Four pages are rebuilt section by section to claim the terms Calendly wins.

Cal.com launches v6.6

[Interactive booking-page demo, verbatim labels]: Denise Wilson · Property Viewing · “Tour your potential dream home with our experienced real estate professionals.” · durations 15m / 30m / 45m / 1h · Pine Realty Office · Australia/Sydney · May 2025 date picker.

Trusted by fast-growing companies around the world

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CTAs: Get started · Book a demo

01 Connect your calendar— We’ll handle all the cross-referencing, so you don’t have to worry about double bookings.

02 Set your availability— Want to block off weekends? Set up any buffers? We make that easy. (Mon 8:30 am to 5:00 pm · Tue 9:00 am to 6:30 pm · Wed 10:00 am to 7:00 pm)

03 Choose how to meet— It could be a video chat, phone call, or a walk in the park!

Benefits. Your all-purpose scheduling app. Discover a variety of our advanced features. Unlimited and free for individuals. CTAs: Get started · Book a demo

Avoid meeting overload. Only get booked when you want to. Set daily, weekly or monthly limits and add buffers around your events to allow you to focus or take a break. (Notice and buffers: Minimum notice 1 hour · Buffer before event 15 mins · Buffer after event 15 mins · Time-slot intervals 5 mins)

Stand out with a custom booking link. Customize your booking link so it’s short and easy to remember for your bookers. No more long, complicated links one can easily forget. (cal.com/keith · Keith Williams · Engineering Deep-Dive: “Have technical questions or want to dive into Cal.com’s architecture, infrastructure, or roadmap? Book a time for a deep technical session.” · 15m / 30m / 45m / 1h · Cal Video · South America/Buenos Aires)

Streamline your bookers’ experience. Let your bookers overlay their calendar, receive booking confirmations via text or email, get events added to their calendar, and allow them to reschedule with ease.

Reduce no-shows with automated meeting reminders. Easily send sms or meeting reminder emails about bookings, and send automated follow-ups to gather any relevant information before the meeting. (Sample notifications: “Meeting is starting now” · “Meeting canceled — James Carwell has just canceled the meeting.” · “Meeting starts in 15 mins” · “Booking rescheduled — Melissa Smith has rescheduled the meeting to Wed, 25 Mar 15:00.” · “New booking confirmed — James Oliver booked a 30min discovery call with you.”)

• Accept payments— You can monetize your bookings through our Stripe integration.
• Built-in video conferencing— Cal Video is our in-house video conferencing platform.
• Short booking links— Each booking link can be short which makes it easy to remember.
• Privacy first— Our solution has been designed to keep your information private and protected.
• 65+ languages— Talk to anyone around the globe with support for 65+ languages.
• Easy embeds— Embed your booking page anywhere with just a few clicks.
• All your favorite apps— Effortlessly integrate with your favorite popular apps.
• Simple customization— Easily customize your booking page to fit your brand.

Testimonials. Don’t just take our word for it. Our users are our best ambassadors. Discover why we’re the top choice for scheduling meetings.

• “More elegant than Calendly, more open than SavvyCal, Cal.com works and it feels just right.” — Flo Merian, Product Marketing, Mintlify
• “I think Cal.com has a very good chance of creating a new category around being both great and well designed.” — Guillermo Rauch, CEO, Vercel
• “I just migrated from Calendly to Cal.com.” — Kent C. Dodds, Founder of EpicWeb.dev
• “Just gave it a go and it’s definitely the easiest meeting I’ve ever scheduled!” — Aria Minaei, CEO, Theatre.JS
• “I finally made the move to Cal.com after I couldn’t find how to edit events in the Calendly dashboard.” — Ant Wilson, Co-Founder & CTO, Supabase
• “At Navi, protecting personal health information is a non-negotiable, so choosing Cal.com for scheduling just makes sense.” — Micah Friedland, CEO & Founder, Navi

App store. All your key tools in-sync with your meetings. Cal.com works with all apps already in your flow ensuring everything works perfectly together. CTAs: Get started · Explore apps. [Integration app logo grid]

Wall of love. See why our users love Cal.com. Read the impact we’ve had from those who matter most - our customers. CTAs: Get started · Book a demo

• Nick (@MrNick_Buzz, X): Switched from @Calendly to @calcom last week and already adding a potential $4,500 MRR and Zero spam to my calendar. I used to have time slots available 5 days a week on Calendly, but now it’s just two days. I feel more productive and have more time for other things. This…
• Andrew S. Rosen (@Andrew_S_Rosen, X): Regarding productivity software that I’ve been binging lately, I just tried out (@calcom), and it is an amazing (better) alternative to Calendly in my opinion. This is particularly true for the free tier. I think I’ll add this one to my email signature.
• Ahmed Elnaggar (@ahmed_elnaggar1, Product Hunt): This platform’s open-source nature and flexible licensing are a developer’s dream. Self-hosting and white-labeling empower personalization and seamless integration.
• Francis Lacson (Trustpilot): Cal.com has really upped the ante for scheduling tools! I knew right away, even when I started using it, that it was one step above the rest. It has an intuitive interface, flexibility in customization options, and seamless integration into my workflow that makes it a must-have for my business. A special thank you to Milos for going the extra mile to ensure I had the best experience. His support was prompt, professional, and tailored to my needs.
• David Midgley (Trustpilot): I am new to Cal.com but so far they have scored 10/10 - it has the features I need, including connecting to Apple Calendar (I withdrew from Calendly because they dropped support for iCal without giving a reason.) Also it is free; $10 a month may not seem much but when you have several apps of this kind it adds up. And cal.com were extremely helpful and prompt in dealing with my questions.
• Errol M. (G2, Small-Business): It’s so well thought out. A lot of care has gone into most situations you will come across when trying to herd cats for meetings. Cal.com is solving the problem of getting appointments organised but it goes beyond that with thoughtful and easy to use features. Workflows for pre and post meetings using email and SMS are brilliant.
• Kent C. Dodds (@kentcdodds, X): I just migrated from calendly to cal.com. I’m liking it so far. I wasn’t particularly displeased with calendly. It’s fine. But I like that cal is OSS and my sub to calendly was coming up for renewal so I thought I’d check it out. Looks good.
• Mickey: Thrilled with this scheduling app—it’s a game-changer. The intuitive interface and advanced features streamline my time management. The standout, however, is the incredible support team—swift, expert responses to every query. A perfect combo for seamless scheduling and top-notch customer service. P.s. Way better than Calendly
• Zach Waterfield: I use cal to manage all my external meetings and it’s the perfect solution. Has all the features I need and couldn’t live without it.

FAQ· These are some of our most frequently asked questions. (CTAs: Talk to sales · Get started)

What is Cal.com and how does it work as a scheduling app? Cal.com is a scheduling app and meeting scheduling software used by over a million people to eliminate booking back-and-forth. You share a link, and Cal.com handles calendar syncing, timezone detection, reminders, and video calls through Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Cal Video. It works as a simple meeting scheduler for 1-on-1s or a full automated scheduling system with routing and workflows, making it both a flexible scheduling tool and a powerful online booking system.

What makes Cal.com different from other scheduling apps? Most scheduling apps limit free users heavily and force them to upgrade to paid tiers. Cal.com’s free tier is robust and always free for individuals. As a scheduler, Cal.com offers exceptional value to users by integrating seamlessly with common workflow tools like Google Calendar, Zoom, and Stripe. It also works as a lead routing, distribution, and management tool for inbound-focused teams. Overall, Cal.com is built for flexibility and customization. As a meeting scheduler, it has a robust free tier and very affordable paid tiers. Rare among scheduling tools, it provides high-impact features like custom domain support via your own SMTP server. This is currently an upcoming feature. Here’s the waitlist.

How much does Cal.com cost and what’s included in each plan? Cal.com’s free plan includes unlimited event types, calendar syncing, workflow automation, Stripe payments, and Cal Video, making it one of the most fully featured free scheduling tools on the market. For teams, the booking software scales across four tiers. Teams ($16/user/month) adds round-robin scheduling, shared availability, and team workflows, making it ideal scheduling software for small business. Organizations ($37/user/month) include org-wide admin controls and centralized management for larger companies using Cal.com’s scheduler as their meeting scheduling software. Enterprise offers custom pricing with priority support, dedicated database, and higher SLAs. This is crucial for industries that require a secure online booking system.

What are Cal.com’s pricing plans, and is it good scheduling software for small businesses? Cal.com is one of the best options for scheduling software for small business thanks to a free tier that includes unlimited event types, workflow automation, Stripe payments, and Cal Video, making it the most generous free scheduling tool available. Small businesses needing booking software with team features can upgrade to Teams at $16/user/month for round-robin scheduling and shared availability. It also works as an online booking system for small businesses with embeddable booking pages. Organizations ($37/user/month) adds admin controls for mid-size to large companies. Enterprise offers custom pricing with priority support, dedicated database, and higher SLAs. The enterprise plan features are crucial for industries that require a secure meeting scheduling software with a secure database.

Can Cal.com be used as scheduling software for Healthcare, Sales, Support, and B2B teams? Yes. Cal.com adapts as scheduling software across industries and team structures. Healthcare practices use it as patient scheduling software and physician scheduling software with HIPAA compliance, SOC 2 Type II certification, and encrypted storage. Thanks to the flexibility of Cal.com it is widely used by sales teams across industries. Support teams use the round-robin scheduling feature of Cal.com to fairly distribute workload among team members. For B2B sales teams, Cal.com works as booking software with attribute-based routing, round-robin lead distribution, and CRM updates in Salesforce or HubSpot on every booking. It’s a complete automated scheduling system, online booking system, and scheduler for any vertical.

Trusted by fast-growing companies around the world

Smarter, simpler scheduling. CTAs: Get started · Talk to sales

Cal.com® and Cal® are a registered trademark by Cal.com, Inc. All rights reserved. ISO 27001 · CCPA · GDPR · HIPAA. “Our mission is to connect a billion people by 2031 through calendar scheduling.” Language selector, status badge, and Downloads (iPhone, Android, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, MacOS, Windows, Linux). Footer nav columns: Solutions, Use Cases, Resources, Company. G2 and Trustpilot badges.

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[Interactive phone demo]: 9:41 · +1 (415) 873-1159 · Cal.ai Agent · “Hi, Alex. This is Sally from Deel. How are you doing today?” / “I’m doing great Sally, thanks for asking. How are you?” / “I’m great! I’m just calling to see if you can still make the call tomorrow?” · CTA “Try AI scheduling” · “Try calling the phone number above to test Cal.ai!”

Trusted by fast-growing companies around the world

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Demo

See the AI phone agent in action

Watch our quick promo video to see how Cal.ai automates scheduling calls, reminders, and confirmations. You can also see a live demo by our co-founder Peer by clicking the button below.

CTAs: Try AI scheduling · See Cal.ai in live action

[Promo video thumbnail]

How it works

Set up your Agent in minutes without a PhD degree

Get ai-powered phone calls triggered by your existing automations - no emails, no back-and-forth, no manual work!

CTA: Try AI scheduling

1 · Set your trigger· Choose when the AI agent should call. Whether it’s on form submission, after no-shows, or before a meeting - fully integrated with Workflows.

2 · Add a phone number· Assign a dedicated phone number your AI agent will call from. You can even import an existing phone number.

3 · Set up your AI agent· Write custom prompts for reminders, confirmations, or follow-ups. The AI handles the rest, in your voice and tone.

Why Cal.ai?

Why Cal.ai’s AI phone calls transform your scheduling

Cal.ai powers automated, human-like phone calls with customizable conversations and seamless workflow integration, it reduces no-shows, boosts conversions, and saves time.

CTA: Try AI scheduling

[Agent config panel]: Personality · “You are confident without being pushy. Respectful and with patience.” · Prompt style · “You are helping potential leads set up calls with our sales team.” · Tone · “You are a professional, pleasant and friendly. You are understanding.”

Fully customizable AI scheduling conversations

Craft every call to match your business needs, whether it’s confirming a booking, reminding a lead, or rescheduling a no-show. With Cal.ai, you can write your own script prompts, set the tone and personality of the agent, and define clear goals for each call, giving you full control over the conversation.

Human-like AI scheduling calls that feel real

Cal.ai delivers natural, human-like phone calls that adapt to the flow of conversation. Unlike rigid AI scripts, you can fully customize the tone, style, and intent of each call to match your brand voice, whether friendly, professional, or anything in between.

Cal.ai is seamlessly integrated with Cal.com workflows

Cal.ai is built natively into Cal.com Workflows, so you can automate AI-powered scheduling calls without relying on third-party tools or complex setups. It works directly within your existing booking flows to streamline scheduling from end to end.

• Trigger AI phone calls based on events like bookings, no-shows, or cancellations
• Combine with email, SMS, and other Cal.com automations

AI call analytics, transcripts, and performance insights

Cal.ai gives you full visibility into every AI-powered scheduling call so you can monitor, measure, and optimize performance across your workflows. Access detailed call transcripts directly in your Cal.com dashboard.

• Track key performance metrics like call completion and booking rates
• Analyze customer sentiment to understand tone, intent, and engagement
• Use real-time data to improve scripts and increase conversion rates

[Call log]: Alison Carter · Jun 18, 9:04am · 30s · Peter Jones · Jun 16, 1:32pm · 1m 42s · Karen Bridges · Jun 14, 2:47pm · unanswered · Carl Brand · Jun 12, 11:12am · 42sec

$0.29/minute

Save time at just $0.29 per minute

With Cal.ai, every AI-powered phone call costs only $0.29 per minute (29 credits per minute). Automate reminders, confirmations, and bookings, freeing your team from repetitive calls. The result is massive time savings at an extremely low cost, making Cal.ai a powerful and affordable way to streamline scheduling.

Benefits

Automated AI calls that fill calendars and reduce no-shows

Whether you’re booking sales calls, reducing appointment no-shows, or following up with leads, these AI-powered conversations free your team from manual tasks and improve your entire scheduling workflow.

CTA: Try AI scheduling

Increase bookings with proactive AI calls

Follow up with leads who haven’t scheduled yet. Cal.ai can automatically call and guide them toward booking a time on your calendar, helping you close more opportunities.

Reduce no-shows with personalized reminders

AI phone reminders feel more personal than emails or texts, and they’re proven to boost meeting attendance. Set up reminder calls before key meetings or appointments.

Save hours every week through automation

Your team no longer needs to make repetitive scheduling or reminder calls. Cal.ai handles it all 24/7 with consistent, human-like delivery.

Deliver a better customer experience at scale

Every call sounds natural, friendly, and on-brand. Whether you’re in healthcare, sales, or services, Cal.ai gives every customer the personal attention they expect without manual effort.

Cal.com

Not to mention everything else you could need in a scheduling app

In addition to Cal.ai’s AI-powered phone calls, Cal.com offers a comprehensive suite of scheduling features. Cal.com handles all your scheduling needs, all in one platform.

CTA: Try AI scheduling

Connect all your calendars

Sync Google Calendar, Outlook, and more with Cal.com to keep your schedule organized and avoid double-booking.

A tailored link ready for every scenario

Generate custom scheduling links for meetings, events, or consultations, and manage all your bookings with ease.

Workflow automation

Automate reminders, follow-ups, and cancellations to save time and streamline your scheduling process.

Route bookers to the right person

Automatically direct bookers to the right person based on team availability or event type.

Scheduling for your team

Allow team members to manage availability and automate group scheduling, all in one platform.

FAQ· Frequently asked questions about Cal.ai · Have questions about Cal.ai, AI-powered scheduling calls? Our FAQs cover everything you need to know to get started and make the most of your Cal.ai experience. (CTA: Try AI scheduling)

How does Cal.ai’s AI voice sound?

Cal.ai’s AI-powered voice is highly natural and lifelike, designed to replicate human conversations. Most people won’t notice it’s an AI unless they’re told.

Can I customize the AI phone calls?

Yes, you can fully customize the language, tone, and prompts of the AI phone calls to align with your brand and scheduling needs.

Does Cal.ai work with my existing calendar?

Yes, Cal.ai seamlessly integrates with your existing calendar and scheduling workflows on Cal.com, ensuring smooth automation of your booking process.

What happens if someone doesn’t answer the AI call?

If a call is missed, Cal.ai can leave a voicemail, send a follow-up message, or retry the call, based on your predefined workflow settings.

Is Cal.ai available for all Cal.com plans?

Yes, Cal.ai is available for all plans!

How does pricing work for Cal.ai? What is the cost per minute?

Cal.ai pricing is based on credits, with each call consuming a set number of credits based on its length. The cost is 29 credits per minute, which equals $0.29 per minute.

How many credits are included in my current plan?

Individuals don’t get any credits included. Individuals have to purchase credits separately. Teams receive 750 credits per member per month. Organizations receive 1000 credits per member per month. Credits get renewed monthly. Usage updates in real time, and additional credits can be purchased anytime in your team settings. You can see your remaining Cal.ai credits in your Cal.com dashboard. Learn more here.

How can I buy more credits for Cal.ai?

If you need additional Cal.ai credits, you can purchase them anytime through your Cal.com dashboard. Learn more here.

Empower your receptionist. Let AI handle the scheduling

Boost booking rates with AI-powered phone calls that feel real!

CTA: Try AI scheduling · Call the phone number above to test Cal.ai

[Product Hunt badge: Cal.ai Phone Agent · Supercharged scheduling with AI-powered calls]

Cal.com® and Cal® are a registered trademark by Cal.com, Inc. All rights reserved. ISO 27001 · CCPA · GDPR · HIPAA. “Our mission is to connect a billion people by 2031 through calendar scheduling.” Language selector, status badge, and Downloads (iPhone, Android, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, MacOS, Windows, Linux). Footer nav columns: Solutions (incl. Cal.com Atoms, Cal.ai - AI Phone Agent), Use Cases, Resources, Company. G2 and Trustpilot badges.

By Susan Moeller · Category: Evergreens · Dec 9, 2025 · Hero image: "Best Scheduling Apps Ranked and Reviewed"

The defining factor of a great scheduling app is customization and flexibility. Based on your requirements, the scheduling software you choose should have all or most of these features.

• Smart Availability: A great scheduling app understands when you're truly free. It considers time zones, buffer times, and focus hours to ensure your schedule never overwhelms you.
• Calendar Syncing: Your scheduling app should automatically sync your calendar across all devices, so you're always on track with your up-to-date schedule.
• Online Booking: The online booking system allows you to save time and streamline everything from client calls to team meetings without all the back and forth.
• Time-blocking: To unwind, work with focus, or just run errands without having to be in meetings at all times, you can block off time during your day.
• Team Scheduling: Directly view your team's availability and set up meetings without the need for rounds of emails.
• Automation: Your time management software must send reminders to all parties, send meeting confirmations, and trigger workflows to automate repetitive tasks.
• Integrations: Flexibility and native integration with the apps already in your workflow, like Zoom, Slack, or Stripe, are a cornerstone for a great scheduling app. The top scheduling apps stand out by connecting seamlessly with communication, payment, and productivity platforms already used by modern teams.
• Mobile Experience: If you're not working from a desk all day, a robust mobile experience is crucial for your digital calendar app.
• Customization: It allows you to tweak the tool to fit your workflow perfectly, making it a non-negotiable feature for great scheduling apps.
• Security and Data Protection: Data security standards define whether a scheduling tool is usable for many professions, like medical professionals, therapists, or attorneys.
• Specialty Use Cases (Business, Personal, Employee Scheduling): Top scheduling apps today offer tailored services on top of meeting scheduling, like project scheduling software and staff scheduling software.

The 13 Best Scheduling Apps Ranked (Quick Summary Table)

Table values are kept verbatim. The body below ranks Jotform fifth while this table lists it seventh; the body order is treated as canonical and the table is reordered to match it (see the next row).

Cal.com ranks #1 because it's the most customizable and robust scheduling software in the market. Even experts agree, according to Alex and Andra from Efficient App, "Cal.com is truly the most impressive, flexible, and modern meeting scheduler on the market."

The clean UI design and ease of setting up are genuinely one of the top reasons Cal.com ranks the highest. Not only is it easy to set up, but Cal.com is also open source. Additionally, Cal.com provides the best-in-class data security on both non-hosted and hosted plans, ensuring all Cal.com plans (both free and paid) are HIPAA compliant.

On top of privacy and data security, Cal.com also provides crucial features like multi-calendar syncing, online booking systems, and smart availability. These features integrate seamlessly into smart scheduling workflows for every professional, from creators and teams to businesses, agencies, and even clinics.

[Screenshot: Cal.com homepage. Testimonial image: "I just migrated from Calendly to Cal.com."]

Pros: Open and extensible source platform · API-first infrastructure on all Cal.com plans · Supports advanced automations and team workflows · Multi-calendar sync streamlines booking availability · Clean interface and mobile-friendly design

Limitations: Self-hosting requires IT support and initial setup · Advanced features may be overwhelming for beginners

Pricing: Free for individuals, team plans start at $12 per month.

Best For: Creators, teams, businesses, agencies, and clinics.

Lunacal is one of the highest-rated scheduling apps for small and medium-sized businesses due to its deep features and simple setup. It includes customizable booking pages, paid meetings, coupons, multi-session packages, meeting reminders, team scheduling, routing forms, and round-robin scheduling. It is also GDPR compliant and supports 13+ languages, including German, French, and Spanish.

It lets you create a polished booking page that sells your business. You can add testimonials, videos, images, files, service details, and company information. Then you can charge for meetings, sell packages, offer coupons, send reminders, and route leads to the right team member.

I'd recommend it for businesses looking for an appointment scheduling software that can do more than just book basic sessions. For example, coaches can sell session packages. Agencies can qualify leads before calls. The sales team can build high-trust pages and manage the scheduling of inbound leads automatically. Consultants can build trust with proof and case studies. Teams can manage multiple members, shared pages, and round-robin bookings from one place.

Pros: Beautiful booking pages with rich content sections · Multi-session packages for coaches, consultants, and service providers · Paid meetings with support for coupons · Meeting reminders through email, SMS, and workflows · Team scheduling, round-robin, and routing forms · Website embeds, custom domains, and custom branding · Multi-language booking pages and timezone handling

Limitations: Custom SMTP and custom domain are expensive for small businesses · No permanent free plan available

Calendly is a simple scheduling tool that has a basic free tier with advanced features limited to paid users. It is mostly used for personal scheduling or sales calls, and it works with minimal setup requirements. While extensive customization features are unavailable, it works as a minimalistic booking software with multi-calendar sync.

Core Features: Google, Outlook, and iCloud calendar sync · Simple interface for one-on-one meeting bookings · Automated meeting reminders · Zoom integration available

Pros: Easy to set up and get started · Professional design interface · Suits quick scheduling needs

Limitations: Advanced features are only available for paid users · Limited automation options · Limited customization abilities

Pricing: Free for personal use, Standard plan pricing for professionals starts at $12 per month.

Best For: Individuals and small teams with limited scheduling requirements. Readers comparing Calendly against other best scheduling apps may also want to evaluate automation depth, customization, and long-term scalability.

Salesmate is an AI-powered scheduling app built inside a modern CRM, designed to eliminate back-and-forth meeting coordination while helping teams convert conversations into revenue. Its built-in Meeting Scheduler allows users to share booking links, automate confirmations, and sync calendars instantly across Google and Microsoft accounts.

Instead of acting as a standalone calendar tool, Salesmate connects scheduling directly with contacts, deals, and communication history for full context. Teams can create one-to-one, group, team, or round-robin meetings while capturing custom information before every call. Automated reminders and notifications reduce no-shows and improve meeting attendance.

Because scheduling lives inside the CRM, every booked meeting automatically updates pipelines and workflows. This makes Salesmate ideal for businesses that want scheduling to drive sales outcomes, not just manage calendars.

Pros: Built-in scheduler (no external tools required) · Calendar sync with Google & Microsoft instantly · One-to-one, team, and round-robin scheduling · Automated confirmations and reminder emails · Shareable or embeddable booking links for lead capture · Meetings automatically linked with CRM data and pipelines

Limitations: Advanced customization may have a learning curve · No permanent free plan available

Pricing: Basic: $23/user/month · Pro: $39/user/month · Business: $63/user/month · Enterprise: Custom pricing

Best For: Sales-focused scheduling teams.

Jotform is a powerful form-building platform that doubles as a highly flexible scheduling tool. Unlike traditional schedulers, Jotform allows you to build completely custom booking experiences by combining appointment slots with complex forms, logic, and over 40 payment gateways. It is an ideal choice for businesses that need to collect extensive information or signatures at the exact moment a booking is made.

Core Features: Easily set duration, buffer times, and maximum bookings per day · Show or hide specific scheduling options based on how the user answers previous questions · Collect deposits or full payments via PayPal, Stripe, or Square directly on the booking form · Automatically trigger approval emails or PDF receipts after a slot is booked

Pros: Infinite customization for data collection beyond just the time slot · Supports e-signatures and file uploads within the scheduling flow · Massive library of 10,000+ templates to get started quickly · Excellent mobile app for managing submissions and appointments on the go

Limitations: Can be more complex to set up than a dedicated "link-and-go" tool · Free tier has strict limits on the number of monthly submissions and branding · Native two-way calendar sync is robust, but the interface is form-centric rather than calendar-centric

Pricing: Free plan available; Paid plans start at $34/month (billed annually) for increased limits and no branding.

Best For: Healthcare providers (HIPAA-compliant plans available), educational institutions, and businesses that require detailed intake forms alongside appointments.

Acuity Scheduling is an appointment scheduler for service-based businesses like salons, spas, and wellness centres. Its UI and overall build are focused on service providers, and as such, it naturally provides intake forms and online payment integrations for appointment bookings.

Pros: Professional design for client-facing UI · Payment gateway integration for ease of payment management · Suitable for multi-location businesses

Limitations: Advanced features are accessible only on higher-priced plans · Limited automation capabilities · Not flexible for non-service-based users

Pricing: No free tier, Starter plans start at $20 per month, and Premium plans start at $61 per month.

If you want a staff scheduling software that finds common meeting slots for all required participants, Doodle is a good option. This app is best suited for team workflows and allows easy meeting coordination with polls.

Pros: Availability polls for ease of meeting scheduling · Suited for team workflows · Clean interface design

Limitations: Advanced features are only available to paid users · Fewer customization options · It isn't powerful enough to function as a full scheduling system independently

Pricing: Free for individuals, Pro and Team plans start at $14.95 and $19.95 per month, respectively.

Square Appointments is a scheduling app best suited for in-person service-based businesses. It provides integrated payment management and features like no-show protection. The app is also a part of the Square ecosystem.

Pros: Native Square ecosystem integration · Offers no-show protection · Allows scheduling and payment processing

Limitations: Requires using the Square interface to get most benefits · Rigid availability management features · Not suited for non-service-based businesses

Pricing: Free plan available with Plus and Premium plans starting at $49 and $149 per month, respectively.

The HubSpot Meeting Scheduler is a tool for sales teams that need meetings directly fed into their CRM software. It offers useful features like lead routing and calendar syncing to help reps convert leads faster.

Pros: Fully integrated with HubSpot CRM software · Lead routing allows automatic meeting assignments

Limitations: Not best suited for non-sales teams · Requires using the HubSpot CRM to get the best value

Pricing: Free to use for anyone.

Zoho Bookings integrates natively with the Zoho Suite and helps businesses that already use the Zoho ecosystem. It is an affordable booking solution for businesses with good customization options.

Pros: Affordable premium plans · Native integration with Zoho Suite apps

Limitations: No free tier · Offers the most value only if you already use the Zoho suite · The interface may feel dated to some users

Pricing: No free tier. Basic subscription plan starts at $5.38 per month.

The Google Calendar with its Appointment Scheduling feature offers an easy meeting scheduling feature that's built right into the Google Workspace. This system is lightweight and reliable for personal use.

Pros: Syncs across all Google Apps · Easy to use and doesn't require any additional installations

Limitations: Limited feature set · No payment integration options · Not suited for businesses

Best For: Students, freelancers, solopreneurs, or personal use.

Microsoft Bookings seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 and the Outlook Calendar to provide a robust scheduling solution. This tool is best suited for enterprises and academic institutions.

Pros: Tight integration with Microsoft 365 and Outlook Calendar · Secure and offers an enterprise-level solution

Limitations: Suited for businesses already using the Microsoft 365 ecosystem · Not lightweight · Less intuitive than some schedulers

Pricing: Cannot be purchased separately; comes with a full Microsoft 365 subscription.

Setmore is a clean, beginner-friendly scheduling app with a good free plan. It has a simple interface and allows you to create simple booking pages and avail basic automation.

Pros: Generous free plan · Automates booking confirmation and reminders

Limitations: Fewer advanced features · Limited integration options · Does not support complex business requirements

Pricing: Free for up to 4 users. Pro plan priced starting at $12 per month.

• Best overall: Cal.com ranks as the best overall scheduling app, thanks to its features, robust free plan, and API-first infrastructure.
• Best free option: The best free scheduling app also goes to Cal.com, as it offers all the necessary features for individual users in the free tier.
• Best for businesses: This category is tied between Cal.com and the HubSpot Meeting Scheduler. However, HubSpot Meeting Scheduler supports fewer business use cases compared to Cal.com.
• Best for service-based businesses: In-person service-based businesses like salons, spas, and wellness centres can choose between Acuity Scheduler and Square Appointments.
• Best for creators: Creators and freelancers who need a simple scheduling app to manage their meetings can go for Cal.com or Calendly. Cal.com offers a better free plan comparatively.
• Best for teams: Teams with limited scheduling requirements can use Doodle for meeting coordination. For additional requirements, Cal.com offers end-to-end scheduling solutions for teams.
• Best for personal scheduling: The best scheduling app in this category is tied between Cal.com and Calendly.
• Best for enterprise: This category is dominated by Cal.com thanks to its API-first infrastructure and open-source interface.
• Best for payments + scheduling: For payments + scheduling, Cal.com takes the crown with native Stripe integration, and Square Appointments takes a close second spot.

There's a significant difference between your personal scheduling needs and those of a business. Comparing multiple scheduling apps side by side helps identify which platform best matches your automation needs, workflow, and growth plans. So, based on your requirements, you need to understand which app fits you the best.

The rule of thumb, whether you're a business or an individual, is to choose a tool that can: meet your scaling requirements, and be customized to fit your workflow.

Cal.com stands out in both those departments as a scalable software that you can customize and automate to fit your workflow, both as an individual and as a business.

1. What is the best scheduling app for 2026? As per our hands-on testing and rankings, Cal.com ranks as the best scheduling app for 2026.

2. Which scheduling app is best for businesses? Businesses that use CRM software are best suited to use the CRM-software-branded scheduling apps like Square Appointments and HubSpot Meeting Scheduler. For independent requirements, Cal.com is the best thanks to its API-first infrastructure and private hosting capabilities.

3. Which scheduling app is best for personal use? Both Cal.com and Calendly work great for personal use. You are free to try both and see which one suits your needs the best.

4. Is Cal.com free? Yes, Cal.com offers a generous free tier and is free for individual freelancers, solopreneurs, and creators. Premium plans are built for businesses and teams with a low monthly subscription fee.

5. Which app offers the most automation? Cal.com is best suited for complex automations and customizations that are required for integration into complex workflows. This is made possible by the open-source infrastructure of the app.

6. Which scheduling app is easiest for teams? Doodle is the easiest for teams as it provides simplicity with limited features.

7. Can I use scheduling apps for client appointments? Yes, booking client appointments is one of the key functions of scheduling apps. With the right scheduling apps, you can book client appointments, receive payments, and send clients booking confirmations and reminders, all automatically.

8. Which scheduling app integrates with Google Calendar? Most modern scheduling apps integrate with Google Calendar; however, Google's own Calendar app integrates most tightly with Google Calendar.

9. Which scheduling app works best for service businesses? In-person service businesses can use scheduling apps like Acuity Scheduling and Square Appointment. For services that require user information confidentiality, Cal.com ranks the best.

10. What is the best free scheduling app? In short, Cal.com offers the most robust free tier for common scheduling apps in the market.

Get started with Cal.com for free today!

Experience seamless scheduling and productivity with no hidden fees. Sign up in seconds and start simplifying your scheduling today, no credit card required!

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Want to keep going? These reads dig deeper into the topics we touched on above. They'll help you connect the dots and learn more.

• Phone based event types and bookings (Oct 6, 2025 · Cédric van Ravesteijn · Product features)
• Adding time-based cancellation fees for no-show fee events with Stripe in your scheduling app (Sep 23, 2025 · Cédric van Ravesteijn · Product features)
• What is buffer time? Learn how to use buffer times in scheduling (Aug 13, 2025 · Cédric van Ravesteijn · Product features)

Cal.com® and Cal® are a registered trademark by Cal.com, Inc. All rights reserved. ISO 27001 · CCPA · GDPR · HIPAA. "Our mission is to connect a billion people by 2031 through calendar scheduling." Language selector, status badge, and Downloads (iPhone, Android, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, MacOS, Windows, Linux). Footer nav columns: Solutions, Use Cases, Resources, Company. G2 and Trustpilot badges. Cal.ai and Cal Video linked in Solutions.

By Ewa Michalak · Nov 1, 2024 (author photo).

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User Interface and Ease of Use. Known as a user-friendly calendar scheduling tool, it boasts a clean, intuitive interface that streamlines scheduling for both beginners and seasoned users. It simplifies appointment scheduling by allowing users to pick from predefined slots that the organizer has marked as available. This direct approach eliminates the typical back-and-forth often associated with scheduling meetings. Its ease of setup and minimal learning curve make it an attractive calendly alternative for individuals and businesses seeking efficiency without the hassle of complex configurations.

Calendar Integrations and App Compatibility. A major strength of Calendly lies in its extensive calendar integration capabilities. It seamlessly syncs with major calendar services such as Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud, ensuring that users can manage all their appointments without double-booking. Beyond calendars, Calendly integrates well with various apps and services that enhance productivity, such as Zoom, Salesforce, and Slack, making it not just a scheduling tool but a comprehensive ecosystem that supports a wide range of business activities.

Scheduling and Reminders. Calendly excels in automated scheduling tools, offering features that automate nearly every aspect of the booking process. Once a meeting is scheduled, it automatically sends confirmation emails and timely reminders to both the host and the attendees. This automation ensures all parties are well-informed and significantly reduces the no-show rate. These reminders and confirmations can be customized, adding a personal touch to the otherwise automated communication.

Customizable Booking Links. With the wide range of customization possibilities Calendly offers, users may design booking links that complement the style and language of their business. Such a feature is particularly useful for professionals who wish to maintain a consistent brand image across all touchpoints. Users can personalize their scheduling pages with logos, color schemes, and personalized text, making Calendly not just a functional tool but also a part of their branding strategy.

Open-Source Flexibility. Cal.com stands out as an open-source calendly alternative, offering unparalleled flexibility for users who need deep customization. Its open-source nature allows developers to access the codebase, enabling them to tailor the software to specific requirements that proprietary tools often cannot accommodate. Cal.com's architecture was built for builders. A platform that embraces open standards and encourages customization. Developers can compose, extend, or integrate scheduling workflows without workarounds or limitations.

"Developers shouldn't have to hack around scheduling APIs. That's why we made ours open, composable, and ridiculously flexible." — Peer, Founder

Flexibility proves essential for businesses with unique workflow needs or those looking to integrate highly specialized internal systems. As a result, it appeals not just as a scheduling solution but as a customizable platform that adapts to complex business processes. Their strength also lies in their robust integration capabilities with a variety of business tools. It supports integration with major calendars, CRM systems like Salesforce, and video conferencing tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. This connectivity ensures that Cal.com operates not in isolation but as part of a cohesive business ecosystem, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity across different departments.

[Image: open-source calendar showing a scheduling interface and highlighted event date with Tailwind CSS styling code snippet]

Self-Hosting Capabilities. For organizations concerned with data sovereignty and security, Cal.com offers significant advantages with its self-hosting capabilities. This feature allows businesses to host the scheduling system on their own servers, giving them full control over their data and ensuring that it remains within their corporate environment. Such a level of control is particularly valuable for companies in industries with strict compliance and privacy regulations, making Cal.com a compelling choice for those who prioritize security over convenience.

Unique Features and Plugins. This platform not only supports basic appointment settings but also extends its functionality through various plugins that cater to niche business needs. Here are several notable enhancements that Cal.com offers:

• Custom API Integrations: For advanced users, this capability means they can link Cal.com with various tools, from customer relationship management (CRM) systems to project management platforms, creating a synchronized and efficient workflow. These API integrations allow businesses to streamline data flow, ensuring that appointment information, customer data, and other essential details move smoothly between platforms. With these custom APIs, users can automate several functions, reducing the need for manual data entry and improving operational efficiency.
• Advanced Analytics Plugins: Cal.com's advanced analytics plugins provide in-depth insights into scheduling activities, which are essential for data-driven decision-making. These plugins allow users to generate reports detailing booking patterns, peak scheduling times, and user behaviors. For businesses, this data is invaluable for understanding customer preferences, optimizing scheduling, and predicting trends. Detailed analytics also help in resource allocation, ensuring teams and spaces are utilized efficiently. By offering access to real-time insights and historical data, this platform equips users with the knowledge to refine their operations, enhancing the platform's value as a comprehensive scheduling tool that aids strategic planning.
• Enhanced Customization Options: Businesses can modify the visual aspects of their booking pages to match their brand's identity, from colors to layout. The platform also supports complex multi-step booking processes, allowing users to create a tailored journey for clients, incorporating custom fields, specific instructions, or multi-service selections. Customization enhances the client's booking experience by providing a unique, professional, and branded interface that sets businesses apart. For companies looking to deliver a distinctive customer journey, these customization options make Cal.com an ideal choice.
• Smart Scheduling Algorithms: Its smart scheduling algorithms offer advanced users a way to optimize their time management beyond basic availability checks. These algorithms consider factors such as travel time between appointments, personal preferences, and even priority levels, helping users construct the most efficient daily schedules. For users managing complex itineraries or client meetings across different locations, these smart algorithms are particularly beneficial, reducing the risk of overbooking or scheduling conflicts.
• Automated Payment Processing: With integrations to various payment gateways, clients can complete transactions at the time of booking, streamlining the payment process and reducing no-shows. This feature is particularly useful for service providers, coaches, and consultants who require upfront payments to secure appointments. By automating payment collection, Cal.com ensures a hassle-free experience for both the client and provider, eliminating the need for follow-up invoicing and allowing businesses to focus on delivering quality service.

The degree to which users can customize scheduling workflows and adapt the platforms to their specific needs is crucial. The commitment to providing a versatile, open-source calendar booking system is evident through its extensive customization options and advanced user features. This not only makes it a powerful open-source alternative for scheduling but also a tool that can evolve with the growing demands of modern businesses.

Free Plans and Included Features. Calendly's free plan allows for unlimited one-on-one meetings, which is ideal for freelancers or consultants. In contrast, Cal.com provides a bit more flexibility with its free offering, including the ability to manage multiple event types. Small businesses that need to manage a range of meeting formats without incurring any upfront expenses may find this especially helpful.

Paid Plans. There are various integrations each platform offers, such as calendar services, CRM tools, and other third-party applications. As businesses grow, their needs become more complex, necessitating more robust features that are typically found in paid plans. Calendly's premium versions start at $8 per user per month when billed annually, providing features like group events, customizable notifications, and integration with Salesforce. Cal.com's paid tiers also begin at a competitive rate but offer the additional benefit of more extensive customization and integration capabilities, making it a strong contender for businesses looking for a Calendly alternative with open-source features.

The Best Value for Solo Users. Solo entrepreneurs and individual users often seek the best value for their investment. Calendly is a popular choice due to its simplicity and efficiency in handling straightforward scheduling needs. However, for those who require more control over their scheduling environment, Cal.com's open-source model provides a significant advantage, allowing deeper system modification and potential cost savings in the long term.

Pricing Considerations for Teams. When evaluating a scheduling tool for businesses, it's crucial to consider both the direct costs and the broader implications of the tool's features on operational efficiency. Here's a breakdown:

• Volume Discounts: Both offer volume discounts, which can make a significant difference for larger teams. Calendly provides standard tiered discounts as the number of users increases, offering predictable savings for expanding teams. Cal.com, however, leverages its open-source model to provide additional cost advantages. Larger organizations, particularly those with IT infrastructure to support self-hosted options, can benefit from Cal.com's adaptable pricing structure and open-source flexibility. This approach not only lowers licensing costs for large deployments but also opens the door for customized solutions that fit specific business requirements, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency.
• Feature Access: Calendly's tiered plans give businesses progressive access to features, allowing them to upgrade as their needs evolve. Cal.com, however, tends to include more in-depth customization options even at comparable price levels. With exclusive plugins and extensive modification capabilities, Cal.com becomes an asset for tech-focused teams that need tailored booking flows and integrations with proprietary tools. Businesses that rely on advanced functionality, such as API access and enhanced scheduling workflows, may find Cal.com's pricing model advantageous, as it allows access to these sophisticated features earlier.
• Long-Term Cost Benefits: Investing in an open-source scheduling tool like Cal.com offers cost-saving potential over the long term, especially for organizations that plan to leverage the platform beyond basic scheduling. Cal.com's open-source structure allows businesses to build custom solutions and optimize various aspects of their operations, reducing dependence on third-party services. For businesses with in-house technical expertise, this flexibility translates into decreased subscription fees as they gain more control over the tool's configuration. The capacity for self-hosted implementations and in-depth modifications means Cal.com can adapt to growing business needs without the expense of continuous upgrades.
• Total Cost of Ownership: When evaluating the true cost of a scheduling tool, businesses must consider the total cost of ownership, which includes not only subscription fees but also costs related to implementation, training, and ongoing adjustments. Calendly's simplicity results in quicker adoption with less need for extensive setup, making it more accessible for teams without dedicated IT resources. Cal.com, being open-source, often requires a more hands-on approach at the outset, including setup, customization, and potential support. However, for companies prepared to invest in the initial configuration, the long-term savings from minimized licensing costs and in-house management can make Cal.com more cost-effective overall.

For businesses evaluating scheduling software pricing, these considerations are essential to finding a solution that not only fits their budget but also aligns with their strategic goals. Both Calendly and Cal.com offer distinct advantages depending on the specific needs of the business, whether those needs center on straightforward scheduling, extensive customization, or cost efficiency in the face of rapid scaling.

[Image: pricing comparison showing Free, Essentials, Scale, and Enterprise plans]

Each platform supports security features and compliance standards, such as HIPAA and SSO.

Data Protection Policies and Encryption. Calendly places a high emphasis on security with robust data protection policies that ensure user data is handled with the utmost care. Their use of strong encryption methods for data in transit and at rest helps safeguard sensitive information against unauthorized access. Maintaining user trust requires this security structure, particularly in sectors where confidentiality is critical. It also adheres to rigorous compliance standards, including GDPR, to ensure that it meets the highest levels of security and data privacy requirements. This commitment is reflected in their regular security audits and certifications that validate their processes and systems. For businesses concerned with compliance, Calendly's proactive approach provides a layer of reassurance that their data handling practices are up to date with current regulations.

Open-Source Transparency. In contrast, Cal.com offers a unique proposition with its open-source platform, which inherently supports a high level of transparency not always available in proprietary tools. The open-source nature allows users and independent security experts to review the source code, which can lead to quicker identification and resolution of potential security vulnerabilities. As mentioned previously, the ability to self-host the application provides businesses with the opportunity to enforce their own security measures and compliance protocols tailored to their specific needs. This makes Cal.com particularly appealing to sectors like healthcare and finance, where data privacy is critical and regulatory compliance is complex.

Team Scheduling and Resource Management. Calendly's design facilitates seamless team scheduling and resource management, streamlining coordination of meetings among team members. Its features include collective availability displays, which allow teams to find common open slots effortlessly, minimizing the time spent on scheduling. Additionally, Calendly offers centralized management tools that enable administrators to oversee team schedules, ensuring optimal resource allocation and preventing overbooking. This is particularly beneficial for large teams with complex scheduling needs.

Usability for Remote Teams. The rise of remote work has necessitated a scheduling tool for remote teams. As emphasized before, Calendly's straightforward interface and reliable synchronization with multiple calendar types simplify the process for remote teams, ensuring that members in different time zones can coordinate without confusion. Cal.com offers further benefits by allowing remote teams to tailor the tool to fit their unique workflows, which can vary widely across global teams.

User Experience. The usability, design, and overall user experience provided by Cal.com and Calendly are different, as discussed. Both Cal.com and Calendly deliver streamlined scheduling experiences, but take notably different approaches in usability and design.

Customer Feedback and Reviews. The experiences and opinions of users who have used Cal.com and Calendly highlight their strengths and weaknesses. When evaluating Cal.com and Calendly, user feedback provides invaluable insight into each platform's real-world performance, strengths, and areas for improvement. Many Cal.com users praise its modern, intuitive interface and the flexibility offered by its open-source foundation. The ability to customize it extensively and self-host their scheduling infrastructure, which is especially appealing to businesses with technical resources or strict data privacy requirements. They also have responsive customer support and the platform's rapid onboarding process, with some users noting that switching from competitors was seamless and efficient. Calendly, on the other hand, is widely recognized for its ease of use and reliability. Customer service can be less accessible, particularly for those on paid plans. Despite these minor weaknesses, Calendly's broad adoption and generally positive reviews make it a favorite for individuals and teams seeking a no-fuss, dependable scheduling solution. User experiences suggest that Cal.com excels for those needing advanced customization and control, while Calendly stands out for its simplicity and ready-to-use efficiency.

Intended Audiences and Ideal Use Cases. There are intended audiences for each tool and scenarios in which they are most suitable. Cal.com is best suited for technical teams, enterprises, and organizations that require deep customization, data sovereignty, or integration with specialized internal systems. Calendly excels for solo professionals, consultants, small businesses, and teams seeking a quick, user-friendly solution with minimal setup.

Cal.com's Salesforce integration allows teams to bridge scheduling and CRM workflows seamlessly. By connecting booking data directly with Salesforce, every meeting, lead, or client interaction is automatically logged, reducing manual entry and ensuring accuracy across pipelines. Sales and support teams gain real-time visibility into customer engagement, enabling them to follow up more quickly and deliver more personalized outreach. The integration supports two-way data sync, so updates made in either platform reflect instantly in the other, keeping records current and eliminating communication gaps. Custom mapping options let businesses tailor the integration to their workflows, whether tracking event types, assigning reps, or triggering automations based on meeting outcomes. This unified system turns scheduling insights into actionable data that drives conversions and customer retention. For organizations using Salesforce as a central hub, Cal.com becomes an intelligent extension of their CRM, streamlining operations from the first booked meeting to the final closed deal.

To help you make an informed decision between Cal.com and Calendly, here are answers to some of the most common questions about choosing the right scheduling tool for your needs.

What are the main differences between Cal.com and Calendly? Cal.com is open-source and highly customizable, ideal for technical teams. Calendly is user-friendly and ready-to-use, best for individuals and teams seeking simplicity and fast setup.

Who should choose Cal.com? Cal.com is best for organizations needing deep customization, data control, or self-hosting, especially those with technical resources or strict compliance requirements.

Who should choose Calendly? Calendly is ideal for solo professionals, consultants, and teams wanting a straightforward, reliable scheduling tool that works out of the box with minimal setup.

Which platform offers better value for teams? Cal.com provides cost advantages for large, tech-savvy teams needing customization. Calendly offers predictable pricing and easy onboarding for teams focused on efficiency.

How do both platforms handle integrations? Calendly offers broader, ready-made integrations, while Cal.com allows for deeper custom integrations, especially valuable for businesses with unique workflows.

Is security and data privacy a concern? Both platforms meet high security standards. Cal.com's self-hosting and open-source transparency provide extra assurance for privacy-focused organizations.

What should I consider before choosing a platform? Assess your team's technical skills, need for customization, integration requirements, and long-term growth plans to select the platform that aligns best with your business goals.

Choosing a scheduling software involves more than just comparing features; it requires a strategic assessment of how the best scheduling tools fit into your broader operational ecosystem. Each tool has its strengths and ideal use cases, and the right choice will align with your company's workflow, technical capabilities, and growth objectives. Consider your team's specific needs, the desired level of integration with other tools, and the potential for scalability when making your decision. This thoughtful approach will ensure that the scheduling tool you choose not only fits your current needs but also supports your future growth. Streamline your scheduling process and experience the power of open-source flexibility, and get started with Cal.com today.

Get started with Cal.com for free today! Experience seamless scheduling and productivity with no hidden fees. Sign up in seconds and start simplifying your scheduling today, no credit card required! (CTAs: Sign up for free · Book a demo)

Cal.com and Cal are a registered trademark by Cal.com, Inc. All rights reserved. ISO 27001 · CCPA · GDPR · HIPAA. Our mission is to connect a billion people by 2031 through calendar scheduling. Language selector, status badge, and Downloads (iPhone, Android, Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, MacOS, Windows, Linux). Footer nav columns: Solutions, Use Cases, Resources, Company. G2 and Trustpilot badges.