Cal.com

What is Cal.com?

Cal.com is an open-source scheduling infrastructure platform that enables individuals and businesses to manage appointments, meetings, and bookings without the complexity of traditional scheduling. Founded in 2021 as Calendso before rebranding, Cal.com has emerged as a powerful, privacy-focused alternative to proprietary scheduling tools like Calendly. The platform combines the ease of modern scheduling applications with the transparency and flexibility of open-source software.

What distinguishes Cal.com is its commitment to open-source development while providing enterprise-grade scheduling features. The entire codebase is available on GitHub under an open license, enabling organizations to audit, customize, and self-host their scheduling infrastructure. This approach addresses growing concerns about data privacy in scheduling tools that handle sensitive meeting information and calendar access.

Cal.com serves diverse users from individual consultants booking client calls to enterprises managing complex team scheduling workflows. The platform supports multiple calendar integrations, video conferencing connections, payment processing for paid appointments, and team scheduling with round-robin or collective booking. Whether you need a simple booking page or sophisticated scheduling automation, Cal.com provides the foundation with options for cloud hosting or self-managed deployment.

Key Features

• Open Source: Full source code available under permissive license enabling self-hosting, customization, and complete transparency.
• Calendar Integration: Connect with Google Calendar, Microsoft 365, Apple Calendar, and other providers for automatic availability detection.
• Booking Pages: Customizable public booking pages where invitees select available times without back-and-forth emails.
• Video Conferencing: Native integrations with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and other video platforms for automatic meeting links.
• Team Scheduling: Round-robin assignment, collective availability for group meetings, and team booking pages for organizations.
• Workflow Automation: Automated reminders, confirmations, and follow-ups reduce no-shows and administrative burden.
• Payment Integration: Accept payments for appointments through Stripe, enabling coaches, consultants, and service providers to monetize time.
• Custom Event Types: Configure multiple event types with different durations, locations, and settings for various meeting scenarios.
• Availability Settings: Fine-grained control over available hours, buffer times, booking limits, and minimum notice periods.
• Embed Options: Embed scheduling widgets on websites, in emails, or integrate via API for seamless booking experiences.

Recent Updates and Improvements

Cal.com continues rapid development with features expanding scheduling capabilities and enterprise functionality.

• App Store: Expanded integration ecosystem with apps for CRM, video conferencing, payment, and productivity tools.
• Routing Forms: Intelligent routing based on invitee responses to direct bookings to appropriate team members or event types.
• Improved UI: Redesigned booking pages and admin interface with better mobile experience and modern design.
• Webhook Improvements: Enhanced webhook capabilities for building custom integrations and automation workflows.
• Team Features: Better team management including managed events, shared availability, and organizational settings.
• Performance: Faster page loads, improved calendar sync, and better handling of high-volume scheduling.
• Enterprise Features: SSO, audit logs, custom contracts, and enterprise support options for large organizations.
• Self-Hosting Updates: Easier deployment with improved documentation, Docker images, and Kubernetes support.

System Requirements

Cloud Version

• Modern web browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
• Internet connection
• No installation required

Self-Hosted Requirements

• Node.js 18 or later
• PostgreSQL 13 or later
• RAM: 2 GB minimum
• Storage: 1 GB for application
• Docker optional but recommended

Booking Page Visitors

• Any modern web browser
• No account required to book
• Mobile browsers fully supported

How to Get Started with Cal.com

Cloud Setup

1. Visit cal.com and create an account
2. Connect your calendar
3. Set your availability
4. Create event types
5. Share your booking link

# Your booking URL format
https://cal.com/username
https://cal.com/username/event-type

# Embed in website
<iframe 
  src="https://cal.com/username/30min?embed=true" 
  frameborder="0" 
  width="100%" 
  height="600">
</iframe>

# Or use inline embed script
<script src="https://cal.com/embed.js"></script>
<button data-cal-link="username/30min">Book a call</button>

Self-Hosted Deployment

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/calcom/cal.com.git
cd cal.com

# Install dependencies
yarn install

# Copy environment template
cp .env.example .env

# Configure environment variables
# DATABASE_URL=postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/calcom
# NEXTAUTH_SECRET=your-secret-key
# CALENDSO_ENCRYPTION_KEY=your-encryption-key

# Set up database
yarn db:setup

# Start development server
yarn dev

# For production
yarn build
yarn start

Docker Deployment

# Using Docker Compose
git clone https://github.com/calcom/docker.git cal-docker
cd cal-docker

# Configure environment
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your settings

# Start services
docker-compose up -d

# Access at http://localhost:3000

# Check logs
docker-compose logs -f

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Open Source: Complete transparency, ability to self-host, and freedom from vendor lock-in rare among scheduling tools.
• Privacy Focused: Self-hosting option ensures full control over sensitive calendar and meeting data.
• Feature Complete: Comprehensive scheduling features rival or exceed proprietary alternatives at any price.
• Generous Free Tier: Cloud version offers substantial free functionality for individuals and small teams.
• Active Development: Rapid feature development with responsive team and engaged community.
• Customizable: Self-hosting enables complete customization of appearance and functionality.
• Modern Design: Clean, professional booking pages that reflect well on users.

Cons

• Self-Hosting Complexity: Running your own instance requires technical expertise and infrastructure management.
• Newer Platform: Less established than Calendly with smaller user base and fewer integrations.
• Learning Curve: Some features require configuration effort compared to simpler alternatives.
• Documentation Gaps: Self-hosted documentation sometimes lags behind rapid development pace.
• Enterprise Features: Some advanced team features require paid plans despite open-source core.

Cal.com vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Cal.com?

Cal.com is ideal for:

• Privacy-Conscious Users: Individuals and organizations wanting control over scheduling data through self-hosting options.
• Open Source Advocates: Those preferring transparent, auditable software with the ability to contribute and customize.
• Developers: Technical users who can leverage self-hosting and customization capabilities effectively.
• Cost-Conscious Teams: Organizations seeking powerful scheduling without premium pricing of proprietary tools.
• Consultants and Coaches: Service providers needing payment integration with their booking workflows.
• Enterprise with Compliance Needs: Organizations requiring on-premises scheduling for regulatory compliance.

Cal.com may not be ideal for:

• Non-Technical Users: Those wanting zero-configuration scheduling may find simpler alternatives more accessible.
• Brand Recognition: Users needing the established reputation of Calendly for client-facing scheduling.
• Maximum Integrations: Those requiring extensive third-party integrations may find Calendly ecosystem broader.
• Enterprise Support: Organizations requiring guaranteed SLAs and dedicated support from established vendors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cal.com really free?

Cal.com offers a generous free tier on their cloud platform including unlimited event types, calendar connections, and basic features. Self-hosting is completely free since the software is open source. Paid tiers add team features, advanced routing, and priority support. Most individuals can use Cal.com effectively without paying. The open-source model means you can always self-host to avoid any costs while retaining full functionality.

How does Cal.com compare to Calendly?

Both provide professional scheduling capabilities, but Cal.com offers open-source transparency and self-hosting that Calendly cannot. Calendly has more third-party integrations and established brand recognition. Cal.com provides comparable core features with the freedom to control your data. Choose Cal.com for privacy and customization; choose Calendly for maximum integrations and brand familiarity with clients who know it.

Can I self-host Cal.com?

Yes, Cal.com is fully open source under the AGPLv3 license. You can deploy it on your own servers using Docker, Kubernetes, or traditional hosting. Self-hosting gives complete control over data, enables unlimited users without per-seat pricing, and allows deep customization. The trade-off is managing infrastructure and updates yourself. Documentation and community support help with self-hosted deployments.

Does Cal.com integrate with my calendar?

Cal.com integrates with Google Calendar, Microsoft 365, Apple Calendar, and other calendar systems through CalDAV. The integration syncs your availability automatically, preventing double-bookings. When meetings are booked, they appear in your connected calendar. Most users connect multiple calendars to show aggregate availability. Calendar sync is a core feature available on all plans including free.

Is Cal.com secure for business use?

Cal.com takes security seriously with encryption in transit and at rest, secure authentication, and regular security updates. The open-source nature means the security-conscious can audit the code themselves. Enterprise plans add SSO, audit logs, and compliance features. For maximum security control, self-hosting ensures data never leaves your infrastructure. Most businesses will find Cal.com security adequate for scheduling needs.

Final Verdict

Cal.com represents what modern software should be—powerful, user-friendly, and transparent. As an open-source scheduling platform, it proves that community-driven development can produce tools matching or exceeding proprietary alternatives. For users who value data ownership, cost control, or simply supporting open-source software, Cal.com provides a compelling scheduling solution.

The platform delivers comprehensive scheduling features including team booking, payment processing, and extensive integrations. The clean booking experience rivals Calendly while offering the freedom to self-host and customize. Rapid development pace ensures Cal.com continues gaining features and polish. The generous free tier makes it accessible to individuals, while enterprise features serve organizational needs.

While Cal.com may not yet match Calendly’s brand recognition or integration breadth, it offers advantages no proprietary tool can—complete control over your scheduling infrastructure. For developers, privacy-conscious users, and organizations with specific compliance requirements, Cal.com is the clear choice. For everyone else, it’s an excellent alternative that supports a healthier software ecosystem.