Scheduling Simplified: Evaluating Cal.com vs. SavvyCal for 2024

Picture this: No more email ping-pong. No more double bookings. No more missed appointments. And definitely no more scheduling hassle.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? Before you can get to that blissful scheduling state, there’s just one catch: finding the right booking tool for your team. 

One that has the features ✅, integrations ✅, and pricing ✅ you’ve been looking for. 

Today, we’ll put two popular scheduling apps, Cal.com vs. SavvyCal, in direct competition, comparing target audiences, customer reviews, capabilities, plans, and more to help you make a well-informed decision. Ready? On your marks, get set, go!

Cal.com vs. SavvyCal: A quick look at both booking apps

Introducing Cal.com

Cal.com (formerly known as Calendso) is a pretty new addition to the scheduling scene, only founded in 2021. It’s an open-sourced booking tool known for its commitment to both privacy and transparency.

Due to its community-driven development, users enjoy the flexibility to extend or create features, resulting in a steady stream of innovative updates released more frequently than those of its competitors.

Onkgopotse K. delves into both the upsides and downsides of Cal.com:

Presenting SavvyCal

Meet the colorful SavvyCal: a meeting scheduler that helps your bookers find the best time to meet. Founded just one year before Cal.com (in 2020), it’s a more straightforward yet effective tool for both teams and individuals.

Aside from its bright and bold interface, SavvyCal has a few unique features under its belt, including meeting polls and ranked availability.  

Osama R., a procurement and contracts engineer, shares how SavvyCal helps him manage his schedule: 

Cal.com vs. SavvyCal: Target customers

Who is Cal.com for?

Cal.com’s robust scheduling features and integrations make it a solid pick for many different teams and industries. However, those with developers on hand will benefit most from the booking tool.

Its open-source code allows tech-savvy users to customize Cal.com to fit their exact specifications. It's also an ideal choice for companies prioritizing data control, as the self-hosting feature empowers you to maintain full ownership of your data.

Who is SavvyCal for?

SavvyCal is a good choice for professionals looking for a more straightforward, ready-to-use solution that doesn’t require any technical knowledge to configure. 

While generally providing fewer features and integrations than Cal.com, SavvyCal’s bright interface and handful of unique capabilities attract users in different industries looking to simplify their scheduling.

Cal.com vs. SavvyCal: Features

Cal.com and SavvyCal share quite a few useful features that’ll help you efficiently schedule and manage your meetings, including:

• Customizable booking pages
• One-on-one, group, and round-robin scheduling
• Calendar overlay
• Shareable booking link
• Time zone management
• Automated confirmations and reminders 
• Payment processing for bookings
• Connect to multiple calendars
• Limit the number of bookings per day
• An embeddable scheduler for your website
• Buffer times before/after appointments
• Offer the booker different meeting durations
• API access
• Webhooks

Let’s take a quick look at the differing features to help you get a better taste of their capabilities. 

Cal.com’s unique features

• Open-source
• Self-hosting option
• Routing logic
• AI scheduling assistant
• Recurring events

Cal.com limitations

Given that Cal.com caters primarily to software enthusiasts and power users, individuals seeking a simpler scheduling solution—one that doesn't require code customization—might find it somewhat complex.

SavvyCal’s unique features

• Ranked availability
• Meeting polls (so invitees can vote on the best time to meet)

SavvyCal limitations

As SavvyCal offers fewer features than Cal.com and has a closed code, some teams may find it lacking the customization and flexibility its competitor offers. 

Cal.com vs. SavvyCal: Integrations

Do you already have a slew of favorite tools in your workflow? If so, your choice between Cal.com vs. SavvyCal may come down to integrations.

The two online scheduling tools both connect with a smattering of useful apps, including:

• Calendars: Google, iCloud, and Outlook
• Video conferencing: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Whereby
• CRMs: Close and Hubspot
• Payments: Stripe
• Other: Zapier, Raycast, and Fathom Analytics

Aside from these key tools, Cal.com and SavvyCal head in opposite directions, both featuring a host of different integrations to choose from.

Cal.com’s handy integrations

Cal.com has SavvyCal beat when it comes to integrations, as the booking tool offers over triple the amount that its competitor does. Some of Cal.com’s top apps include Google Analytics, PayPal, Typeform, Giphy, WhatsApp, Salesforce, and WordPress. 

Cal.com additionally stands out in two particular categories 👇

• Calendar connections: 13 different choices, including CalDav, Zoho Calendar, Vimcal, and Cron
• Video chat tools: 22 integrations, such as Discord, Roam, Around, and Campfire

SavvyCal’s handy integrations

Although SavvyCal offers 20+ integrations to Cal.com’s 60+, it has seven popular ones that Cal.com lacks, including Slack, Google Chrome, SquadCast, Fastmail Calendar, Podia, Userlist, and Digioh. 

If any of these are tools you simply can’t imagine working without, you might want to consider choosing SavvyCal. 

Cal.com vs. SavvyCal: Pricing

Cal.com pricing and plans

Cal.com’s plans (billed monthly) include:

• Free Individuals plan for solo users with unlimited bookings, calendar connections, and integrations

• Teams plan ($15/user/month) designed for one team, featuring advanced capabilities like round-robin scheduling, routing forms, and team workflows

• Enterprise plan suited for organizations needing white labeling, higher security, and 24/7 support
• Platform plan designed for developers and businesses looking to build on Cal.com, with access to a Javascript UI and platform-focused API endpoints

Cal.com doesn’t offer a standard free trial; you’ll need to reach out to request one.

SavvyCal pricing and plans

SavvyCal’s plans (billed monthly) include:

• Free plan that allows you to create meeting polls and overlay your calendar on others’ scheduling links

• Basic plan ($12/month/user) that lets you create your own team and individual scheduling links
• Premium plan ($20/month/user) offering a white-label solution with Stripe integration and admin access

SavvyCal offers a 7-day trial of the Basic or Premium plan.

Cal.com vs. SavvyCal: Customer experience

When choosing which scheduling app is best for your business, there’s one thing you can’t miss: testimonials from real users.

Browse through the reviews below to learn a bit more about the advantages and drawbacks of Cal.com and SavvyCal. 

What customers say about Cal.com

Stephanie K. shares why Cal.com is a great fit for her team: 

What do you like best about Cal.com?

This product is a winner. Quick setup, stylish dark mode, and incredible support. Kudos to Milos, who provides support, helpful guidance and goes beyond and above to fix issues, or get feature requests up for us.

What do you dislike about Cal.com?

The automation for emails could be more advanced, but it totally does the job for us.

Karan N., a team lead at a small business, explains his take on the booking tool:

1. Scheduling of calls without manual intervention - google and apple calendar sync
2. Multiple options of video call—Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet

What do you dislike about Cal.com?

Too many steps/clicks to reach the final dashboard. Maybe all the steps in one form would be easier and faster

What customers say about SavvyCal

A civil engineer at a mid-market company dives into their experience using SavvyCal:

What do you like best about SavvyCal?

1. SavvyCal simplifies scheduling by considering personal availability for efficient event planning.
2. SavvyCal streamlines scheduling by eliminating back-and-forth conversations and enabling easy appointment bookings.
3. SavvyCal allows users to rank availability preferences, helping others choose suitable meeting times.

What do you dislike about SavvyCal?

The pricing of SavvyCal's packages is slightly expensive, but everything else is satisfactory. Occasionally, there are instances of lag and difficulties in accessing or scheduling appointments.

Mohd Faizy A., a Linux deputy manager, shares his thoughts on the scheduling app:

What do you like best about SavvyCal?

I appreciate how SavvyCal simplifies the often cumbersome process of scheduling. Its intuitive interface and robust features make it effortless to share availability, customize meeting types, and seamlessly integrate with other apps and tools

What do you dislike about SavvyCal?

One potential downside of SavvyCal for some users might be its pricing structure. While it offers valuable features, the cost could be a little bit higher for individual users. Occasional syncing issue or delay might occur.

Cal.com vs. SavvyCal: Final thoughts 

To pick the right tool, ask yourself the following questions:

👉 Am I looking for a free scheduling solution? Then Cal.com will be your best bet, as SavvyCal’s free plan is very limited and doesn’t even allow you to create your own scheduling links.

👉 Am I looking for a straightforward booking tool? Consider choosing SavvyCal, as it doesn’t require technical knowledge and is easy to set up. 

👉 Am I looking for a fully customizable scheduling app? Cal.com may be your choice, as it offers open-source code, a self-hosting feature, and a slew of features that allow deep customization, especially if you have coding skills.

Still on the fence about Cal.com and SavvyCal? Give YouCanBook a shot 

If you want to strike a balance between an easy-to-use interface and impressive customization options, YouCanBookMe is the scheduling tool for you. 

With YouCanBookMe, you're in the driver's seat, shaping every aspect of the booking experience to match your customers' desires and your team’s needs. 

Whether it's adjusting availability, defining meeting formats and durations, or refining breaks, notifications, and branding, you have complete control.

As an added perk, you get free rein over its vast configurations without needing any coding skills. 

How does YouCanBookMe work?

Start by syncing your calendar and crafting your booking page. Then, share your scheduling link across your favorite channels—email signatures, social media, websites, or printed materials via QR code. 

Customers can breeze through the booking process in seconds with just a few clicks. 

And the cherry on top? Automated confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups ensure everyone arrives on time and prepared for your meetings.

YouCanBookMe lets you further enhance your booking experience by seamlessly connecting to your preferred tools—think Google Calendar, Zoom, Google Meet, Stripe, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and thousands more via Zapier.

Steven P., CEO of a small business, explains how YouCanBookMe helps him stay busy and organized:

Tons of features at a wallet-friendly price

Have we mentioned that YouCanBookMe is more affordable than both Cal.com and SavvyCal? Yep, you can access all its scheduling features for only $12/calendar/month!

YCBM also offers a free forever plan and a 14-day free trial of its paid plan (no credit card needed), so you can test all the features with zero risk. 

Easier scheduling is just a few clicks away

Are you ready to…

✅ Provide your customers with the seamless, rapid scheduling solution they’ve longed for—free from hassle, waiting, and frustration?

✅ Give your team an easily customizable tool that boosts efficiency and brings results?

If so, try YouCanBookMe today and say hello to easier scheduling. 

Cal.com vs SavvyCal FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Which is better: Cal.com or SavvyCal?

The answer depends on your specific needs. Cal.com welcomes teams and industries of all stripes with its robust scheduling features and seamless integrations, providing a solid choice, especially for those with in-house developers. With its open-source flexibility, tech-savvy users can tailor Cal.com to their exact needs, while the self-hosting option ensures full control over data. Meanwhile, SavvyCal offers a user-friendly, hassle-free solution perfect for professionals seeking simplicity without technical know-how. Despite offering fewer features, SavvyCal's colorful interface and unique capabilities make it an appealing choice for users across different industries.

What are the main differences between Cal.com and SavvyCal?

Unlike SavvyCal, Cal.com embraces an open-source approach and lets you self-host, giving you the freedom to customize features as you see fit. Plus, with its community-driven development, users can even chip in to create or enhance features. On the flip side, SavvyCal offers a more out-of-the-box solution, making it easy to customize without needing advanced technical know-how.

Which scheduling tool is more affordable: Cal.com or SavvyCal?

If you're prioritizing affordability and need a free scheduling solution, Cal.com is the better option. While SavvyCal also has a free plan, it's quite limited and doesn't allow you to schedule your own meetings. In terms of paid tiers, SavvyCal offers a cheaper plan at $12/user/month, but it lacks features like payment collection and admin access, which require the $20/user/month plan. Cal.com's paid plan, priced at $15 a month, falls between SavvyCal's two paid plans and offers robust features like payments, routing forms, and round-robin scheduling.

What’s an alternative to Cal.com and SavvyCal?

If you’re looking for an online scheduling tool that offers advanced customization without the need for coding skills, try YouCanBookMe. With YCBM, you can tailor every booking detail to match your preferences effortlessly. Manage your calendar, meeting types, durations, breaks, notifications, and branding with ease. What's more, it's a budget-friendly option, offering all advanced features at just $12/calendar/month, beating out both Cal.com and SavvyCal in affordability.