Calendly is the default booking-link tool, but its free plan is narrow. This article compares it with three alternatives: Cal.com, SavvyCal and TidyCal. The question for a solo operator is what each one gives you at $0 and at roughly $10 a month.
Figures come from each vendor's published pages, checked October 20, 2026. This is research-based, not a hands-on test of booking flows.
The short answer
| Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Free plan limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendly | Yes | $10/seat/month (Standard) | One event type, one calendar |
| Cal.com | Yes | $16/user/month (Teams) | Unlimited event types |
| SavvyCal | No | $10/user/month (Basic) | Not applicable |
| TidyCal | Yes | $12/month Pro, or lifetime offer | 1 calendar, 1% fee on payments |
Calendly
Calendly
Most familiarFree is limited to one event type.
- Free
- One event type, one calendar connection
- Standard
- $10/seat/month
- Teams
- $16/seat/month
Standard unlocks unlimited event types, multiple calendar connections, automations and reminders, and Stripe or PayPal payments. Teams adds round-robin and team scheduling. Seats are needed only for people who host meetings or connect calendars, not for invitees.
What works
- Widely recognised by clients
- Invitees do not need a seat
What to watch
- Free plan allows only one event type
- Round-robin needs Teams
Cal.com
Cal.com
Best free planFree plan with unlimited event types.
- Free
- Unlimited event types, calendar sync, workflows, Stripe payments
- Teams
- $16/user/month
- Organizations
- $37/user/month
Cal.com's free plan, per its FAQ, includes unlimited event types, calendar syncing, workflow automation, Stripe payments and Cal Video. The pricing details come from its home-page FAQ, so confirm on the pricing page.
What works
- Free plan includes payments and workflows
- Open-source heritage
What to watch
- Pricing details were in a FAQ, not a table
- Teams features cost $16 per user
SavvyCal
SavvyCal
Most polishedPaid only, with a money-back guarantee.
- Basic
- $10/user/month
- Premium
- $17/user/month
- Guarantee
- 30-day money-back
SavvyCal lists no free plan. Basic includes unlimited scheduling links and calendars. Premium adds custom domains, delegated access for an assistant and paid bookings. The free-trial FAQ answer was not visible to us.
What works
- Unlimited links on the cheapest plan
- Money-back guarantee
What to watch
- No free plan
- Paid bookings only on Premium
TidyCal
TidyCal
CheapestFree plan plus a one-off lifetime deal.
- Free
- Unlimited bookings, 1 calendar, 1% fee on payments
- Individual Lifetime
- $29 one-time (AppSumo)
- Pro
- $12/month or $99/year
Free allows unlimited bookings and booking types but only one connected calendar and a 1% platform fee on payments. The lifetime plans are sold through AppSumo; availability and terms there can change.
What works
- Lowest long-term cost
- Free plan allows unlimited booking types
What to watch
- Only one calendar on free
- Lifetime deal depends on a third-party marketplace
Which one should you choose?
- Pick Cal.com if you want the most from a free plan.
- Pick TidyCal if you want the lowest cost and can accept a smaller company.
- Pick SavvyCal if you want a paid, polished tool and a guarantee.
- Stay on Calendly if clients already know it and one event type is enough, or move to Standard.
How we compared
We read pricing pages on October 20, 2026. We did not test booking experience or reliability.
Frequently asked questions
Do my clients need an account?
Calendly says invitees do not need a seat. Check each tool for your use case.
Can I take payments through a booking link?
Yes on Calendly Standard, Cal.com (Stripe), SavvyCal Premium and TidyCal.