TidyCal vs Calendly: Which one is better for you

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a team leader driving innovation, you know every interaction counts, and every second shapes success in your field. The level of productivity and client satisfaction you achieve usually comes down to how you manage your time and appointments.

Modern scheduling platforms can be very helpful in this regard. Both TidyCal and Calendly are time and booking management solutions that simplify meetings and create a frictionless experience for clients, partners, and colleagues.

However, each platform offers a distinct approach to solving the timeless challenge of efficiency scheduling. Selecting the right fit is less about picking a winner and more about finding a system that works well with your workflow. Our TidyCal vs Calendly comparison guide will help you make this choice.

Feature comparison table 

	TidyCal	Calendly
Booking Types	Group and paid bookings	Group, one-on-one, recurring bookings
Calendar Integrations	Google, Apple, and Outlook calendar (Up to 10 calendar connections in the Individual Plan and 25 in Agency Plan)	Six calendars, including Google, Microsoft, and Outlook
Payment Processing	Via PayPal and Stripe	Via PayPal and Stripe
Team Scheduling and Round-Robin Options	Collective team meetings and Round-Robin meetings	Collective team meetings and Round-Robin meetings
Automated Reminders and Confirmations	Custom	Custom
Automated Reminders and Confirmations	Manually personalized reminders and confirmation emails for attendees in the Individual and Agency plans	Automated reminders through text and email; meeting confirmation and cancellation policy
Analytics and Reporting	Booking type analytics	Team scheduling analytics insights along with Meta Pixel and Google Analytics reporting
Customization and Branding	TidyCal branding on booking pages (reduced in Individual and Agency plans)	Booking page and Calendly widget (on website) customization
Integration Ecosystem	Basic: Google, Apple Calendar, Office 365 Advanced: Zoom, API, Zapier, Teams	Basic and advanced integrations with over 100 apps; Zapier support for connecting with 7,000+ apps
Pricing Model	Lifetime single payment	Subscription (monthly or annual)

TidyCal overview

TidyCal is a simple scheduling software that does the job without too many bells and whistles. It’s designed for a quick and easy setup so that you can get started as soon as possible. More importantly, it’s an affordable option, which makes it ideal for small businesses or freelancers who need a straightforward solution that won’t break the bank.

Unlike most other tools that follow a subscription-based payment model, TidyCal has a single lifetime payment option. Alternatively, users with limited needs can opt for the free plan that comes with a booking page, custom availability, the option to embed on any website, translation, date polls, and more.

Key features

Although simple, TidyCal meets most users’ scheduling needs with its capabilities. Some notable features of TidyCal are as follows.

One-time lifetime payment

TidyCal stands apart with its one-time lifetime payment model, offering lasting value without the burden of monthly fees. For a single upfront cost, users gain access to scheduling features for life. It’s a future-ready approach that empowers individuals and teams to focus on growth, not recurring expenses.

Unlimited meetings and bookings, multiple calendar connections

TidyCal supports unlimited meetings and bookings, which helps you maintain momentum as your business scales. It also connects with multiple calendars, depending on the plan type. 

The free plan only allows you to connect one calendar. However, the Individual Plan supports 10 calendar connections, while the Agency Plan offers 25 calendar connections. So everyone on the team can synchronize their schedules and availability.

Customizable booking pages in 30+ languages

TidyCal also allows you to customize booking pages based on your audience. You can further translate or localize the pages for 30+ regions.

As for TidyCal’s branding, it’s much reduced in the Individual and Agency plans. However, free plan users will see TidyCal’s branding on their booking pages. Even better, you can list your booking page in TidyCal’s public directory to give it more visibility and attract potential clients.

Group and paid bookings

You can create events with multiple slots through TidyCal. These bookings are ideal for solopreneurs or teams that want to create group sessions or classes. Similarly, the tool lets you offer paid bookings and accept payment through Stripe or PayPal. 

Custom availability and reminders

TidyCal gives you complete control over when and how you meet by letting you set custom availability windows. You can define your ideal working hours and design a schedule that aligns with your energy and goals.

Plus, you can personalize the timing of attendee reminders. For example, you may want to send reminders two hours before a meeting, or you may prefer to send them the day before. The reminder email’s content can be customized, too.

Integrates with Google, Office 365, iCal, Zoom, and Google Meet

Built for a connected world, TidyCal integrates with leading tools like Google Calendar, Office 365, iCal, Zoom, and Google Meet. These integrations make it easy to sync meetings across platforms and create a seamless experience for you and your invitees.

Simple analytics and exportable booking data

TidyCal doesn’t go all out with analytics but provides enough information for you to understand your meeting patterns. You can view analytics for every booking type (paid or unpaid) and export the data in CSV for your records. The feature is useful for businesses that offer consulting services or track billable hours and need to have a record of their meetings and bookings.

Limitations

While TidyCal delivers the essentials for easy scheduling, it may feel limiting for users who need more sophisticated workflows. Features like custom automation, advanced team scheduling options, and deeply customizable booking pages are still beyond its current offering.

Compared to platforms like Calendly, which supports complex workflows and dynamic team collaboration, TidyCal focuses more on keeping things simple. It also has fewer native integrations. However, it does integrate with Zapier, so you can expand its capabilities by connecting it to other apps and tools.

Calendly overview

Calendly is an advanced scheduling tool trusted by over 20 million professionals. Unlike TidyCal, its unique selling point is its ability to handle complex scheduling workflows and support team collaboration. The tool also has three paid plans with a monthly or annual subscription model to let you scale according to your needs.

Key features

Calendly offers a lot more features than TidyCal. Most of them are also more advanced compared to the latter.

Multiple event types, groups, and round-robin scheduling

Calendly empowers users to set up multiple event types, such as one-on-one meetings, group sessions, collective availability, and round-robin scheduling, within a single platform. Users can also schedule unlimited event types and connect multiple calendars.

Deep integrations

Calendly supports an extensive integration network, connecting seamlessly with popular calendars, video conferencing tools, CRMs, and collaboration platforms. Some of its major integrations include Google, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Office 365 Calendar, Zoom, Salesforce, Google Meet, Hubspot, Mailchimp, and Zapier.

You can use Stripe and PayPal for payment processing, while custom webhooks allow you to access Calendly data in real time. Plus, you can connect to Power Automate and Microsoft Dynamics 365 to keep records up to date in the Enterprise Plan.

Jotform’s Calendly integration

Aside from its regular integrations, Calendly also integrates with Jotform, a popular online form builder with AI Agent support. With this integration, you can embed Calendly scheduling directly into your Jotform forms. These Calendly forms give you the ability to schedule meetings and appointments without leaving the form experience.

Every confirmed booking automatically syncs to your connected calendar. So, you save time on manual follow-ups.

The integration also offers customizable features, such as colors and sizing. You can also apply custom CSS for a fully branded look. The conditional logic and prefill options further let you personalize the booking process based on user inputs.

Since Jotform submissions automatically generate Calendly events, you can reduce the risks of error that come with manual entry. So, this integration supports your time management strategies and streamlines appointment scheduling by automating event creation and syncing appointments with your calendars.

Centralized data collection and scheduling

Calendly helps you bring data and scheduling into one streamlined flow, reducing the friction between capturing information and confirming meetings. When combined with Jotform’s powerful form-building capabilities, this connection becomes even stronger. You can collect client details, process requests, and schedule appointments from a unified platform.

Personalized booking experiences

Unlike TidyCal, Calendly supports custom branding on booking pages in all its plans (including the free one). You can also remove Calendly branding altogether in all paid plans.

Advanced team scheduling and Admin Controls

With advanced admin controls, you can organize teams into groups and assign admins. These admins can create and manage team-wide event templates for a unified experience. Plus, built-in analytics and insights offer a deep view into team scheduling patterns that leaders can use to optimize workflows for better collaboration.

Automation reminders and follow-ups

Calendly helps you go beyond simple scheduling by automating reminders and follow-ups. You can set up automatic email or text notifications to confirm meetings, send timely reminders, or even follow up after the appointment.

Mobile app and browser extension

When you’re on the move or working across multiple tabs, you can set availability or share booking links through Calendly’s browser extension or mobile apps. The mobility allows you to stay productive, irrespective of how you’re working.

Limitations

While Calendly has more features, it comes at a higher cost, especially for teams that need security add-ons and premium features like enhanced admin controls. For businesses watching their budgets, the pricing structure can feel like a barrier to accessing the full feature set.

Also, because Calendly offers so much customization and control, new users may experience a steep learning curve when setting up complex scheduling flows.

Ideal use cases

Our Calendly vs TidyCal comparison shows that both tools have their strengths. Their suitability for different teams depends on certain use cases and requirements.

TidyCal

TidyCal is a great option for freelancers and small businesses that need a no-frills, cost-effective scheduling tool. Its one-time lifetime payment model offers unbeatable value for users who don’t want to pay every month or year.

For those who don’t require complex features, TidyCal’s simple interface covers essential functionalities like custom availability, manual booking approvals, and integration with popular calendars. Its free plan provides a solid starting point for individuals, and the affordable paid plans offer a range of options for teams with slightly more advanced needs.

Calendly

Calendly is better for teams handling more complex workflows. Its extensive feature set includes advanced automation, security add-ons, detailed analytics, and robust integrations with over 100 apps. So, it’s a suitable choice for growing businesses or enterprises that need advanced team features and integrations.

Speaking of integrations, Calendly is also a good pick for organizations that require booking integration with sales, CRM, marketing, or email tools. The centralized admin controls further seal the deal for teams with tight collaboration needs.

Conclusion

To sum up our TidyCal vs Calendly comparison, both tools have reliable scheduling solutions, but they cater to different needs. The former is straightforward, simple, affordable, and small-team-friendly. On the other hand, Calendly packs in more advanced features, integrations, analytics, team collaboration tools, and scalability.

It’s on you to assess your needs when deciding between the two. If you’re a solopreneur or a small business looking for a budget-friendly solution, TidyCal is your go-to.

However, if you want more control over your workflows, Calendly is a good choice. Its Jotform integration further lets you automate appointment flows for a seamless experience across the board.