Calendly
Calendly LLC
7.6
Overall Score / 10
TidyCal
AppSumo (Sumo Group)
8.2
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose Calendly if:
- —You need enterprise features (SSO, Salesforce, round-robin)
- —You want the most recognized scheduling brand for client bookings
- —You need advanced team scheduling and routing
Choose TidyCal if:
- —You want to pay once ($29) and never pay again
- —You have simple scheduling needs without enterprise complexity
- —You're a solopreneur who wants to minimize recurring costs
The biggest difference: TidyCal is a lifetime purchase with no ongoing cost; Calendly is a subscription with stronger brand recognition, round-robin, and enterprise features
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Calendly | TidyCal |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $12/mo (Standard)Source: Calendly LLC pricing page → | Free onlySource: AppSumo (Sumo Group) pricing page → |
| Free Tier | Yes 1 event type, 1 calendar connection | Yes 10 bookings/month, 1 calendar connection, 1 booking type |
| Value for Money | 6 | 10 |
| Ease of Use | 10 | 8 |
| Feature Power | 7 | 4 |
| Setup Ease | 10 | 9 |
| Migration Ease | 8 | 8 |
| Transparency | 7 | 10 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Compliance | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR | GDPR |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
15 features compared · 11 differences
| Feature | Calendly | TidyCal |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Buffer times | Full | None |
| Embed options | Full | Full |
| Event types | Full | None |
| Group bookings | None | Full |
| Group scheduling | Full | None |
| Payment collection (Stripe, PayPal) | None | Full |
| Round robin | Full | None |
| Round-robin (Agency) | None | Full |
| Routing forms | Full | None |
| SMS reminders (Agency) | None | Full |
| Advanced | ||
| Analytics | None | Full |
| Custom branding | Full | Full |
| Workflows (automations) | Full | None |
| Integrations | ||
| API access | Full | Full |
| Calendar sync | Full | Full |
Pricing Comparison
Calendly Pricing
1 event type, basic integrations
Unlimited event types, group events, workflows
Round robin, Salesforce integration, admin controls
SSO, SCIM, audit logs, custom SLA
TidyCal Pricing
10 bookings/month, 1 calendar, 1 booking type
Unlimited bookings, group events, analytics, API — one-time $29 payment
Team features, round-robin, SMS reminders, 25 calendars — one-time $79 payment
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose Calendly
Best for
- Freelancers and solopreneurs needing simple booking
- Sales teams with round-robin scheduling needs
- Anyone who wants the most recognized scheduling brand
Avoid if
- You need extensive customization
- You're on a tight budget and need team features
- You want built-in payment collection
Who should choose TidyCal
Best for
- Solopreneurs who want lifetime scheduling for $29
- Budget-conscious users who hate monthly subscriptions
- Simple booking needs without enterprise complexity
Avoid if
- You need advanced team routing or enterprise features
- You want the most polished, modern scheduling UX
- You need deep CRM integrations
Switching Guidance
Switching from Calendly
Switching from TidyCal
Common triggers to leave:
- •Need enterprise features
- •Need more polished UX
- •Need advanced team scheduling
Potential blockers:
- •Lifetime deal means no ongoing cost to justify switching
- •Booking links shared with clients
Try Calendly
Start free — no credit card required
Try TidyCal
Start free — no credit card required