- Best Calendar App For Mac And Iphone 2015 Free
- Best Calendar App For Mac And Ios
- Best Calendar App For Mac And Iphone 2015 7
Gone are the days when we could rely on our memory to remember what we need to do at any given moment. Today, there's no way we could recall for when exactly did we schedule that meeting four weeks ago, or whether our dentist appointment is coming up soon. That's why we use calendar apps, which keep a perfect record of everything scheduled in our lives.
There's no shortage of Mac calendar apps out there, from the default option that comes pre-installed with the machine to other free alternatives to paid but full-featured third-party apps. Some are web-based, some are cross-platform, and some are also available on mobile.
- A few weeks ago, I wrote an article looking at what was the best calendar app for iPhone.While considering all the various options, I started coming across a lot of macOS alternatives.
- Mobile view of My Study Life Calendar Best Calendar Apps for iOS & Mac 5. A powerful and lightweight calendar app for iOS and Mac. Installed for free on Mac and iOS, Apple Calendar is a great option for keeping your calendars synced across all your Apple devices. Most suitable for: Apple users.
- Calendars is the most elegant and easy to use calendar application available on the App Store. It works perfectly with Google Calendar and built-in iOS Calendar. Calendars allows you to manage events both online and offline. Thanks to the unique interface you can move events simply with Drag & Drop.
- For iOS, the best calendar app can only be Fantastical 2. It works with the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, and it takes advantage of features like 3D Touch and Force Touch.
Apple's Calendar app has been a fine performer since the debut of iOS years ago. Everyone has a different workflow and that has opened the door for tons of calendar apps that suit a myriad of needs.
The problem is you really need just one best free calendar app for Mac. Not sure which one you should choose? Then this guide is for you.
How To Choose A Mac Calendar App
As our work lives could vary greatly from one another, our ideas of the best calendar app could be different as well. Generally, there are five broad criteria you should evaluate calendar apps against:
- Usability. Since you'll be using your Mac calendar app multiple times a day, how it looks and how it behaves is critical. Notice how many clicks does it take for you to create a new event or whether all the information you need is clearly displayed and could be understood at a glance.
- Features. When it comes to calendars, more is not always better. Some of the best calendar apps out there could be pretty bare in terms of functionality. And some of the most feature-packed ones are cumbersome to use. It's all about what do you personally need to get out of the best calendar app for Mac.
- Speed. No one likes to wait around, looking at the spinning circle. The best calendar apps allow you to add events quickly and ideally never freeze up on you.
- Synchronization. We work in the multi-device world. The second you step out of the office, you expect to be updated on what's coming next through your phone. Sometimes you use both laptop and desktop, and then your Mac calendar app is better to sync in time over a web server.
- Integration. Every year, more and more automation helps us in our work. APIs are omnipresent. Already lots of people use Slack and IFTTT to get notified about any changes in any part of their digital lives. Plugging your calendar into the larger ecosystem is something to consider, even if it's just a possibility at this point.
There might be other aspects you've come to expect from the best calendar app for Mac. So your list might differ. The important idea here is to create a small framework that will aid you in comparing all the available options on the market. Now let's break down some popular calendars and select the best ones.
Keep to the basics with Mac's default calendar
For the first contender to become the best free calendar app for Mac, why not consider the Calendar app you already have pre-installed?
Mac Calendar app is straightforward and easy to use. The calendar itself is taking up most of the interface, and you can easily switch between different views using the tabs in the top bar.
Creating new events is simple too: just double-click on any time in the day and fill out any of the fields. If a similar event has been created before, you can pick an auto-suggestion. Likewise, your event location will be automatically suggested by Apple Maps. You can also invite anyone to your event by email, even if they don't use Calendar. For the event itself, you can choose one of many custom-created and color-coded calendars.
Due to its simplicity, Calendar is a very speedy app. Built by Apple itself, it takes full advantage of having access to the whole sandboxed system, something not possible for third-party apps to do.
Calendar comes pre-installed on all iPhones, making it easy to access on the go. A web version is available too, but unfortunately only if you use iCloud to sync your calendars.
In terms of integration, Calendar is not big on integrating its API in other apps. It does however cover all popular calendar apps out there, from Google to Yahoo and Microsoft Exchange.
Work in sync within the Google ecosystem
If your whole office is already committed to the Google world, thinking of using Google Calendar would be a wise move.
Many consider Google Calendar to be the best shared calendar app around. While boasting clear and beautiful interface, the app makes adding other people's (or even room's) calendars just as easy as yours, especially if they are on the same Google corporate account. Additionally, all your events are created with an automatic Hangouts link for video calls.
Working in Google Calendar app means benefitting from its connection with all other Google services. Events from Gmail would automatically be added to your calendar and Google-powered auto-suggestions are truly powerful.
Fast and reliable (when was the last time Google servers went down?), Google also offers native apps for Android and iOS. Sadly, Google Calendar desktop app Mac is not available at this time — only the web version, which can be accessed via any browser.
Google Calendar app for Mac is frequently integrated with other services, much more so than the default Apple option. And just like the Apple calendar, it's a worthy contender to be the best free calendar app for Mac.
Access in a single click with InstaCal
When your days are frantic and ease of access becomes top priority, InstaCal is a worthy alternative that lives right in your menu bar.
InstaCal is hard to beat on usability. Click on its menu bar icon and it will show you all your tasks for the month in both calendar and list views. From here, you can easily edit or create appointments, as well as add new attendees. Simple reminders can be managed here too — something that differentiates InstaCal from competitors.
While InstaCal doesn't support any unusual features, it's as fast as an app can be due to it being preloaded in the background at all times.
A Mac calendar app first, InstaCal doesn't have mobile or web versions available, but it syncs perfectly with iCloud, Google, and Microsoft calendars. InstaCal is the ideal example of an app that's been optimized to the limit for speed and convenience. No fluff.
Power up on all fronts with BusyCal
Looking for the most feature-packed Mac calendar app around is likely to lead you to BusyCal. From being present in your menu bar to incorporating to-dos to even showing you the moon calendar, BusyCal has every feature you'd ever expect from your calendar.
In terms of design, BusyCal looks and feels like a mix between a pumped up default Mac calendar app and InstaCal (due to the menu bar extension). You can create a quick event using natural language by simply clicking on the plus icon in the top bar. To save a new to-do, right-click on the To Do panel on the right and choose New To Do.
Built as a native app for macOS, BusyCal feels quick and nimble. In addition, a full-featured iOS app is also available. Both versions are highly popular among heavy Mac users and thus integrate well with lots of other applications.
Which Mac calendar app is right for you?
Discussed above are four of the best calendar apps out there. In the end, it all comes down to what you value the most. If you're looking for the best free calendar app for Mac, the default Apple option or the one from Google could be your choice. However, compared to the other two competitors, they lack functionality and convenience.
InstaCal is by far the fastest and the most at-hand Mac calendar app. It doesn't distract you from your work when you need to quickly check the next meeting or correct a few details. Sometimes you might even feel you have a personal assistant right beside you.
BusyCal takes the default Mac Calendar app as its foundation and improves it on nearly every dimension. Use to-do lists, get more context around the weather, briefly peek at what's going on in the menu bar, and much more.
Best of all, both InstaCal and BusyCal are available for a free trial through Setapp, a platform of over 150 Mac apps and tools created to streamline your work processes, from task management to web development. Let's see what you have scheduled for today.
Best Calendar App For Mac And Iphone 2015 Free
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
If your whole office is already committed to the Google world, thinking of using Google Calendar would be a wise move.
Many consider Google Calendar to be the best shared calendar app around. While boasting clear and beautiful interface, the app makes adding other people's (or even room's) calendars just as easy as yours, especially if they are on the same Google corporate account. Additionally, all your events are created with an automatic Hangouts link for video calls.
Working in Google Calendar app means benefitting from its connection with all other Google services. Events from Gmail would automatically be added to your calendar and Google-powered auto-suggestions are truly powerful.
Fast and reliable (when was the last time Google servers went down?), Google also offers native apps for Android and iOS. Sadly, Google Calendar desktop app Mac is not available at this time — only the web version, which can be accessed via any browser.
Google Calendar app for Mac is frequently integrated with other services, much more so than the default Apple option. And just like the Apple calendar, it's a worthy contender to be the best free calendar app for Mac.
Access in a single click with InstaCal
When your days are frantic and ease of access becomes top priority, InstaCal is a worthy alternative that lives right in your menu bar.
InstaCal is hard to beat on usability. Click on its menu bar icon and it will show you all your tasks for the month in both calendar and list views. From here, you can easily edit or create appointments, as well as add new attendees. Simple reminders can be managed here too — something that differentiates InstaCal from competitors.
While InstaCal doesn't support any unusual features, it's as fast as an app can be due to it being preloaded in the background at all times.
A Mac calendar app first, InstaCal doesn't have mobile or web versions available, but it syncs perfectly with iCloud, Google, and Microsoft calendars. InstaCal is the ideal example of an app that's been optimized to the limit for speed and convenience. No fluff.
Power up on all fronts with BusyCal
Looking for the most feature-packed Mac calendar app around is likely to lead you to BusyCal. From being present in your menu bar to incorporating to-dos to even showing you the moon calendar, BusyCal has every feature you'd ever expect from your calendar.
In terms of design, BusyCal looks and feels like a mix between a pumped up default Mac calendar app and InstaCal (due to the menu bar extension). You can create a quick event using natural language by simply clicking on the plus icon in the top bar. To save a new to-do, right-click on the To Do panel on the right and choose New To Do.
Built as a native app for macOS, BusyCal feels quick and nimble. In addition, a full-featured iOS app is also available. Both versions are highly popular among heavy Mac users and thus integrate well with lots of other applications.
Which Mac calendar app is right for you?
Discussed above are four of the best calendar apps out there. In the end, it all comes down to what you value the most. If you're looking for the best free calendar app for Mac, the default Apple option or the one from Google could be your choice. However, compared to the other two competitors, they lack functionality and convenience.
InstaCal is by far the fastest and the most at-hand Mac calendar app. It doesn't distract you from your work when you need to quickly check the next meeting or correct a few details. Sometimes you might even feel you have a personal assistant right beside you.
BusyCal takes the default Mac Calendar app as its foundation and improves it on nearly every dimension. Use to-do lists, get more context around the weather, briefly peek at what's going on in the menu bar, and much more.
Best of all, both InstaCal and BusyCal are available for a free trial through Setapp, a platform of over 150 Mac apps and tools created to streamline your work processes, from task management to web development. Let's see what you have scheduled for today.
Best Calendar App For Mac And Iphone 2015 Free
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Calendar will automatically show any accounts that you're signed in to with your Apple ID. You can also add calendars or calendar subscriptions from your email account, social media, and more, and they'll stay up to date across your devices. iCloud can help you manage your events and appointments so you're where you need to be, when you need to be there.
Just make sure you're using the latest version of iOS or macOS, that you're signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices, and that you turned on Calendars in your iCloud settings.
Set your default calendar
When you create a new event, iCloud adds it to your default calendar. To make setting appointments easier, the calendar you use the most—probably for work or home—should be your default calendar. You can change your default calendar from your device or on iCloud.com.
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
- Go to Settings > Calendar.
- Tap Default Calendar.
- Choose the calendar that you want to use as your default.
Not seeing the calendar that you want to use? Learn more about how to set up calendars on your iPhone.
On your Mac
- Open Calendar (or iCal).
- Click Calendar in the menu bar and choose Preferences.
- In the General tab, choose the calendar that you want to use from the Default Calendar menu.
Not seeing the calendar that you want to use? Learn more about how to set up calendars on your Mac.
On iCloud.com
- Go to Calendar.
- Click the the gear button , then click Preferences.
- Choose the calendar that you want to use from the Defaults menu.
- Click Save.
Manage your events
Whether you're managing your schedule from your Mac or setting appointments on the go, using your Calendar is simple. And any changes you make immediately appear on all of your Apple devices.
Add an event
- Open Calendar.
- Select the event date.
- Tap the plus sign button and enter the details of your appointment.
Change an event
- Open Calendar.
- Select the event you want to change.
- Tap Edit.
Delete an event
- Open Calendar.
- Select the event you want to delete.
- Tap Delete Event.
Best Calendar App For Mac And Ios
You can only delete events that you created. If you have an event on your Calendar that someone else invited you to, you can tap Decline and remove the event. If you want to remove an event on a subscribed calendar, you might need to go to the subscription source—for example, decline an event on Facebook—for it to delete from your iCloud Calendar. Learn how to remove spam from Calendar on your iPhone.
Change your time zone
Your device automatically updates your Calendar and appointments to reflect the time zone you're currently in. So if you travel from San Francisco to New York, your 1:00 p.m. alert will now go off at 4:00 p.m. If you don't want the time zone to update automatically, you can change the Calendar settings on your device.
On your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
- Go to Settings > Calendar.
- Tap Time Zone Override.
- Slide to turn on Time Zone Override.
- Tap Time Zone and search for the time zone you want to use.
On your Mac
- Open the Calendar app.
- Click Calendar in the menu bar and choose Preferences.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Check Turn on time zone support.
Best Calendar App For Mac And Iphone 2015 7
Learn more
- Get help using iCloud Calendar.
- See how to share calendars on your Mac.
- Learn how to remove duplicate calendars or events on your iCloud Calendar.
- Learn how to remove spam from Calendar on your iPhone.
- You can also get help using Outlook with iCloud for Windows.
