Howbout vs TimeTree

Howbout

• Friend groups looking for a date when everyone is free
• Couples, roommates and families who plan from their phones
• People who want each plan to carry its own chat and details
• Shift workers and students adding routines to many days (Multi-add needs Howbout+)

TimeTree

• Families and couples keeping one shared schedule
• Groups that want to discuss a plan inside the event itself
• Artists, stores and local governments publishing event dates to followers

Howbout

• Phone apps only: the site and terms describe a mobile app for iPhone and Android, and the App Store listing is for iPhone only. No web or desktop version is listed.
• Howbout+ prices are not on the website. The US App Store lists monthly options at $3.99, $4.99 and $5.99 and an annual option at $39.99, and prices vary by country.
• Howbout+ is tied to one account, so its features are not shared with friends or groups.
• Creating an account requires a phone number, and the terms say the app is intended for people aged 13 and over.

TimeTree

• The free version shows ads; removing them requires Premium.
• Attaching PDFs and other files, the vertical hour-by-hour view and event priority are Premium-only.
• TimeTree notes that Premium pricing varies by region and currency and points buyers to the App Store or Google Play for the exact price.
• The App Store listing covers iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple Vision; computers use the web version rather than a desktop app.

Howbout

Availability at a glance

For any date, the app shows which friends are free, busy or maybe busy. A group's Availability view does the same for all members you are friends with, and tapping a date starts a plan.

Plans with their own chat

A plan holds the name, place and time, shows who is coming and sends reminders. Each plan has a chat for messages, photos, videos, GIFs and files such as tickets.

Per-plan privacy

Each plan can be visible to all friends, to Close Friends only (others see "Busy") or to no one. The same setting can be applied to a whole synced calendar or set as a default.

Calendar sync and export

Google Calendar connects directly, and other calendars such as Apple Calendar or Outlook come in through the phone's own calendar app. Howbout events can also be exported to the phone's calendar.

Polls and bucket lists

Polls can be created from any event, group or one-to-one chat. A bucket list saves ideas without a date and moves them to the calendar once a date is set.

Home screen widgets

Widgets on iOS and Android show upcoming plans, a week view with friends' events and countdowns to chosen events. The week view and unlimited countdowns are part of Howbout+.

TimeTree

Group-based shared calendars

Create a calendar, invite the members and everyone sees the same schedule. You can keep as many calendars as you need, for example one each for family, school and hobbies.

Chat inside events

Each event has its own conversation where members settle details such as time and place, and can post photos.

Memos and to-do lists

Share notes and lists with the members of a calendar, or keep a memo for a plan that has no fixed date yet.

Filters across calendars

View your own plans, family schedules and other calendars together in one view, or use filters to switch between them.

Device calendar sync

Copy events from, or sync with, the other calendars on your device, such as Google Calendar, to get started with existing data.

Public Calendar

Organizations can publish event information to followers' calendars, with scheduled posting and repeating events. TimeTree describes the public feature as free.

Howbout

• Howbout$0

  Shared calendar, friend and group availability, plans with chat, polls, bucket lists and calendar sync, with unlimited friends and groups.

• Howbout+ Monthly$3.99 to $5.99

  per month; the App Store lists $3.99, $4.99 and $5.99

  Calendar themes, 30+ event colors, unlimited color categories, the week view widget, unlimited countdown widgets, Multi-add and Scan-to-plan. Applies to one account only.

• Howbout+ Annual$39.99

  per year

  The same Howbout+ features billed once a year through the App Store or Google Play.

TimeTree

• Free$0

  Ad-supported shared calendars with event chat, photos in event comments, memos and to-do lists.

• TimeTree Premium$4.49

  per month, or $44.99 per year

  No ads, PDF and other file attachments on events, a vertical view of up to 3 days, event priority and dedicated support.

Howbout

• Annual discount

  Annual Howbout+ costs less than twelve months

  The US App Store lists Howbout+ Annual at $39.99 and Howbout+ Monthly from $3.99. Twelve months at $3.99 come to $47.88, so the annual option saves at least $7.89 a year.

TimeTree

• Annual discount

  2 months off with the annual plan

  TimeTree lists Premium at 4.49 USD a month or 44.99 USD a year, and describes the annual subscription as 2 months off.