Thryv Holdings Inc.

19/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 19/08/2024 12:59

7 Best Online Calendar Apps for Small Businesses

These days, online calendars do much more than tell you the date. They're essential project management tools that track upcoming meetings and remind you when tasks are due.

Finding the best online calendar app for your business shouldn't be difficult. There are plenty of great providers, and each has unique features that cater to different businesses. Picking the right one means understanding your needs and finding a solution that works for you.

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Don't have time to download every calendar app in the App Store?

Don't worry. We've put together a list of the best online calendar apps for small businesses. We'll explain the benefits of each, their price, and what makes the provider unique.

Best Online Calendar Apps for Small Business

Below are our top picks for the best online calendar apps this year.

1. Thryv

Thryv's scheduling software is ideal for small business owners. It's user-friendly and easy to share calendars with teammates, partners, or customers. You can also sync calendars together, allowing you to see all our appointments in one, collaborative view.

Thryv's online calendar is also effective on the go. The mobile app sends reminders about upcoming meetings, and your schedule updates automatically if a new appointment is booked or canceled. Thryv is a convenient solution for business owners who don't always work in front of a computer.

Additional features include:

  • Event Registration: You can create events, track registrants, collect payments, and send reminders from one app.
  • Custom Packages & Promotions: You can customize promotions and pricing packages to sell multiple services together.
  • Reserve With Google: Thryv connects to your Google Business Profile so you can simplify your online booking process and convert customers quickly.

Price: $228/month for Plus plan; $382/month for Professional plan; $533/month for Unlimted plan

2. Google Calendar

Google offers a free online calendar app that's useful for managing appointments. It syncs with Gmail, so contacts are readily available when scheduling a new meeting. You can also book appointments through emails by creating new events or offering times to meet.

With Google, it's easy to view team members' calendars by subscribing to their accounts. Preset calendars are also available to keep track of important dates like holidays and out-of-office time.

Additional features include:

  • Project Management: You can create tasks in Google Calendar, assign them to teammates, and set due dates for each one.
  • Email Synchronization: Convert emails into meetings and tasks so you don't have to manually add them to your schedule.

Price: Free to get started; $6/user/month for Business Starter plan; $12/user/month for Business Standard plan; $18/user/month for Business Plus plan

3. Microsoft Outlook

Outlook is similar to Google. It syncs with your account and is directly available through your email inbox. If your business relies on Microsoft, it might be a convenient and immediate solution.

If your business doesn't currently use Outlook, that's okay, too. You can import calendars so all your events can be viewed from one place. You don't have to jump between apps or manually add any appointments.

Additional features include:

  • Microsoft Office: A subscription to Microsoft 365 grants you access to Microsoft Office tools like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
  • Advanced Security: Microsoft has "enterprise-grade" security, so your data and customer information are safe.
  • Sweep Messages: "Sweep Messages" automatically categorizes emails from specific recipients. It improves organization and helps you respond to high-priority tasks.

Price: $70/year for Microsoft 365 Personal plan; $100/year for Microsoft 365 Family Plan

4. Calendly

Calendly is another free solution that syncs with your Outlook and Gmail accounts. With Calendly, you can schedule different types of meetings, such as one-off meetings for impromptu discussions and recurring meetings for appointments you host weekly.

You can also set your weekly availability so people can only book meetings during certain times. The holiday feature even lets you specify your working hours for individual days of the year.

Additional features include:

  • User Onboarding: Calendly provides an extensive tutorial that makes the software less intimidating and easier to use.
  • Meeting Polls: You can find the best times to meet with people by sending them a survey or poll where they can vote on different meeting times.

Price: Free to get started; $10/user/month for Standard plan; $16/user/month for Teams plan; Contact for Enterprise plan pricing

5. Apple Calendar App

Apple's Calendar App might be the right choice if you're looking for a mobile-first solution (and you have an iPhone). The convenient part about this app is that it's pre-installed on every iPhone and MacBook. You can test it out now if you have an Apple device.

The Apple online calendar is relatively simple. It provides many of the same features as Google and Outlook, and the database syncs with your iCloud account, so you have the same calendar views even if you switch devices. The drag-and-drop interface is easy to work with, and you can adjust meeting times and dates by dragging events around the app.

Additional features include:

  • Calendar Subscriptions: You can subscribe to calendars for holidays, birthdays, and even your favorite sports teams.
  • GPS Reminders: Apple doesn't just tell you when you have an upcoming meeting; it uses your location to estimate when you should leave to make each appointment.
  • Compatibility: The Calendar app is compatible with major email providers like Gmail, Outlook, and CalDAV servers.

Price: Free

6. Trello

Trello is a project management tool that also functions as a calendar app. When you create new tasks, you assign them a due date, and that task appears on your calendar.

You can also include information like attachments, checklists, and labels to add context to each task. You can create custom fields to designate priority, risk, status, and other details. If you reassign the task, the recipient will have all the information needed to complete the job.

Additional features include:

  • Power-Ups: "Power-ups" integrate external tools like Excel and team chat into your Trello boards.
  • Multiple Views: You can swap out your calendar view for a list of all your open tasks, or create a dashboard that you can monitor over time.
  • Checklists: Checklists combine multiple tasks into one card. You can create milestones for each card and track its progress.

Price: Free to get started; $5/user/month for Standard plan; $10/user/month for Premium plan; $17.50/user/month for Enterprise plan

7. Asana

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Asana is another project management tool that doubles as a calendar app. Unlike Trello, it's geared toward businesses with a growing customer base that need extra functionality, like workflow automation and employee productivity reports.

You can also set goals in Asana that your team works toward over time. Once you create a goal, you can add subtasks that need to be completed to reach that goal and track the status of each. When a task is complete, it's reflected in the progress bar connected to the goal. You'll see how close you are to completing your overall goals and can make adjustments if needed to meet deadlines.

Additional features include:

  • Portfolios: The "Portfolios" feature helps monitor workload across projects, ensuring you distribute tasks fairly.
  • Templates: You can construct templates for recurring tasks like sending invoices or requesting quotes.
  • Instant Messaging: Built-in messaging features help you stay connected with team members in real-time.

Price: Free to get started; $11/user/month for Starter plan; $25/user/month for Advanced plan

How to Chose the Best Online Calendar App

The best online calendar app for you might differ from another business owner - and that's okay. Finding the right software depends on your unique needs, which vary from business to business.

If you want some help, we've put together this Buying Software Checklist to help you make the right decision for your company. Use it to assess each option above and select the best solution for your business.

Buying Software
Checklist

A 12-step guide to buying the right software for your business.