The Howbout Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Howbout in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Howbout
The Insider’s Guide
Shared calendar app that shows when friends and family are free
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among calendar and scheduling apps, read from Howbout’s own pages.
Made by Howbout Ltd · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Howbout’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Howbout’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 66 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Howbout, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Howbout+ prices aren't on the website, and the App Store lists three monthly prices for the same plan.
- 1
Best for finding a date when all your friends are free
It's phone apps only, with nothing on the web or a computer, and signing up needs a phone number.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $3.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (Howbout+, US App Store).
- 3
There is 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.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and Android.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 3.2 GPA, above 66 of 74
That is against the other calendar and scheduling apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Howbout you could make: calendar and surveys. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Howbout at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $3.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (Howbout+, US App Store)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- iOS, Android
- Made by
- Howbout Ltd
- Category
- Calendar & Scheduling
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 50,715 ratings
The report card
Best for finding a date when all your friends are free
Howbout shows which friends are free, busy or a maybe on any date and turns a slot into a plan with its own chat, free with no cap on friends or groups. It's phone apps only, with nothing on the web or a computer, and signing up needs a phone number. Howbout+ prices aren't on the website, and the App Store lists three monthly prices for the same plan.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Howbout+ is $39.99 a year, so $3.33 a month, under this category's lowest quarter. It buys themes, 30-plus event colors, more widgets, Multi-add and Scan-to-plan, and it covers one account only. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free with no limit on friends or groups: shared calendar, availability, plans with chat, polls, bucket lists and calendar sync. Howbout+ is mostly themes, widgets, Multi-add and Scan-to-plan. |
| Features | B | The group-planning job: who's free, busy or a maybe on any date, a slot turned into a plan with its own chat, polls, a bucket list for undated ideas, and plans shown to all friends, Close Friends only or nobody. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.8 from about 51,000 App Store ratings. Tap a date and the plan exists, with everyone able to see who's coming. You do need a phone number to sign up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Phones only: iPhone and Android, with no web or desktop version listed. Google Calendar connects directly, and Apple Calendar or Outlook arrive through your phone's own calendar app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Howbout is for
- Fits if your friend group struggles to find a night when everyone is free
- Works for couples, roommates and families who plan on their phones
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to see your calendar on a computer, as there's no web or desktop version
- Not for you if you'd rather not hand over a phone number, which creating an account requires
- Tight if you add the same shift to lots of days, because Multi-add needs Howbout+
- Watch out: Howbout+ prices aren't on the website, and the App Store lists $3.99, $4.99 and $5.99 a month
- Watch out: Howbout+ covers one account only, so friends in your group don't get its features
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3.33
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Howbout has a free plan. Paid plans start at $3.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (Howbout+, US App Store).
Free with no limit on friends or groups: shared calendar, availability, plans with chat, polls, bucket lists and calendar sync.
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.
The 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.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on apps.apple.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Howbout+ Monthly”, against $3.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $4.99 | $3.51 | 12% less |
| Turkey | ₺179,99 | $3.66 | 8% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 69ribu | $3.86 | about the same |
| Philippines | ₱ 249.00 | $3.96 | about the same |
| Mexico | $89.00 | $4.89 | 23% more |
| Brazil | R$ 24,90 | $4.98 | 25% more |
| United Kingdom | £3.99 | $5.27 | 32% more |
| India | ₹ 599 | $6.19 | 55% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: iOS and Android
Shared calendar app that shows when friends and family are free. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: calendar, surveys.
Phones only: iPhone and Android, with no web or desktop version listed.
- 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+.
Where it runs
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Google Calendar
- Apple Calendar
- Outlook
Who makes Howbout
Howbout is a shared calendar app made by Howbout Ltd, a venture-backed company registered in England and Wales and based in London. It is free to use, with a paid Howbout+ subscription for extra customisation and planning features.
- Founded
- 2020techcrunch.com
- Based
- Shoreditch, London, Englandhowbout.app
- Ownership
- Privately held. Privately held and backed by venture investors. Its terms name Howbout Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with number 11962821; Companies House records it as a private limited company, incorporated on 25 April 2019 and active.find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Funding
- Howbout announced an $8 million Series A led by Goodwater Capital in September 2024, on its own blog and in TechCrunch, which put total funding at more than $13 million. UKTN reported a £1.9 million raise in November 2022.howbout.apptechcrunch.comuktech.news
- Founders and leaders
- Neil Tanna, CEO and co-founderhowbout.app
- Jake Jenner, Co-foundertechcrunch.com
- Duncan Cowan, Co-foundertechcrunch.com
- Lately
- Curate your calendar: Aesthetic themes and color options now on Howbout+ · Feb 20, 2026
- Upgrade your plans: Your week view widget on Howbout+ · Feb 20, 2026
- Howbout Wrapped 2025 is here · Dec 12, 2025
- Howbout Widgets are here: The easiest way to see your plans right from your home screen · Apr 23, 2025
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
66/74
Other calendar and scheduling apps it is graded above
Howbout's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 66 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 62 of 74) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 10).
Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $6 for the category: 12 of the 52 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 2 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 75 calendar and scheduling apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Howbout’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 37 of 74
- AFree plan and trialAbove 56 of 74
- BFeaturesAbove 47 of 74
- AEase of useAbove 62 of 74
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 of 74
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 67 calendar and scheduling apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Howbout is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Howbout you could make: calendar and surveys. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 66 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade. It costs $39.99 a year.
What you could make
- Calendar and surveys: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Howbout’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
TimeTree, GroupCal, Cupla, FamilyWall and Google Calendar
The 5 tools Howbout is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
TimeTree
Free plan · from $4.49/mo
Shared calendar app for families, couples and groups.
- Only TimeTree lists a web app.
- Howbout also covers surveys.
- TimeTree also covers notes and tasks.
- 2.8GPA
GroupCal
Free plan · from $10/mo
Shared calendars for groups, teams and public audiences.
- Only GroupCal lists a web app.
- Howbout also covers surveys.
- 2.6GPA
Cupla
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Shared calendar, to-dos and date planning app for couples.
- Only Cupla lists a web app.
- Howbout also covers surveys.
- Cupla also covers tasks and natural-language input.
- 2.8GPA
FamilyWall
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Family organizer with a shared calendar, lists and messaging.
- Only FamilyWall lists a web app.
- Howbout also covers surveys.
- FamilyWall also covers tasks and file sharing.
- 3.4GPA
Google Calendar
Free plan · from $7/mo
Online calendar from Google, free with a personal account.
- Only Google Calendar lists a web app.
- Howbout also covers surveys.
- Google Calendar also covers tasks and booking links.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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.
How much does Howbout cost?
Howbout lists 3 plans. Howbout: $0.
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.
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. Privately held and backed by venture investors.
What are the alternatives to Howbout?
The closest alternatives to Howbout in our directory are TimeTree, GroupCal, Cupla, FamilyWall and Google Calendar.
How does Howbout compare with other calendar and scheduling apps?
Howbout's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 66 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Howbout good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Howbout B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $6 for the category: 12 of the 52 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Howbout?
The plain part of Howbout you could make: calendar and surveys. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Howbout’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Howbout's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-12.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Howbout Ltd. Prices change, so check howbout.app before you buy.
- howbout.app/
- howbout.app/about
- howbout.app/get-help
- howbout.app/get-help/what-is-howbout/
- howbout.app/get-help/is-there-a-free-shared-calendar-app-for-friends/
- howbout.app/get-help/import-calendars/
- howbout.app/get-help/export-calendar/
- howbout.app/get-help/who-see-calendar/
- howbout.app/get-help/group-availability/
- howbout.app/get-help/how-do-i-create-a-poll/
- howbout.app/get-help/how-does-the-bucket-list-work/
- howbout.app/get-help/how-many-friends/
- howbout.app/get-help/how-many-groups/
- howbout.app/get-help/widget/
- howbout.app/get-help/phone-number-verification/
- howbout.app/terms-and-conditions
- apps.apple.com/us/app/howbout-shared-calendar/id1477248221
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Howbout, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/howbout
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Howbout: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/howbout
Know someone choosing between calendar and scheduling apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/howbout/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded calendar and scheduling apps after Howbout, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Calendar & Scheduling Insider's GuideEvery one of the 75 calendar and scheduling apps we grade, compared
- Notion Calendar Insider's GuideFree calendar app that connects to Notion databases3.6 GPA
- Google Calendar Insider's GuideOnline calendar from Google, free with a personal account3.4 GPA
- World Time Buddy Insider's GuideVisual time zone converter and world clock for planning calls3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Howbout’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Howbout is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Howbout Ltd. Prices and plans change: check howbout.app before you buy.