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Howbout

Shared calendar app that shows when friends and family are free

Free plan · from $3.99/moCalendarChecked Oct 9, 20264.8 on the App Store
Visit howbout.app
Howbout, as pictured on howbout.app
How Howbout presents itself. Image from howbout.app.

What is Howbout?

Howbout is a shared calendar app for iPhone and Android made by Howbout Ltd in London. Friends, couples, families and other groups see each other's plans and whether each person is free, busy or a maybe on a given date, then turn a free slot into a plan with its own chat. The app is free to use, and an optional Howbout+ subscription adds themes, extra colors, more widgets and tools such as creating events from a screenshot.

Howbout has a free plan. Paid plans start at $3.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (Howbout+, US App Store). See every plan

Good for

  • 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+)

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

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+.

Howbout pricing

Starts at
$3.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (Howbout+, US App Store)
Free plan
Free on iPhone and Android with no limit on friends or groups: shared calendar, availability, plans with chat, polls and synced calendars. Howbout+ adds customization and planning extras.
Free trial
None listed
Howbout$0Shared calendar, friend and group availability, plans with chat, polls, bucket lists and calendar sync, with unlimited friends and groups.
Howbout+ Monthly$3.99 to $5.99per month; the App Store lists $3.99, $4.99 and $5.99Calendar 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$39.99per yearThe same Howbout+ features billed once a year through the App Store or Google Play.

Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Howbout before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • Annual discountAnnual 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.

    Stated on apps.apple.com

How people rate the Howbout app

4.8

out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app

  1. 5 stars88%
  2. 4 stars8%
  3. 3 stars2%
  4. 2 stars<1%
  5. 1 star1%

50,715 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 9, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing

Howbout reviews, and where to read more

Works with

Howbout alternatives

All Howbout alternatives comparedAll calendar and scheduling apps

Common questions

Is Howbout free?

Howbout has a free plan. Free on iPhone and Android with no limit on friends or groups: shared calendar, availability, plans with chat, polls and synced calendars. Howbout+ adds customization and planning extras. Paid plans start at $3.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (Howbout+, US App Store).

How much does Howbout cost?

Howbout lists 3 plans. Howbout: $0. Howbout+ Monthly: $3.99 to $5.99 per month; the App Store lists $3.99, $4.99 and $5.99. Howbout+ Annual: $39.99 per year. Prices were read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.

What platforms does Howbout work on?

Howbout is available on iOS and Android.

Does Howbout offer any discounts?

Howbout publicly lists the following: Annual Howbout+ costs less than twelve months.

How is Howbout rated?

Howbout's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 50,715 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 9, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.

Does Howbout have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Howbout is listed for iOS and Android.

Does Howbout have a macOS app?

No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Howbout is listed for iOS and Android.

Is Howbout open source?

Howbout is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.

What does Howbout integrate with?

Howbout's listing names Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Howbout?

Howbout is made by Howbout Ltd.

What are the alternatives to Howbout?

The closest alternatives to Howbout in our directory are TimeTree, GroupCal, Cupla, FamilyWall and Google Calendar. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Howbout.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.