It can become quite overwhelming trying to juggle all the day-to-day aspects of both your professional and personal life. Luckily, a feature-rich calendar service can come in handy in these situations. And given how conveniently you can access these services from almost any of your devices, they can add great value to your life if used correctly.
These calendar apps are digital tools designed to help users manage their schedules and stay organized. They provide a convenient way to keep track of important dates, events, and appointments, while also offering features such as reminders, to-do lists, and synchronization services with other devices. And among these services, Calendly and Google Calendar are two of the most popular.
To briefly answer the debate of Calendly vs Google Calendar – “Calendly is a more focused and user-friendly scheduling tool for professional use, whereas Google Calendar is a good option for all types of people, regardless of whether you are using it for professional or personal reasons.”
To help further differentiate between the two, in this article we are going to pit Calendly against Google Calendar and see how they stack up against each other.
Calendly vs Google Calendar: An Overview
We look into an overview of both Calendly and Google Calendar to get a better idea of what exactly we can get from both:
| Calendly | Google Calendar | |
| 1 | You can do appointment scheduling, automated scheduling, and availability management | You can only manage availability |
| 2 | Have proper mobile access | Does not have proper mobile access |
| 3 | It provides you with reminders, reporting, statistics, and resource scheduling | It does not provide you with reminders, reporting, statistics, and resource scheduling |
| 4 | Does not include a room booking system | It includes a room booking system |
| 5 | It includes third-party integration | Does not include third-party integration |
| 6 | Email/Help Desk and chat facility | Does not have Email/Help Desk and chat facility |
Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Scheduling Platform
You may have your own set of preferences when it comes to choosing a calendar service. But there are a few things that you must consider before deciding which scheduling platform you want to engage with:
- User needs: At first you need to determine your requirements. Ask yourself some basic questions – What are your specific scheduling needs? How many people do you want to share your schedule with? What type of appointments or events need to be organized? What level of customization is required?
- Integration: What other tools and platforms do the organization use that can be preferable for you? Does the scheduling platform integrate with these tools? If not, how will the integration be handled?
- User interface: Is the scheduling platform user-friendly and easy to use? Does it provide a good user experience for both the scheduler and the attendees?
- Automation: Does the scheduling platform provide automated reminders, notifications, and other alerts to help streamline the scheduling process?
- Customization: Does the scheduling platform provide customization options, such as custom branding and color themes, to match the organization’s specific needs and brand image?
- Reporting and analytics: Does the scheduling platform provide reporting and analytics features to help the organization make data-driven decisions?
- Cost: How much does the scheduling platform cost? Are there any hidden charges or fees? Is the cost in line with the organization’s budget?
- Customer support: What level of customer support does the scheduling platform provide? Is there a knowledge base, email support, or customer care available?
- Security: Is the scheduling platform secure? Are sensitive data and information protected?
Key Features of Calendly and Google Calendar
Calendly and Google Calendar are both popular scheduling tools that help individuals and organizations manage their appointments and events. Here are some of the key features of each tool:
Integrations:
Calendly
Calendly can be integrated with a variety of tools and platforms to provide a seamless scheduling experience. Some popular integrations include Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Salesforce, Zapier, Slack, Hubspot, and more. The integrations allow users to manage their appointments and events from within the programs they already use, and can help automate and streamline workflows. Calendly also provides a robust API that allows developers to integrate the tool into custom applications and workflows. The integration features of Calendly help make it a multiskilled and powerful scheduling tool for individuals and organizations.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar has the ability to integrate with a variety of other Google services and tools to provide a comprehensive scheduling solution. The integrations allow users to easily schedule appointments and events, keep track of their schedule, and manage their to-do lists from within their Google accounts. Google Calendar also provides a robust API that allows developers to integrate the tool into custom applications and workflows. The integration features of Google Calendar help make it a powerful and versatile scheduling tool for individuals and organizations.
Customization:
Calendly offers a variety of customization options to help users make the tool their own. These options include custom branding, color themes, custom domains, and custom email and SMS reminders. Users can also create custom event types and set specific availability, time slots, and duration for each type. These customization options allow users to personalize Calendly to match their specific needs and brand, making it a versatile scheduling app.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar allows users to customize their calendars to match their personal style and preference. Customization options include selecting a color theme, adding custom background images, and customizing event colors. Google Calendar also integrates with Google Drive, allowing users to attach files and documents to events. Additionally, users can create custom event types and set specific availability, time slots, and duration for each type. These customization options help make Google Calendar a flexible and versatile scheduling tool for individuals and organizations.
Sharing and Collaboration:
Calendly
Calendly offers a variety of sharing and collaboration features to help users schedule appointments and events with others. Users can allow people to book appointments directly with them by sharing their Calendly link or schedule page with them. Calendly can also sync with popular tools like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Slack, allowing users to manage their appointments and events from within the programs they already use. The sharing and collaboration features of Calendly help make it a versatile and powerful scheduling tool for individuals and organizations.
Google Calendar
Google Calendar allows users to share their calendars with other people and collaborate on events. When you share a calendar, you can specify the level of access others have, such as viewing events only or creating and editing events. You can also add and view multiple calendars, including shared calendars, in a single view to help you stay organized. Sharing a calendar makes it simple to organize events with others and helps prevent double booking or clashing schedules. Also, you can receive email notifications when events are added, updated, or canceled, ensuring that you’re always on top of your schedule.
User Interface:
Calendly
Calendly’s UI is designed for ease of use, with a clean and simple main dashboard showing upcoming events and options to create or edit them. Customizable availability and scheduling options, like one-on-one appointments and recurring events, are available. Integrations with tools like Google Calendar help keep schedules organized. The platform prioritizes ease of use for a seamless scheduling experience.
Google Calendar
The user interface for Google Calendar offers a centralized view of your calendar along with tools for managing, creating, and sharing events. The interface displays multiple calendars in one view, simplifying organization. You can customize event details, set reminders, and receive notifications for updates. Sharing your calendar with others allows for effortless collaboration on schedule. Google Calendar’s UI prioritizes clarity and convenience for its users.
Pros and Cons of Using Calendly:
Just like any other service, Calendly also has its pros and cons. Calendly is a powerful and convenient scheduling tool, but it may not be the right fit for every individual. Let’s dive into the details of what pros and cons it has:
| Pros of Calendly | Cons of Calendly |
| You can save time by avoiding back-and-forth email exchanges that come with scheduling appointments. | It does not have all the features that businesses with more complex schedules require. |
| Calendly offers a variety of scheduling options, including one-on-one appointments, group events, and recurring events. | Calendly requires an internet connection since it is a cloud-based tool. It can be a hassle to schedule events if your internet is down. |
| Calendly integrates with several other tools and platforms, ensuring that your schedule stays organized and up-to-date. | While Calendly offers a free version, its premium features come at a cost, which can be a drawback for those with limited budgets. |
Pros and Cons of Using Google Calendar:
Despite being one of the top 5 calendar platforms, Google Calendar is also not perfect by any means. Here are some of the pros and cons of Google Calendar:
| Pros of Google Calendar | Cons of Google Calendar |
| Google Calendar is a cloud-based platform, allowing users to access their calendars from anywhere with an internet connection. | Since Google Calendar is a Google product, there may be concerns about privacy and the security of user data. |
| It allows multiple users to view and edit a shared calendar. | It requires an internet connection to access its contents, which can be bothersome for people needing to access it any time. |
| It offers a range of customization options, such as different color schemes, the ability to add images and custom events, and more. | It does not allow you to integrate with any other applications other than Google applications. |
| Provides reminders and notifications for upcoming events, helping users to stay on track and never miss an important event. | The interface can be confusing for those who are not used to it. |
| Google Calendar is available on multiple platforms, including web, iOS, and Android, making it accessible from most devices. | You will need different tools to keep track of your to-do-list because it does not have a built-in task management feature. |
Final Verdict
- Calendly vs Google Calendar: Which One is Better?
The short answer is – “If scheduling appointments and meetings is a key part of your workflow, Calendly is a better choice as it is designed specifically for that purpose. However, if you need a more comprehensive scheduling and time management tool, then Google Calendar is a better option. Ultimately, the choice between Calendly and Google Calendar will depend on your individual needs and preferences.”
