Hiring is exciting—it means your business is growing. But the process can get stressful fast.

Between finding the right person and managing all the moving parts, the logistics can feel like a full-time job. Trying to juggle your schedule, your team’s, and the candidates’ calendars? That’s enough to drive anyone up the wall.

Interview schedulers can save you a ton of time, but they often come with a hefty price tag which isn’t something you want to add to your business finances.

Luckily, there are plenty of free options that work for small businesses looking to keep their budgets lean.

In this guide, we’re breaking down the top five free interview schedulers. We’ll cover their ease of use, customization and branding options, and useful features like reminders and follow-ups to help you decide which one is the best fit for your business.

First off, what is interview scheduling software exactly?

Interview scheduling software is a tool that automates the process of coordinating interviews by integrating with your calendar and streamlining applicant communication.

You set your available time slots, share a link with candidates, and they select a slot that works for them, with everything automatically updated on your calendar.

Many interview schedulers offer features such as branding, customization, and platform integrations, making it easy to seamlessly incorporate them into your business tech stack.

👉 Is your business tech stack up to date? Discover 11 essential small business software tools to streamline your operations.

What are the benefits of scheduling software?

Scheduling interviews can get messy. If you’re looking for talent beyond your country’s borders, coordinating a suitable time for an interview can feel like a mission.

Using an interview scheduling tool can help you stay organized and leave a great first impression on candidates. Here are some other important perks:

  • Streamlined scheduling: Instead of sending countless emails back and forth, you simply share a link. Candidates pick a time, and the tool handles the rest.

🤔 Not sure how to word an interview invitation email? We’ve got you covered with templates and tips to make your invites professional and on-point.

  • Positive candidate experience: The interview is often a candidate’s first interaction with your business. According to one study, 52% of job seekers decline a job offer because of a poor hiring experience. Making scheduling quick and easy can leave a good impression and show respect for candidates’ time.
  • Automatic reminders: Most tools send automatic meeting reminders via email or text. You can even customize these notifications with details like meeting links or prep instructions.
  • Improved employer branding: Whether or not you end up hiring a particular candidate, they’ll remember how professionally you handled the interview process. Using a scheduling tool can help you create a smooth candidate experience that reflects positively on your organization.

Best free interview apps: Executive summary

There are plenty of interview scheduling tools available, but most purpose-built options don’t include a free plan. The tools we've chosen are versatile scheduling solutions designed for a wide range of use cases, not just interviews.

Best overall

Runner-up

Best for high-volume interview scheduling

ycbm-green

 

picktime logo

 

koalendar logo

YouCanBookMe (YCBM)

Picktime

Koalendar

If you need a super customizable interview scheduler with automated interview confirmations, YCBM is a great tool.

If you’re after a free interview scheduling tool that lets you add up to three team members, go for Picktime.

Need a scheduling tool to handle multiple interviews for different roles happening at once? Look into Koalendar.

Buying guide and how we rate tools

Choosing the right interview scheduler is all about finding the tool that fits your workflow and delivers a smooth experience for both you and your candidates. 

We evaluated the tools based on the following criteria:

Ease of use

A scheduling tool should simplify your life, not complicate it. The best options are intuitive and straightforward, allowing you to set up and manage interviews without any steep learning curves. For small business owners and busy recruiters, ease of use is a top priority.

Appointment reminders and follow-ups

No-shows are a common challenge in scheduling. Tools with built-in reminders and follow-up notifications help reduce this problem by keeping candidates informed and on track. Customizable reminders are especially useful for adding a personal touch or providing specific interview instructions!

Customization and branding

Your scheduling software is an extension of your business, so it’s important that it reflects your company’s professionalism. We’ve looked for tools that offer at least some basic customization, such as adding your own logo and personalizing booking pages.

Applicant experience

The candidate’s experience with your scheduling tool says a lot about your company. A seamless and user-friendly process makes candidates feel valued and leaves a positive impression. The tools we’ve chosen prioritize simplicity and clarity to ensure a professional interaction from start to finish.

The Top 5 free interview scheduling tools

1. YouCanBookMe (YCBM)—Best overall

If you’re looking for a powerful and highly customizable interview booking app with handy features like interview confirmations and easy rescheduling options for candidates, YouCanBookMe is a great option.

Read more about YouCanBookMe

2. Doodle—A no-frills interview scheduler

When you just need a basic interview scheduler to lock in interviews, Doodle’s got you covered.

Read more about Doodle

3. Calendly—Great choice for enterprise, but you’ll need to upgrade

If you’re looking for a simple, professional tool to run one-on-one interviews, Calendly is a solid choice.

Read more about Calendly

4. Picktime—Best tool for interview panels of up to three members

If you run interviews with other people within your organization, consider Picktime. It lets you add up to three team members for free, making it useful for collaborative hiring processes.

Read more about Picktime

5. Koalendar—Best for larger-scale recruitment efforts

With unlimited booking pages in the free plan, Koalendar comes in handy if you’re juggling interviews for multiple roles.

Read more about Koalendar

1. YouCanBookMe (YCBM)—Best overall

YouCanBookMe Interview Scheduler

If you’re searching for an interview scheduler that’s free, professional, and incredibly easy to use, YouCanBookMe checks all the right boxes. Designed with recruiters and small teams in mind, it eliminates the chaos of scheduling for both you and your candidates.

From the start, you can customize your booking page with your logo, personalized text, and a unique booking link to provide a polished experience that reflects your brand. Upgrade to a higher-tier plan, and you’ll unlock even more customization options for a fully on-brand appearance.

YouCanBookMe customizable booking pages

When it comes to scheduling features, YCBM keeps the process hassle-free with automatic time zone detection, smart calendar syncing, and automated interview confirmations. Rescheduling is just as smooth, giving candidates the flexibility to adjust their bookings with ease.

In short, if you’re looking for a tool that combines efficiency with personalization, YouCanBookMe delivers on all fronts.

Here’s a closer look at its standout features:

  • Customizable booking pages: Personalize your booking pages with your logo and tailored text, creating a professional and cohesive experience for candidates.
  • Integrated video conferencing: Directly connect to Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, making virtual interviews seamless and efficient.
  • Single-use booking links: Create one-time-use links to ensure individual candidates book unique slots, preventing double bookings and maintaining control.
  • Availability overlays: Enable both recruiters and candidates to connect their calendars, automatically surfacing the best time slots for interviews that work for both parties.

YouCanBookMe's pros and cons

Pros ✅

Cons ❌

  • Customizable booking page for a branded look
  • Unlimited interview bookings
  • Automatic email interview confirmations
  • Easy rescheduling and cancellations
  • User-friendly for recruiters and candidates
  • Available in 44 languages
  • Availability overlay for you and your candidates
  • YCBM chrome extension to access your booking links right from the browser
  • Limited advanced analytics and reporting in the free version

 

Create your free interview booking page

Let candidates pick their interview slots and save yourself the headache of managing interview logistics.

Set up your booking page!
YouCanBookMe free interview scheduler

YouCanBookMe pricing and plans

YouCanBookMe pricing

For a free plan, YCBM gives you way more than you’d expect. It lets you customize booking pages, sync with your favorite calendars, and integrate with Zoom or Google Meet. Throw in confirmation emails, rescheduling options, and single-use booking links, and you’ve got everything you need to make scheduling interviews easy without spending a dollar.

For even more functionality, upgrade for $8.10/month (billed annually) or $7.20/month (billed every two years) to access additional calendars, extra booking pages, and advanced settings that simplify scheduling even further.

2. Doodle—A no-frills interview scheduler

doodle interview scheduler

Doodle keeps things simple with basic scheduling features that get the job done. You won’t get much in the way of customization—booking pages are straightforward and functional—but if branding isn’t a priority, Doodle delivers exactly what you need.

Here are the top features of Doodle’s free plan:

  • One booking page: Share a simple booking page where candidates can view your availability and schedule interviews directly.
  • Unlimited sign-up sheets: Using Doodle, you can organize specific interview time slots and allow candidates to reserve their spots without hassle. This is handy for bulk scheduling, such as group interviews or high-volume recruitment days.
  • Unlimited group polls: Coordinate debrief sessions with the interview panel or find a time for collaborative hiring meetings. Group polls make it easy to gather the team’s availability and align schedules across your team.

Doodle's pros and cons

Pros ✅

Cons ❌

  • Simple and intuitive interface for basic needs
  • Supports Google Meet and Zoom for virtual interviews
  • Easy for candidates to book without technical know-how
  • Offers group meeting features for stages like new hire onboarding
  • Lacks advanced automation
  • Includes ads on the free plan
  • Not ideal for one-to-one meetings, especially when compared to Doodle alternatives

Doodle pricing and plans

doodle-pricing

 

The free version offers basic functionalities to help you run your interviews. However, if you upgrade for $6.95/user per month (billed annually), you’ll unlock more powerful features like unlimited booking pages, custom branding, and advanced tools like AI-assisted meeting descriptions.

3. Calendly—Great choice for enterprise, but you’ll need to upgrade

calendly interview scheduler

Calendly is another simple scheduler you can use to set up one-on-one interviews.

You can whip up a basic booking page in minutes, sync it with your calendar, and hook it up to your favorite video conferencing software. Then, just grab the scheduling link, send it to your candidates, and let them pick a time that works. Want your booking page to look more pro? Throw in your company’s logo, name, and a quick welcome message.

While Calendly doesn’t offer a ton of customization, it does give you more options than Doodle.

That said, the real value shines in the higher-tier plans. But even with the free version, you’ll still get access to these features:

  • Video conferencing integrations: Add Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams links directly to your bookings, making virtual interviews easy to attend for both you and the candidate.
  • Availability customization: Set specific times for interviews to fit your schedule, ensuring you’re in control of when candidates can book.
  • Mobile app: Use Calendly on the go to conduct interviews whenever you are.

Calendly's pros and cons

Pros ✅

Cons ❌

  • Integrates with Google, Outlook, and Office 365 calendars
  • Customizable booking pages with basic branding features
  • Mobile app and browser extensions for easy access
    • Doesn’t sync with iCloud calendar
    • Only allows connection to one calendar

Calendly pricing and plans

calendly pricing

The free version gives you basic tools like one event type, calendar integration, and video conferencing to help manage interviews. For advanced features, you can upgrade for $10 per user per month (billed annually).

4. Picktime—Best tool for interview panels of up to three members

Picktime Interviewer Scheduler

Another top pick is Picktime (pun intended!). It's a useful free interview scheduling tool, especially if you need to include up to three team members on your interview panel.

In addition, you get unlimited appointments, a professional-looking booking page to share with candidates, and email notifications to keep everyone on the same page. While the free plan lacks advanced automation, it’s a straightforward and efficient solution for recruiters looking to simplify their scheduling process.

Here are three features recruiters will particularly like about Picktime:

  • Unlimited appointments: Book as many interviews as you need without worrying about hitting a cap.
  • Email notifications: Automatically send confirmation emails to candidates after they book, ensuring clarity and reducing no-shows.
  • Manage multiple locations: The free plan supports up to two locations, making it easier for recruiters to handle in-person interviews across offices.

Picktime's pros and cons

Pros ✅

Cons ❌

  • Professional-looking booking page to share with candidates
  • Free plan includes over eight integrations to streamline scheduling
  • iOS and Android apps for managing schedules on the go
  • Calendar sync is one-way in the free tier
  • A steeper learning curve
  • Free version lacks Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet integrations, limiting options for virtual interviews

Picktime pricing and plans

Picktime pricing

Picktime’s free plan offers essential features like unlimited appointments, email notifications, and scheduling for up to three team members. For $3/user per month (billed annually), you can upgrade to unlock features like two-way calendar sync, automatic time zone adjustments, and recurring bookings.

Let candidates easily book time with you

Stop losing out on great candidates because of a slow hiring process. Let candidates self-schedule interviews day or night, from any device.

Get started (it's free!)
Scheduling to suit your style 6

5. Koalendar—Best for larger-scale recruitment efforts

Koalendar Interview Scheduler

Last but not least is Koalendar, a free interview scheduler that provides unlimited booking pages, making it an excellent choice for recruiters handling larger-scale hiring efforts.

Whether you’re coordinating interviews for multiple positions or across different teams, Koalendar simplifies the process with features like time zone detection, calendar syncing, and automatic email notifications.

While it doesn’t offer advanced customization in the free version, it’s a reliable tool to streamline your recruitment process at no cost.

Features you’ll love the most are:

  • Calendar syncing: Sync with Google, Outlook, or iCloud calendars to ensure your availability is always up-to-date and avoid double bookings.
  • Time zone detection: Automatically adjusts for time zones, making it easy to schedule interviews with remote or international candidates.
  • Email notifications: Both you and the candidate receive email notifications for every booking, keeping everyone on track and reducing confusion.

Koalendar's pros and cons

Pros ✅

Cons ❌

  • Intuitive setup that’s beginner-friendly
  • Chrome extension for quick access to scheduling
  • Supports multiple languages
  • Limited booking page customizations
  • You can’t ask questions in the booking form—only the booker’s name and email are allowed under the free plan

Koalendar pricing and plans

Koalendar pricing

Koalendar’s free plan hooks you up with essentials like unlimited booking pages, calendar syncing, and time zone detection. Upgrade for just $6.99 per calendar per month (billed annually), and you’ll get group scheduling, custom reminders, and booking form questions.

Wrapping up

Finding the right free interview scheduler can make a world of difference in your hiring process. We’ve presented you with five solid options, so whichever you choose will totally depend on the features that matter to you.

That said, YouCanBookMe offers the most well-rounded solution, with features that cater to small businesses and recruiters alike. Get started with the forever free plan and see how it can transform your hiring process.

Ready to book more meetings?

business-page@2x
FREE Unlimited Meetings with the Most Customisable Online Scheduling Tool
Get YCBM Now Get YCBM Now
No Credit Card Required

Get started today

Join thousands of coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs who use YouCanBookMe to power their business. Get your first booking in a few minutes.

Create your own booking page
14 day free trial No credit card required