Dato vs Fantastical

Dato

• Mac users who want their schedule one click away in the menu bar
• People who keep missing the start of video meetings
• Anyone working across time zones who wants several clocks in view
• Buyers who want a one-time purchase and no subscription

Fantastical

• People with Google, iCloud and Microsoft calendars who want them in one app
• Adding events quickly by typing a sentence
• Households sharing one subscription across up to 5 members

Dato

• Mac only. The current version requires macOS 26 or later; older macOS releases get older versions of the app.
• The vendor calls it a read-only view of your events: it can create events, but editing one or answering an invitation opens Apple's Calendar app.
• It has no sync of its own. Google, Outlook and other accounts must first be added to the built-in Calendar app.
• Natural-language entry is not supported yet, and the menus and settings are in English only.

Fantastical

• No Android app or web version is listed; it runs on Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro.
• The free version allows 1 invitee per event, 1 calendar set and a 3-day weather forecast.
• Apple Watch support, push sync, travel time, templates and conference-call detection all need Flexibits Premium.
• Single sign-on and Openings with multiple hosts are limited to the Team plan.

Dato

Menu bar calendar and event list

A month calendar with optional week numbers and event indicators sits above a list of upcoming events and reminders. How many days and events it shows is adjustable.

Fullscreen meeting notifications

A notification fills the screen when an event starts. It can be limited to video calls, events with an alert or accepted events, and paused with a Focus Filter.

Join video calls

Join the next call from a notification, the event details or a global keyboard shortcut. Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and more than 50 other services are recognized, and others can be added.

World clocks and time travel

Clocks for several time zones appear in the Dato menu or the menu bar, with custom names and offline search of 15,000 cities. A slider shows what time it will be elsewhere.

Upcoming event in the menu bar

The next event can be shown as its own menu bar item, next to a date and time display whose format, icon and color can be customized.

Shortcuts, widgets and quick entry

A global keyboard shortcut opens the new event window, which can also create reminders. Shortcuts actions switch calendars and notifications on or off, and widgets show the date, calendar and world clocks.

Fantastical

Natural-language event entry

Create events and tasks by typing a plain-language sentence instead of filling in a form field by field.

Day, week, month, quarter and year views

Full-screen views at every scale plus the DayTicker strip, all included in the free version.

Tasks next to events

Tasks from iCloud Reminders, Todoist and Google Tasks appear alongside calendar events on both free and paid tiers.

Openings and Proposals

Premium adds Openings, which let others book a slot from your availability, and Proposals, which poll invitees on meeting times.

Conference call detection

Premium detects Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Webex links in events and adds a single-click Join button.

Calendar sets

Group calendars into sets. Free allows 1 set; Premium allows unlimited sets, syncs them and can switch sets automatically by time or location.

Dato

• Dato$18

  one-time purchase on the Mac App Store

  The full app. The App Store listing promises free upgrades and says Dato will never be subscription-based.

Fantastical

• Free$0

  Basic calendar and tasks with full-screen views; 1 calendar set, 1 invitee per event and a 3-day forecast.

• Individual$4.75

  per month, billed annually ($6.99 billed monthly)

  All Premium features for one person, including Openings, Proposals, call detection and Apple Watch support.

• Family$7.50

  per month, billed annually ($10.49 billed monthly)

  Flexibits Premium shared by up to 5 family members.

• Team$4.75

  per user / month, billed annually ($6.99 billed monthly)

  Premium for each member, plus single sign-on, team roles and Openings with multiple hosts.

Dato

• Other savings

  Menu bar bundle of three apps for $18.00

  The Mac App Store sells Sindre's Menu Bar Bundle, which contains Dato, Lungo and Battery Indicator, for $18.00, the same price as Dato alone.

• Education

  50% off for schools buying 20 or more copies

  For his App Store apps, Sindre Sorhus says educational institutions get a 50% discount when they buy 20 or more copies of one app through Apple School Manager.

• Other savings

  Also available through Setapp

  Dato is distributed through the Setapp app subscription as well as the App Store, and the vendor's page says Setapp can be tried free for 7 days.

• Other savings

  Older versions are free on older macOS

  Earlier releases for macOS 10.14 through macOS 15 are listed as free for everyone on the vendor's page. They will not run on newer macOS versions.

Fantastical

• Annual discount

  About 32% less with yearly billing

  Flexibits' pricing page lists the Individual plan at $4.75 a month billed annually, against $6.99 billed monthly, which works out about 32% lower.

• Education

  Educational and military discount

  Flexibits says it offers an educational or military discount on request. Contact the company with proof of your institution, student status or military service.

• Other savings

  Family plan for up to 5 members

  The Family plan shares Flexibits Premium among up to 5 members at a reduced price compared with separate Individual subscriptions.