BusyCal
eM Client
| Feature | BusyCal | eM Client |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $4.99/mo | Free / from $49.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | mac-professionals, power-users, freelancers, consultants | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2010 | 2007 |
| Custom Views | ✓ | ✗ |
| Natural Language | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tasks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weather | ✓ | ✗ |
| Travel Time | ✓ | ✗ |
| Menu Bar Calendar | ✓ | ✗ |
| ✗ | ✓ | |
| Calendar | ✗ | ✓ |
| Contacts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ BusyCal Pros
- Highly customizable
- Menu bar calendar
- Natural language
- One-time purchase option
✗ BusyCal Cons
- Mac only
- Learning curve
- Less modern design
✓ eM Client Pros
- One-time purchase
- Feature-rich
- Good Exchange support
- Modern UI
✗ eM Client Cons
- Desktop only
- Free limited to 2 accounts
- Occasional sync issues
The Verdict
BusyCal is built for mac professionals and power users, with a focus on custom-views and natural-language. eM Client targets professionals and windows users and leads with email and calendar.
On pricing, BusyCal is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $4.99/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $44.96/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
eM Client has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. BusyCal requires a paid subscription from day one.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.