The Best Calendar Apps for Mac (and iOS + Web)

Most people underestimate the power of a calendar app on macOS.

With the right one, it’s like having a personal assistant in your pocket—planning your day, reminding you of birthdays, managing time zones, and even using AI to optimize your schedule.

The catch? You need one of the best. If you’re relying on the default Mac calendar, you’re missing out.

Problems with the built-in calendar app

Mac has some excellent built-in apps—but Apple Calendar isn’t one of them.

For what it’s worth, Apple Calendar integrates with iCloud and your Apple ID and offers a clean interface, but once you need customization or advanced features, it quickly falls short. Managing multiple calendars or profiles on the same panel is cumbersome, and there are limited customization options.

I initially used Apple Calendar and enjoyed its native integration, but it soon felt too basic. That’s why I turned to third-party apps—and why most Mac users will eventually need an alternative.

Best 3rd party calendar apps for Mac

• BusyCal: Best For a Balanced Workflow
• Fantastical: Best Feature-Rich App
• Morgen: Best for AI-powered Time Management
• Informant: Best for Advanced Planning
• Calendars: Best Minimal Calendar
• Dato: Best Menu-bar Calendar
• Notion Calendar: Best Free Calendar
• Other Great Options

#1 BusyCal: Best for a Balanced Workflow

BusyCal has been recognized as one of the top calendar applications available for macOS and iOS. It has also been our go-to Mac calendar app with balanced workflow. For what it’s worth, BusyCal packs so many features that make the app a suitable option for beginners, intermediates, and professional power users.

Getting Started

Getting started with BusyCal is incredibly easy. Once the basic setup is complete, you can connect multiple calendar accounts and other services, such as Apple Reminders and various to-do task lists. You can manage all these accounts from the sidebar, even if you have multiple calendars from a single account.

Integration & Features

This calendar for Mac excels in terms of integration as well. Once you have set up the calendars, you can connect your Apple Calendar for native notifications. Even otherwise, the features are well-integrated into macOS, allowing you to make changes with quick actions.

We love the scheduling options on BusyCal for Mac. To get started, you can use natural language to create events, and changing these events is easy thanks to the drag-and-drop feature. We also appreciate that the calendar app offers multi-time zone support, allowing you to plan events across multiple time zones.

The calendar app includes many additional features, such as native support for elements like weather and alarms. You can also use tags and categories to filter out the different events and keep track of multiple workspaces. There are also options to keep track of conference calls and sync everything.

Pricing

You can purchase BusyCal for macOS for $49.99, and a 30-day free trial is also available. Alternatively, you can get the calendar app through a Setapp subscription.

Our take

In our opinion, BusyCal is an all-in-one calendar app that can suit your different calendar management needs. It strikes a perfect balance between features and usability. So, although it is a paid-only service, it is a wise investment for users who need better control over their lives.

Read full BusyCal review

#2 Fantastical: Most Feature-rich Calendar

Whereas our first pick strikes a great balance between minimalism and features, you may sometimes need a web browser with additional features. In that case, you can consider Fantastical. This app is available for macOS, iOS, and Windows. The app works great with other apps and services from the developer; you may want to count on them when you need a serious productivity boost.

Getting Started

It also features a more appealing and intuitive UI design. So, getting started with this calendar app is easier than ever. The wizard enables you to connect multiple calendar accounts and manage them with ease. It is also great that you can navigate between different viewing modes and quickly view the available events from the same screen.

Integration & Features

You get a few ways to integrate other services and apps with Fantastical. These integrations make it a better space to manage meetings, video calls, and other collaboration options. It also works well with a Mac system, thanks to widgets and customization options. You can also benefit from integration with to-do platforms.

Fantastical also offers a handy suite of scheduling features. First, you can use the RSVP function to invite and track people. You can use Openings to request the right time, whereas Proposals helps you plan events with minimal hassle. Fantastical’s integration with services like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams makes things smoother than ever before.

Other features baked into Fantastical include native time-zone support, built-in weather information, and a curated collection of interesting calendars that you can download/subscribe to. You can check out our detailed comparison of BusyCal vs Fantastical for more insights into what they offer.

Pricing

Fantastical is available only as a combined subscription, known as Flexibits Premium. This subscription costs $4.75 per month when billed annually. You get a contact management system from the developer, named CardHop, as part of the subscription. In addition, Fantastical offers a limited free version.

Our Take

Though it costs a bit, Fantastical brings an impressive set of features to your everyday calendar. The regular support and feature additions from the developer are great to look forward to. It’s also remarkable that you can enjoy all the features on multiple devices.

Read full Fantastical review

#3 Morgen: Best for AI-powered Time Management

While our top two picks are standalone calendars, Morgen is a little different. While you can use it like any other calendar app, Morgen works best when you want the convenience of advanced planning/scheduling.  Following the AI trend, Morgen has also introduced AI-powered planning to the feature set. You might want to consider this calendar app if you prioritize scheduling as much as you do viewing calendars.

Getting Started

Before you can download the Morgen calendar app, you have to create an account on the platform. After that, you can download the unified app, which not only functions as a calendar but also allows you to manage various aspects of your productivity. Once installed, the app lets you sign in and connect various calendars, project management platforms, and video-conferencing tools.

Integration & Features

As we mentioned, you can use Morgen as a standalone calendar app that displays all your calendars in a clear and organized way. However, because you can connect calendars and other platforms like Todoist and Apple Reminders, you get to manage your entire schedule from the same app.

You can also utilize various collaboration tools to plan together. For instance, Morgen allows you to create custom booking pages for scheduling meetings. Because it keeps multiple calendars synced, finding out your availability slots is also easy. However, the star of the show is AI Planner.

An AI planner can synthesize your calendar data and assist you in planning tasks or events. It is as simple as clicking a single button, and the AI engine will take care of the rest. Unlike some other apps, however, Morgen does not take control away from you. It offers plenty of control over how your time is scheduled.

Pricing

Morgen no longer offers a free version. You can get the service by paying $15 per month when paid annually. It provides a 14-day free trial, though.

Our Take

If you need a calendar that offers an impressive balance of AI-powered automation and control, Morgen is indeed an excellent option. Its multi-platform availability makes the app a superior choice compared to the many competing options.

Read our full Morgen review

#4 Informant: Best for Advanced Planning

Pocket Informant, commonly known as Informant, is another professional-grade calendar app that can be used on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. As for the macOS application, Informant for macOS offers all the core features you need. With the help of the Informant Sync subscription, you can keep everything in sync as well.

Getting Started

While we have to agree that Informant does not have the most modern UI, it does get the job done. You don’t need technical expertise to get started or establish connections with multiple calendar services. After the setup, you can utilize various modules to manage tasks and projects. The tabbed interface, with a built-in power search option, makes it easy to manage tasks.

Integration & Features

Because Informant has been designed for professionals, you do not have to worry about integration. It has the capabilities to manage multiple calendars, including those of enterprises. In addition to connecting to existing to-do and project management services, you can use the built-in modules of Informant. For instance, you can easily set up the integration with Google Tasks or Apple Reminders.

Although Informant does not offer advanced scheduling options, task management with the app is easier than you can imagine. Now, some features like built-in templates and Quick Entry will aid you in this process. You can also use colors and icons to ensure sanity while managing multiple sets of calendars from a single screen.

As we said, Informant is not big on additional features, per se. Instead, the developer has focused on providing a seamless calendar experience for professionals. This means you can expect all the core features to be available on both mobile and desktop apps. With the help of Informant Sync, you do not have to worry about whether all the information is available everywhere.

Pricing

The core calendar app from Pocket Informant is available for $49.99. However, if you need the power of sync, you’d have to get the subscription, which starts at $5 per month.

Our Take

Compared to other picks, Informant is a more focused calendar app. You may not like this package if you do not prioritize planning. However, when you do, this app delivers an impressive package for professionals and beginners alike.

#5  Calendars: Best Minimal Calendar

Sometimes, you need a simple calendar app that gives you a glance, right? If you need such an app for Mac, you should check out Calendars. Compared to the other apps on this list, Calendars does not pack many features. However, for those who need a simple way to keep track of events with some aesthetic elements that they can appreciate, Calendars will not let them down.

Getting Started

For what it’s worth, the calendar app from Readdle gets the job done for most people. You don’t have to worry about tricky menu bars or selection options. Instead, you can simply arrange the calendars you want to access and toggle them as needed. Like many other Readdle apps, Calendars is also known for its colorful UI, which makes navigation easy.

Integration & Features

While it may not be the most compatible calendar app available, Calendars by Readdle is satisfactory in terms of integration. The best part is that you can set up all the required calendars during the setup. There is also an option to connect local calendars to the Readdle app. Although many customization options are missing from the package, the overall integration and compatibility are excellent for a free app.

The scheduling options available with Calendars are also minimal. Of course, you can easily manage tasks and events from different calendars, but that is about the whole deal. For instance, you cannot expect any collaboration-oriented scheduling options in the app. For those features, you need a professional pick. It also lacks multi-time zone support, which can be crucial for pro users.

There are several additional features that you can unlock with the Pro version of Calendars. You get to explore the Planner module, which offers drag-and-drop support for planning. You also get a few other features, such as a built-in Tasks module, multiple account support, and natural language input. There is also an option to integrate weather information into the system.

Pricing

As we mentioned, the core features of Calendars are available at no cost. However, if you require the complete set of features, a premium subscription is necessary. The subscription costs $2.99 per month.

Our Take

Calendars by Readdle offers ample value when you need a free yet aesthetically pleasing way to manage multiple calendars on your Mac. It is also one of the more stable calendars we have come across.

#6 Best Menu-bar Calendar: Dato

We’ve reviewed menu-bar calendar apps before, but Dato is a different breed! This powerful app from Sindre Sorhus is likely the only menu-bar calendar app that can fully replace traditional ones. The best part? It does everything from your Mac’s menu bar, while leaving enough room for customization.

Getting Started

Getting started with Dato is easier than ever. As soon as you install this application, it will request simple permissions to access your Apple Calendar. In a moment, you’ll have a menu bar item that provides an overview of the calendar, including upcoming events, video call notifications, full-screen notifications, and many other features.

Integration & Features

Although it offers some innovative features, Dato is designed to be a helper for Apple Calendar. This means you cannot add a calendar to Dato. However, any calendar connected to your Apple Calendar app would be accessible through the menu-bar interface. Once you get started, you can customize almost everything.

Dato offers some handy features, including built-in Time Zone support, which I regularly use as I work across multiple time zones. Similarly, Dato can recognize your video call appointments and notify you on time. You can also configure full-screen notifications.

You can also use other features, such as Quick Entry and Time Calculators. While Quick Entry lets you add an event to the calendar without opening Apple Calendar, Time Calculator helps you understand the time remaining until an event. We also love how integrated the keyboard shortcuts are.

Pricing

Dato isn’t particularly cheap, since it costs $16 for a one-time purchase. You get lifetime updates as well. Or you can get the app as part of a Setapp subscription.

Our Take

Dato is more than your typical menu-bar calendar app. It becomes a much-needed companion if you prefer having Apple Calendar as the default option. It is great that you can access all these great features from the convenience of your menu bar.

#7 Best Free Calendar: Notion Calendar

Notion Calendar is a free calendar app available for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and the web. It happens to be one of the very few free calendar apps that come with the necessary features for most users.

Though it is from Notion, you are not locked in. Dave Macdonald, founder of SocialXpresso, highlights one of its strongest points: “Notion Calendar fits so naturally into our existing Notion setup that it feels like it was always meant to be there. It pulls in meetings, tasks, and campaign timelines directly from our databases, keeping everything perfectly aligned.”

Getting Started

Setting up Notion Calendar does not take a lot of time. You can sign in using your Notion account or connect your calendar instantly with a Google account. Everything else goes like clockwork. We must appreciate the sleek design that the calendar app brings to the table.

Integration & Features

Notion Calendar allows you to connect to almost every calendar you may be using. In addition, you have built-in integration with Notion and your workspaces. You also get built-in integration for platforms like Google Meet, Zoom, and even Apple Calendar. Linking to other video conferencing services would not be a problem.

Though it is entirely free, Notion Calendar doesn’t disappoint when it comes to features. Indeed, you’ll get the best out of this calendar if you already use Notion for your workspace needs. Even otherwise, you can count on features like built-in scheduling, multi-time zone support, and the modern UI that makes it easy to navigate across the application.

We also appreciate that this application and its features are available on mobile devices, allowing you to enjoy the same UI and scheduling options from your iPhone or Android smartphone. Rest assured, though, you will get a better experience out of this calendar app if you already use Notion.

Pricing

Notion Calendar is completely free to use.

Our Take

If you can tolerate/appreciate the integration with Notion, Notion Calendar could be one of the best options out there. The fact that it is entirely free is another reason to prefer it to other options.

Other great options

Here are a few other calendar apps you can consider. They didn’t make it to the top list, but they work well.

#8 Clockwise

Clockwise is an AI-powered time management calendar that uses GPT for many of its functions. Therefore, if you need a calendar that works across your team, consider checking out Clockwise. In addition to the core features you would expect from a standard calendar, the package includes several features that optimize time and productivity.

Clockwise gives you the most value for the price you pay when it comes to scheduling. As we mentioned earlier, the service has been designed to maximize the benefits of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Therefore, you can utilize features like Copilot and Autopilot to streamline event scheduling across your organization.

Depending on your needs, you can choose between the Free, Teams, and Business plans of the web-based calendar app. The Teams plan starts at $6.75, which includes all the core features. Clockwise works with only work email accounts, though.

#9 Outlook Calendar

Another option to consider when searching for a calendar app for Mac, iOS, and iPadOS is Outlook Calendar. Outlook Calendar is part of the Microsoft Office suite and works seamlessly with other applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

If you are using these services and products to elevate your company’s operations, you will appreciate what Outlook Calendar has to offer. The core idea of Outlook Calendar may be free, but you will need to purchase subscriptions if you are looking for additional controls. At the end of the day, you can get all the core features of the calendar even when you are accessing it from a web-based interface.

There are, of course, some limitations that you can expect. For instance, Microsoft Outlook Calendar is designed to work seamlessly with the Windows ecosystem and Microsoft Office. Many of these features are great if you have already invested in the Office ecosystem.

#10 Reclaim

Reclaim AI is another AI-powered scheduling assistant that works with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar. This tool is designed to help you distribute your team smartly across a week while saving enough room for focusing and refreshing.

Once you have connected your Google or Outlook account, you can get started with Reclaim AI and utilize all its features, including focus blocking, time blocking, and calendar management. You can also benefit from features like smart meetings and scheduling links, which help you find the right time for your meetings and facilitate input from the person you are meeting with, rather than giving them a random time.

The calendar sync options are also great when you want to juggle between multiple calendars. Reclaim AI does not have a dedicated macOS app; however, you can access the main interface using any web browser, including those on your iPhone.

The best part? Reclaim AI is entirely free for individual users.

How we chose the best third-party calendar apps

In our evaluation, we considered the following factors, combining them with hands-on experiences. Read the full rundown of how we select tools to feature on TheSweetBits blog.

• Ease of Use: A calendar app should function as your reliable assistant, accessible and user-friendly. We prioritized apps with an intuitive interface, diverse viewing options, and a consistent design that spans both macOS and iOS.
• Performance: The calendar app should cater to both average and power users, ensuring ease of use for individuals of all ages, from your 70-year-old grandmother to your 15-year-old daughter.
• macOS and iOS integration: I mean, you can’t expect the level of integration that you would from the default Calendar app. Still, the best calendar app should work fine with macOS and iOS. At least when it comes to on-time notifications, you should not have to use a third-party tool.
• Third-Party Integrations: You may have accounts in other Calendar services apart from iCloud. A basic example is Google Calendar. We ensured that our best calendar app supports some of the third-party calendar services as well.
• Additional Features: We appreciate extra features in every macOS app. The same is true for calendar apps as well. We have selected calendar apps that offer features such as multi-time zone support and automatic scheduling.

Moreover, we have ensured that both free and paid options are available.

FAQs

How do I sync my calendar across Mac, iOS, and web platforms?

You need to select a calendar app that offers multi-device sync options. Alternatively, you can use a sync-based calendar on multiple devices.

Are there any free calendar apps that work well on both Mac and iOS?

Yes, many free calendar apps work well on both Mac and iOS. The built-in Apple Calendar app is the best example in this category. You can also find some other options in the article.

How do I import my existing calendar data into a new calendar app?

You will have the option to export data from your old calendar app and import it into the newer version. It also becomes easy to manage multiple calendar sets.

Are there calendar apps that support natural language input for event creation?

Yes, many calendar apps support natural language input. It means you can use the interface to describe the event instead of entering manual information.

Can I manage multiple time zones in these calendar apps?

If you have a calendar app that supports multiple time zones, you can do that. For instance, our top pick in the article, BusyCal, works great with various time zones.

What privacy concerns should I be aware of when using calendar apps?

It is essential to ensure that you don’t share your private information with any subpar or privacy-sensitive calendar services. It is also essential to understand whether the calendar app is reputable enough.

Staying on schedule on your Mac

Gradually, all these specific calendar apps are becoming available for both personal and enterprise users, which is a significant development. It means you will have the ability to expand AI-based scheduling and time management across your team to achieve collective productivity goals.

So, after going through all the apps that topped our list, what do you think? We think you’ll agree that getting BusyCal could help you accomplish much of your work at a reasonable price point.

Fantastical is great for power users who want more integrations with other calendars, such as those of their favorite music groups and sports teams.

However, if you want to balance calendar organization and AI-powered scheduling, consider checking out Morgen, which has been a real productivity boost.

On your journey to productivity, if you just need a calendar to get the most basic of events and tasks logged with little automation, then any of the free calendar apps like Notion Calendar could do the job.

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

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