Cal.com
eM Client
| Feature | Cal.com | eM Client |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $12/mo | Free / from $49.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, startups, agencies, privacy-conscious-teams | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2021 | 2007 |
| Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Round Robin | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collective Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embed | ✓ | ✗ |
| ✗ | ✓ | |
| Calendar | ✗ | ✓ |
| Contacts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tasks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Cal.com Pros
- Open-source and self-hostable
- Unlimited event types on free plan
- Full API and webhook access
- White-label and embed options
✗ Cal.com Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical setup
- Fewer integrations than Calendly
- UI less polished than Calendly
✓ 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
Cal.com is built for developers and startups, with a focus on scheduling and self-hosting. eM Client targets professionals and windows users and leads with email and calendar.
On pricing, Cal.com is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $12/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $37.95/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Cal.com offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while eM Client takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
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.