Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cal.com VS Beeminder

Compare Cal.com VS Beeminder and see what are their differences

Cal.com logo Cal.com

Cal.com (formerly Calendso) is the open source Calendly alternative.

Beeminder logo Beeminder

Beeminder
  • Cal.com Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-08
  • Beeminder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-22

Cal.com features and specs

  • Customizable
    Cal.com allows extensive customization to fit various branding and scheduling needs, which makes it adaptable for different types of users including businesses and individuals.
  • Open-source
    Being an open-source platform, Cal.com provides the flexibility for developers to modify and extend the software as per their specific needs, fostering a collaborative development environment.
  • Integrations
    Cal.com offers a wide range of integrations with other software tools like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Zoom, enhancing its functionality and making it easier to fit into existing workflows.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Cal.com has an intuitive and clean interface that makes it easy for users of all technical skill levels to set up and manage their scheduling.
  • Privacy-focused
    Cal.com emphasizes data privacy, ensuring user information is handled securely, which is crucial for users who need to comply with regulations like GDPR.

Possible disadvantages of Cal.com

  • Learning Curve
    Although it is highly customizable, the plethora of options and features may result in a steeper learning curve for new users who are not familiar with such scheduling tools.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Cal.com comes with limitations that may not be sufficient for growing businesses or advanced users who require more comprehensive features.
  • Dependency on Integrations
    Cal.com's effectiveness heavily depends on its integrations. Without these integrations, some users might find the tool less useful or incomplete, especially if their primary tools are not supported.
  • Support
    While open-source has many benefits, it may also mean that immediate, personalized support could be limited compared to fully commercial solutions. This might pose a challenge for users needing quick resolutions.
  • Performance
    As an open-source platform, the performance might vary depending on how it is hosted and managed. Suboptimal configurations could lead to slower performance or downtimes.

Beeminder features and specs

  • Accountability
    Beeminder's financial commitment system ensures you stay accountable; if you don't meet your goals, there's a monetary penalty.
  • Data Tracking
    Beeminder helps you track progress by integrating with numerous apps and services, allowing for automated data collection.
  • Customization
    Beeminder offers customizable goals, so you can tailor your commitment contracts to fit your personal objectives.
  • Motivation Boost
    The financial stake can serve as a significant motivator for users to stick to their goals and deadlines.
  • Visualization
    The platform provides clear graphs and charts to monitor progress, making it easier to understand your performance over time.
  • Community and Support
    Beeminder offers a community of users and detailed support documentation to help you make the most out of the app.

Possible disadvantages of Beeminder

  • Financial Risk
    The monetary penalties can add up if you're not consistent, which may not be suitable for everyone, especially those on a tight budget.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up your goals and integrations might be complicated for new users, requiring a learning curve to fully utilize all features.
  • Stress Inducing
    The pressure of potential financial loss can be stressful for some users and may harm motivation rather than help it.
  • Dependence on External Integrations
    Its effectiveness is often closely tied to third-party integrations; if those services fail or change, it could disrupt your goal tracking.
  • Limited Offline Capability
    Beeminder primarily relies on internet connectivity and is less functional when offline, which can be limiting for some users.
  • Complex Pricing
    The pricing model, which can involve incremental charges for missed goals, might not be transparent or straightforward for all users.

Analysis of Cal.com

Overall verdict

  • Cal.com is generally considered a good option for scheduling and calendar management.

Why this product is good

  • Cal.com is praised for its open-source nature, allowing for greater customization and integration flexibility. It offers a user-friendly interface and supports various calendar integrations, making it a versatile tool for individuals and businesses alike.

Recommended for

  • Freelancers who need a simple yet effective scheduling tool.
  • Small businesses looking for a customizable scheduling solution.
  • Developers who appreciate open-source software and need a tool they can modify.
  • Businesses seeking a platform that can integrate with existing tools and workflows.

Analysis of Beeminder

Overall verdict

  • Beeminder can be a useful tool for individuals who need accountability when pursuing their goals. It offers a unique approach by combining goal setting with financial consequences if progress is not maintained.

Why this product is good

  • Beeminder is designed to help people stay on track with their goals by visualizing progress and using financial stakes as an incentive. It integrates with various apps and devices, allowing users to track a wide range of goals automatically. This mix of data, visual motivation, and financial accountability can be effective for those who respond well to these stimuli.

Recommended for

    Beeminder is recommended for individuals who struggle with procrastination, require external motivation to achieve personal goals, and like having clear, visual representations of their progress. It's particularly well-suited for those comfortable with putting financial stakes on their commitments as a way to boost accountability.

Cal.com videos

What can you do with Cal? | Cal.com Version 1.1 Launch | 10 new languages

More videos:

  • Review - Cal.com Version 1.0 Launch Event

Beeminder videos

Beeminder review: willpower not needed

More videos:

  • Review - Beeminder: Don’t call it a Motivation Hack
  • Review - How Beeminder Works

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cal.com and Beeminder)
Productivity
73 73%
27% 27
Appointments and Scheduling
Habit Building
0 0%
100% 100
Appointment Scheduling
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cal.com and Beeminder

Cal.com Reviews

I've poked around a while ago at some Calendly alternatives (specifically was lo... | Hacker News
I tried using https://cal.com for a bit but ended up just switching over to https://zcal.co and it has been great so far. All these other scheduling tools end up trying to do too much and always seem to end up a bit clunky and charge absurd amounts for it

Beeminder Reviews

We have no reviews of Beeminder yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cal.com seems to be a lot more popular than Beeminder. While we know about 56 links to Cal.com, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Beeminder. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cal.com mentions (56)

  • 5 Side Project Ideas for Developers to Monetize as Micro-SaaS in 2025
    Take Cal.com (https://cal.com/), formerly known as Calendso. It started as an open source alternative to Calendly which offers a free, self-hostable version for users. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Using Clerk SSO to access Google Calendar and other service data
    BookMate is an open-source, publicly accessible, lightweight clone of popular booking services like cal.com or Calendly. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • My Journey into Open Source: First Contributions and Lessons Learned
    Then, I came across Cal.com, a fantastic open-source project for scheduling meetings and managing tasks (super useful for productivity!). I knew the basics of Git but wasn’t quite there with forking, merging branches, and all the intricate Git processes. After some YouTube tutorials, I started to get the hang of things. 😅. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Start your own (side) business with open-source in mind
    Cal.com is an open-source event-juggling scheduler for everyone, and is free for individuals. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Fellow HSP entrepreneurs, how do you manage your energy and stress?
    I force clients who want to talk to me to book a call. I use cal.com (free) and my Google Calendar (which its linked to) only allows calls on specific days/times. I have a few "Call Blocks" where they can book. That let's me do calls in a small section of my week, with ample downtime to recover the rest of the week. I'm still learning how many calls a day I can handle. Currently anything more than 2 is too much. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Beeminder mentions (3)

  • People beyond A1: How did you *actually* start learning Finnish?
    So I hooked DL up to Beeminder and just let it be my escape from the world for about 2 months. Anyone else have a similar story? I love hearing about simple, sub-optimal ways that stick. Source: over 2 years ago
  • App with Charitable Commitment Device exist?
    Is there a service like beeminder.com that works as a commitment device for goals by putting money on the line, except that it has 100% of the money go to charity? Source: about 4 years ago
  • Has anyone in this sub with ADHD used a Zettelkasten app (such as Obsidian) to track and map their many, seemingly random interests?
    That's why I use a commitment device to force myself to process them into evergreens - check out beeminder.com. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cal.com and Beeminder, you can also consider the following products

Calendly - Say goodbye to phone and email tag for finding the perfect meeting time with Calendly. It's 100% free, super easy to use and you'll love our customer service.

Coach.me - Coach.me is a coach that goes everywhere with you, helping you achieve any goal, change any habit, or build any expertise.

TidyCal - Optimize your schedule with custom booking pages and calendar integrations

Habitica - Habitica is a free habit building and productivity application.

SavvyCal - A scheduling tool both the sender and the recipient will love.

GoalsWon - Human accountability coaching for busy people