2020 has kicked off and we all are about to get busy again trying to fit our new year resolutions into what is probably already a busy schedule. In this article, we will try to help you find the calendar app that will enhance your life for the better, and hopefully, help you to achieve your goals in 2020.
Our picks for top calendar apps
Calendar.AI - New and surprising smart calendar app!
Calendar.AI is an excellent calendar app that includes surprising features no other calendar has. This app actually pulls information on your meeting participants and provides you with insights for both them and their companies right from the calendar page. This new and amazing feature will definitely attract avid calendar users' attention. The app is sleek-looking, with a beautiful user interface and handy view types.
At the first app activation you can sync seamlessly from Google Calendar and Office365. From there it's all presented on a simple user interface with 4 view types, Agenda, Day, 3 Days, and a Week. The first view is the agenda type. Just swipe to top or bottom to change the dates. Alternatively, you can tap on the event on any specific day and get details under the event details view.
The best feature of this app is the ability to add people and let them know of an event where they will be a part of it. After specifying the details, select the time, location and reminder notification.
Once you add an event, it will be automatically synced with other calendar accounts if you have them set up, such as Outlook, and Google Calendar. All other apps synced with Google Calendar will also notify you of the event prior to its time.
The app is free, with 2 upgrades options, premium and pro priced at $10 and $20 per month. The premium plan caps people and company insights at 30, whereas the pro plan has no limits.
Overview: Excellent app that adds insights on your calendar, has an integrated smart scheduler, and great agenda view.
Price: Free and Paid plans at $10 and $20 per month.
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.sync.syncai&hl=en
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calendar-ai/id1470203350
Google Calendar - The preferred choice for any Android user
Free, and built-in as a part of the Google Android ecosystem, the Google Calendar is really where most people start off with. It provides you with all the basics you need and tries to be your best friend.
You can also use Google Assistant to automatically add in meetings, reminders, holidays, etc. to your calendar. Here are some screenshots of the Google Calendar app, and how you can use Assistant to add in meetings and reminders.
The Google Assistant will automatically create an event for you. By default, there will be a 30-minute reminder prior to the event, which you can always change by going to that event in the Calendar app. In the month view, you can see each event once you start scrolling.
Back in April 2015, Google enabled the Calendar app to automatically pull up events, reminders, and meetings from Gmail and add them up as events. It means that you don't have to manually add in events in the Calendar as everything is done automatically. This feature was enabled by default, and anyone can turn it off in settings of Google Calendar. While Google Calendar provides all the basic functions, it lacks customization options and other features such as sync with Exchange.
Overview: 1st preferred choice for any Android user, great for all the basic needs.
Price: Free
Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.calendar
aCalendar - Classical calendar application
A basic, but classical calendar application for your Android smartphone. It can easily sync with Google Calendars, and Google Tasks and has an intuitive user interface. The free version allows you to do additional tasks, reminders, events and/or meetings. The pro version allows you to change the theme and design of the calendar.
One of the coolest features of aCalendar is the ability to customize the design, and theme of the application. There are widgets that you can adjust to, depending on the day, month, week and agenda views.
Overview: Best Calendar app for users requiring customization options.
Price: Free/ Up to $5.99
Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.withouthat.acalendar
Timetree Calendar App - Calendar sharing done best.
Rated as Best of 2015 app on Play Store, with over 5 million downloads, there is a good reason why this app is popular. But it isn't just the ability to use it as a calendar that makes it different.
This app is recommended for users that need to create events for group members. The feed tab acts as a Facebook wall feed with real-time updates from people that have been invited to different events.
There are various levels of categories that you can use to set up this app, such as personal, friends, family, relationship, work or group. You can always invite others to share calendars with them. Also, this app has a built-in chat to discuss with other group members, assuming, you don't want to use WhatsApp. Even though the group sharing options are nice, it seems that this app is not really directed to all user's needs but to those who need to share small group events.
Overview: Preferred choice for coordinating with family and friends
Price: Free with in-app advertising
Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=works.jubilee.timetree
Any.do - Integrate to-do tasks seamlessly
Any.do allows you to seamlessly integrate to-do tasks, without requiring a separate app. This added functionality is super important for busy users. The biggest drawback to this app is that you cannot use it without having a valid payment method such as a credit/debit card, which is true even for a 7-day free trial.
It supports Google, Facebook and Outlook Calendars, due to which you can easily synchronize your events. Your to-do-list comprises of what needs to be done, and your calendar tells you about your daily schedule.
While most of the calendar apps, whether free or paid, focus on the work you need to get done, Any.do focuses on how you can manage your free time. This is something that makes it a unique calendar app. Every morning, you will receive a notification to help you in managing your entire day. You will be shown what needs to be done, alongside some free slots so that you can easily plan your entire day.
There are 3 view types, agenda, week or month. Unlike TimeTree, Any.do uses the Android calendar, which means it is easily synced with Google Calendar. While free, the paid app starting at $2.99 per month allows you to customize the calendar with different themes and designs. You can also set up recurring tasks in the pro version.
Overview: Ideal choice for To-Do List and Calendar enthusiasts
Price: Free / $2.09-$2.99 billed monthly or yearly
Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.anydo
Microsoft Outlook - Because you are probably a desktop Outlook user
If you are using this calendar you are probably a desktop Outlook user that defaulted with their Calendar app. And we can't blame you, it seems to be the easiest to sync all your information such as Office, Office 365, Outlook, Windows, etc.
The Microsoft Outlook isn't just an email app, it provides a convenient and seamless way to connect email with a calendar. With over 100 Million downloads on Android, it goes without saying that Microsoft has an avid user base.
Outlook for Android also syncs with Google and Yahoo calendars, which means one Calendar app for all your needs.
Overview: Great choice for Microsoft and Exchange users
Price: Free for Android/Desktop app at $69/year
Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.outlook
Cloudcal - Easy for everyone
Ever noticed how your picture in the Google account is circled with different colors? Now, put that idea for a calendar, and you have a calendar app that shows based on its monthly view design with a colored arc using a system called Magic Circles. The Magic Circles design lets you see how many days have the most amount of tasks that need to be done, which makes it easy for anyone to schedule their meetings, without having to waste precious time browsing each day.
Most of the time, switching to a monthly view is quite boring, but that's not the case with Cloudcal. Once you tap on any date within a month, you get to see the agenda instantly in a drop-down section below. If you want to switch among daily, weekly, and agenda views with the simple swipe right or left. Similar to Outlook, and Any.do, CloudCal also syncs with Google Calendar and your local contacts. Adding to this, it also seamlessly integrates with Trello, Evernote, and Eventbrite. This sync requires you to purchase their pro version which comes at a one-time price of $3.49.
Overview: Great UI/UX makes it an ideal choice for users taking a glance at their monthly schedules.
Price: Free. $3.49 for Pro version with advanced features such as integration with Trello, Evernote, and Eventbrite.
Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.cloudcal.cal
Business Calendar 2 - For those who like to customize
Business Calendar 2 UI/UX is designed to mimic a traditional calendar, which traditional users will most likely find helpful. Business Calendar 2 allows customization with several themes and designs, and also with the ability to add location, notes, and contacts to each appointment.
Overview: Business Calendar 2 might be a good option for those who like to customize their calendar with themes and colors but we found it lacking features some of their calendar app competitors are offering.
Price: Free with in-app advertising. $7 for Pro version, with advanced widgets and weather forecasts.
Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appgenix.bizcal
