What is the best calendar app for Mac?

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.

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

First of all, let's figure out what you should look for in calendar software for a Mac. Pay attention to the following points:

• Clean, easy to use interface. Because you use it every day, your calendar app should be pleasing to the eye and easy to use, making it effortless to view and create events. The design should remain streamlined and uncluttered, even when your schedule is incredibly busy.
• Features and functionality. Basic features such as scheduling and reminders are at the core of any calendar app. The effectiveness of these features will determine how well the app is able to fulfill its primary purpose – to help users stay organized and on top of their commitments. Additional features like task coordination and collaborative utilities can also cater to a variety of user needs.
• Customizable views and themes. The best calendar app for Mac should let you customize how your calendar looks, from the day/week/month layout to the color theme. This can make your experience more enjoyable.
• Integration with other apps. Good calendar software should integrate well with the other applications on your Mac. This includes email, contacts, reminders, and other productivity apps. This allows you to seamlessly share information between apps.
• Cross-platform synchronization. A desirable feature is the ability to sync your appointments across multiple devices. This ensures that you stay up to date with your schedule, no matter which device you have at hand. 

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 that you know how to choose a calendar app, let's take a look at some decent options.

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Apple Calendar – the best free calendar app for Apple users

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 (iCloud Calendar) app is simple and easy to use. The calendar itself takes up most of the interface, and you can easily switch between different views using the tabs in the top bar. 

Creating new events is easy, too: just double-click any time of day and fill in any of the fields. If a similar event has already been created, you can choose an automatic suggestion. Apple Maps will also automatically suggest a location for your event. You can also invite anyone to your event via email, even if they don't use Calendar. For the event itself, you can choose from a variety of custom-designed and color-coded calendars.

You can create as many local calendars as you want, and they all sync with iCloud. It's also possible to add calendars from Exchange, Google, Yahoo, or AOL accounts. That's handy if you need to balance work and personal calendars.

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BusyCal – the most flexible calendar app for Mac

BusyCal is all about flexibility, and you can see that when you explore the app's settings. You'll find options to change colors, fonts, and customize the display panel. You can even add a second time zone to the sidebar – a handy feature for those who either travel frequently or work with overseas teams.

Surprisingly, what makes BusyCal different from Apple's calendar isn't immediately apparent. When you dig a little deeper, you start to notice the differences. There are interesting features like displaying weather forecasts and moon cycles in the weekly and monthly views. BusyCal also allows you to view alternative calendars such as Hebrew, Islamic, or Chinese dates alongside the traditional Gregorian.

The right side of the app displays your to-do list, which is pulled from apps like Reminders or Todoist. If you don't use those apps, you can configure it to show details about the current event, or even stack your to-do items and details on top of each other. You can also add task due dates directly to the calendar.

BusyCal offers five main views – daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, and a list view. There's also a handy menu bar icon to quickly browse your appointments, and the availability panel lets you quickly find an open slot in your schedule.

The app can sync with iCloud as well as your calendars from Google, Yahoo, Fruux, Fastmail, Office 365, Outlook, CalDAV, and Exchange. It also has the ability to sync with Todoist, Zoom, GoTo Meeting, and Webex.

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Microsoft Outlook calendar – Mac calendar for Microsoft enthusiasts and cross-platform syncing

Microsoft's Outlook provides a departure from the typical Mac approach of having a separate app for each function. Instead, it combines various features such as email, contacts, to-dos, and the calendar, potentially making it a suitable choice for those in conjunction with work or simply seeking a multifaceted tool.

Appointment views in Outlook come in four formats: Day, Work Week, Week, and Month. The Work Week view, which is unique to Outlook among the calendar apps discussed here, showcases its work-centric design. Integrated features such as a three-day forecast toolbar are examples of additional functionality. Email and contact integration underscore the focus on collaborative tasks, and meeting templates add efficiency, especially if you frequently organize similar meetings.

The process of adding appointments in Outlook lacks the smart entry feature of its competitors, which may seem clunky. However, appointments created in a separate window can be quickly scheduled using the tab key. To further its work-oriented appeal, there's a scheduling wizard that lets you coordinate with multiple people to find a mutually convenient time.

On top of that, Outlook supports a wide range of accounts, including Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, Google, Yahoo, iCloud, POP, and IMAP, although Exchange support requires reverting to a previous version of Outlook. One notable exception is that iCloud calendars not associated with an iCloud email address are not currently supported. While this may seem odd for a Mac calendar app, Outlook has superior adaptability when it comes to cross-platform integration.

In general, Outlook may not be the immediate app you'd expect to find in a macOS calendar conversation, but it's still worth considering, especially for those who already subscribed to Office. While it lacks macOS-specific features and lacks the native Apple feel of other apps in this category, Outlook covers all the bases of a versatile calendar.

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WallCal – a transparent calendar for your desktop 

Sometimes, it's not the calendar you might want to change. It's the way you use a calendar. WallCal offers a unique approach – it puts a transparent calendar on top of your current work so you can minimize switching between apps and browsers. 

With WallCal, you don't have to create anything new. Just continue using your existing macOS/iCloud calendars as usual. Note that you can't edit your calendar events or reminders in WallCal because it only displays your existing calendars.

What we like the most is that you can easily customize the look and feel of your agenda. You decide what you want to see on your desktop – view the day's agenda, view your entire month, or just the week. In the week view, you can choose the number of days you want to see and the time range you want to see. You can also show or hide individual calendars. It's also possible to customize your calendar background color.

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Calendar 366 II – the best menu bar calendar

Calendar 366 II integrates seamlessly with macOS, providing a sleek and easy to use interface that makes managing your schedule and events simple. You have the flexibility to customize your menu bar with eight different views and nine themes to personalize your calendar experience. Plus, you can go even further and change icons and fonts for a truly custom look.

For MacBook Pro users, Calendar 366 II offers Touch Bar support so you can easily switch to your favorite view and change the active day, week, month or year. You can also create new events and reminders right from the Touch Bar.

The powerful Spotlight search feature makes it easy to quickly find specific events and to-do items. And the app's natural language input lets you create events quickly, streamlining the process for added convenience.

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Dato – a convenient menu bar calendar and time zones

Dato provides a local clock, date, multiple world clocks, and upcoming events in the menu bar. All these are highly customizable. The app supports all calendar services that macOS supports (iCloud, Google, Outlook, etc.).

The tool is a must if you work with people in different time zones, as it helps you find the right time to meet. You can quickly check your team members' time zones and schedule calls from the menu bar.

In addition to giving you the power of time travel, Dato includes a handy date and time calculator. Perfect if you need to arrange something in 15 days.

Which Mac calendar app is right for you?

For those of you who need a basic, no-frills calendar app, Apple Calendar is easy to use, syncs across all of your Apple devices, and has a clean and simple interface, but if you want to explore even more options, we recommend you try other calendars mentioned in this article. 

The best part is that BusyCal, WallCal, and Dato are available for a free trial through Setapp, a platform of over 240 Mac, iOS, and web apps created to streamline your work processes, from task management to web development. Let's see what you have scheduled for today!