The nocal Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about nocal 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.
nocal
The Insider’s Guide
Calendar, notes and tasks in one app, with an MCP server for AI
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among calendar and scheduling apps, read from nocal’s own pages.
Made by Muse Tech, LLC · 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 nocal’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on nocal’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
nocal is a calendar app for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android that puts Markdown notes and task lists next to your events. It works with Google Calendar and Outlook or Microsoft 365 accounts, gives each week its own note, and suggests ways to free up focus time. A built-in MCP server lets assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor read notes and write results back. The desktop app is free; mobile apps and extra features need a subscription.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about nocal, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It works only with Google and Outlook, so iCloud is out, and there's no web or Linux version.
- 1
Best for planning your week in notes beside your calendar
nocal puts a Markdown note for each week beside your calendar, and events can carry notes and action items.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $4.99 per month (Everywhere).
- 3
There is a free plan
The Mac and Windows desktop app with full Google Calendar and Outlook management, unlimited note taking and one space. Mobile apps and sync across devices need a paid plan.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
- 5
Weekly note beside the calendar
Each week has a note written in Markdown that can hold bullet and numbered lists, task lists, tables, collapsible sections and code blocks, so a weekly plan sits next to the schedule.
- 6
Notes attached to events
Notes and action items can be written on a calendar event, and notes can nest inside or link to one another, so meetings and notes reference each other.
- 7
Unified Google and Outlook calendar
Google and Microsoft or Outlook accounts are merged on one timeline, with an inbox for answering invites. Connecting additional accounts requires the Full Access subscription.
- 8
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.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of nocal you could make: calendar, notes, tasks, Markdown, linked notes and natural-language input. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
nocal at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.99 per month (Everywhere)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Muse Tech, LLC
- Category
- Calendar & Scheduling
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for planning your week in notes beside your calendar
nocal puts a Markdown note for each week beside your calendar, and events can carry notes and action items. The desktop app is free, but the phone apps and sync need $4.99 a month, and extra accounts, calendar groups and widgets need $9.99. It works only with Google and Outlook, so iCloud is out, and there's no web or Linux version.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Everywhere is $4.99 a month for the phone apps and sync, in the middle band of this category where $6 is typical. Full Access is $9.99, and that's where extra Google and Outlook accounts, calendar groups and widgets live. The pricing page shows monthly prices only. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The Mac and Windows app is free with full Google and Outlook management and unlimited notes. The wall: desktop only, one space, and no sync, so your phone gets nothing without paying. Students with a .edu address get it free. |
| Features | B | The calendar plus the planning around it: a weekly Markdown note, notes and action items on events, typed entry like "Lunch with Alex tomorrow at noon", Calendar Ideas that suggest focus blocks, and an MCP server for Claude or ChatGPT. No iCloud, only a waitlist. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing to wire up: download it, sign in with Google or Outlook, and your week is there. The AI hookup is only if you want it. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with an MCP server letting Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and VS Code read and write your notes. No web version and no Linux, and the iPhone app needs iOS 26.2 or later. |
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 nocal is for
- Fits if you plan the week in notes and want them next to your calendar
- Works for Google or Outlook users on a Mac or Windows PC
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your calendar is on iCloud, which isn't supported; there's only a waitlist
- Tight if you're staying free and want it on your phone, as mobile and sync need $4.99 a month
- Pricey if you juggle several accounts, because extra connections need Full Access at $9.99 a month
- Watch out: the pricing page shows monthly prices only, and the App Store lists $49.99 and $99.99 items with no billing period
- Not for you if you want a web or Linux version, and the iPhone app needs iOS 26.2 or later
Good to know
Good for
- People who plan the week in notes and want them next to their calendar
- Google Calendar and Outlook users who work on a Mac or Windows PC
- Developers who want AI agents to read and update their notes over MCP
- Students with a .edu address, who the vendor says can use it free
Worth knowing
- Works only with Google Calendar and Outlook or Microsoft 365 accounts. Apple iCloud is not supported; the downloads page offers a waitlist.
- The free plan is desktop only. Mobile apps and sync need Everywhere at $4.99 per month; extra calendar accounts, calendar groups and widgets need Full Access.
- The pricing page shows monthly prices only. The App Store also lists $49.99 and $99.99 purchases without a billing period.
- No web or Linux version is listed, and the App Store listing is for iPhone only, requiring iOS 26.2 or later.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
nocal has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 per month (Everywhere).
The pricing page shows monthly prices only.
Free
$0
Desktop app for Mac and Windows with full Google Calendar and Outlook management, unlimited note taking and one space.
Everywhere
$4.99
per month
Everything in Free, plus the iOS and Android apps, sync across all devices and unlimited spaces.
Full Access
$9.99
per month
Everything in Everywhere, plus unlimited Google and Outlook connections, calendar groups, the tray app and widgets, and high visibility notifications.
The free plan
The Mac and Windows desktop app with full Google Calendar and Outlook management, unlimited note taking and one space. Mobile apps and sync across devices need a paid plan.
Read from nocal.app on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Education
Free for students with a .edu address
nocal's students page says the app is free when you sign up with a .edu address and calls it free for students, forever. The page does not say which paid tier this covers.
Stated on nocal.app
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Full Access”, against $99.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 4,990.00 | $79.43 | 21% less |
| Canada | $129.99 | $91.37 | 9% less |
| Turkey | ₺4.499,99 | $91.51 | 8% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 1,699juta | $95.02 | about the same |
| Germany | 99,99 € | $112.05 | 12% more |
| Brazil | R$ 599,90 | $119.86 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R1,999.99 | $120.97 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £99.99 | $132.19 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Calendar, notes and tasks in one app, with an MCP server for AI. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, notes, Markdown, linked notes, tasks, natural-language input, calendar.
Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with an MCP server letting Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and VS Code read and write your notes.
- Weekly note beside the calendar
- Each week has a note written in Markdown that can hold bullet and numbered lists, task lists, tables, collapsible sections and code blocks, so a weekly plan sits next to the schedule.
- Notes attached to events
- Notes and action items can be written on a calendar event, and notes can nest inside or link to one another, so meetings and notes reference each other.
- Unified Google and Outlook calendar
- Google and Microsoft or Outlook accounts are merged on one timeline, with an inbox for answering invites. Connecting additional accounts requires the Full Access subscription.
- Calendar Ideas
- nocal reviews upcoming weekdays and suggests adding a focus block, moving a meeting or declining one. Nothing changes until you accept an idea, and the feature can be turned off.
- Built-in MCP server
- Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and VS Code can connect through the Model Context Protocol to search and read notes and write their output back into them.
- Natural-language scheduling and widgets
- Events can be typed as a phrase such as "Lunch with Alex tomorrow at noon". The phone apps add a home screen widget that shows what is next and the shape of the day.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Teams
- Claude
- ChatGPT
- Cursor
- VS Code
nocal is made by Muse Tech, LLC.
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
nocal'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 features (B, above 47 of 74) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $4.99 a month, against a middle price of $6 for the category: 20 of the 52 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 4 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. nocal’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 10 of 74
- CFree plan and trialAbove 3 of 74
- BFeaturesAbove 47 of 74
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 74
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 25 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. nocal 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 nocal you could make: calendar, notes, tasks, Markdown, linked notes and natural-language input. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $59.88 a year.
What you could make
- Calendar, notes, tasks, Markdown, linked notes and natural-language input: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Google Calendar, Outlook and Microsoft 365 among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. nocal’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
Notion Calendar, NotePlan, Amie, Vimcal and Fantastical
The 5 tools nocal is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Notion Calendar
Free
Free calendar app that connects to Notion databases.
- Only Notion Calendar lists a web app.
- nocal also covers notes, Markdown, linked notes, tasks and natural-language input.
- Notion Calendar also covers booking links.
- 2.4GPA
NotePlan
Free trial · from $8.33/mo
Markdown notes, tasks and calendar in one daily note.
- nocal has a free plan. NotePlan does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only nocal lists Windows and Android apps.
- Only NotePlan lists a web app.
- 2.2GPA
Amie
Free trial · from $20/mo
AI meeting notes combined with a calendar and todo list.
- nocal has a free plan. Amie does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only nocal lists an Android app.
- nocal also covers notes, Markdown, linked notes and natural-language input.
- 2.4GPA
Vimcal
Free plan · from $25/mo
Fast calendar for people with heavy meeting schedules.
- Only nocal lists an Android app.
- Only Vimcal lists a web app.
- nocal also covers notes, Markdown, linked notes, tasks and natural-language input.
- 2.4GPA
Fantastical
Free plan · from $4.75/mo
Calendar and tasks app for Apple devices, Windows and Googlebook.
- Only nocal lists an Android app.
- nocal also covers notes, Markdown and linked notes.
- Fantastical also covers templates and booking links.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
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 nocal free?
nocal has a free plan. The Mac and Windows desktop app with full Google Calendar and Outlook management, unlimited note taking and one space.
How much does nocal cost?
nocal lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does nocal work on?
nocal is available on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Does nocal offer any discounts?
nocal publicly lists the following: Free for students with a .edu address.
Does nocal have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. nocal is listed for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is nocal open source?
nocal is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does nocal integrate with?
nocal's listing names Google Calendar, Outlook, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and VS Code.
Does nocal have a student discount?
Free for students with a .edu address. nocal's students page says the app is free when you sign up with a .edu address and calls it free for students, forever.
Who makes nocal?
nocal is made by Muse Tech, LLC.
What are the alternatives to nocal?
The closest alternatives to nocal in our directory are Notion Calendar, NotePlan, Amie, Vimcal and Fantastical.
How does nocal compare with other calendar and scheduling apps?
nocal's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 30 of the 74 other calendar and scheduling apps we grade, and level with 13.
Is nocal good value for money?
ToolGPA grades nocal C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.99 a month, against a middle price of $6 for the category: 20 of the 52 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of nocal?
The plain part of nocal you could make: calendar, notes, tasks, Markdown, linked notes and natural-language input.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from nocal’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 nocal's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-26.
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 Muse Tech, LLC. Prices change, so check nocal.app before you buy.
- nocal.app/
- nocal.app/pricing
- nocal.app/downloads
- nocal.app/students
- nocal.app/business
- nocal.app/mcp
- nocal.app/mobile
- nocal.app/docs/calendar/multiple-accounts
- nocal.app/docs/calendar/ideas
- nocal.app/docs/getting-started/install-on-all-devices
- nocal.app/terms
- apps.apple.com/us/app/nocal-calendar-reinvented/id6751705555
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
- nocal, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/nocal
- 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, "nocal: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/nocal
Know someone choosing between calendar and scheduling apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/nocal/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded calendar and scheduling apps after nocal, 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 nocal’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. nocal is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Muse Tech, LLC. Prices and plans change: check nocal.app before you buy.