7 best Calendly alternatives in 2026 (free and paid)
Short answer: The most common reasons people leave Calendly are the one-event-type limit on the free plan and per-seat pricing ($10 to $24 per seat per month). The best alternatives are TidyCal for solo pros who want to get paid, Cal.com for developers and open source, Acuity for appointment businesses with intake forms, and SavvyCal for sales and client calls.
Yes, this list is written by TidyCal, so we put ourselves first. We also list where each tool beats us, so you can pick the right one.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TidyCal | Yes, unlimited booking types | $29 one time | Coaches, consultants, solo pros |
| Cal.com | Yes, unlimited event types | About $15/seat/mo (teams) | Developers, open source, custom setups |
| Acuity Scheduling | No, 7-day trial | About $20/mo | Salons, studios, intake-heavy appointments |
| SavvyCal | No | About $12/mo | Sales and client calls |
| Google Calendar appointment schedules | Yes, basic | Google Workspace plans | People already in Google Workspace |
| YouCanBookMe | Yes, limited | About $9/mo | Simple booking pages |
| Square Appointments | Yes | About $29/mo | In-person service businesses using Square |
| Calendly (for reference) | Yes, 1 event type | $10/seat/mo yearly | Sales teams, CRM-heavy workflows |
Competitor prices are starting prices listed by each vendor as of September 2026 and can change. Check each vendor's pricing page before you buy.
1. TidyCal
TidyCal is a scheduling app from AppSumo used by 150,000+ people. The free plan includes unlimited booking types, one calendar connection and paid bookings through Stripe or PayPal. Lifetime plans cost $29 (individual) or $79 (agency, 4 seats) one time. Pro is $12 per month or $99 per year.
Why people switch from Calendly: sell session packages, client subscriptions and coupons on every plan; get a booking website with your bio and reviews; import your Calendly event types in one click.
Where it falls short: fewer CRM integrations than Calendly (no Salesforce), and team scheduling needs Agency Lifetime or Pro. Stripe bookings carry a 1% platform fee except on Pro.
2. Cal.com
Open-source scheduling you can self-host or use hosted. The free individual plan includes unlimited event types and payments.
Best for: technical teams who want APIs, self-hosting and routing. Tradeoff: more settings to learn than simpler tools.
3. Acuity Scheduling
Squarespace's scheduling tool, built for appointment businesses. Strong on intake forms, packages, gift certificates and multiple staff calendars.
Best for: salons, wellness studios, classes. Tradeoff: no free plan, and it costs more per month than most tools on this list.
4. SavvyCal
Known for letting invitees overlay their own calendar on your availability, which makes picking a time faster.
Best for: consultants and sales reps with lots of 1:1 calls. Tradeoff: no free plan.
5. Google Calendar appointment schedules
Built into Google Calendar. Good enough if you just need people to grab an open slot.
Best for: people already paying for Google Workspace. Tradeoff: limited branding and workflows.
6. YouCanBookMe
A long-running, simple booking page tool with a limited free plan.
Best for: basic booking with light customization. Tradeoff: fewer ways to sell your time (packages, subscriptions).
7. Square Appointments
Scheduling from Square, the point-of-sale company. Built for in-person services with no-show fees and cards on file.
Best for: businesses already using Square for payments. Tradeoff: built around a physical location, less suited to online calls.
How to choose
- You charge for your time (coaching, consulting, lessons): TidyCal or Acuity.
- You want free and unlimited: TidyCal or Cal.com.
- You have a developer and want control: Cal.com.
- You run a sales team on Salesforce: stay on Calendly Teams.
FAQ
What is the best free Calendly alternative?
TidyCal and Cal.com both have free plans with unlimited booking types and paid bookings. Calendly's free plan allows one event type.
What is the cheapest Calendly alternative?
TidyCal. The free plan costs $0, and the Individual Lifetime plan is $29 one time. One year of Calendly Standard is $120 billed yearly.
Can I move my Calendly event types to TidyCal?
Yes. TidyCal's Calendly integration imports your event types as booking types.
Comparing just the two? Read TidyCal vs Calendly.
Get booked. Get paid.
Free plan, unlimited booking types, paid bookings through Stripe or PayPal. Set up in about 5 minutes.
No credit card required.