When it comes to managing my schedule, I look for more than just a basic calendar app. I need an organizer that helps me stay on top of my tasks, reminds me of important engagements, and works in sync across devices. That’s why I’ve been looking for online calendars that make scheduling enjoyable and efficient.
I recently tried Fantastical and was quite impressed by its innovative features and user-friendly design, which also make it popular among Apple users. Its natural language processing capabilities and visually appealing interface blend the usual calendar functions with advanced features.
However, you need to subscribe to the premium version to use Fantastical’s power features, and it hasn’t evolved as quickly as some AI-integrated calendar apps.
Additionally, its focus on the Apple ecosystem limits its usefulness across different platforms. Despite these limitations, Fantastical remains a reliable option for Apple users looking for a well-designed calendar app.
I’ve spent a lot of time testing calendar applications, and based on extensive research, my team and I’ve put together the 10 best Fantastical alternatives. Each offers unique features and benefits, showing you how to save time and make the most of your online calendar experience!
10 Best Fantastical Alternatives in 2024
- What Should You Look for in Fantastical Alternatives?
- The 10 Best Fantastical Alternatives to Use in 2024
- 1. ClickUp—The best daily calendar app
- 2. Google Calendar—Best for calendar management and scheduling
- 3. Motion—The best productivity management app
- 4. Cron—The best choice for Notion users
- 5. Woven—The best on-premise calendar and scheduling tool
- 6. Zcal—Best for professional service businesses
- 7. Calendly—The best appointment scheduling app
- 8. Microsoft Outlook—The best personal information management app
- 9. Sunsama—Best for time blocking your personal schedule
- 10. Apple Calendar—Best for iPhone and iPad users
- Enhance Productivity with the Best Calendar App
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Should You Look for in Fantastical Alternatives?
To-do lists, reminders, notifications, and calendar integration—these are features common to every daily planner that we’ve tested. However, when choosing an alternative to Fantastical, you must look for features that go beyond the basics.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Compatibility and cross-platform support: Ensure that the Fantastical alternative is compatible across devices and platforms (iOS, Android, and web) to maintain seamless synchronization
- Advanced scheduling features: Look for features that make scheduling easier, such as natural language processing, multiple calendar views, customizable alerts, and integration with multiple apps, such as task management tools, email clients, or note-taking apps
- Customization: Look for customization options that let you personalize your calendar settings, such as color-coding events, setting recurring tasks, and adjusting notification preferences
- Collaboration features: If you often work collaboratively, consider alternatives that offer collaboration features like shared calendars, group scheduling, and task assignment to facilitate teamwork
- Security: Prioritize security features such as end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and data backup to protect your calendar data from unauthorized access or loss
- User interface: Evaluate the user interface for ease of use and visual appeal. A clean and intuitive interface can enhance productivity and user experience
- Pricing: Evaluate the pricing plans of the alternatives, considering your budget and the value of the features included in each plan. Look for free trials or freemium options to test the app before committing to a subscription
Some apps offer a few of these, while others offer more than you need. Pick the app that works best for you and helps you get things done more efficiently.
Here are ten of our favorites.
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe 10 Best Fantastical Alternatives to Use in 2024
You’ll find a concise description and comparison of each Fantastical alternative that made it to the top 10. I’ve highlighted their key features, limitations, pricing, and ratings to help you choose the best calendar tool for your business.
Let’s begin with the house favorite—ClickUp!
1. ClickUp—The best daily calendar app
ClickUp is a powerhouse when it comes to productivity, and task planning and time blocking play a large part in that.
I use the ClickUp Calendar View in both personal and professional settings. The intuitive drag-and-drop interface and customization options are excellent for keeping my schedule on track. The user-friendly interface brings task management, scheduling, and recurring events on a single screen.
ClickUp helps me stay on schedule with a two-way synced calendar, task creation, and other features. The mobile app also allows me to access my schedule, recurring reminders, and calendar events on the go.
ClickUp is especially helpful if you lead or work within a team. The best customizable template, ClickUp’s Calendar Planner Template, helps us manage tasks and meet deadlines without spending excessive time planning our days and weeks.
The Calendar Planning Template helps us:
- Assign tasks to team members and set clear deadlines to ensure everyone is accountable and up to date
- Use the ClickUp Calendar View to get a high-level view of events, meetings, and deadlines for the team
- Break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks to make them less overwhelming and easier to track
- Automate reminders based on triggers for tasks and events to keep the team informed
- Review and adjust the calendar planner to adapt to changing priorities, new projects, and unexpected delays
Additionally, you can visualize workloads and daily plans with 15+ customizable ClickUp Views. These views allow us to zoom in and out of our projects and schedules—an excellent feature for team leads and project managers.
The filters allow me to display only the tasks I’m interested in and share my calendar with others. This feature makes managing my time and tasks much easier and more efficient.
ClickUp best features
- Add tasks and new events with daily, weekly, and monthly views
- Customize your Calendar View to create various calendar types, from content calendars to sprint milestones and more
- Create to-do lists and summaries of completed tasks with ClickUp Brain
- Reschedule any event or task instantly with drag-and-drop functionality
- Manage work in one place with project management tools
- Share calendars with your team to schedule events and assign tasks
- Break down large tasks into manageable ClickUp Checklists and set goals
- Enhance productivity with ClickUp’s time-tracking features
- Connect other work apps like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Time Doctor with ClickUp Integrations
- Access ClickUp via iOS, Android, iPad, desktop, or web app
ClickUp limitations
- New users may find ClickUp’s wide array of features overwhelming
ClickUp pricing
- Free Forever
- Unlimited: $7/user per month
- Business: $12/user per month
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing
- ClickUp Brain is available in any paid plan for $7 per member per Workspace per month
ClickUp ratings & reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (4,000+ reviews)
2. Google Calendar—Best for calendar management and scheduling
For those who work within the Google workspace, Google Calendar makes organizing and managing your events, setting reminders, and inviting others a breeze.
The tool is excellent for planning team meetings and events and blocking time for yourself throughout your workday. Calendar syncs automatically with Gmail, so you instantly get notifications, reminders, and updates whenever your events change.
There are several customization options, too—from vibrant themes to various viewing options. Plus, you can create and maintain separate calendars on a single screen.
One feature I appreciate is the intelligent time-blocking suggestions: Based on the people you’ve invited to your meeting, the tool will automatically find free time slots on everyone’s Calendar.
Google Calendar’s best features
- Integrate seamlessly with other Google apps like Gmail, Drive, Sheets, and Meet
- Send reminders via email, text message, or pop-up notifications
- Share your calendar (and control privacy and access) for others to view your scheduled events
- Use ClickUp’s Calendly integration to have appointments set up on your Google Calendar
Google Calendar limitations
- Difficulty visualizing overlapping schedules in the same time slot
- Lack of integration with video conferencing tools other than Google Meet
Google Workspace pricing
- Free
- Business Starter: $7.20/user per month
- Business Standard: $14.40/user per month
- Business Plus: $21.60/user per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Google Calendar ratings & reviews
- G2: Not available
- Capterra: 4.8/5 (3100+ reviews)
3. Motion—The best productivity management app
Motion is a productivity app with a cutting-edge AI-powered calendar designed to make you more productive. I loved how it made scheduling and task management easier with intuitive AI-driven features, such as smart scheduling, task prioritization, and time blocking.
For instance, the smart scheduling algorithm automatically adjusts meetings based on priority and availability, while the task prioritization feature uses AI to ensure I tackle the most critical tasks first.
Additionally, the project tracking tool provides real-time updates and progress reports, which helps me keep my projects on track. I tested Motion’s integration feature, which combined my Apple, Outlook, and Google Calendar into one streamlined interface.
I found Motion to be a good alternative to Fantastical. Unlike Fantastical, Motion offers comprehensive task management and project tracking capabilities, making it a more suitable solution for businesses.
Motion best features
- Automate scheduling to find the best meeting times that suit everyone’s calendar
- Prioritize tasks using AI, which helps users focus on what’s most important, thereby enhancing day-to-day productivity
- Simplify team collaboration by syncing schedules and tasks, which facilitates better communication and project management
- Optimize time management with analytics, which provides insights into how individuals and teams spend their time
Motion limitations
- The subscription cost is a barrier for small businesses or individuals looking for cost-effective solutions
- Platform compatibility issues could arise, particularly if Motion does not seamlessly integrate with existing tools and software already in use by a business
Motion pricing
- Free Trial
- Individual: $34/user per month
- Team: $20/user per month
Motion ratings & reviews
- G2: 4.2/5 (80+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.3/5 (40+ reviews)
4. Cron—The best choice for Notion users
Cron, now known as Notion Calendar, is a versatile component of the much larger Notion workspace platform. It is made to enhance organizational productivity by streamlining task management for professionals.
For me, the magic happens when I combine notes, tasks, databases, and reminders into one unified calendar. Notion Calendar creates a cohesive planning and collaboration environment that’s second to none. I particularly love its full integration with other Notion elements, which allows me to link my tasks and notes to events and meetings.
Notion Calendar’s ability to fully integrate with Notion’s other elements gives it a significant advantage over Fantastical.
Unlike Fantastical, which focuses mainly on calendar functions, Notion Calendar combines a comprehensive suite of tools for notes, tasks, and databases—much like ClickUp.
Cron best features
- Integrate seamlessly with other Notion components, allowing users to link databases, notes, and tasks directly within the calendar
- Customize templates to fit specific business processes or project needs
- Drag and drop tasks to adjust your schedule easily, manage daily agendas, and simplify long-term planning
- Visualize project progress and manage deadlines with timeline views
- Sync across devices to keep all team members updated in real-time
Cron limitations
- No offline mode, which restricts access to the calendar and associated tasks when there is no internet connectivity
Notion pricing
- Free
- Plus: $8/user per month
- Business: $15/user per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Notion ratings & reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (5400+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (2100+ reviews)
5. Woven—The best on-premise calendar and scheduling tool
Woven, now integrated into Slack, is a good calendar app. It’s known for simplifying scheduling and time management. Its intuitive interface and robust integration capabilities make it a top choice for busy professionals seeking to streamline their calendars.
By integrating powerful tools like smart templates, scheduling links, and group polls, Woven simplifies meeting coordination and maximizes productivity. Its Smart Templates let me quickly set up meetings with predefined settings, saving time and reducing repetitive scheduling tasks.
Woven also offers analytics to track meeting time, providing insights that help optimize schedules and improve efficiency.
Woven best features
- Sync across multiple calendars to provide a unified view of all commitments
- Generate scheduling links to share availability with others
- Conduct group polls to determine the best time for meetings among multiple participants
- Analyze time usage with built-in analytics that highlight how meeting time is spent, offering opportunities for optimization and better time management
Woven limitations
- Discontinued as a standalone service after the integration into Slack, making it unavailable for users who don’t use the Slack platform
Woven (Slack) pricing
- Free
- Pro: $8.75/user per month
- Business: $12.50/user per month
- Enterprise Grid: Custom pricing
Woven (Slack) ratings & reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (32,500+ ratings)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (23,200+ ratings)
6. Zcal—Best for professional service businesses
Combine the convenience of Calendly and the familiar user experience of Google Calendar with Zcal. Zcal is a scheduling solution designed to facilitate appointment setting and calendar management.
The tool is especially helpful for solopreneurs or professional service businesses. Your clients and customers can set appointments through booking links and reschedule them without consulting you.
Some of the features I tested include one-click scheduling, customizable booking pages, and integration with other calendar applications. The one-click scheduling option saved me a lot of time by allowing clients and colleagues to book appointments without hassle.
You will find customizable booking pages, too—customize the look and feel to match your brand.
Additionally, Zcal integrates smoothly with other calendar applications like Google Calendar and Outlook, ensuring all my schedules sync across platforms.
Zcal best features
- Simplify the process of scheduling meetings by creating and sharing booking links with a few clicks
- Integrate seamlessly with popular calendar services like Google Calendar and Outlook
- Embed scheduling pages directly on business websites or social media platforms
- Automate reminders and follow-ups to reduce no-shows and maintain engagement with clients or stakeholders
Zcal limitations
- Limited advanced features compared to more comprehensive enterprise-grade Fantastical alternatives
Zcal pricing
- Free
- Pro: $7.50/user per month
Zcal ratings & reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
7. Calendly—The best appointment scheduling app
Few scheduling apps are as popular as Calendly for professionals worldwide! It allows users to auto-schedule appointments, customize the calendar, and receive notifications—what’s not to like?
But what sets Calendly apart?
First, it’s not a typical calendar app: Calendly is a comprehensive time management and scheduling tool. It simplifies managing workdays with its web-based platform and unique link-based scheduling feature.
I liked the automated reminders, which helped keep me on track with my engagements and ensured I didn’t miss important meetings. Additionally, Calendly’s time zone adjustment feature eliminates the hassle of coordinating meetings across different regions.
That’s not all. Calendly also offers customizable event types. Need to set aside some time between meetings? Calendly’s buffer times feature lets you do that, giving you the flexibility you need to take control of your day.
Calendly best features
- Integrate seamlessly with Google, Slack, Zoom, and several other platforms
- Provide a super-easy, friendly UI to others for effortless appointment booking
- Set up Calendly in minutes—no need for training
Calendly limitations
- It may prove costly for companies with minimal monthly calendar scheduling needs
- Some features may not be available in the mobile version
Calendly pricing
- Free
- Standard: $12/seat per month
- Team: $20/seat per month
- Enterprise: Starts at $15,000
Calendly ratings & reviews
- G2: 4.7/5 (2100+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7/5 (3400+ reviews)
8. Microsoft Outlook—The best personal information management app
For many, Microsoft Outlook is their go-to personal information manager, seamlessly integrating email, calendaring, contacts, tasks, and notes into one convenient application.
I particularly appreciate Outlook’s free online calendar feature, which offers many functions. You can create appointments, link to meetings and events, manage multiple calendars and sub-calendars, set reminders, invite others to events, and access my calendar in various ways.
Just a word of caution: Upgrading to a Microsoft 365 plan is necessary for those looking to unlock the full suite of Microsoft tools and remove ads.
Microsoft Outlook’s best features
- Get a versatile, user-friendly interface
- Integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft tools
- Combine email and calendar functionalities in one place
Microsoft Outlook limitations
- Some users find the UI overwhelming
Microsoft Outlook pricing
- Free
- Microsoft 365 Basic: $19.99/year per user
- Microsoft 365 Personal: $69.99/year per user
- Microsoft 365 Family: $99/year per user
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Microsoft Outlook ratings & reviews
- G2: 4.5/5 (2,700+ reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5/5 (1,900+ reviews)
9. Sunsama—Best for time blocking your personal schedule
Sunsama stands out as a scheduling app because of its unique approach to task management: It integrates seamlessly with your existing workflow. You can plan, prioritize, and schedule tasks from various sources, including emails and project management tools.
This centralized productivity workspace organizes all your tasks in one place, making it easy to manage your workload and avoid over-committing.
One feature that sets Sunsama apart is its auto-scheduling functionality. While it does not automatically add tasks to your calendar like some other apps, it does allow you to easily schedule tasks around your meetings and commitments by right-clicking or hovering over the task and selecting “Add to calendar.”
But what I loved most about Sunsama was the focus mode. I could minimize distractions by hiding all tasks except the one being worked on, it’s a great hack if you follow the Ivy Lee productivity method.
Sunsama best features
- Reschedule and prioritize events and time blocks with a drag-and-drop interface
- Unify your workflow by integrating tools like ClickUp, Trello, Outlook, and more
- Cut out distractions and mute notifications with the focus mode
- Speed up scheduling with keyboard shortcuts
Sunsama limitations
- Some users found that the app is not ideal for collaborating with team members on big projects
Sunsama pricing
- 14-day free trial
- Monthly subscription: $20/user per month
- Yearly subscription: $16/user per month (billed annually)
Sunsama ratings & reviews
- G2: Not enough reviews
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
10. Apple Calendar—Best for iPhone and iPad users
The Apple Calendar is an online planner designed specifically for Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Apple loyalists love how well it syncs across their devices.
Also called iCal, this tool effortlessly manages your schedule using daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views. The ability to color-code events and import tasks from emails has greatly improved my work.
It seamlessly integrates with iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo, and Exchange, which makes it one of the top 10 alternatives to Fantastical. However, this app may feel restrictive since it’s meant for Apple devices.
Apple Calendar’s best features
- Sync seamlessly with Google, Outlook, and other tools
- Dial a conference call with one-touch
- Use repeating events, alerts, and reminders to stay on top of important events and deadlines
- Access event and location details with a simple tap
Apple Calendar limitations
- Some copy-and-paste functions are only available on the web version
- Difficulty in collaborating or sharing availability links with non-iOS users
Apple Calendar pricing
- iCall App: $2.99 + optional in-app purchases
Apple Calendar ratings & reviews
- G2: 4.1/5 (190+ reviews)
- Capterra: Not enough reviews
Summarize this article for me pleaseEnhance Productivity with the Best Calendar App
We’ve looked into several robust alternatives to Fantastical, each packed with features that range from smooth integration to sophisticated calendar scheduling and intelligent task management tools.
Whether it’s Zcal’s strong scheduling capabilities or ClickUp’s extensive project management capabilities, there’s a good option for just about anyone.
If you want to boost your productivity and facilitate communication with your team, I recommend checking out ClickUp. It offers excellent calendar and time management features and can transform how you manage your projects.
Start using ClickUp for free today.
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