Cal.com vs Calendly: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Cal.com and Calendly.
Cal.com
Open-source scheduling infrastructure
From $15/mo
Free plan available
Calendly
Scheduling automation for teams and individuals
From $10/mo
Free plan available
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Cal.com | Calendly |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $15/mo | $10/mo ✓ Cheaper |
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 ↑ |
| Capterra rating | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Founded | 2021 | 2013 |
Cal.com: pros & cons
Pros
- ✓Open source with full data ownership
- ✓More generous free plan than Calendly
- ✓Strong developer API
- ✓Self-hosting option
Cons
- ✗Less polished than Calendly
- ✗Fewer native integrations
- ✗Self-hosting requires technical skill
Calendly: pros & cons
Pros
- ✓Industry standard for scheduling
- ✓Very easy to use
- ✓Good free plan
- ✓Strong integrations
Cons
- ✗Advanced routing needs Teams plan
- ✗Limited customisation on free
- ✗Can feel impersonal for high-touch sales