March 16, 2026
7 Best Calendly Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Paid)
Looking for a Calendly alternative? We compared the top 7 scheduling tools on features, pricing, GDPR compliance, and EU data hosting so you can pick the right one for your business.
Why Look for Calendly Alternatives?
Calendly is the household name in scheduling software, and for good reason. It pioneered the "share your link, let people book" workflow that millions of professionals rely on today. But it is not the right fit for everyone.
The most common reasons people start shopping around: pricing that escalates quickly once you need more than one event type, the 10% platform fee on payments for Standard plan users, limited GDPR controls for European teams, and data hosted exclusively in the US. If any of those hit home, you are in the right place.
We reviewed seven scheduling tools across features, pricing, privacy, and ease of use. Disclosure: PickASlot is our product, but we have tried to be objective in our comparison. Where a competitor genuinely does something better, we say so.
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Plan | Starting Price | GDPR Compliant | EU Data Hosting | Meeting Platforms | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PickASlot | Yes | €10/mo | Built-in | Yes (Ireland) | Meet, Teams, Zoom | EU professionals |
| Calendly | Yes (limited) | $12/mo | Add-on | No (US) | Meet, Teams, Zoom, Webex | Large US teams |
| Cal.com | Self-hosted | $12/mo (cloud) | If self-hosted | If self-hosted | Meet, Teams, Zoom, etc. | Developers |
| SavvyCal | Yes (limited) | $12/mo | Partial | No (US) | Meet, Zoom | Sales teams |
| TidyCal | Yes | $29 lifetime | Basic | No (US) | Meet, Zoom | Budget solopreneurs |
| Doodle | Yes (limited) | $6.95/mo | Yes | Yes (Germany) | Meet, Teams, Zoom | Group polls |
| Acuity | No | $16/mo | Partial | No (US) | Meet, Zoom | Squarespace users |
Detailed Reviews
1. PickASlot
Best for: European professionals who need GDPR compliance
PickASlot is a scheduling platform built from the ground up for the European market. All data is stored in the EU (AWS Ireland), and GDPR compliance is not an afterthought — it is part of the core architecture. Users can export their data, delete their account instantly, and guests can exercise their data rights through a dedicated GDPR portal.
It supports Google Calendar and Outlook sync, auto-creates Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom links, and includes Stripe payments with zero platform fees. The free tier gives you one event type and up to 50 bookings per month, which is enough for most freelancers. Pro costs €10/month (or €7/month billed annually) and unlocks unlimited event types, team scheduling, custom branding, and an embeddable widget.
Pros
- EU-hosted with GDPR baked into the product
- Zero platform fees on Stripe payments
- Google, Outlook, Meet, Teams, and Zoom support
- Team scheduling with round-robin
- Generous free plan
Cons
- Newer platform with a smaller community
- Fewer third-party integrations than Calendly
- No native Salesforce or HubSpot integration yet
Verdict: The best choice if EU data residency and GDPR compliance are requirements, not nice-to-haves. The zero-fee payment model is a significant plus for anyone selling paid consultations.
2. Calendly
Best for: Large teams in the US
Calendly is the tool that defined the category. With over 20 million users, it has the largest integration ecosystem of any scheduling platform. Native connections to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and dozens of other tools make it the default for sales teams in enterprise environments.
The free plan limits you to a single event type, which is restrictive. The Standard plan at $12/month adds most features people need, but Calendly charges a 10% platform fee on payments at that tier. The Teams plan at $20/month per seat removes the fee and adds round-robin and routing, but costs add up fast. Data is hosted in the US, and GDPR tools are available but not enabled by default.
Pros
- Mature product with a massive integration ecosystem
- Native Salesforce and HubSpot connectors
- Excellent mobile app
- Supports Webex in addition to standard platforms
Cons
- Data hosted in the US only
- GDPR compliance is an add-on, not built in
- 10% platform fee on payments (Standard plan)
- Gets expensive for teams ($20/seat/month)
Verdict: The industry standard for a reason, but its US-centric data hosting and rising costs make it harder to justify for European teams or solo professionals.
3. Cal.com
Best for: Developers who want self-hosting
Cal.com (formerly Calendso) is the leading open-source scheduling tool, licensed under AGPL. If you have the technical chops to self-host, you can run it for free on your own infrastructure, which means full control over where your data lives. The project has an active community and frequent updates.
The managed cloud version starts at $12/month per user and saves you the hassle of DevOps. However, users report that the cloud version can be buggy at times, and the UI, while functional, is not as polished as commercial alternatives. If you are comfortable with Docker and PostgreSQL, Cal.com gives you unmatched flexibility. If you are not, the onboarding friction is real.
Pros
- Open-source (AGPL) and self-hostable
- Full control over data location
- Highly customizable with APIs and webhooks
- Active developer community
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical expertise
- Cloud version can be buggy
- UI is less polished than commercial tools
- Support is community-driven on the free tier
Verdict: The best option for developers and teams with DevOps capabilities who want full ownership. Not ideal for non-technical users who just want something that works.
4. SavvyCal
Best for: Sales teams who want sender-first scheduling
SavvyCal takes a different approach to scheduling. Instead of showing a blank calendar, it lets invitees overlay their own calendar on top of yours so they can see mutual availability at a glance. This "sender-first" experience is particularly effective for sales workflows where you want to make it as easy as possible for prospects to find a time.
The free plan includes one connected calendar and basic scheduling. At $12/month, you get multiple calendars, custom branding, and priority links. The interface is beautifully designed and feels premium. However, it lacks some features that larger teams need, such as round-robin scheduling on the free plan, and data is hosted in the US.
Pros
- Unique overlay scheduling experience
- Beautiful, polished UI
- Great for sales and outbound workflows
- Priority links for important contacts
Cons
- Smaller feature set overall
- No team round-robin on free plan
- US-hosted data
- Fewer integrations than Calendly
Verdict: A unique and elegant approach to scheduling that shines in sales contexts. But it is a niche tool, and teams needing broader functionality may find it limiting.
5. TidyCal
Best for: Budget-conscious solopreneurs
TidyCal's claim to fame is its pricing. While most scheduling tools charge monthly, TidyCal offers a $29 lifetime deal that gives you access to its paid features forever. It is owned by AppSumo, the deal marketplace, which explains the aggressive pricing strategy. For solopreneurs who need basic scheduling and nothing more, it is hard to argue with the value.
That said, "you get what you pay for" applies here. TidyCal covers the basics — booking pages, calendar sync, Google Meet and Zoom links — but it lacks team scheduling, advanced automation, and the depth of integrations you would find in other tools. If your needs grow beyond simple 1-on-1 bookings, you will likely outgrow TidyCal quickly.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable ($29 one-time)
- Simple and easy to set up
- Gets the basic job done
- Free plan available
Cons
- Very basic feature set
- Limited integrations
- No team scheduling
- Owned by AppSumo (future uncertain)
Verdict: You cannot beat the price. If all you need is a simple booking page and calendar sync, TidyCal delivers. But do not expect it to scale with your business.
6. Doodle
Best for: Group poll scheduling
Doodle has been around since 2007 and is the go-to tool for finding a meeting time that works for a group. Its core feature is the scheduling poll: you propose several time slots, participants vote on what works, and Doodle finds the best overlap. For organizing committee meetings, team off-sites, or any multi-person event, it is genuinely excellent.
Doodle is a Swiss company with servers in Germany, which makes it one of the more privacy-friendly options on this list. The Pro plan at $6.95/month is reasonably priced. However, Doodle is not designed for the same use case as Calendly or PickASlot. It does not offer booking pages where someone picks from your real-time availability. If you need a classic scheduling link, Doodle is the wrong tool.
Pros
- Best-in-class group poll scheduling
- EU-hosted data (Germany)
- Well-known and trusted brand
- Affordable Pro plan
Cons
- Not designed for 1-on-1 booking pages
- UI feels dated compared to newer tools
- Free plan is quite limited (ads, no integrations)
- No payment processing
Verdict: Unmatched for group scheduling polls. But if you need a booking page where clients pick from your live availability, look elsewhere.
7. Acuity Scheduling (by Squarespace)
Best for: Service businesses with Squarespace websites
Acuity Scheduling was acquired by Squarespace in 2019 and has become the default scheduling tool within that ecosystem. If you already run your website on Squarespace, Acuity integrates seamlessly into your site. It is particularly strong for service businesses: think salons, coaches, photographers, and therapists who need intake forms, payment processing, and class or group scheduling.
The main drawback is that there is no free plan. Pricing starts at $16/month for a single calendar, and it goes up to $49/month for multiple calendars and staff management. Data is hosted in the US, and while Acuity has GDPR-related settings, it is not built with EU compliance as a priority. If you are not on Squarespace, the value proposition weakens considerably.
Pros
- Deep Squarespace integration
- Intake forms and custom questionnaires
- Payment processing (Stripe, Square, PayPal)
- Class and group appointment scheduling
Cons
- No free plan
- Tied to the Squarespace ecosystem
- Pricier than most alternatives
- US-hosted data
Verdict: The natural pick if you are already on Squarespace and run a service business. Otherwise, there are more flexible and affordable options.
How to Choose the Right Scheduling Tool
With seven solid options on the table, the right choice depends on what matters most to your business. Here is a quick decision framework:
- If you need GDPR compliance and EU data hosting → PickASlot is purpose-built for this.
- If you need maximum integrations and enterprise features → Calendly has the widest ecosystem.
- If you want to self-host and customize everything → Cal.com gives you full control.
- If you are in sales and want overlay scheduling → SavvyCal's approach is unique.
- If you are on a tight budget → TidyCal's lifetime deal is unbeatable.
- If you need group poll scheduling → Doodle is the gold standard.
- If you are on Squarespace → Acuity Scheduling is the native choice.
No single tool is perfect for everyone. Start with your non-negotiables — data location, budget, integrations, team size — and let those narrow the field. Most of these tools offer free plans or trials, so you can test before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free alternative to Calendly?
PickASlot and Cal.com both offer strong free plans. PickASlot includes Google and Outlook calendar sync, video meeting links, email reminders, and up to 50 bookings per month at no cost. Cal.com is free if you self-host, but its cloud version starts at $12/month. TidyCal also has a free plan with basic features.
Is Calendly GDPR compliant?
Calendly offers GDPR compliance features, but they are treated as an add-on rather than a default. Data is stored in the US, and you need to configure GDPR-related settings manually. For organizations where EU data residency is a hard requirement, purpose-built tools like PickASlot may be a better fit.
Which scheduling tool hosts data in the EU?
PickASlot hosts all data in the EU by default (AWS Ireland). Doodle stores data in Germany. Cal.com can be self-hosted anywhere, including the EU. Most other popular scheduling tools — Calendly, SavvyCal, TidyCal, and Acuity — host data in the United States.
Can I accept payments through scheduling software?
Yes. PickASlot, Calendly, and Acuity Scheduling all support payment collection at the time of booking. PickASlot integrates with Stripe and charges zero platform fees — you only pay standard Stripe processing fees. Calendly charges a 10% platform fee on its Standard plan. Acuity supports Stripe, Square, and PayPal.
What scheduling tool has zero platform fees on payments?
PickASlot charges zero platform fees on guest payments. When a guest pays for a meeting, 100% of the payment goes to the host. Only standard Stripe processing fees apply. This is a notable difference from Calendly, which takes a 10% cut on its Standard plan.
Ready to try a scheduling tool built for Europe?
PickASlot is free to start. Connect your calendar, create your first event type, and share your booking link in under two minutes. No credit card required.