2024’s Best Calendar Apps For Each Type Of Productive People

Lukasz Grzywacz
5 min readJun 2, 2024

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In our increasingly busy lives both at work and personal, having the right calendar app can make a world of difference. With a plethora of options available, each catering to different needs and preferences, it’s essential to choose the one that aligns best with your lifestyle. Here, I’ll compare some of the top calendar apps: Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Fantastical, Calendar 5, BusyCal, Timepage by Moleskine Studio, Notion Calendar, and Calendar 366. I’ll also provide a conclusion on which app suits different types of users.

Notion Calendar

Free to use with an optional subscription

notion.so

Pros:

  • Part of the versatile Notion productivity suite.
  • Highly customizable and flexible.
  • Integration with tasks, databases, and notes.
  • Collaborative features for team use.
  • Free version is enough for most users

Cons:

  • Can be complex to set up initially.
  • Lacks some traditional calendar features.

Ideal for: Users who need an all-in-one productivity tool that integrates calendars with tasks, notes, and databases.

Apple Calendar

Free to use

apple-calendar-image
apple.com

Pros:

  • Seamless integration with Apple devices.
  • Intuitive interface.
  • Siri integration for easy event creation.
  • Syncs across all Apple devices.

Cons:

  • Limited customization options.
  • Only available on Apple devices.

Ideal for: Apple ecosystem users who prefer simplicity and seamless device integration.

Google Calendar

Free to use

Own screenshot of Google Calendar

Pros:

  • Cross-platform compatibility.
  • Integration with Google services.
  • Easy sharing and collaboration features.
  • Powerful search functionality.

Cons:

  • Lacks advanced features like natural language processing.
  • The interface can feel cluttered for some users.

Ideal for: Users who rely on Google services and need a robust, collaborative calendar tool.

Fantastical

Subscription model 4,75$/month or Free version with limited functions

flexbits.com

Pros:

  • Excellent natural language processing.
  • Beautiful and user-friendly interface.
  • Integration with multiple calendar services.
  • Advanced event and task management features.
  • Free version but with limited functions

Cons:

  • Subscription is required for full features.
  • Only available on Apple devices.

Ideal for: Apple users who want a feature-rich, aesthetically pleasing calendar with advanced functionalities.

Calendar 5

Buy to use model costs 29.99$

readdle.com

Pros:

  • Task manager integration.
  • Offline functionality.
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Supports natural language input.

Cons:

  • Lacks some advanced features found in other apps.
  • Only available on Apple devices

Ideal for: iOS users looking for a simple yet effective calendar with offline capabilities and task management.

BusyCal

Buy to use model costs 49.99$

30 days free trial available

busymac.com

Pros:

  • Highly customizable.
  • Robust set of features for power users.
  • Integration with numerous calendar services.
  • Advanced to-do and task management.

Cons:

  • Interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
  • Only available on Apple devices.

Ideal for: Power users within the Apple ecosystem who need a highly customizable and feature-rich calendar.

Timepage by Moleskine Studio

Subscription model $2.49 USD monthly, $14.99 USD yearly

moleskinestudio.com

Pros:

  • Beautiful, minimalist design.
  • Unique timeline view.
  • Intuitive and easy to use.
  • Weather forecasts and travel time estimates.

Cons:

  • Subscription is required for full features.
  • Limited to iOS devices.

Ideal for: Users who appreciate a beautifully designed, minimalist interface and are willing to pay for premium features.

Calendar 366

Mac Version 14.99$

IOS Version 9.99$

nspektor.com

Pros:

  • Lightweight and minimalist.
  • Natural language input.
  • Customizable interface.
  • Affordable one-time purchase.

Cons:

  • Limited advanced features.
  • Only available on Apple devices.

Ideal for: Minimalists who need a straightforward, no-frills calendar app and prefer a one-time purchase over subscriptions.

Conclusion

Choosing the right calendar app depends heavily on your specific needs and preferences:

  • Apple Ecosystem Users: Apple Calendar, Fantastical, BusyCal, and Calendar 366 are excellent choices, with BusyCal and Fantastical offering more advanced features for power users.
  • Google Service Users: Google Calendar is the best option for its seamless integration and collaboration features.
  • Minimalists: Calendar 366 and Timepage stand out for their clean, minimalist design and ease of use.
  • Productivity Enthusiasts: Notion Calendar provides a comprehensive productivity suite with customizable calendar capabilities.
  • Offline Users: Calendar 5 offers solid offline functionality with task management integration.

Ultimately, the best calendar app is the one that fits seamlessly into your daily routine and meets your specific requirements. Whether you prioritize integration, design, functionality, or simplicity, there’s a calendar app on this list that will suit your needs perfectly.

My choice for now is Apple Calendar on Mac and Fantastical on IOS (because Apple Calendar on IOS has a bad month view, how to read these grey dots?). But I’m thinking about buying Calendar 366 both for IOS and Mac because of its minimalist design, features from Fantastical and one-time payment. Timepage is also an interesting proposition, but the calendar subscription model does not appeal to me.

Which calendar will be your choice? Leave a comment below.

More tips here -> My Twitter

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Lukasz Grzywacz
Lukasz Grzywacz

Written by Lukasz Grzywacz

Lukasz Grzywacz - DataTechFlow Technology | Data | Productivity | Lifestyle

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