Apple Calendar alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Apple Calendar: no native Android or Windows app, and no scheduling links or advanced natural-language input. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Apple Calendar, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Fantastical currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Itsycal	Free	Yes	macOS	4 of 4	55.3
2	Proton Calendar	Free plan + paid	Yes	Web, iOS, Android +3	4 of 4	53.6

1. ItsycalTop pick
Best for: Mac users who want a quick menu bar glance at the date and upcoming events
FreeOpen sourcemacOS
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from Apple Calendar
A free menu bar companion that shows Apple Calendar events at a click.
Pros
Free and very lightweight
Uses calendars already set up on the Mac
Keyboard shortcuts and clock customisation
Cons
Mac only
Not a full calendar: no day or week views
Depends on the Mac Calendar app for accounts
Visit Itsycal Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Itsycal a good Apple Calendar alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Type
Menu bar calendar
Checked Oct 25, 2026mowglii.com(opens source in a new tab)
Calendar source
Mac Calendar app
Checked Oct 25, 2026mowglii.com(opens source in a new tab)
System support
macOS 11 and later
Checked Oct 25, 2026mowglii.com(opens source in a new tab)
Months shown
Up to two at a time
Checked Oct 25, 2026mowglii.com(opens source in a new tab)
2. Proton Calendar
Best for: Privacy-minded people and teams who want encrypted calendars, ideally with Proton Mail
Free plan + paidOpen sourceWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux
53.6
score / 100
Why switch from Apple Calendar
Encrypted events if you want more privacy than iCloud's default.
Pros
End-to-end encrypted event details
Swiss jurisdiction and open-source apps
Free plan, bundled with Proton Mail on paid plans
Cons
No direct CalDAV sync with third-party clients
Fewer integrations than Google Calendar
Best value only if you use other Proton apps
Visit Proton Calendar Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.357
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1585
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Proton Calendar a good Apple Calendar alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
End-to-end encryption
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
Jurisdiction
Switzerland
Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
Desktop apps
macOS, Windows, Linux
Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
Free plan
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)

The best Apple Calendar alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for most people

Fantastical

Natural-language input, tasks and scheduling links on the same Apple platforms.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for a free option

Itsycal

A free menu bar companion that shows Apple Calendar events at a click.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Calendars by Readdle

A free iPhone calendar with tasks and a cleaner day view.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for open source

Proton Calendar

Encrypted events if you want more privacy than iCloud's default.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for Mac

BusyCal

A one-time-purchase power calendar for Mac and iOS with richer views.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for Windows

Fantastical

Natural-language input, tasks and scheduling links on the same Apple platforms.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for Linux

Proton Calendar

Encrypted events if you want more privacy than iCloud's default.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for iPhone and Android

Google Calendar

Works on Android and the web too, for mixed-device households.

Best Apple Calendar alternative for working in the browser

Google Calendar

Works on Android and the web too, for mixed-device households.

Apple Calendar alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Apple Calendar?

Fantastical ranks first right now. Natural-language input, tasks and scheduling links on the same Apple platforms. BusyCal and Calendars by Readdle follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Apple Calendar?

Yes. Fantastical (free plan + paid), Calendars by Readdle (free plan + paid), Google Calendar (free plan + paid) and Itsycal (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Apple Calendar?

Yes: Itsycal and Proton Calendar.

Which Apple Calendar alternatives work on Linux?

Proton Calendar runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Apple Calendar?

The complaints we hear most: no native Android or Windows app; no scheduling links or advanced natural-language input; basic task and time-zone features.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Apple Calendar, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.