
2. GDPR compliance concerns
For businesses operating in or with European customers, Calendly's approach to GDPR compliance may raise concerns. As a US-based company, Calendly processes data on American servers, which can create complications under current EU data protection regulations. While they've implemented measures to address GDPR requirements, this will most likely need some extra set-ups on your side, which is not ideal for when you just need simple and complete GDPR compliance.
3. Limited free plan functionality
Despite having a pretty straightforward pricing model, Calendly's free plan restricts users to just one event type, which means you can't differentiate between different meeting lengths or purposes without upgrading. Basically, you have one scheduling page and that’s it. This limitation essentially positions the free plan as a trial version rather than a viable long-term solution for most business users.
👉 Read more about free alternatives to Calendly
4. Limited customization options
Calendly provides basic customization for booking pages, but many users find these options restrictive. Limitations include minimal branding options, no custom fields on lower-tier plans, and a rigid layout structure. This lack of flexibility can be problematic for businesses with strong brand identities that want to give a more branded feel to their prospects.
The best alternative to Calendly? Zeeg.
For businesses seeking a more flexible, comprehensive, and privacy-focused scheduling solution, Zeeg simply comes up as the best alternative to Calendly. But let's explore why:
✓ Global compliance without compromise
Zeeg is built for global teams operating across borders. Whether your company runs from Europe, the US, or Australia, the platform ensures full GDPR compliance at every step. This protection isn't just nice to have—it's essential when doing business with European customers or partners.
Unlike Calendly, which stores data on US servers and requires additional setup for GDPR compliance, Zeeg provides peace of mind with European data hosting and end-to-end encryption. Your scheduling data remains secure and compliant with privacy regulations by default, eliminating potential legal complications and building trust with privacy-conscious clients.
✓ Better free plan
Why pay extra for basics? Zeeg offers the most complete free plan among Calendly alternatives on the market. While Calendly limits free users to a single event type, Zeeg's free tier includes:
- Two scheduling pages (compared to Calendly's single page)
- Unlimited 1:1 meetings
- Automated notifications
- Calendar integration
This generous free plan allows you to experience the full power of professional scheduling before deciding to upgrade. You can create distinct booking experiences for different meeting types without immediately committing to a paid subscription.
✓ Complete calendar integration
Never double-book again with Zeeg's seamless calendar integration. Unlike Calendly, which has dropped support for new Apple Calendar connections, Zeeg maintains full synchronization with all major calendar services:
- Google Calendar
- Microsoft 365 (Outlook/Exchange)
- Apple Calendar/iCloud
This cross-platform compatibility ensures your availability stays accurate regardless of which calendar system your team or clients prefer to use. Connect multiple calendars simultaneously for truly unified scheduling that prevents conflicts and maintains real-time availability across all platforms.
✓ Advanced booking options
Besides what we've just covered, Zeeg also offers sophisticated scheduling features that adapt to your business needs:
Online booking page: Zeeg brings order to your calendar by letting your customers book meetings online 24/7 according to your rules. The platform prevents appointment overlap and maintains optimal spacing between meetings, ensuring you always have enough preparation time.
Smart routing forms: Every service has its own information requirements. Zeeg's scheduling routing system lets you collect and organize client information before the first meeting, from basic details to specialized questionnaires. These custom intake forms ensure you gather all necessary information upfront, making meetings more productive and focused.
Automated reminders and follow-ups: Sophisticated communication workflows keep your business running smoothly, with timely reminders that include meeting-specific preparation instructions and prevent no-shows. Also, Zeeg's intelligent follow-up system nurtures leads through personalized post-meeting messages and scheduled check-ins.
Team management excellence - coordinate your entire team without the chaos. Zeeg's advanced group scheduling features include:
- Team routing: This intelligent routing ensures that prospects connect with the best-qualified representatives for their specific requirements.
- Round-robin distribution: Fairly allocate meetings across team members based on workload, specialization, or availability.
- Collective scheduling: Collaborative appointment types where clients can book multiple team members simultaneously. Zeeg finds mutually agreeable times for everyone involved.
- Video session integration: When your Zeeg scheduling page is shared, you can choose the meeting location, which can simply be a Zoom, Google Meet or a Microsoft Teams link.
✓ Enterprise-grade security and data protection
Built-in safety measures safeguard client information throughout the scheduling process, ensuring enterprise-grade security. Zeeg provides comprehensive protection ideal for both local businesses and global companies:
- End-to-end encryption for all data
- European server hosting
- Full GDPR compliance
- Role-based access controls
- Secure data handling practices
✓ Beyond the basics: Advanced features for growing businesses
If you choose Zeeg as your Calendly alternative, not only you'll get it those scheduling needs fulfilled, you'll also get some other perks.
Custom branding and white-labeling
This is another feature that makes Zeeg the best alternative to Calendly. Create a consistent brand experience with fully customizable booking pages that match your visual identity. Unlike Calendly's limited branding options, Zeeg allows comprehensive customization even on lower-tier plans.
Payment integration
Accept payments directly through your booking page, ideal for paid consultations, deposits, or service fees. Seamless payment processing through major providers ensures a smooth transaction experience for your clients.
Analytics and insights
Gain valuable visibility into your scheduling patterns with comprehensive reporting on meeting volumes, conversion rates, and team performance. These insights help optimize your scheduling strategy and improve operational efficiency.
Zeeg vs Calendly: Feature comparison
Why Zeeg is the best Calendly alternative.
Zeeg addresses the key limitations of Calendly while offering enhanced features for businesses that value flexibility, privacy, and advanced scheduling capabilities:
- Better free plan: Start with more functionality without immediate costs.
- Complete calendar ecosystem: Maintain Apple Calendar integration that Calendly has dropped.
- Built-in compliance: Operate globally with confidence in your data protection measures.
- Advanced team features: Coordinate complex scheduling needs across departments and specialists.
- Superior customization: Create a cohesive brand experience throughout the scheduling process.
Conclusion: Making the switch from Calendly to Zeeg
If you're considering alternatives to Calendly, Zeeg offers a compelling combination of enhanced features, stronger privacy compliance, and more flexible options for teams of all sizes. Whether you're concerned about GDPR compliance, need Apple Calendar integration, or simply want more value from your scheduling solution, Zeeg provides a powerful alternative that grows with your business.
The transition from Calendly to Zeeg is straightforward, with intuitive setup and comprehensive support to ensure a smooth migration. By choosing a scheduling solution that aligns with your security requirements, workflow needs, and growth goals, you transform a basic administrative task into a genuine competitive advantage.
Ready to experience the best alternative to Calendly? Sign up for Zeeg's free plan today and discover how advanced scheduling can transform your business operations.
