Alternatives · Calendar
BusyCal alternatives
BusyCal compared with 10 alternatives: Fantastical, Apple Calendar, Calendars by Readdle, Dato, Notion Calendar and 5 more.
BusyCal has a free plan. Paid plans start at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99. 7 of the 10 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
10 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| BusyCalThis tool | Free plan · from $49.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Fantastical | Free plan · from $4.75/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Apple Calendar | Free | Free | Web, macOS, iOS |
| Calendars by Readdle | Free plan · from $19.99/yr | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Dato | Free trial · from $18 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
| Notion Calendar | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Calendar 366 | Free plan · from $19.99/yr | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| CalenGoo | Free trial · from $5.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Itsycal | Free | Free | macOS |
| Timepage | Free trial · from $3.99/mo | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| Pocket Informant | Free plan · from $3.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
How each one differs from BusyCal
- Free plan · from $4.75/mo
Fantastical
Calendar and tasks app for Apple devices and Windows
- Fantastical starts at $4.75 per month, billed annually ($6.99 billed monthly). BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- Only Fantastical lists a Windows app.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Fantastical also covers templates and booking links.
- BusyCal also covers menu bar app.
Suits: People with Google, iCloud and Microsoft calendars who want them in one app
- Free
Apple Calendar
Free built-in calendar for iPhone, iPad, Mac and iCloud.com
- Apple Calendar is free. BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- Only Apple Calendar lists a web app.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- BusyCal also covers menu bar app.
Suits: People with an iPhone, iPad or Mac who want a calendar at no cost
- Free plan · from $19.99/yr
Calendars by Readdle
Calendar and task planner for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
- Calendars by Readdle starts at $19.99 per year, or $3.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchases). BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Calendars by Readdle also covers habit tracking.
- BusyCal also covers menu bar app.
Suits: People on iPhone, iPad and Mac who want events and tasks in one planner
- Free trial · from $18 one-time
Dato
Mac menu bar calendar with world clocks and meeting alerts
- Dato starts at $18 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store. BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- BusyCal has a free plan. Dato does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only BusyCal lists an iOS app.
- BusyCal also covers tasks and natural-language input.
Suits: Mac users who want their schedule one click away in the menu bar
- Free
Notion Calendar
Free calendar app that connects to Notion databases
- Notion Calendar is free. BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- Only Notion Calendar lists a web app.
- Only Notion Calendar lists Windows and Android apps.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Notion Calendar also covers booking links.
Suits: Notion users who want database deadlines next to their meetings
- Free plan · from $19.99/yr
Calendar 366
Calendar and task app for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac
- Calendar 366 starts at $19.99 per year for Pro on the App Store. BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
Suits: People who keep everything on Apple devices and want events and tasks in one app
- Free trial · from $5.99 one-time
CalenGoo
Highly configurable calendar and task app sold as a one-time purchase
- CalenGoo starts at $5.99 one-time for Android; $6.99 for iOS; $49.99 for the desktop app. BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- BusyCal has a free plan. CalenGoo does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only CalenGoo lists Android, Windows and Linux apps.
- CalenGoo also covers templates.
- BusyCal also covers menu bar app.
Suits: Google Calendar users who want more views and settings than Google's own apps
- Free
Itsycal
Free, tiny menu bar calendar for the Mac
- Itsycal is free. BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- Only BusyCal lists an iOS app.
- Itsycal is open source, according to its own site.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- BusyCal also covers tasks and natural-language input.
Suits: Mac users who want a quick month view without opening a calendar app
- Free trial · from $3.99/mo
Timepage
Calendar app for Apple devices with a timeline and month heatmap
- Timepage starts at $3.99 per month, or $19.99 per year (US App Store). BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- BusyCal has a free plan. Timepage does not, though it has a free trial.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- BusyCal also covers tasks and menu bar app.
Suits: People who use only Apple devices and want a calendar across all of them
- Free plan · from $3.99/mo
Pocket Informant
Calendar, tasks, projects and notes in one personal organizer
- Pocket Informant starts at $3.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99.
- Only Pocket Informant lists a web app.
- Only Pocket Informant lists an Android app.
- Only Pocket Informant lists a browser extension.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People who want calendar, tasks, projects and notes in a single app
Limits worth knowing in BusyCal
- Mac and iOS only. The iPhone and iPad app is a separate $9.99 purchase and is not covered by the Mac license or subscription.
- A direct license includes 18 months of updates. The app keeps working after that, but newer versions need a paid renewal.
- The Mac App Store version is sold by subscription only ($4.99 a month or $39.99 a year); the one-time license is sold on BusyMac's own store.
- The App Store listing does not detail the Free Edition's limits, and BusyMac's licensing FAQ still says the App Store apps need an active subscription.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to BusyCal?
The alternatives to BusyCal in this directory are Fantastical, Apple Calendar, Calendars by Readdle, Dato, Notion Calendar, Calendar 366, CalenGoo, Itsycal, Timepage and Pocket Informant. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with BusyCal.
Is there a free alternative to BusyCal?
Yes. Apple Calendar, Notion Calendar and Itsycal are free to use. Fantastical, Calendars by Readdle, Calendar 366 and Pocket Informant have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which BusyCal alternatives work on Windows?
The BusyCal listing does not include a Windows app. Fantastical, Notion Calendar and CalenGoo list one.
Which BusyCal alternatives work on Linux?
The BusyCal listing does not include a Linux app. CalenGoo lists one.
Is there an open-source alternative to BusyCal?
Itsycal is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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