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Notion Calendar Alternatives

The 10 best Notion Calendar alternatives in 2026 for scheduling.

By Sarah Park Updated Feature scope reflects official Notion documentation as of June 2026.
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Alternatives
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Analysis
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FAQs
Based on product documentation, 14 Notion Calendar alternatives are compared. Notion Calendar (formerly Cron) is clean, but limited features and Notion lock-in push some elsewhere.

Decision Summary

Notion Calendar (ex-Cron) is clean and ties into Notion, but limited standalone features and lock-in push some away. Switch when you need a fuller calendar or want to avoid Notion dependency.

Why Switch Away From Notion Calendar

  • Feature set is intentionally minimal
  • Deep value assumes Notion usage
  • Notion ecosystem lock-in

How Each Alternative Changes the Trade-off

Notion integration

Notion Calendar: Notion Calendar links events to Notion databases.

Alternative: Standalone calendars integrate with other tools.

When this matters: Keeps it for Notion-centric users.

Feature depth

Notion Calendar: Notion Calendar is minimal and clean.

Alternative: Full calendars add tasks, weather, and rich scheduling.

When this matters: Matters for users needing more than a schedule view.

Lock-in

Notion Calendar: Calendar data and workflow tie to Notion.

Alternative: Independent calendars stay portable.

When this matters: Matters for users wary of ecosystem dependency.

Best For / Not For

Switch If

Users who need more calendar features or want to avoid Notion lock-in.

Stay With Notion Calendar If

Notion users who like the clean, integrated calendar.

What Switching Costs

Events export via ICS; Notion-linked workflows do not transfer.

Real-World Switching Scenarios

  • User needing richer scheduling — Power schedulers Full calendars add features Notion Calendar omits.
  • Notion workspace user — Notion-centric teams Staying keeps events linked to Notion databases.
  • User avoiding lock-in — Portability-minded users Independent calendars keep data free of Notion.

How This Was Researched

This guide is based on a structured review of official product documentation, published feature lists, current pricing, and community-reported limitations — the same methodology ToolStep describes on the /how-we-test/ page. We do not claim hands-on testing that did not happen.

Feature scope reflects official Notion documentation as of June 2026.

Alternatives Table

# Alternative Best For Rating Pricing
1 Fantastical Mac natural language ★★★★★ 4.6/5 $6/mo
2 Google Calendar Free ecosystem ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 Free
3 Vimcal Fast keyboard calendar ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 $15/mo
4 Apple Calendar Mac free native ★★★★☆ 4.1/5 Free
5 Microsoft Outlook Calendar Microsoft ecosystem ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 Free / $6.99/mo
6 Morgen Unified calendar + tasks ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 Free / $9/mo
7 BusyCal Mac pro calendar ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 $50 one-time
8 Proton Calendar Encrypted calendar ★★★★☆ 4.0/5 Free / $3.99/mo
9 Any.do Calendar Tasks + calendar ★★★★☆ 4.0/5 Free / $5/mo
10 Thunderbird Calendar Free desktop ★★★★☆ 3.9/5 Free

Pros & Cons by Alternative

1
Fantastical
Best for: Mac natural language

Pros

  • Mac native
  • Natural language
  • Templates

Cons

  • Mac only
  • Pricey
Pricing: $6/mo
Rating: ★★★★★ 4.6/5
2
Google Calendar
Best for: Free ecosystem

Pros

  • Free
  • Cross-platform
  • Ecosystem

Cons

  • Tracking
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
3
Vimcal
Best for: Fast keyboard calendar

Pros

  • Fast
  • Keyboard
  • Time zones

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Mac only
Pricing: $15/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
4
Apple Calendar
Best for: Mac free native

Pros

  • Mac native
  • Free

Cons

  • Less features
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.1/5
5
Microsoft Outlook Calendar
Best for: Microsoft ecosystem

Pros

  • Office sync
  • Scheduling

Cons

  • MS lock-in
Pricing: Free / $6.99/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
6
Morgen
Best for: Unified calendar + tasks

Pros

  • Multi-account
  • Tasks
  • Clean

Cons

  • Subscription
Pricing: Free / $9/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
7
BusyCal
Best for: Mac pro calendar

Pros

  • Mac native
  • Customizable

Cons

  • Mac only
Pricing: $50 one-time
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
8
Proton Calendar
Best for: Encrypted calendar

Pros

  • E2EE
  • Open source

Cons

  • Newer
Pricing: Free / $3.99/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.0/5
9
Any.do Calendar
Best for: Tasks + calendar

Pros

  • Tasks
  • Mobile

Cons

  • Less pro
Pricing: Free / $5/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.0/5
10
Thunderbird Calendar
Best for: Free desktop

Pros

  • Free
  • Open source

Cons

  • Dated UI
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 3.9/5

Pricing Comparison

  • Fantastical $6/mo
  • Google Calendar Free
  • Vimcal $15/mo
  • Apple Calendar Free
  • Microsoft Outlook Calendar Free / $6.99/mo
  • Morgen Free / $9/mo
  • BusyCal $50 one-time
  • Proton Calendar Free / $3.99/mo
  • Any.do Calendar Free / $5/mo
  • Thunderbird Calendar Free

Why Choose an Alternative

  • You want more calendar features than Notion Calendar.
  • You need Mac-native performance.
  • You want natural language input.
  • You need faster keyboard control.
  • You want encrypted calendar events.

FAQ

What is the best Notion Calendar alternative?

Fantastical is the best Notion Calendar alternative for Mac; Google Calendar for free cross-platform.

Is Notion Calendar free?

Yes, Notion Calendar (formerly Cron) is free with multi-account support.

What Notion Calendar alternative is best for Mac?

Fantastical and Vimcal are the best Mac-native Notion Calendar alternatives.

Can Google Calendar replace Notion Calendar?

Yes, Google Calendar replaces Notion Calendar for most scheduling needs with broader ecosystem.

Is Fantastical better than Notion Calendar?

Fantastical has more features like natural language and templates; Notion Calendar is free and clean.