Back to Growth Toolbox
Scheduling

Calendly

The appointment booking standard with absolute simplicity and powerful network effect. Integrations with all major calendars and CRMs on the market. Everyone knows and uses Calendly, which reassures prospects.

Try the tool
Who's it for?SalesMarketerSolopreneur

Review by a Growth Engineer

My verdict: the appointment booking standard, but has become too expensive.

Calendly is ultra-simple: you share your link, people choose a slot, and it's in your calendar. Integration with all calendars (Google, Outlook, iCloud) is smooth.

The network effect plays: everyone knows Calendly, so it's reassuring for your prospects.

What I like less: pricing has become excessive. The free plan is too limited, and paid plans have increased regularly. Cal.com offers more for less.

My advice: if you want absolute simplicity and budget isn't an issue, Calendly remains a classic. But look at Cal.com before committing - you could save significantly with more flexibility.

Why add it to your stack?

Calendly is the de facto standard for appointment booking. Everyone knows it, everyone trusts it. You share your link, people choose a slot, it's in your calendar. Zero friction.

The network effect plays hard: your prospects recognize Calendly, it's reassuring. Integrations with all tools exist natively. But pricing has become excessive, and Cal.com offers more for less.

What you can do with it

  • 1Share a booking link for demos or sales calls
  • 2Let clients book slots directly
  • 3Route requests between multiple team members
  • 4Integrate appointment booking in your email signature
  • 5Collect payments at booking

What it does

  • Simple and effective booking page
  • Sync with all calendars (Google, Outlook, Apple)
  • Multiple event types
  • Routing and round-robin (Team plans)
  • CRM and tool integrations
  • Stripe/PayPal payments integrated

How much?

Starting at Free

Limited Free plan (1 event type). Standard at 10 EUR/month/user, Teams at 16 EUR/month/user, Enterprise on quote. Pricing has increased significantly in recent years.

The detailed verdict

Do I really need this?

Calendly isn't indispensable - there are alternatives (Cal.com, SavvyCal, Doodle). Its advantage is the network effect: everyone knows and trusts Calendly.

If you migrate to an alternative, your prospects won't see the difference. But if you want the path of least resistance, Calendly remains the default.

Does it play nice with my stack?

Integrations cover the essentials: calendars (Google, Outlook, Apple), major CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot), video (Zoom, Meet, Teams). Zapier and Make work.

The API is basic compared to Cal.com - you quickly hit limits for custom workflows. Website embed is simple, but customization remains limited without paying more.

Is it easy to pick up?

Getting started is immediate. 5 minutes to create an account, configure an event, and share the link. No learning curve.

Support is decent, documentation sufficient. It's the tool you can give to anyone without training.

Is the UX any good?

Calendly's UX is its major strength. It's simple, clean, frictionless. Creating an event takes 2 minutes, sharing the link is immediate. Invitees book without creating an account.

The mobile interface is fluid, confirmation emails are clean. It's functional design perfectly executed.

Is it worth it?

Calendly's value for money has degraded. The Free plan is very limited (1 event type), and paid plans have increased regularly. At 10-16 EUR/user/month, it's expensive for scheduling.

Cal.com offers more features for free. Calendly plays on network effect and ease, but pricing is becoming hard to justify.

What I like

  • Absolute simplicity with plug-and-play without technical configuration
  • Powerful network effect since everyone knows and trusts Calendly
  • Native integrations with all calendars, CRMs, and video tools

What I like less

  • Advanced customization where Cal.com offers much more flexibility
  • White-label that remains paid and limited in options
  • Value for money becoming hard to justify with regular price increases

Need more details or help building your ideal stack?

Visit official siteGet advice