As a solopreneur, your time is your currency. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, freelancer, or service provider, having a reliable appointment booking system isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Two of the most popular tools are Calendly and Google Calendar Booking. But which one truly fits your workflow?
Calendly vs Google Calendar Booking
In this guide, we’ll break down the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of both platforms to help you decide what’s best for your business.
Calendly Overview
Calendly is an easy-to-use scheduling platform built specifically for professionals and businesses. It eliminates the back-and-forth of email scheduling and helps automate availability, meeting types, and reminders.
Key Features:
- Unlimited meetings on free plan
- Embed booking links on your website
- Integrates with Zoom, Stripe, PayPal, HubSpot, and more
- Group scheduling, round-robin, and team availability support
Google Calendar Booking Overview
Google Calendar’s booking functionality (also called “Appointment Schedules”) is built into Google Workspace. If you’re already using Gmail and Google Meet, it feels natural to stick with this option.
Key Features:
- Booking page customization
- Automatic meeting invites via Gmail
- Google Meet and Google Calendar integration
- Basic reminders and time zone support
Ease of Use Comparison
Calendly is laser-focused on making booking as simple and flexible as possible. The setup is straightforward, and users can quickly create different types of meetings with unique rules.
Google Calendar is great if you only need the basics and you’re already deep into the Google ecosystem. But it lacks the flexibility that Calendly offers out of the box.
Customization & Branding
- Calendly: Offers more control over booking flows, email notifications, and branding (with paid plans).
- Google Calendar: Very minimal branding and customization options. Not ideal if you want a professional look.
Pricing Breakdown
- Calendly: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $12/month.
- Google Calendar Booking: Requires a Google Workspace account ($6/month and up).
Best Use Case for Solopreneurs
If you’re just starting and want something lightweight, Google Calendar works fine — especially if you’re already using Gmail. But if you’re managing multiple meeting types, want to accept payments, or need reminders and integrations, Calendly is the smarter choice.
Calendly vs Google Calendar: Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Calendly | Google Calendar Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ | ✅ |
| Booking Page Customization | ✅ | Limited |
| Payment Integration | ✅ (Stripe, PayPal) | ❌ |
| Team Scheduling | ✅ | ❌ |
| Integrations | ✅ (Zoom, Slack, CRMs) | Limited to Google Apps |
| Automated Reminders | ✅ | ✅ (Basic) |
Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Calendly if: You want powerful scheduling, integrations, payment processing, and advanced features with better control.
Choose Google Calendar Booking if: You want a simple tool, are already paying for Google Workspace, and don’t need extra features.
Conclusion
For solopreneurs who want to spend less time on logistics and more time serving clients, an appointment tool can save hours each week. If you’re serious about scaling your business, Calendly is the better long-term choice.