7 Best Cal.com Alternatives Worth Considering [+Expert Advice]

Since you’ve found your way here, chances are you’re on the hunt for the perfect appointment scheduling tool—perhaps looking for an alternative to Cal.com.

We get it! Finding a scheduling solution that meets all your appointment management needs can be overwhelming, especially when each tool promises the world but rarely delivers on every front.

But guess what? You’re in luck! In this article, we have covered some of the best options that could be a perfect fit for your needs.

While Cal.com might be a great tool for many, it might not meet everyone’s specific needs. If you’ve found Cal.com a bit tricky or lacking in certain areas, no worries! Let us guide you in finding the perfect alternative.

Keep reading!

What is Cal.com?

Cal.com is an open-source appointment scheduling platform that allows you to either set up your own scheduling system or integrate scheduling features into your existing applications.

It has quickly become a go-to choice for people seeking a flexible, open-source solution. It has a straightforward setup process, easy-to-create booking links, and various features available through its generous free plan.  

Here’s the breakdown of its pricing:

Individuals	Free
Teams	$15/user/month
Enterprise	Custom

Here are the top features of Cal.com:

• Event Setup: Easily configure your event’s title, description, URL, duration, and location, including multi-location options.
• Availability: Select or edit your availability schedules to accommodate different working hours or time zones.
• Integration Capability: Seamlessly incorporate scheduling into your existing systems.
• Advanced Functionalities: Manage digital calendar integration, booking questions, private URLs, and meeting seats.
• Recurring Events: Schedule recurring events with options to repeat weekly, monthly, or yearly, with a set number of occurrences.
• Payment Integrations: Configure app integrations like Stripe for payment collection or no-show fees and activate analytics tools.
• Workflows: View and manage applied workflows, and activate or deactivate automated tasks for event support.
• Webhooks: Set up and manage webhooks for automation, including specifying triggers and testing them for integration with other apps.

Any limitations?

Despite its strengths, Cal.com has some limitations. While it provides a lot of flexibility and a free plan, it’s still developing. Some users might find the standard scheduling links a bit cumbersome, as they require navigating through multiple steps. Additionally, manually updating calendars and managing open slots can be less convenient compared to more established solutions.

If Cal.com doesn’t work for you, no problem! Below we discussed a few powerful alternatives that might fit your needs better. Keep reading to find the right scheduling tool for you!

7 Best Cal.com Alternatives You Should Try for Effortless Scheduling

Check out these Cal.com alternatives that might offer exactly what you’ve been looking for to make scheduling simpler and more enjoyable. 

FluentBooking

FluentBooking is an all-in-one appointment booking and management solution for WordPress users seeking a simple, flexible, and easy-to-use experience.

It’s designed to save you time and help you stay organized, no matter how many appointments you manage. Whether you work alone or with a team, FluentBooking makes scheduling simple and smooth.

From sending automated reminders to syncing calendars, it takes care of the hard work for you—so you can focus on what matters. Plus, it comes with many user-friendly and advanced features that make managing appointments a breeze.

Features

• Full GDPR Compliant: Securely manage all appointments and client data within the WordPress dashboard.
• Multiple Meeting Types: One-on-one, group meetings, round robin, and exclusive one-time single/group events ideal for organizing special, limited-time events that occur just once!
• Automated Notifications: Send unlimited email reminders and SMS notifications (through Twilio Integration) to keep clients informed and prevent last-minute cancellations.
• Calendar Integrations: Automatically sync appointments with Google, Apple, Outlook, or Nextcloud Calendars to avoid scheduling conflicts or double booking.
• Video Conferencing Integrations: Easily connect with your favorite video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet for a smooth and hassle-free meeting experience.
• CRM Integration:  Integrate with FluentCRM to run automation for different booking event triggers and increase your revenue with email marketing.
• Manage Booking Questions:  Easily ask attendees for key details to make their experience more personalized and meaningful.
• Webhook Integration: Use webhooks for instant data sync and workflow automation.
• Payment Integrations: Take secure payment with Stripe or PayPal and offer clients a hassle-free experience.
• Customizable Booking Forms: With FluentForms, you can effortlessly customize your booking process to suit your business perfectly.
• Advanced Availability Management: Set custom hours, date overrides, and buffer times between meetings. 
• Booking Limit: Set buffer time and booking limits like total booking frequency, and total booking duration and control your appointments.
• Team Management: Assign meetings to different team members and coordinate schedules efficiently.
• Multi-Language & Full RTL Support: Offer booking forms and notifications in multiple languages and full RTL support for flawless experiences with global clients.
• Custom Branding: Add your own branding to booking and landing pages to create a consistent experience.
• Insightful Analytics: You can use features to visualize your booking data and trends, helping you track performance and make informed decisions with ease.

Pricing

• Free Plan – Offers limited features
• 1 Site License – $79/year
• 5 Site License – $199/year 
• 50 Site License – $399/year 

Acuity Scheduling

Acuity Scheduling is a great tool for businesses that need to manage appointments with ease. It simplifies appointment management for businesses like fitness studios, workshops, and one-on-one sessions. It automates scheduling, reduces communication hassles, and integrates with Zoom and Google Calendar for seamless coordination. It is ideal for service professionals such as therapists and coaches.

Features

• Group Classes and Workshops: Schedule group events, set class size limits, and allow online bookings.
• Memberships and Subscriptions: Offer recurring services like fitness classes or coaching with membership options.
• Customizable Intake Forms: Gather client information before appointments for better preparation.
• Multiple Locations: Manage multiple locations and staff schedules from one account.
• Payment Integration: Accept payments via Stripe or PayPal, with options for upfront payments or deposits.
• API Access: For businesses needing custom integrations with other software.

Pricing

• Emerging: $16 per month (billed annually)
• Growing: $27 per month (billed annually)
• Powerhouse: $49 per month (billed annually)
• Enterprise: Custom

Calendly 

Calendly is one of the most widely used scheduling platforms globally, trusted by many professionals. It simplifies scheduling by allowing users to share booking links, manage team calendars, and integrate with popular tools. It helps businesses and individuals manage appointment settings without back-and-forth emails.

Features

• Team Scheduling Links: Enables easy collaboration by pulling availability from multiple team members into one booking link.
• Multi-Use Booking Links: Share links for recurring appointments or events.
• Payment Handling: Allows users to accept payments directly through the platform.
• Integrations: Supports a wide range of integrations with tools like Zoom, Slack, Google Calendar, and CRM systems.
• Automated Reminders: Sends email or SMS reminders to reduce no-shows.
• Customizable Event Types: Tailor your booking settings to different types of appointments or meetings.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Unlimited meetings with one event type
• Standard Plan: $10 per seat, per month (billed yearly)
• Teams Plan: $16 per seat, per month  (billed yearly)
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing based on company needs (Starts at $15k/yr)

SimplyBook.me

SimplyBook.me is a flexible online appointment scheduling tool designed for various industries, including beauty, wellness, education, and medical fields. It helps businesses simplify their booking process, manage schedules, and enhance client interactions. With its range of features and customizable options, SimplyBook.me makes it easy to handle appointments efficiently.

Features

• Advance and Recurring Booking: Schedule appointments in advance or set up recurring services. Automated notifications alert clients when new slots become available.
• Mobile and Web Access: Manage bookings on the go with the admin app, and clients can view their booking history and receive notifications through the client app.
• Social Media Integration: Clients can book appointments directly from Facebook, Instagram, and Google My Business.
• Payment Options: Accept payments using popular methods like Stripe, PayPal, Alipay, Skrill, and Mollie.
• Customizable Booking Site: Personalize your booking page with templates, custom messages, appointment deposits, and client intake forms.
• Calendar Sync: Connect with Google, Apple iCloud Calendar, Yahoo, and Outlook calendars.
• Multi-Language Support: Available in 14 languages to accommodate global clients.
• Reporting and Analytics: Generate customizable reports and integrate them with tools like Google Maps, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

Pricing

• Free Plan: €0/month
• Basic Plan: €8.25/month (billed annually)
• Standard Plan: €24.9/month (billed annually)
• Premium Plan: €49.9/month (billed Annually)

YouCanBookme

YouCanBook.me is a privately owned, self-funded software designed to make scheduling effortless for small businesses and individuals. With a wide range of customizable features and seamless integration with popular calendar tools, YouCanBook.me is ideal for users looking for a personalized booking experience. Whether managing your own schedule or coordinating team availability, this tool simplifies the process with ease and efficiency.

Features

• Custom Booking Pages: Personalize booking pages with logos and colors.
• Easy Client Communication: Automatic confirmations, reminders, and rescheduling notifications.
• Data Export and Integration: Export data to .csv and integrate with services through Webhooks and Zapier.
• Syncs with Popular Calendars: Works with Google and Microsoft calendars.
• Mobile-Friendly: Responsive design for managing schedules on mobile devices.
• Security: Password-protected booking pages to keep data safe.
• Book Soon Notification: Schedule in advance or for recurring services with automated notifications.
• Waitlist Feature: Allows customers to join a waitlist and receive automated emails for slot openings.
• Social Media Integration: Allows for bookings through Facebook, Instagram, and Google.
• Mobile Apps: Helps professionals book sessions through downloadable apps.

Pricing

• Free: 0/month
• Individual: $7.20/month
• Professional: $10.40/month
• Teams: $14.40/members/month

Savvycal

SavvyCal is a scheduling platform that introduced the Calendar Overlay approach, allowing users to overlay their calendars with others to find mutual free time slots, simplifying the scheduling process. It’s designed to prioritize intuitive collaboration, making it ideal for one-on-one meetings or team scheduling.

Features

• Calendar Overlay: See your schedule alongside others to find common availability.
• Meeting Polls: Create polls for participants to vote on preferred meeting times.
• Multiple Meeting Types: Set up different meeting types with customized time lengths.
• Team Scheduling: Schedule meetings with multiple team members using a shared link.
• Buffer Times: Set buffer periods between meetings to prevent back-to-back scheduling.
• Time Zone Support: Automatically adjusts for participants in different time zones.
• Custom Scheduling Links: Create personalized scheduling links for various meeting types.
• Integration: Works with Google, Outlook, iCloud, and Zoom.

Pricing

• Free Plan: $0/user/month
• Basic Plan: $12/user/month
• Premium Plan: $20/user/month

Doodle  

Doodle, launched in 2007, has grown into a widely-used scheduling tool, known for its simple approach to organizing group meetings and events. It lets participants vote on the best meeting times through polls and integrates with Google Calendar, iCloud, and Outlook. The free plan offers Zoom and Google Meet links, while the paid plan adds Microsoft Teams, Webex, appointment reminders, and removes ads. Let’s see how Doodle stacks up against Cal.com.

Let’s examine what Doodle has to offer and how it compares to Cal.com.

Features

• Polling: Doodle’s signature feature allows organizers to propose multiple time slots, letting participants vote for their preferred options, and simplifying group scheduling.
• Customizable Booking Pages: Doodle offers some degree of booking page customization, though it’s not as flexible or extensive as Cal.com’s options.
• Ads in Free Version: The free version includes ads, which can detract from the user experience, unlike Cal.com’s ad-free free plan.
• User Interface: While Doodle’s interface has been modernized over the years, Cal.com offers a more streamlined and intuitive UI.
• Calendar Integration: Doodle syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, Office 365, and iCloud, ensuring smooth scheduling across platforms.
• Time Zone Detection & Notifications: Both Doodle and Cal.com automatically adjust for time zones and send reminders to participants, keeping everyone on track.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Includes basic features but comes with ads 
• Pro Plan: $6.95 per user/month (billed annually) 
• Team Plan: $8.95 per user/month (billed annually).
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing is available

What Makes a Great Appointment Scheduling Tool?

If you’ve made it this far, you might be unsure about selecting the best tool among these great options. Choosing the right scheduling tool can significantly improve how you manage your appointments. To make your life easier here’s what to look for in a top scheduling tool:

• Essential Features: Find a tool that handles scheduling, sends reminders, and works well with other tools you use. FluentBooking covers all these needs, making scheduling simple and smooth.
• User-Friendly Interface: Choose a tool that is straightforward and easy to navigate. You don’t want to waste time learning how to use it. FluentBooking’s simple design helps you and your clients book appointments quickly and easily.
• Seamless Integration: Make sure the tool works well with calendar or payment integrations. FluentBooking integrates easily with tools like Google Calendar and Stripe, so you can manage your online meetings without any problems.
• Affordable Pricing: Consider the cost and how it fits your budget. FluentBooking offers a strong free plan and reasonable paid options, giving you good value for your money.
• Helpful Support: Look for a tool that provides good customer support. FluentBooking is known for its helpful support team, always ready to assist you.
• User Reviews: Check reviews to see what other users think. FluentBooking has positive feedback from users, highlighting its effectiveness and support.

Final Verdict: Which Cal.com Alternative is the Best for You?

Here’s the honest truth: while every Cal.com alternative brings something to the table, FluentBooking stands out for its all-in-one features and simplicity. It’s like the personal assistant you didn’t know you needed—smart, reliable, and super easy to use.

FluentBooking stands out with easy integrations, custom forms, automatic reminders, secure payments, and advanced scheduling. It manages booking, syncs calendars, and ensures efficient, client-friendly service every time.

For a closer look at how FluentBooking stacks up against Cal.com, check our detailed comparison.

If you want a tool that adapts to your needs and simplifies your life, FluentBooking is definitely worth considering!

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about Cal.com alternatives? We are here to help!