The Apple ecosystem is full of such productivity apps. In this post, we are going to list out the top five calendar apps for iOS and macOS. The list will focus on the apps that are available on both Apple platforms. It will include both free and paid apps. We will also mention features, themes, third-party calendar support, price, and more. Let’s get started.
1. Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft purchased the Sunrise calendar app in 2015 and shut down the further development of the app. Over the years, the company has integrated its features in the Outlook Email app, making it one of the best Calendar apps out there. The UI is quite nice. Swipe left to reveal the hamburger menu and select the calendar options to display in the app. You can also add calendar entries from popular platforms like Facebook, Evernote, Meetup, and Wunderlist. While adding an event, Outlook lets you add details like location, Skype Call, description, and more. My favorite function is Interesting calendars. It lets you import schedules from well-known TV series and popular sports like Cricket, Basketball, Tennis, Football, etc. Speaking of its Mac app, users do require Office 365 subscription to use the Outlook app. It provides a monthly view and lets you add events on the go. I like how it integrates Sticky Notes as well as Tasks from the Microsoft To-Do app. Download Microsoft Outlook for iOS Download Microsoft Outlook for Mac
2. Fantastical
Fantastical has the best user interface among all the calendar apps out there. It’s quick, fluid, and responsive. Fantastical has paid special attention to the ‘add event’ screen. By using the numbers raw above, one can quickly write like ’20:00 Client Call,’ and the app will set an event for 8.00 PM. Users can long-tap on any event and create a template out of it. I use it all the time to add my most-used events with a single click. Similar to Outlook, Fantastical supports third-party calendars. It lets you add events from Sports, TV, Finance, and more. Other functions include theme support, the ability to change app icons, AccuWeather integration (this should be present in every calendar app), 3D touch support, iOS widgets, and more. The Mac app is equally powerful too. Everything, including templates, gets synced over the desktop app. The quick add function remains the same on the big screen. Fantastical used to be a one-time purchase, but the developers recently switched to a subscription model, which now costs $5 per month. Download Fantastical for iOS Download Fantastical for macOS
3. Apple Calendar
Apple Calendar is a solid option for the majority out there. It’s free and works well with the Apple ecosystem. The app offers a familiar UI with all the major options within reach. While adding an event, you can integrate details such as travel time, attachments, URL, notes, and location. I would like to see FaceTime voice/video reminders in add event function. Apart from iCloud, it supports the major third-party calendars like Gmail and Outlook. The list of functionalities includes Siri Shortcuts, iOS 13 dark theme, the ability to share calendars, and more. Their Mac app is quite basic. Apart from adding a quick event, Apple Calendar doesn’t offer much for the big screen.
4. Woven Calendar
Woven Calendar brings a breath of fresh air among the traditional calendars. The default home page is a mixture of recent updates, stats of overall weekly meeting time, travel hours, and tags. These two functions stood out for me. While adding an event, you can create a group poll and ask your members to vote for an appropriate time for the meeting. You can share the poll link using the Woven iMessage app, Email, or SMS. The planning section is a nice place to dump all the tasks, polls, and events to schedule them later. Woven has an integrated map view that shows where your upcoming event is and how much traveling you will need in a day. Power users will appreciate template function, which lets you create templates for most used events. Woven’s Mac app is one of the best out there. All the major functions are nicely tied up in the hamburger menu. The templates, planning, and home have been carried over to the Mac app. It supports keyboard shortcuts too. Woven is completely free to use, which is surprising given the kind of functions it provides on both iOS and macOS Download Woven for iOS Download Woven for macOS
5. Any.do
Any.do is the ultimate Calendar and Task management app out there. By default, it imports tasks from the Apple Reminders app. While adding an event, you can add the basic details like Notes, URL, location, and more. Any.do holds an upper hand with third-party apps integration. It supports over 1500+ services, including some big names like Evernote, Trello, Slack, OneNote, and more. The company has added a neat WhatsApp integration, which reminds you of a task while using the chatting app. The Mac app mimics the functions of the mobile version and supports customizable wallpapers too. However, there are no keyboard shortcuts. Any.do is free for basic tasks, but the third-party apps integration and advanced theming engine costs $7 per month. Download Any.do for iOS Download Any.do for macOS
Plan Your Day in Advance
As you can see from the list above, every app offers a few advantages over the other. Outlook is perfect for those living in the Microsoft ecosystem. Fantastical is an all-rounder, Apple Calendar is free, Woven is preferable for power users, while Any.do is a sweet mixture of task management and calendar. Next up: Using Windows 10 PC and looking for the best to-do apps for it? Read the post below to find the best seven apps for it.
