BusyCal vs Pocket Informant
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
BusyCal
Customizable calendar and task app for Mac and iPhone
Pocket Informant
Calendar, tasks, projects and notes in one personal organizer
Where they differ
- BusyCal starts at $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99. Pocket Informant starts at $3.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- 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.
- BusyCal also covers menu bar app.
- Pocket Informant also covers notes and templates.
At a glance
| BusyCal | Pocket Informant | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $49.99 one-time for Mac, or $39.99 per year on the Mac App Store; iOS app $9.99 | $3.99 per month, or $29.99 per year |
| Free plan | The Mac App Store version has a Free Edition for non-subscribers that covers essential calendaring. The listing does not spell out which premium features it leaves out. | Free version on iOS and Android: essential calendar features using the calendars already on the device. No tasks, projects, contacts, sync services or customization. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of the full Mac app, from the direct download or the Mac App Store | A trial of the full version comes with the yearly subscription: 14 days per the vendor's site, 7 days per the App Store listing. |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Beehive Innovations FZE | Fanatic Software (Complete XRM, Inc.) |
| Price read from | busymac.com | pocketinformant.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
BusyCal
- Mac users who want fine control over how their calendar looks
- People who prefer a one-time license to a subscription
- Anyone juggling iCloud, Google, Microsoft 365 and CalDAV accounts
Pocket Informant
- People who want calendar, tasks, projects and notes in a single app
- Task management in the GTD or Franklin Covey style
- Users who move between iPhone, Android, Mac and a web browser
Worth knowing
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.
Pocket Informant
- The free version is a calendar only. Tasks, projects, contacts, sync services and customization need the subscription.
- The Mac app is a separate $49.99 purchase, and the web app works through an Informant Sync account.
- There is no Windows app. Windows is covered by a $29.99 Outlook add-in that also needs an Informant Sync subscription.
- Trial length is stated differently by source: 14 days on the vendor's site and 7 days on the App Store listing.
Key features
BusyCal
- Views you can reshape
- Day, Week, Month, Year planner and List views, with control over weeks per month, days per week, fonts, colors and density, plus a sidebar or floating Info Panel.
- Natural language quick entry
- Type a phrase such as "Lunch with Joe next Tuesday at 12:30" to create an event or task, with a live preview of the title, time and location. Several languages are supported.
- Tasks on the calendar
- Tasks appear on their due dates and carry forward until completed, and a sidebar list sorts them by date, priority or tag. They sync with Apple Reminders, Google Tasks, Todoist and Microsoft To Do.
- Smart Filters and Calendar Sets
- Group calendars into sets for work, personal or family, and save combinations of searches, sets and view settings as Smart Filters you can switch between.
- Travel time and time-to-leave alerts
- Travel time to an event is calculated from your location or set by hand, and alerts adjust to traffic so you know when to leave.
- Menu bar app
- A menu bar calendar with a mini month, a heat map of availability, a scrolling event list and task entry. It keeps working when the main app is closed.
Pocket Informant
- Calendar and tasks in one view
- Day, stacked-week and month views show events and tasks together. The month view prints each event's name and time in small text instead of a dot.
- Projects and task modes
- Tasks can be grouped into projects with sub-tasks and checklists, and the task system can be set to Simple, GTD or Franklin Covey style.
- Works with existing calendars
- Reads the device's native calendars and reminders, so iCloud, Exchange, Microsoft 365 and Google accounts appear without a new account. Direct Google and Toodledo sync needs the subscription.
- Natural-language entry
- Type or speak a phrase such as a task with a day and time and the entry is filled in. Templates and triggers create frequently used events and tasks.
- TravelAssist and geofences
- Trips set the time zone for events created during travel, and geofenced locations can filter the calendar or task list and raise arrival and departure alerts.
- Informant Sync
- A paid sync service that keeps iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and the web app in step, and connects to Outlook on Windows through a separate add-in.
Plans
BusyCal
Free Edition$0
Essential calendaring in the Mac App Store version, for people without a subscription.
Mac App Store subscription$4.99
per month, or $39.99 per year
The full Mac app by subscription. One subscription covers a family's Macs through Family Sharing.
BusyCal iOS$9.99
one-time purchase on the App Store
Universal app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, with Family Sharing. Not included with the Mac license or subscription.
BusyCal for Mac license$49.99
one-time purchase with 18 months of updates
Perpetual license from BusyMac's store for one user on up to 5 personal Macs. Renewing for further updates is optional.
BusyCal + BusyContacts$79.99
one-time purchase
Both Mac apps as a bundle, listed at 20% off the $99.99 combined price.
Pocket Informant
Free$0
Basic calendar on iOS and Android. Tasks, projects, contacts, sync services and customization are not included.
Premium Month$3.99
per month
Full feature access billed monthly through the App Store. The account reverts to the free version when the subscription ends.
Premium 3 month$9.99
per 3 months
The same full feature access billed every 90 days, as listed on the US App Store.
Premium Yearly$29.99
per year
All calendar views, tasks, projects, contacts, email integration, weather and Informant Sync on iOS and Android.
Informant for macOS$49.99
one-time purchase
The Mac app, bought separately with a 30-day free trial. Syncing Informant-only data may also need a sync subscription.
Informant Sync for Outlook$29.99
one-time purchase
Outlook add-in for Windows PCs that syncs calendars, tasks and notes. It requires an active Informant Sync subscription.
Ways to pay less
BusyCal
- Education
20% off for staff and students
BusyMac's store offers a 20% discount to staff and students at educational institutions, requested by email.
- Other savings
Volume discounts from 2 licenses
Discounts apply automatically at checkout: 10% off 2 to 4 licenses, 20% off 5 to 9, 25% off 10 to 49, 30% off 50 to 99 and 35% off 100 or more.
- Other savings
Discounted license renewals
Renewing a license for another 18 months of updates is 20% to 40% off the original price. The licensing FAQ puts a renewal at $39.99.
- Other savings
Bundle with BusyContacts for $79.99
Buying BusyCal and BusyContacts together costs $79.99, which the store lists as 20% off the $99.99 combined price.
Pocket Informant
- Annual discount
About 37% less on the yearly subscription
The subscription is $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year. Twelve monthly payments come to $47.88, so the yearly option costs about 37% less.
