Blog - YouCanBookMe

Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly: The Pros, Cons, and Everything in Between

Written by Gabriela Lefanowicz | Aug 30, 2024 4:03:11 PM

Trying to pick the perfect scheduling buddy? We’ve got you covered. 

Today, we’re putting Zoom Scheduler and Calendly head-to-head in terms of features, integrations, pricing, and customer experience to see which fits your needs best. 

Will a Zoom-centric tool beat out the competition? Or will you choose the standalone scheduler, Calendly? Let’s find out! 

Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly: A glance at both scheduling apps

Category

Zoom Scheduler

Calendly

 

 

Best for:

Avid Zoom users looking for a simple booking tool to help them schedule Zoom meetings and in-person chats.

Professionals who need a versatile, powerful scheduling tool that connects with the rest of their tech stack.

Free trial available
Free plan
Pricing Starting at $4.99/month when billed annually  Starting at $10/month/user when billed annually

 

What is Zoom Scheduler? 

Zoom Scheduler is a tool designed to simplify scheduling Zoom and in-person meetings. It’s a pretty new addition to the market, as it was only released in July 2023. 

Unlike most scheduling apps, Zoom Scheduler isn’t a standalone tool and is only available as an add-on to an existing Zoom account. If you are already an avid Zoom user, then this might be the tool for you!

How to use Zoom Scheduler 👉 You create a scheduling link to send to others so they can book time on your calendar. You can connect up to six calendars to check availability and ensure you’re not double-booked.

Executive consultant Angie P. shares a bit about why she opted for the scheduler:

“Zoom Workplace simplifies our workflow by allowing us to set up reminders and contact points before and after the meeting. Additionally, the scheduler allows for clients to book one-on-one meetings with our staff with ease.”

Pranav K., an esports manager, dives into the pros and cons of using Zoom Scheduler: 

What I like fine about Zoom Scheduler is the tons of time and trouble it saves me when seeking to coordinate conferences throughout multiple calendars and time zones. [It’s] much more efficient than going backward and forward over e-mail.” 

However, he adds, “One component I truly dislike is how clunky and unintuitive the consumer interface may be at times.”

Ratings*







4.5/5 (55,000+ reviews)

1.4/5 (950+ reviews)

4.6/5 (13,000+ reviews)

8.3/10 (5,300+ reviews)

*Keep in mind these ratings are for the entire Zoom Workplace, not just Zoom Scheduler.

What is Calendly?

Calendly is a standalone online booking tool that’s been a staple in the scheduling game since 2013. 

The user-friendly software is known for its impressive number of integrations (over 100). These, in particular, make Calendly a good choice for users who need their schedule to play nicely with the rest of their tech stack.

How to use Calendly 👉 At its core, Calendly actually works similarly to Zoom’s scheduler extension! You create a scheduling link that you then share with whoever you want to meet with. Your guests click on your link and can quickly book a time to chat.

Jeri B., a kitchen and bath designer, explains what he likes about Calendly:

“It's so convenient to be able to pre-set my appointments and it's a great way to collect the information about the project and customer before the meeting. I also love that it syncs with my calendar and that customers can easily contact me and alter appointments if needed. It's really been a game changer in how I schedule meetings.”

Another Calendly user expands on their experience using the tool:

“Calendly helps solve the issue of manually managing my calendar and appointments.” 

But, “The different types of events and rules associated with scheduling can be a bit confusing to navigate. Buffers are challenging. I don't like the lack of good editing options once they are set. The integration with the Microsoft live calendar can be a little bit messy.” 

Ratings






4.7/5 (2,200+ reviews)

1.8/5 (150+ reviews)

4.7/5 (3,500+ reviews)

9.3/10 (550+ reviews)

Considering other scheduling tools? See how they stack up against Calendly:


Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly: Ideal customers

Zoom Scheduler: Built for Zoom users

If you’re a Zoom user through-and-through, and don’t hold meetings via other video chat tools like MS Teams or Google Meet, Zoom Scheduler may be right for you. 

It’s also a good pick if you don’t want to create any new, separate accounts and just need a simple, good ol’ fashioned scheduling tool. 

Calendly: Built for versatility

If you’re looking for a versatile scheduling app that can connect with your other tools, Calendly is a great pick. It’s packed with features that make managing all kinds of meetings a breeze, no matter what your business is. 

Plus, it syncs with over 100 different apps, so it slides right into your existing workflow without any hassle.

 

Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly: Feature set comparison

The two tools share a few standard abilities that’ll streamline your scheduling. Both Calendly’s and Zoom Scheduler’s features include:

  • Scheduling one-to-one, group, and round-robin meetings
  • Booking links 
  • Automatic meeting reminders, confirmations, and follow-ups 
  • Buffer times between meetings
  • Meeting polls (to vote on a time to meet)
  • Analytics and insights
  • Option to remove tool branding
  • Routing forms
  • Time zone calculation

Features and functions unique to Zoom Scheduler

As Zoom Scheduler is pretty new and only a small part of the greater Zoom Workplace, it doesn’t offer any scheduling features that Calendly doesn’t! 

It’s highly possible the team at Zoom will keep building and adding to their booking tool, but for now, the list above is essentially everything the Zoom Scheduler can do.

Zoom Scheduler’s main limitations

Zoom Scheduler can only help you schedule in-person or virtual meetings held via Zoom. If you or your customers want to meet using a different video chat platform, such as MS Teams or Google Meet, you’re out of luck. 

Features and functions unique to Calendly

As Calendly is, first and foremost, a scheduling tool, it offers a good deal more booking features than Zoom Scheduler does! Let’s run through a few that might strike your fancy:

  • Collect payments for meetings
  • Set a daily limit for the number of bookings
  • Add a minimum notice period for scheduling with you
  • Create single-use links for specific event types
  • Embed your booking page directly onto your website

Calendly’s main limitations 

As Calendly is a standalone app, you will have to spend some time creating an account, integrating it with your other tools (like Zoom), and learning how to operate a brand-new system.

Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly: Integration examination

The list of overlapping integrations between Zoom Scheduler and Calendly is short and sweet. They both offer:

  • Video chat tools—Zoom
  • Calendars—Office 365, Outlook, and Google Calendar

…and that’s it! 

Where Zoom Scheduler shines

Zoom Scheduler doesn’t offer any integrations besides the ones listed above, but it does shine in one area—it’s Zoom integration. 

Since the scheduler is built into Zoom Workplace, it works seamlessly within the tool under one account and login. 

Where Calendly shines

Calendly is known for its robust integrations, letting you connect the scheduling app to over 100 external tools, including:

  • Video chat tools—MS Teams, GoToMeeting, Google Meet, Webex, and Join.Me
  • CRMS—HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, Gong, and ActiveCampaign
  • Payments—PayPal, Stripe, and Stax Payments
  • Other—Zapier, Notion, Slack, Google Analytics, and MailChimp

Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly: Cost 

Zoom Scheduler pricing and plans

As Zoom Scheduler is simply one part of the Zoom Workplace, it isn’t automatically in every plan. The meeting tool only comes included in these Zoom plans, both created for 10+ users:

  • Business
  • Business Plus

If you’re using Zoom’s free Basic plan or Pro plan, you’ll have to pay $4.99 a month (when billed annually) to add the scheduler.

Before you make a decision, don’t forget you can try Zoom Scheduler for free for 14 days!

Calendly pricing and plans

Calendly’s plans (billed annually) include: 

  • Free plan with basic scheduling features and one calendar connection
  • Standard plan for small teams and solopreneurs with more advanced features and six calendar connections
  • Teams plan with additional features to ease scheduling between teams
  • Enterprise designed for teams of 30+ who need more hefty security, control, and support

Calendly offers a 14-day free trial of the Standard plan to let you test out its features.

Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly: Customer experiences

When deciding between Calendly vs. Zoom Scheduler, one thing can make all the difference: hearing from real users. 

Browse the reviews below to see what people love—and what they don’t—about both scheduling tools.

Zoom Scheduler reviews

Take a look at what senior sales development representative, Smruti Ranjan M., thinks about using Zoom to schedule meetings:

5/5 ⭐️ "A Convenient way to schedule meetings"

What do you like best about Zoom Workplace?

Zoom scheduler is an effortless, quick and convenient way to schedule meetings. You can directly schedule the meetings from your google calendar without even going back to zoom and then schedule the appointment.

What do you dislike about Zoom Workplace?

The only thing I dislike about the zoom scheduler is sometimes it's a bit laggy. It doesn't work sometimes, and I have to reinstall or clear the cookies in the browser.

Next, see what this Zoom Scheduler user in the computer software industry has to say about the tool: 

5/5 ⭐️ "Best experience with Zoom Scheduler"

What do you like best about Zoom Workplace?

The convenience of meeting with coworkers from all over the office in one place is just too good with Zoom scheduler. The integration is simple and works very well.

What do you dislike about Zoom Workplace?

When you create an account or want to join a meeting urgently, their popups can be annoying.

Calendly reviews

Ndara M., Assistant Program Director, shares what she likes and dislikes about Calendly: 

4.5/5 ⭐️ "The best way to organize my workday"

What do you like best about Calendly?

Its user-friendly interface and ability to connect seamlessly to my Zoom account has completely overhauled my calendar and how I plan my time throughout the work day. When [someone] needs to schedule an appointment with me I am able to provide the link to my calendar and Calendly takes care of the rest!

What do you dislike about Calendly?

I wish that it integrated better with my Google calendar, for instance, if I already have something scheduled on my Google calendar and the same date is open on my Calendly calendar at the same hours, it should automatically be declined when someone is trying to reserve that time frame.

Owner and consultant Allison P. expands on her thoughts about the popular app: 

4.5/5 ⭐️ "Streamlines meeting scheduling"

What do you like best about Calendly?

Calendly really helps to streamline meeting scheduling. Having a link in my email signature, website, and one to send for specific events helps avoid the back and forth of finding a time that works for you. It was easy to integrate with my Squarespace website and simple to set up different meeting options.

What do you dislike about Calendly?

Some of the features have a learning curve. I don't always have time to figure out how to use them to their full functionality. Setting up custom calendars for specific events can be a bit cumbersome.

Last call 🍻 Parting thoughts on Zoom Scheduler vs. Calendly

Choose Zoom Scheduler if 👉 your business runs on Zoom meetings. Zoom Scheduler integrates perfectly with Zoom (duh), making it super easy to schedule and join meetings right from your calendar. It’s great for teams that want to keep things simple and efficient without juggling multiple tools.

Choose Calendly if 👉 you need a scheduling tool that’s powerful and adaptable. Calendly is flexible and works well with tons of other apps, making it a perfect fit for any business. Whether you’re booking one-on-one meetings, team sessions, or even collecting payments, Calendly has you covered.

Is there a better option than Zoom Scheduler and Calendly? Yep, meet YouCanBookMe!

Sure, Zoom Scheduler and Calendly can help you save time booking appointments, but why stop there when your scheduling tool could do so much more?

Say hello to YouCanBookMe: the ultimate customizable scheduling experience that your bookers will love.

With YouCanBookMe, you can personalize every part of the booking process to perfectly fit your customer’s needs. Control your calendar, set meeting types and durations, manage breaks, send notifications, and showcase your brand—all in one place.

Go a step further and password-protect your booking page, set it to any of 44 languages, and add request-only bookings. YouCanBookMe really took a page out of Burger King’s playbook here with the whole “Have it your way” approach. 😄

As one happy YouCanBookMe user shares:

What I love about YCBM is the ability to customize so many of the bookings. It is easy to update and change the cadence of notifications, use shortcodes to customize the experience and replicate this for other calls. We have hundreds of students booking a myriad of call types each week. YCBM allows us to manage these efficiently and effectively by organizing teams, call types and customizing notifications based on our needs.

How does YouCanBookMe work?

First, connect your calendar and create your custom booking page. Then, share your scheduling link wherever your customers are—whether it’s in your email signature, social media, your website, or even on printed materials via a QR code.

Once someone clicks your link, they can book a meeting in just a few seconds!

And don’t worry about your favorite tools—YouCanBookMe integrates with Google Calendar, Zoom, Google Meet, Stripe, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and thousands more through Zapier.

Here’s a little secret 🤫YouCanBookMe even supports more calendar integrations than both Zoom Scheduler and Calendly, including iCloud and Fastmail calendars.

Feature-rich scheduling meets wallet-friendly pricing

If you’re on the hunt for a feature-packed scheduler that won’t break the bank, YouCanBookMe is your best bet. 

With pricing as low as $8.10/month, it gives you top features at a fraction of the cost.

Even the lowest tier plan lets you: 

  • Set minimum and maximum notice periods for meetings
  • Take payments for meetings via Apple Pay, Google Pay, and credit card
  • Embed your booking page onto your website
  • Add your photo, logo, and brand color to your page
  • Add buffer times between meetings
  • Send email and SMS confirmations and reminders

And that’s just the start! Why spend more when you can get all the features you need for less? 🎉

P.S. YouCanBookMe offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required) so you can try it out risk-free.

Looking for a simpler way to schedule?

YouCanBookMe is here to make bookings easy and stress-free. In short—we’ll handle the scheduling, so you can get back to what you do best.

Try YouCanBookMe today and see the difference for yourself.