Doodle vs Calendly: Which Scheduling Tool Reigns Supreme?

Scheduling appointments can be a hassle, especially when coordinating with groups. Doodle and Calendly are two popular tools that simplify appointment booking, helping you avoid the back-and-forth of emails. To help you decide which tool suits your scheduling needs best, compare Doodle and Calendly, covering their features, pricing, and best use cases.

Overview of Doodle and Calendly

Doodle started as a simple polling tool, created to make it easier for groups to pick a suitable meeting time. With Doodle, you can set up a poll with multiple time slots, allowing participants to vote on their preferred times. Over time, Doodle has added more features, including options for individual appointment scheduling.

Calendly, by contrast, is built with business users in mind. It focuses on one-on-one meetings and team scheduling, offering a sleek, professional interface that integrates easily with various calendar apps. This makes Calendly a favorite among professionals and companies looking for a reliable scheduling solution.

Comparing Doodle and Calendly

Here’s a closer look at how Doodle and Calendly compare in terms of features:

Interface and Ease of Use

Doodle’s interface is made for quick and easy poll creation, so even if you’re not tech-savvy, it’s simple to use for basic scheduling.

Calendly has a polished, professional look. It’s designed with business users in mind and offers extra options, like setting meeting lengths and adding buffer times, which is perfect for professional scheduling.

Integrations with Calendars and Other Tools

With a paid Doodle plan, you can sync it with popular calendars like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Apple Calendar.

Calendly not only syncs with main calendar apps but also integrates with tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Salesforce, making it a strong choice for business users.

Appointment Types

Doodle shines in group scheduling but also has individual appointment booking features in its premium version.

Calendly offers flexibility with different types of appointments, including one-on-one meetings, group meetings, and even round-robin scheduling for teams.

Reminders and Notifications

Paid plans with Doodle include reminders, but they’re fairly basic.

Calendly lets you set up customized reminders via email or text, which is helpful if you need consistent reminders to avoid missed meetings.

Scheduling Capabilities

Doodle offers group polling to help pick meeting times, allowing everyone to vote on their availability. It also has a bookable calendar option for one-on-one meetings and a survey builder for extra questions beyond just scheduling.

Calendly is set up for smooth one-on-one meetings. It includes advanced scheduling features like buffer times between meetings, automated reminders, and round-robin scheduling for teams.

Pricing Structure

When comparing the cost of Doodle and Calendly, here’s what you can expect:

Doodle’s free plan supports basic group polling but comes with ads. Paid plans start around $6.95 per month, removing ads and offering more customization.

Calendly’s free plan allows unlimited bookings but limits event types. Paid plans start at $8 per month and include team management, analytics, and more integrations.

Group Scheduling

Doodle is a strong choice for group scheduling with its easy-to-use polling feature. Participants vote on times, making it great for casual settings where multiple people are coordinating.

Calendly does offer a group scheduling option through its Meeting Poll feature, but it’s mainly designed for one-on-one meetings. Its layout for group scheduling may not be as visually friendly as Doodle’s.

Professional Use

Calendly is ideal for business settings, with features like automated reminders, detailed analytics, and seamless integrations with popular business tools. These options help professionals schedule more efficiently.

While Doodle can work for business needs, it doesn’t offer as many professional-focused features as Calendly, which may make it less suitable for those who need advanced scheduling options.

Free Trials and Accessibility

Both Doodle and Calendly have free versions or trials so you can try their features before deciding to pay.

Doodle offers a free version with group polling but with ads and limited features. This lets users test its capabilities before upgrading. It doesn’t offer a separate trial for paid plans, but the free tier gives users a chance to see if it fits their needs.

Calendly’s free plan includes most individual features without ads, giving users a good preview. The plan includes the Meeting Poll feature, which can handle group scheduling, making it somewhat comparable to Doodle’s polling option.

Pros and Cons of Doodle and Calendly

Doodle Pros

• Great for group scheduling and polls.
• Simple to use with affordable premium options.

Doodle Cons

• Limited appointment options for one-on-one scheduling.
• Fewer integrations than Calendly.

Calendly Pros

• Ideal for professional appointment booking and team scheduling.
• Extensive integrations with business tools.

Calendly Cons

• Higher cost for advanced features.
• Free plan has fewer options for group scheduling.

Which Should You Choose?

Your choice between Doodle vs Calendly depends on your scheduling needs. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Doodle is ideal for group scheduling, like organizing meetings for clubs, volunteer groups, or classrooms where polling is needed to find a common time.
• Calendly is better for professionals and teams who need robust scheduling, with a focus on individual and client meetings.

Find the Right Tool for Your Scheduling Needs

Both tools have strengths. Doodle is an excellent choice for group scheduling, while Calendly is best for individual and team scheduling needs, especially for those using business tools. If you’re mainly coordinating group meetings, Doodle’s free version might be enough. For individual bookings and reminders, Calendly’s features can save you time and streamline your calendar.