Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cal VS microG

Compare Cal VS microG and see what are their differences

Cal logo Cal

What if your Google Calendar was designed to make you more productive?

microG logo microG

A free-as-in-freedom re-implementation of Googleโ€™s proprietary Android user space apps and...
  • Cal Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-06
  • microG Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-16

Cal features and specs

  • Integration
    Cal seamlessly integrates with other applications, including Google Calendar and Any.do tasks, which helps streamline planning and task management.
  • User Interface
    The app offers a clean and intuitive user interface that makes it easy for users to schedule events and navigate through their calendar.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Cal is available on multiple platforms, including web and mobile devices, ensuring users have access to their schedules wherever they are.
  • Reminders and Notifications
    The app provides timely reminders and notifications to ensure users do not miss important meetings or deadlines.
  • Customizable Views
    Cal allows users to customize their calendar view, which helps in better organizing and visualizing tasks and events.

Possible disadvantages of Cal

  • Limited Features
    Compared to some other calendar applications, Cal may lack some advanced features that power users might expect.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users might experience performance issues, especially on older devices or with very crowded calendars.
  • Subscription Costs
    Access to premium features may require a subscription, which might not be feasible for all users.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve when getting started with the app, particularly if they are switching from a different calendar application.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with many apps that integrate with other services, there may be concerns about data privacy and how user information is handled.

microG features and specs

  • Open Source
    microG is completely open source, allowing users to audit the code for security, privacy, and functionality assurance.
  • Privacy
    microG respects user privacy by not collecting and transmitting data to Google, making it a better choice for privacy-conscious users.
  • Lower Resource Usage
    microG tends to use fewer system resources compared to Google's proprietary services, resulting in better performance and battery life.
  • Customization
    The software provides flexibility and customization options that are not available with traditional Google services.
  • Compatibility
    microG enables the functionality of Google services for apps that require them, even on devices that don't have Google Play Services installed.

Possible disadvantages of microG

  • Limited Support
    microG may not support all features and functionalities provided by Google's proprietary services, leading to potential compatibility issues with some apps.
  • Manual Setup
    Installing and configuring microG can be complex and may require advanced technical knowledge, which may not be suitable for all users.
  • Reliability
    As a community-driven project, microG may face reliability and stability issues more frequently than official Google services.
  • Partially Unsupported Apps
    Some apps may not work fully or may have limited functionality when using microG, especially those heavily reliant on certain Google APIs.
  • Update Frequency
    Updates to microG may not be as frequent or timely as those from Google, potentially leaving some features behind or vulnerable to security risks for longer periods.

Analysis of microG

Overall verdict

  • Overall, microG is a robust solution for users interested in privacy, open-source software, and greater control over their devices. However, it may require some technical expertise to install and configure, and not all apps may work perfectly with it.

Why this product is good

  • microG is considered good by many users because it provides an open-source alternative to Google's proprietary mobile services. It allows users to retain functionality such as push notifications and location services without relying on Google Play Services, offering more privacy and control over personal data. It's especially valuable for those using custom ROMs or seeking to minimize their dependency on Google.

Recommended for

  • Users who prioritize privacy and want to reduce their reliance on Google services.
  • Individuals using custom ROMs on their Android devices.
  • Tech-savvy users willing to troubleshoot and tweak settings for optimal performance.
  • Developers interested in open-source software solutions.

Cal videos

Cal Chuchesta - The New CALassic MIXTAPE REVIEW

More videos:

  • Review - Are Cal 7 Skateboards Good? (Unboxing & Review)
  • Review - Review: The Most Accurate Watch Ever Made? | Citizen Eco-Drive Cal. 0100

microG videos

MicroG โ€“ what it is and where itโ€™s going - SFScon19 / Marvin W

More videos:

  • Review - MicroG G Pen Vaporizer Review
  • Review - microG Pen Vaporizer Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cal and microG)
Calendar
100 100%
0% 0
Mobile OS
0 0%
100% 100
Appointments and Scheduling
Mobile SDK
0 0%
100% 100

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 and microG

Cal Reviews

Beyond Google Calendar and Apple Calendar: The 18 Best Apps to Manage Your Schedule
Much of Google Calendar's popularity comes from the fact that you can create multiple calendars in one place using a Google account, and then port those entries to almost any other online calendar. Google Calendar also works with nearly everything else on the market. You can connect your Google Calendar not only to other calendar apps, but also to business apps and services...
Source: zapier.com

microG Reviews

We have no reviews of microG yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, microG seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 124 times since March 2021. 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 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Cal yet. Tracking of Cal recommendations started around Mar 2021.

microG mentions (124)

  • F-Droid and Google's Developer Registration Decree
    I do that. F-Droid also requires that applications do not depend on any GMS component, but if you need anything from GMS, you can install https://microg.org/ and selectively enable the features you need. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • WhatsApp Introduces Ads in Its App
    Iโ€™m actually using Aurora and F-Droid. The only reason I have a Google account on my phone is for the Wallet (though it doesnโ€™t work for me anyway :โ€™) (And to be honest, things were working much smoother when I was on microG [0].) [0]: https://microg.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Google blocked Motorola use of perplexity AI, witness says
    > Or building your own services, presumably? In case of Android and Google Play services that is never going to work reliably. Your users will experience breakage on a regular interval and you will make yourself wildly unpopular with app developers (since they will be getting the bug reports of the subtle incompatibilities). Probably to a point where they might just block their app from running on your phone. All... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Escaping the Digital Treadmill: How to Daily Drive a Flip phone in 2025 - TCL Flip 2
    Many thanks to everyone that documented all of this information and the community around these phones: MicrogG Installer Revived - https://github.com/nift4 Magisk - https://github.com/topjohnwu/Magisk LSPosed - https://github.com/LSPosed/LSPosed Neutronscott - https://github.com/neutronscott/flip2/ MicroG - https://microg.org/ Whew-inc (FakeGapps fork) - https://github.com/whew-inc/FakeGApps And many more.. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • DOJ Will Push Google to Sell Off Chrome to Break Search Monopoly
    You can root your Android device and replace Google Play Services with microG (https://microg.org). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cal and microG, you can also consider the following products

Google Calendar - Spend less time managing your day & more time enjoying it

Open GApps - Open GApps is an open-source Google Apps package for rooted devices that is developed by writing...

Fantastical 2 - Fantastical, the Mac calendar app you'll enjoy using. Quickly create new events with natural language input and more.

GrapheneOS - GrapheneOS is an open source privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

Business Calendar - Powerful and easy to use calendar app for Android including weather, widgets and tasks.

F-Droid - F-Droid is an interesting alternative for Android users who want to try something different and not have to use the Goole Play store all the time.