Schedule Smarter: 10 Doodle Alternatives to Consider in 2026

So you’re on the hunt for the best appointment scheduling app and eyeing Doodle? 

It’s no wonder, as Doodle simplifies finding the best time for group meetings. Users can create meeting polls and invite participants to vote on their availability through the tool, making meeting coordination easy. However, despite its popularity, Doodle can be a bit limiting compared to other solutions on the market.

That's why we've curated the ten ultimate Doodle alternatives, each offering customizable features, seamless integration, and enhanced user experience to streamline your planning process and boost productivity.

Which one is the right tool for you? Let’s find out!

Originally known as a simple polling tool, Doodle has grown into a full online scheduling platform designed to help people find the right time to meet. Today, you can sync your calendar, set up a booking page, and even take payments for meetings—but its most well-known feature is still the Doodle poll.

A Doodle poll is a meeting poll where you suggest a few possible dates and times and let invitees vote on what works for them. It takes the guesswork (and the email chaos) from scheduling by clearly showing which option works best for everyone.

Before we jump into the Doodle alternatives themselves, let’s quickly go over a few of the top reasons people leave Doodle 👇

• Feature limitations: Classic polling works well, but many teams outgrow it when they need more advanced notification flows, team settings, and availability controls.
• User experience: Some find the interface dated compared to Doodle’s competitors. Free participants often see ads, which can feel unprofessional in client-facing contexts.
• Cost & pricing changes: Doodle moved more features behind paid plans, making people look for cheaper or even free appointment scheduling apps.
• Integrations gap: Doodle only offers 10 native integrations (one of which, Apple iCloud, is still in beta), and none of these are with a CRM.
• Need for more professional branding: Businesses don’t want clients to see a “Doodle poll link with ads.” Ads detract from the professional experience, especially since other scheduling apps (like YouCanBookMe) lets users create branded booking pages for free.

Want the TL;DR? Here’s the basic rundown:

You’ll be able to customize the entire booking process with YouCanBookMe.

You’ll find the most integrations for established enterprises using Calendly.

You’ll get to quickly create meeting polls with Rallly.

Best for small businesses and entrepreneurs	Best for large enterprises	Best for simple group polls
YouCanBookMe Best for small teams who want meeting polls, highly customizable booking pages, and a smooth scheduling experience. Learn more	Calendly Best for enterprises looking for meeting polls, routing logic, and integration with 150+ tools. Learn more	Rallly Best for free, no-frills scheduling polls without ads or extra features. Learn more

Every scheduling tool is created with a specific team or target audience in mind. To help you find the one that’s tailor-made for you, we've examined and rated all the Doodle alternatives in four crucial categories. 

• Ease of use: We've all been there—grappling with a new tool that feels like deciphering hieroglyphics. Our ease of use score measures how quickly you can grasp the ins and outs of each tool. Whether you're a team of one or a bustling group, efficiency matters. The smoother the learning curve, the faster your team can hit the ground running.

• Integrations: Your tech stack is like a puzzle—every piece needs to fit snugly together. Our integration assessment evaluates how seamlessly each tool slots into your existing workflow. From syncing calendars to streamlining communications, compatibility is key.

• Value for money: Budgets are the guardrails of decision-making. Our value-for-money metric examines whether the features offered justify the price tag. It's not just about the bottom line— it's about getting the most bang for your buck.

• Customization: Your brand is your fingerprint—unique and unmistakable. Our customization score measures each tool's flexibility in tailoring your booking page to reflect your brand identity. From color schemes and logos to meeting lengths and appointment types, we examine whether you can truly make it your own.

Remember, a low score doesn't necessarily mean a no-go. Each booking tool has its strengths, whether it caters to enterprise-level complexities or serves the needs of small businesses. Ultimately, the right choice depends on finding the features that align with your requirements.

Are you searching for the best scheduling software for small businesses? Look no further than YouCanBookMe’s booking tool! YouCanBookMe puts customization and customer experience at the forefront, allowing you to tailor every aspect of the booking process to your specific needs. 

With features including branding options, automated scheduling, reminders, follow-ups, and custom booking forms, YouCanBookMe ensures seamless integration between your booking page and the rest of your business operations. 

And for anyone searching for a strong Doodle alternative, YouCanBookMe offers meeting polls that match everything Doodle polls can do—and then go a step further. You can schedule polls to be sent in advance, so they go out automatically at the right time, a feature Doodle doesn’t offer.

YouCanBookMe core features

• Unlimited one-on-one, group, and round-robin scheduling
• Different appointment types and lengths
• Automated reminders via SMS or email
• Meeting polls (letting participants vote on the best time to meet)
• Customizable appointment email confirmations and follow-ups
• Configurable booking form to collect info before you meet
• Set prices and take payment for appointments, plus generate unique promo and discount codes
• Minimum/maximum booking notice (to prevent people from booking last minute or too far in advance)
• Add branding to your booking page (such as logos, photos, and custom backgrounds)

It's so easy to use and makes managing my calendar a breeze. I was able to condense my workday, without having to agree to after-hour calls. People pick what works for them based on the times I provide.

I love that I can set the parameters to what my needs are. I meet with individuals on a weekly basis, and it's always a hassle to figure out a time that works for both parties. YouCanBookMe makes it so easy - I send them a link to my available times, they select one and it puts it directly on my Google Calendar. It eliminates the back and forth of ‘are you available this day.’”

- Sarah P., Co-ordinator at an NGO (and user for 2+ years!)

YouCanBookMe vs. Doodle: Pricing

YouCanBookMe vs. Doodle

While Doodle will help you find convenient times for groups to meet, YouCanBookMe goes above and beyond by letting you customize and personalize the entire scheduling process. Let’s compare YouCanBookMe and Doodle by examining some standard booking features. 👇

Sharing your booking page:

• Doodle—you can share your booking page via a link or email. 
• YouCanBookMe—you can share your booking page however you wish, including embedding it on your website, pasting specific meeting times into an email, and generating a handy QR code for printed materials (such as business cards or brochures).

Notifications:

• Doodle—you can send one reminder before via email, but can’t customize it. You can also send a standard, automated confirmation email. 
• YouCanBookMe—you can send multiple email or SMS reminders and add personalized follow-ups, meeting confirmations, and other messages. Each one is customizable; it’s up to you when to send it and what info to include. 

Taking payments for meetings: 

• Doodle—integrates with Stripe to take payments for meetings.
• YouCanBookMe—YCBM's Stripe integration goes a step further than Doodle's and lets you create unique promo and discount codes with expiration dates, redemption limits, and minimum order values, helping you attract new customers and reward loyal ones.

Customization: 

• Doodle—you can set different meeting durations and availability on your booking page, send out meeting polls, add buffer times before and after meetings, and connect multiple calendars.
• YouCanBookMe does everything listed above but also lets you…
  • Reject or accept meetings before they land on your calendar 
  • Create password-protected pages
  • Set your booking page to one of 44 languages
  • Add logos, photos, custom backgrounds, and brand colors to your page

Speaking of customization, I set up a free account and created a booking page on both Doodle and YouCanBookMe using the exact same information.

Here is the Doodle page: 

And here is the YouCanBookMe page:

Even putting aside the repeated errors I hit when trying to connect my Google Calendar, it took three attempts to create the Doodle booking page—and once it was live, it felt cluttered and distracting, with ads throughout. It also didn’t respect my system’s dark mode and offered no way to add icons or links to the description.

By contrast, getting started with YCBM was easy, and the end result felt far more polished and professional.

Use YouCanBookMe if:

• You run a small or medium-sized business (or are a solopreneur) and need an easy-to-use scheduling tool.
• You want highly personalized booking pages tailored to your niche and customer preferences.
• You need scheduling polls but are looking for a more powerful booking software than Doodle.

Try the most customizable booking tool

Customize everything from availability and notifications to branding and style. With YouCanBookMe, it’s all up to you.

Calendly, founded in 2013, is a seasoned player in the scheduling game. Known for its adaptability and user-friendly approach, Calendly simplifies booking meetings, freeing up precious time for more meaningful tasks. 

Boasting over 150 integrations, Calendly is particularly favored by large businesses aiming to streamline scheduling across various teams and industries.

Calendly core features

• Option to connect with multiple calendars
• Scheduling unlimited one-on-one, group, and round-robin meetings
• Meeting polls (so participants can vote on the best time to meet)
• Automated notifications and reminders via email or SMS
• Different meeting types and durations
• Routing logic

Calendly has been very convenient and efficient for scheduling interviews, meetings, and in-house discussions. It has easy integration with various calendar applications, simplifies the process of setting up meetings and appointments, and helps streamline scheduling workflows. Although the user-friendly interface has limited room for exploration, the automated reminders keep me alert and I never missed a meeting. This has made Calendly my go-to app for team and client meeting scheduling.”

- AMB Chidiebere Moses O.

Calendly’s pricing and plans

• Free plan: includes basic scheduling features and integrations, and one calendar connection
• Standard plan ($12/month/user): offers multiple calendar connections, unlimited meeting types, and automated reminders
• Teams plan ($20/month/user): features admin tools, lead routing, and round-robin scheduling
• Enterprise plan (starting at $15K/year): tailored for teams of 30 or more with advanced security, control, and support

Calendly additionally offers a 14-day free trial of their Teams plan for all new users.

Calendly vs. Doodle

Calendly offers more features than Doodle does, including:

• Routing logic
• Robust booking analytics
• Option to embed your booking page on your website

One of Doodle’s best-known features is its Doodle poll scheduling, which invitees use to vote on the best time to meet. If this is a must for you, you’ll be glad to hear that Calendly also has this feature!

In general, Calendly is better suited to business meetings and large enterprises than Doodle. For example, Calendly offers 150+ native integrations to ensure you can quickly implement the tool across all departments, including sales, HR, customer support, and legal. 

Whether you choose Doodle or Calendly, monthly pricing is similar, as both online scheduling tools have a Teams plan that costs roughly $20/month. 

However, if you’re looking for a long-term solution, Doodle is more cost-effective than Calendly when billed yearly.

Use Calendly if:

• You need a scheduling tool that will integrate well with different departments and tech stacks.
• You have a large business and are looking for an easily scalable solution. 
• Meeting polls are a must-have for you, but you need more enterprise features than Doodle can offer.

If you're in sales management or a sales development role, Chili Piper's scheduling tool could be your golden ticket! 

Unlike Doodle, Chili Piper is laser-focused on streamlining the booking process for sales and marketing teams, prioritizing swift scheduling for both inbound and outbound leads.

Chili Piper enhances speed to lead for teams and boosts conversion rates through specialized tools tailored to sales professionals, such as automatic, lead tracking, routing, and qualification.

Chili Piper core features

• Automatic lead routing & real-time lead qualification
• Chat AI engages web visitors and lets them book meetings
• One-on-one, group, and round-robin scheduling
• Automated reminders and meeting notifications 
• Offers over 60 integrations, most sales-related
• Real-time connections with prospects via video or phone call

One of the first tools we bought building out eqtble's sales team. We didn't have time to chase prospects down, so now scheduling is completely automated and our conversion has increased because of the easy user experience.

It's built for revenue teams and features speak to that - inbound, outbound, and routing are much more advanced than basic scheduling tools”

- Nate B., Head of Sales

Chili Piper’s pricing and plans

Compared to the other booking tools listed here, Chili Piper’s pricing is a bit complicated, but we’ll do our best to explain quickly! 

If you're just interested in the scheduling component, then the ChiliCal plan costs $22.50/user/month.

If you need Chili Piper's demand conversion features, you have a few options (all include ChiliCal):*

• Concierge ($45/month/user): focused on qualifying, routing, and scheduling leads.
• Chat ($45/month/user): focused on automated chat journeys. 
• Distro ($45/month/user): focused on routing and assigning Salesforce records.
• Handoff ($45/month/user): focused on routing and scheduling on behalf of others.

*All the plans listed below come with a platform fee that ranges from $225-$1,500/month.

Chili Piper vs. Doodle

If you’re a sales professional, Chili Piper beats out Doodle in terms of sales-related integrations and features. In particular, Chili Piper shines with its lead qualification features, which you certainly won’t find in Doodle. 

Take Chili Piper’s Form Concierge feature as an example. This handy tool will qualify leads from your website, route the prospects to the correct sales rep, and book the sales meeting.

Remember that Chili Piper’s features come with a hefty price tag compared to Doodle. 

Overall, Doodle caters to a broader clientele than Chili Piper and is a more affordable solution, but it lacks the vast sales-specific features that Chili Piper offers.

Use Chili Piper if:

• You’re a sales professional looking to engage and capture leads more efficiently and effectively.
• You have a decent budget to spend on your new scheduling tool.
• You heavily depend on CRMs and account management software and require a booking tool that seamlessly integrates with them.

Acuity Scheduling is an appointment booking app designed specifically for service and appointment-based businesses. Acuity's array of client management tools makes it shine—it helps you keep track of client details, create invoices, and fine-tune your services to perfection.

Acuity's scheduling solution provides unique advantages for businesses that offer paid appointments. This includes setting up flexible payment plans and seamlessly incorporating upsell add-ons into the checkout process.

Acuity Scheduling core features

• Customizable branding and templates 
• Automated confirmation and follow-up emails, as well as email and SMS reminders
• Custom in-take forms
• Offer recurring subscriptions, packages, and gift cards and receive tips
• Generate and accept invoices, as well as process payments for bookings

Acuity Scheduling has helped us optimize our business. Offering appointment windows by tracking when I am available and letting my clients schedule then is magical. I also get notified through my email when a booking is made. And also the wait-list calendar has ensured we don't have colliding appointments which has proven to be paramount in embracing a hospitality driven approach to hair care.”

- Jerra L M., Stylist 

Pros	Cons
Cost-effective for teams Built-in client management tools Works well with Squarespace Expansive features for appointment and service-based businesses	Pricier than Acuity competitors Lacks flexibility as it's designed primarily for service-based businesses No free plan

Acuity’s pricing and plans

• Starter Plan ($20/month): for one staff member or location with essential scheduling features
• Standard Plan ($34/month): for up to six staff members or locations, offering advanced features such as appointment packages and subscription options
• Premium Plan ($61/month): for up to 36 staff members or locations, providing additional functionalities and options catering to in-house developers

Unlike Doodle, Acuity Scheduling doesn’t have a free plan, but it does offer a 7-day free trial.

Acuity vs. Doodle

Acuity was acquired by Squarespace in 2019. Because of this, it works particularly well with Squarespace websites. 

On the whole, Acuity is a more complex scheduling tool than Doodle and is focused primarily on service-based businesses. If you’re looking for simple and versatile booking software, Doodle will be your best bet. 

Acuity will be better for you if you need a more intricate solution that ties in client management tools. Here are some features Acuity offers that Doodle lacks:

• Native billing capabilities such as billing, invoicing, and online payment processing
• Booking and paying for memberships and packages
• Receiving tips, selling gift certificates, and offering coupons

It’s also worth mentioning that Acuity beats out Doodle in terms of native integrations, especially for email marketing, CRM, and accounting tools.    

Use Acuity Scheduling if:

• You use Squarespace and want a booking tool designed to fit seamlessly into your website.
• You’re looking for a robust set of client management tools alongside your scheduling solution.

Drive more sales

Take full payments and deposits, create promo codes and discounts, and offer high value add-ons with YouCanBookMe.

5. SurveyMonkey—Best alternative for online surveys

Unlike the majority of tools on this list, SurveyMonkey is first and foremost a survey and form app. Through user-friendly software, customizable templates, and AI tools, it helps users collect, interpret, and analyze data.

Similarly to Doodle, you can create a scheduling poll with SurveyMonkey to determine the best meeting time and date.

SurveyMonkey core features

• 500+ survey templates and 26 question types
• Custom branding and colors
• Branching and skip logic
• Survey scoring and data analysis tools
• Include surveys in web links, email, or embed them on your website or forms
• AI-powered SurveyMonkey Genius helps you build surveys

SurveyMonkey is a good platform to use if you wish to create surveys. We mostly use for employees survey. It is a good tool because when you end the survey, it helps you to create graph to have a better understanding of the overall survey outcome.

The cost of the platform is the most disadvantage above all. If you have the basic plan, you are restricted to 10 questions only. If you have the advanced plan, it costs a lot of money."

— Ilaria L., Hospitality

Pros	Cons
Advanced customization for questions and survey design Real-time analysis Android and iOS app	Doesn't have online scheduling capabilities Can get pricey if you need access to more advanced features

SurveyMonkey’s pricing and plans

Team Plans (starting at 3 users)

• Advantage plan ($30/user/month): unlimited surveys with 50,000 responses/year

• Premier plan ($92/user/month): unlimited surveys with 100,000 responses/year, plus access to all features such as survey logic and white labeling

Individual Plans

• Free Basic plan: unlimited surveys capped at 10 questions and 25 responses each

• Standard plan* ($99/month): unlimited surveys with 1,000 responses/month and some advanced features

• Advantage plan ($39/month): unlimited surveys with 15,000 responses/year and more advanced features such as custom themes and accepting payment

• Premier plan ($139/month): unlimited surveys with 40,000 responses/year and access to all features, such as survey logic and white labeling

*All plans are billed annually aside from the Standard plan.

SurveyMonkey does not offer a free trial.

SurveyMonkey vs. Doodle

SurveyMonkey and Doodle have only one thing in common: the ability to poll users on to find the best time to meet. After that, the two tools head in completely separate directions.

While Doodle helps users book and manage meetings, SurveyMonkey is dedicated to running and analyzing a wide range of online surveys and market research. 

Use SurveyMonkey if:

• You’re looking for software that can generate and analyze online surveys.
• You need a tool to conduct market research, rather than book meetings.

6. SimplyBook.me—Best alternative for medical offices

SimplyBook.me is a scheduling tool created with service-based businesses, and particularly medical offices, in mind. It offers many customizable add-ons that help streamline the booking process and reduce the back-and-forth between patients and providers.

The tool offers a broad range of features, including booking appointments via social media, ready-to-use booking website templates, and a built-in CRM system to manage customer information and track booking history.

SimplyBook.me core features

• Bookings via Facebook, Instagram, and Google
• Accept online payments
• Customizable intake forms
• Ticket generation for medical testing
• Offer packages, coupons, and gift cards and receive tips
• Custom booking website hosted by SimplyBook.me

The management of patient appointments, which enabled effective scheduling and decreased administrative costs, was greatly aided by SimplyBook.me. Both employees and patients found it simple to operate the software's user-friendly online appointment booking system. The adaptable booking forms from SimplyBook.me allowed for different appointment types and particular needs. Automated appointment-reminder systems and alerts improved patient compliance with planned consultations and improved medical care overall by reducing missed appointments.” 

- Angelica B., University Intern Pharmaceuticals

Pros	Cons
Built-in CRM and POS HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant  Can book meetings via social media apps	Doesn’t offer unlimited bookings in any plan Need to opt for premium plan to access all features

SimplyBook.me’s pricing and plans

• Free plan: includes 50 bookings per month, one custom feature, and one provider
• Basic plan ($13.90/month): includes 100 bookings per month, three custom features, and five providers
• Standard plan ($29.90/month): includes 500 bookings per month, eight custom features, and 15 providers
• Premium plan ($59.90/month): includes 2,000 bookings per month, unlimited custom features, and 30 providers

SimplyBook.me offers a 14-day free trial with 50 bookings and access to most of the features.

SimplyBook.me vs. Doodle

SimplyBook.me is better tailored to service-based businesses and medical offices than its scheduling competitor, Doodle. With features such as customizable intake forms, a built-in CRM system, HIPAA compliance, and ticket generation for medical testing, it addresses many of the common challenges faced by healthcare providers, simplifying their daily tasks.

SimplyBook.me additionally offers custom booking websites and allows clients to book via social media apps, both of which set the scheduling tool apart.

On the other hand, Doodle is a more affordable scheduling solution with one important feature that distinguishes it from SimplyBook.me: unlimited bookings. Even SimplyBook.me’s most expensive plan only allows for 2,000 bookings per month. 

Use SimplyBook.me if:

• You want clients to be able to schedule meetings directly via social media.
• You run a medical office and require a HIPAA-compliant booking app.

7. Rallly—Best open-source alternative

Rallly is an open-source scheduling tool designed as a modern take on Doodle’s classic poll feature. It’s lightweight, ad-free, and makes it easy for groups to agree on a meeting time—without anyone needing to create an account. If you want simple scheduling polls and complete control over privacy, Rallly is a strong choice.

That said, keep in mind it doesn’t offer pretty standard scheduling features like calendar syncing, reminders, or payments. It’s a poll tool first and foremost. 

Rallly core features

• Create ad-free polls without requiring participants to sign up
• Mobile-friendly design 
• Open-source and privacy-focused (no tracking or data selling)
• Simple voting and commenting system to finalize times
• Optional self-hosting for maximum control

I really liked how easy this website was to navigate. I was able to just jump straight in and use it with no tutorials. I didn't have to waste a bunch of time learning a new program which was awesome. I used to love using Doodle Poll when scheduling meetings but then their prices started increasing....and increasing.” 

- Maya S.

Pros	Cons
Self-hosting available Easy to use No ads on the free version	Very limited scheduling features No integrations

Rallly’s pricing and plans

• Hobby (free): Create unlimited polls, which are automatically deleted after inactivity
• Pro ($7/month): Unlocks all (albeit few) features and keeps polls indefinitely

Rallly vs. Doodle

At their core, both Rallly and Doodle solve the same problem: helping groups agree on a time to meet. But they’ve evolved in different directions.

Rallly focuses on simplicity, privacy, and openness. With no ads and the option to self-host, it’s perfect if you want a clean, distraction-free experience with full control over your data.

Doodle has expanded into a broader scheduling platform, with features like booking pages, calendar sync, payment collection, and reminders. However, many of these features require a paid plan, and the free version includes ads.

Use Rallly if:

• You just want a tool to quickly create free meeting polls and don’t really need other features.
• You need full control over your data and privacy.

Ready to try polling?

YouCanBookMe makes it easy to schedule group meetings without the mess of long email threads or calendar clashes. Set up your first meeting poll in just a few clicks.

8. SavvyCal—Best alternative for optimized availability

SavvyCal is a scheduling tool that combines meeting polls with calendar overlay to help groups quickly find a time that works for everyone. What sets it apart from other Doodle alternatives on this list is its availability ranking feature, which lets you mark preferred times—whether that’s scheduling meetings back-to-back to batch them together or favoring mornings or afternoons.

Aside from that, SavvyCal has pretty standard features, like buffer times to prevent scheduling conflicts and automated reminders to help reduce no-shows. 

SavvyCal core features

• One-on-one, group, and round robin scheduling
• Internal contacts record
• Calendar overlay 
• Meeting polls
• Highlight preferred times to batch meetings together, or get more meetings in the mornings or afternoons 

SavvyCal has been amazing with scheduling. I use it daily with my role to schedule calls with people outside the organization, and I can say that it is a lot more user friendly that other ones I've used (rhymes with malendly). The fact that you can see all time slots available at once instead of just day specific makes it easier to visualize your day and when you can best squeeze in that one more meeting request.” 

- Joe S.

Pros	Cons
Connect an unlimited number of calendars User friendly Encourages booking at your preferred times	No free plan Limited advanced features

SavvyCal’s pricing and plans

• Basic ($12/month/user): For individuals and small teams, offering unlimited calendar connections, meeting polls, and scheduling links.
• Premium ($20/month/user): For businesses that want to get rid of SavvyCal branding, delegate access, and offer paid bookings.

Unlike most appointment booking software on this list, SavvyCal doesn't offer a free plan.

SavvyCal vs. Doodle

SavvyCal and Doodle are actually quite similar at a glance. Both let you run meeting polls, schedule one-on-one, group, and round-robin meetings, and collect payments through Stripe.

Where SavvyCal pulls ahead is in how it feels to use. The interface is more modern and streamlined, and its availability ranking feature lets you nudge scheduling in your favor—whether that means stacking meetings back-to-back or sticking to mornings or afternoons. It’s a small detail, but one that makes scheduling feel more intentional.

Doodle has a couple of advantages too. Its sign-up sheets make it easy to schedule multiple sessions for a single event, and it does offer a free plan. Just keep in mind that the free version includes ads, which can feel a bit unpolished if you’re sharing links with clients.

Use SavvyCal if:

• You have the budget to pay for a scheduling tool.
• You want to you optimize your availability and batch meetings together.

9. Zencal—Best alternative for event planning

Zencal is a flexible scheduling tool that combines everyday meeting booking with more structured planning features. Like Doodle, it supports meeting polls and group scheduling, but it goes further by letting you manage events, resources, and paid bookings from a single setup.

It’s a good middle ground if you need more than simple polls, but don’t want a fully enterprise-level scheduling system.

Zencal core features

• Resource and room bookings
• Offer packages and subscriptions
• Event planning with landing page, registration forms, and early bird pricing
• Meeting polls
• Collect upfront payments through Stripe & PayPal

Zencal has changed the way I manage my calendar, and as a result — how I manage my time and energy."

- Adam G.

Pros	Cons
Zencal doesn't take any commissions for payments Unlimited calendar connections on all plans Strong event, resource, and package scheduling features	No free plan Expensive, especially considering you have to pay for additional modules

Zencal’s pricing and plans

• Light ($10/month/user): Unlimited meetings and calendar connections, plus email reminders.
• Pro ($28/month/user): Adds payments for meetings and integrations with your work apps. Optional modules—events, packages, analytics, and clients—cost an additional $10 per module per month.
• Team ($349/month/up to 20 users): Includes all features and modules, plus priority support.

Zencal doesn’t offer a free plan, but you can try the Pro plan free for 14 days to see if it’s the right fit.

Zencal vs. Doodle

When comparing Zencal and Doodle, the main difference is focus. Doodle is a general scheduling tool designed to help groups find a time to meet, while Zencal stands out by adding tools for planning and managing events alongside everyday scheduling.

Zencal includes features Doodle doesn’t offer, such as event landing pages, registration forms, early-bird pricing, resource and room bookings, and the ability to sell packages or subscriptions.

Doodle does offer a free plan, which Zencal doesn’t, but it comes with ads. Zencal avoids ads altogether and provides more flexibility for event planning.

Use Zencal if:

• You plan events, sessions, or workshops and need more than just a polling tool.
• You are willing to pay for access to a scheduling tool.
• You want software that manages resources or rooms.

10. When2meet—Best alternative for free, no-sign up meeting polls

When2meet is one of the oldest and simplest Doodle alternatives! It’s a web-based scheduler designed to quickly show when a group is available to meet.

You create an event, select a range of possible dates and times, and share a link with participants. Everyone marks when they’re free, and availability is instantly visible to the whole group.

While the interface is dated and lacks modern features, its no-frills simplicity has made When2meet a long-time favorite for students, clubs, and informal groups.

When2meet core features

• Completely free scheduling polls
• No sign-ups or accounts required
• Automatic email template and Facebook message with your booking link
• Time zone selection

When2meet has been my favorite but I wish it let me group together entries so that I could look at different combinations of availabilities.” 

- Reddit user

Pros	Cons
100% free Easy and quick to use	Very outdated interface Strictly a polling pool with no other scheduling features Has ads, though they are not nearly as intrusive as Doodle's

When2meet’s pricing and plans

When2meet is completely free! You simply go to their website and start planning your event.

When2meet vs. Doodle

When2meet and Doodle are very much cut from the same cloth—both were built to solve the simple problem of finding a time that works for a group.

The main difference is how far each tool has evolved. Doodle has grown into a full scheduling platform, with booking pages, integrations, and paid plans. When2meet has stayed intentionally minimal, offering a completely free, no-signup experience. That simplicity makes When2meet a popular choice for students, clubs, and volunteer groups who just want a quick answer. 

In short, when comparing When2meet and Doodle, When2meet wins on simplicity and zero cost, while Doodle offers more structure and professional features—for a price. 

Use When2meet if:

• You need a fast, free way to find a meeting time.
• You’re scheduling with students, friends, or volunteer groups.
• You don't need any integrations, branding, or scheduling features beyond polls.

Final thoughts

There’s no single “best” Doodle alternative for everyone—the right choice depends on how you schedule today and what you want your scheduling tool to handle going forward.

If you just need to find a time that works, simple tools like Rallly or When2meet will get the job done. But if scheduling is part of your work—booking clients, qualifying leads, running sessions, or managing your availability—you’ll want more than basic polls.

That’s where YouCanBookMe stands out. With customizable booking pages, scheduling polls, automated reminders, payments, and powerful integrations, it turns scheduling into a smooth, professional experience for both you and the people booking time with you.

👉 Try YouCanBookMe for free and see how much easier scheduling can be when it works the way you do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free Doodle alternative?

If you’re looking for free scheduling software, many booking tools offer a free plan. If you run a small business, consider YouCanBookMe as a free Doodle alternative. It provides unlimited bookings, a personalized booking link, the ability to take payment for appointments, and customizable email notifications.

Does Microsoft have an alternative to Doodle?

Yes, Microsoft offers a Doodle alternative called Microsoft Bookings. It’s a scheduling tool that deeply connects to the Microsoft suite and lets you create events, set reminders, and invite attendees. It’s best suited for users who already work within the MS ecosystem, as it’s part of a Microsoft 365 subscription. For a more in-depth analysis of the tool, explore our MS Bookings alternatives deep dive.

What’s the best Doodle alternative?

Choosing the best Doodle alternative for your team will depend on many factors, including your industry, size, and client needs. While some scheduling tools are best suited for sales teams, such as Chili Piper, others are better for service-based businesses, such as Acuity Scheduling or SimplyBook.me. If you’re looking for a versatile, affordable, and highly customizable scheduling tool, we recommend exploring YouCanBookMe. Our scheduling software lets you put customer experience at the forefront, guaranteeing hassle-free scheduling and satisfied customers.

Does Google have a Doodle alternative?

Google doesn’t offer a direct Doodle-style polling tool. However, you can use Google Forms to create simple polls for collecting availability, or rely on Google Calendar’s Appointment Scheduler to coordinate meetings and scheduling. For true Doodle-style scheduling polls, though, you’ll need to use a third-party alternative like YouCanBookMe or Rallly.

Which Doodle alternatives offer a meeting polls feature?

Several Doodle alternatives offer meeting polls, including YouCanBookMe, Calendly, SavvyCal, Zencal, Rallly, SurveyMonkey, and When2meet.

The difference is in how far those polls go—some tools (like When2meet or SurveyMonkey) keep things simple for quick group availability, while others (like YouCanBookMe, Calendly, or Zencal) combine polls with booking pages, reminders, payments, and team workflows.

YouCanBookMe even lets you schedule meeting polls in advance so you can plan ahead!

What’s the best Doodle alternative for small teams?

For small teams, YouCanBookMe is one of the best alternatives to Doodle because it offers highly customizable, ad-free scheduling—even on the free plan—along with beautiful, branded booking pages. You still get scheduling polls, but with far more control over how your scheduling looks and works.

Instead of messy email threads, you can share a booking page that matches your brand, handles time zones automatically, and sends confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups for you. The result is less admin, fewer no-shows, and a more professional experience for clients and collaborators. If scheduling is a regular part of your work, YouCanBookMe is well worth trying.