Cal.com
Google Calendar
| Feature | Cal.com | Google Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $12/mo | Free / from $6/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | developers, startups, agencies, privacy-conscious-teams | individuals, teams, google-users, students |
| Founded | 2021 | 2006 |
| Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Self Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Round Robin | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collective Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Embed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Event Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reminders | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals | ✗ | ✓ |
| Appointment Slots | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time Insights | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shared Calendars | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Google Calendar Pros
- Free
- Great integrations
- Smart suggestions
- Cross-platform
✗ Google Calendar Cons
- Limited customization
- Basic views
- Requires Google account
The Verdict
Cal.com is built for developers and startups, with a focus on scheduling and self-hosting. Google Calendar targets individuals and teams and leads with event-scheduling and reminders.
On pricing, Google Calendar is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $6/mo compared to $12/mo for Cal.com. That $6/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 Google Calendar 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.