Calendly is the most recognized scheduling tool, but its paid plans and limited customization leave room for competitors. Whether you need open source flexibility, better design, or a one time purchase, these alternatives are worth considering.
| Feature | Calendly | Cal.com | SavvyCal | TidyCal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | 1 event type | Unlimited (individual) | Limited | 1 booking type |
| Custom Branding | Paid only | Yes | Paid only | Yes (lifetime) |
| Group Scheduling | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (Doodle's specialty) |
| Self Hosting | No | Yes | No | No |
| Payment Collection | Stripe, PayPal | Stripe | No | Stripe |
| Calendar Overlay | No | No | Yes (SavvyCal) | No |
Open source scheduling infrastructure with maximum customization.
Fully open source with self hosting option and API first design
Scheduling tool that lets invitees overlay their calendar.
Calendar overlay lets recipients see their availability alongside yours
Simple scheduling tool with a lifetime deal from AppSumo.
One time payment with no monthly fees ever
AI scheduling assistant that optimizes your entire calendar.
AI automatically finds the best time for meetings, habits, and focus blocks
Group scheduling made simple with polling and time suggestions.
The easiest way to find a time that works for everyone through polling
Calendly's free plan limits you to just one event type, pushing you to paid plans quickly.
Customization options are limited unless you upgrade to Professional at $12 per month.
Some users find Calendly's booking page design generic and hard to brand match.
Cal.com is free for individuals with unlimited event types and bookings. The open source version can be self hosted at no cost. Team features and hosted enterprise plans have pricing, but solo users get a genuinely free and full featured scheduling tool.
TidyCal is an excellent value at $29 one time for solo schedulers who need basic booking pages. It covers core scheduling needs without monthly fees. Power users who need team scheduling or complex routing may outgrow it, but for most solopreneurs it is perfect.
Cal.com and SavvyCal both offer strong team scheduling features. Cal.com is better for technical teams who want customization and self hosting. SavvyCal is better for client facing teams who want a polished, recipient friendly booking experience.
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