The Itsycal Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Itsycal 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.
Itsycal
The Insider’s Guide
Free, tiny menu bar calendar for the Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among calendar and scheduling apps, read from Itsycal’s own pages.
Made by Mowglii · 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 Itsycal’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Itsycal’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
2.6
GPA, above 30 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade
Itsycal is a small calendar that lives in the Mac menu bar, made by an independent developer who publishes as Mowglii. It shows a month grid with an agenda of events from the calendars set up in the Mac Calendar app, can create and delete events, and offers a button to join virtual meetings. The app is free, its source code is on GitHub under the MIT license, and the developer accepts donations.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Itsycal, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's Mac only, Gregorian only, and can't show delegate calendars directly.
- 1
Best for a free month view in your Mac's menu bar
Itsycal is a small month grid in your Mac's menu bar, with your events underneath and a Join button for calls, free and open source.
- 2
It is free
Itsycal has no paid plan at all. The whole app is free, and the code is open source under the MIT license. The developer says his apps are free and takes optional donations through Ko-fi, PayPal and Cash App.
- 3
It runs on macOS
macOS.
- 4
Month calendar with agenda
A compact month grid opens from the menu bar with an agenda of events below it. It can show up to two months at a time, ISO week numbers and three text sizes.
- 5
Events from the Mac Calendar app
Displays events from whichever calendars you tick among those set up in the Mac Calendar app. New events can be created and existing ones deleted from Itsycal.
- 6
Join virtual meetings
A meeting icon in the agenda turns into a Join button 15 minutes before the start. Zoom and Teams links open in their apps, and Command-J joins the first active meeting.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 30 of 74
That is against the other calendar and scheduling apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Itsycal is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Itsycal at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS
- Made by
- Mowglii
- Category
- Calendar & Scheduling
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free month view in your Mac's menu bar
Itsycal is a small month grid in your Mac's menu bar, with your events underneath and a Join button for calls, free and open source. It's a view onto the Mac Calendar app rather than a calendar: it shows only what's set up there, and you can add and delete events but not edit them. It's Mac only, Gregorian only, and can't show delegate calendars directly.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, against a $6 a month middle in this category. The whole app is a direct download, the code is on GitHub under the MIT license, and donations are optional. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no paid version holding anything back and no trial clock ticking. Donations through Ko-fi, PayPal and Cash App are entirely optional. |
| Features | D | It's a window onto a calendar rather than a calendar: it shows only what the Mac Calendar app already holds, and without that it does nothing at all. Inside that one job you get a month grid, an agenda, a Join button and Vim-style keys, but events can be created and deleted, not edited. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, as it isn't on the App Store, but there's nothing to set up: download it and it shows whatever calendars your Mac already has ticked. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system: Mac, needing macOS 11 or later, with no iPhone, Windows or web version. It will open Zoom and Teams links and hand off to Fantastical or BusyCal. |
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 Itsycal is for
- Fits if you want a quick look at the month without opening a calendar app
- Works for Mac users who steer with the keyboard, Vim keys included
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're not on a Mac, because there's no other version
- Not for you if you want to edit events from the menu bar, as it only creates and deletes
- Too light for anyone wanting a calendar of its own, since it only shows what's in the Mac Calendar app
- Watch out: only the Gregorian calendar is supported, and delegate calendars can't be shown directly
- Watch out: the current download needs macOS 11 or later, with a separate build for macOS 27
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want a quick month view without opening a calendar app
- People who navigate by keyboard and like Vim-style keys
- Anyone looking for a free, open-source menu bar calendar
Worth knowing
- Mac only, and it depends on the Mac Calendar app: it shows only calendars already set up there.
- Events can be created and deleted but not edited; the project's README says editing is not supported.
- Only the Gregorian calendar is supported, and delegate calendars cannot be shown directly.
- The current download needs macOS 11 or later (macOS 27 has its own build); older versions cover earlier systems.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Itsycal is free to use.
The whole app is a direct download, the code is on GitHub under the MIT license, and donations are optional.
Itsycal
$0
The complete app as a direct download for macOS 11 or later, with a separate build for macOS 27. Donations are optional.
The free plan
The whole app is free, and the code is open source under the MIT license. The developer says his apps are free and takes optional donations through Ko-fi, PayPal and Cash App.
Read from mowglii.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: macOS
Free, tiny menu bar calendar for the Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, keyboard-first, calendar, menu bar app.
Inside that one job you get a month grid, an agenda, a Join button and Vim-style keys, but events can be created and deleted, not edited.
- Month calendar with agenda
- A compact month grid opens from the menu bar with an agenda of events below it. It can show up to two months at a time, ISO week numbers and three text sizes.
- Events from the Mac Calendar app
- Displays events from whichever calendars you tick among those set up in the Mac Calendar app. New events can be created and existing ones deleted from Itsycal.
- Join virtual meetings
- A meeting icon in the agenda turns into a Join button 15 minutes before the start. Zoom and Teams links open in their apps, and Command-J joins the first active meeting.
- Keyboard navigation with Vim motions
- Arrow keys or H, J, K and L move by day, week, month and year, with an optional repeat count. Other keys pin the window, toggle week numbers and jump to a given date.
- Menu bar clock replacement
- The menu bar item can show the day, month and weekday, plus text built from a date and time pattern in the system clock's font, with or without the icon.
- URL scheme and global shortcut
- A configurable keyboard shortcut opens Itsycal from anywhere, and the itsycal://date/ URL scheme opens it at today or at a specific date.
Where it runs
- macOS
What it works with
- Apple Calendar
- Fantastical
- BusyCal
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- FaceTime
- Jitsi Meet
Itsycal is made by Mowglii.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
30/74
Other calendar and scheduling apps it is graded above
Itsycal's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 30 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 56 of 74) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Itsycal has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 75 calendar and scheduling apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Itsycal’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 45 of 74
- AFree plan and trialAbove 56 of 74
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 74
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 74
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 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. Itsycal 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
Itsycal is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Calendar: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Apple Calendar, Fantastical and BusyCal among them.
What this rests on. Itsycal’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
Dato, MeetingBar, Apple Calendar, Fantastical and BusyCal
The 5 tools Itsycal is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Dato
Free trial · from $18 one-time
Mac menu bar calendar with world clocks and meeting alerts.
- Itsycal has a free plan. Dato does not, though it has a free trial.
- Itsycal is open source, according to its own site.
- Dato can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
MeetingBar
Free
Free Mac menu bar app that shows and joins your next meeting.
- 3.2GPA
Apple Calendar
Free
Free built-in calendar for iPhone, iPad, Mac and iCloud.com.
- Only Apple Calendar lists a web app.
- Only Apple Calendar lists an iOS app.
- Itsycal is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Fantastical
Free plan · from $4.75/mo
Calendar and tasks app for Apple devices, Windows and Googlebook.
- Only Fantastical lists Windows and iOS apps.
- Itsycal is open source, according to its own site.
- Itsycal also covers menu bar app.
- 2.4GPA
BusyCal
Free plan · from $49.99 one-time
Customizable calendar and task app for Mac and iPhone.
- Only BusyCal lists an iOS app.
- Itsycal is open source, according to its own site.
- BusyCal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Itsycal free?
Yes. Itsycal is free to use.
How much does Itsycal cost?
Itsycal lists one plan. Itsycal: $0.
What platforms does Itsycal work on?
Itsycal is available on macOS.
Does Itsycal have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Itsycal is listed for macOS.
Does Itsycal have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Itsycal is listed for macOS.
Is Itsycal open source?
Yes. Itsycal is open source, according to its own site.
What does Itsycal integrate with?
Itsycal's listing names Apple Calendar, Fantastical, BusyCal, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime and Jitsi Meet.
Who makes Itsycal?
Itsycal is made by Mowglii.
What are the alternatives to Itsycal?
The closest alternatives to Itsycal in our directory are Dato, MeetingBar, Apple Calendar, Fantastical and BusyCal.
How does Itsycal compare with other calendar and scheduling apps?
Itsycal's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 30 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade, and level with 13.
Is Itsycal good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Itsycal A for value for money. Itsycal has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Itsycal?
Itsycal is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Itsycal’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 Mowglii's own pages and the project's GitHub page on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-22.
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 Mowglii. Prices change, so check mowglii.com before you buy.
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
- Itsycal, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/itsycal
- 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, "Itsycal: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/itsycal
Know someone choosing between calendar and scheduling apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/itsycal/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded calendar and scheduling apps after Itsycal, 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 Itsycal’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. Itsycal is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Mowglii. Prices and plans change: check mowglii.com before you buy.