Software Alternatives & Startups

Calendly VS Microsoft Forms

Compare Calendly VS Microsoft Forms and see what are their differences

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.

Rating
5.0 · 1 review
Microsoft Forms

Simplistic surveys by Microsoft.

Rating
4.0 · 1 review
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Calendly should be more popular than Microsoft Forms. It has been mentioned 119 times since March 2021.

social mentions
119 vs 16
user rating
5.0 vs 4.0
Appointments and Scheduling popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Calendly
Microsoft Forms
Website calendly.com forms.office.com
Pricing —
Company Startup from the United States · 100 - 249 employees · 2013 —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Calendly 5 features
Microsoft Forms 5 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Calendly has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, which simplifies the process of scheduling meetings for both the scheduler and invitee.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Calendly integrates seamlessly with various calendar services (Google Calendar, Outlook, iCal) and other tools like Zoom, Slack, and Salesforce.
  • Customizable Availability
    Users can set their availability preferences down to the minute, allowing for precise control over when they are available for meetings.
  • Automated Reminders
    Calendly automatically sends out reminders to meeting participants, thereby reducing no-shows and ensuring everyone is prepared.
  • Group and Collective Scheduling
    Calendly supports scheduling for groups and teams, making it easier to coordinate meetings with multiple participants.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Free Plan Features
    The free version of Calendly offers limited features, such as restricted event types and fewer integration options compared to the paid versions.
  • No Option for Meeting Notes
    Calendly does not have built-in functionality for adding detailed meeting agendas or notes directly within the booking system.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic usage is straightforward, some users may find a steeper learning curve when trying to utilize Calendly's more advanced features.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Calendly relies on a stable internet connection for real-time updates and notifications, which can be a drawback in areas with unreliable connectivity.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Sharing available time slots publicly can sometimes raise privacy concerns, especially for users who are particular about their personal information.
  • Integration with Microsoft 365
    Microsoft Forms seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft 365 apps such as Excel, SharePoint, and Teams, enhancing collaboration and data management.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies form creation and distribution, making it accessible even to non-technical users.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    Multiple users can collaborate on form creation and data analysis in real-time, fostering teamwork and increasing productivity.
  • Customization Options
    It offers various customization options, including themes, question types, and response validation, allowing users to tailor forms to specific needs.
  • Analytics and Reporting
    Built-in analytics tools provide insights and visualizations directly within Microsoft Forms, aiding in data-driven decision-making.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to other specialized survey tools, Microsoft Forms lacks some advanced features such as complex branching, advanced logic, and extensive third-party integrations.
  • Design Flexibility
    The platform has limited design customization options, making it less suitable for users looking to create highly branded or unique forms.
  • Response Limits
    Free and some standard Microsoft 365 plans have response limits, which can be restrictive for organizations conducting large-scale surveys.
  • Export Limitations
    Exporting data to other formats or systems can be cumbersome, especially when dealing with large datasets or requiring specific data formats.
  • Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem
    While integration with Microsoft 365 is a strength, it can also be a limitation for users or organizations that rely on non-Microsoft tools and services.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Calendly
Microsoft Forms

Overall verdict

  • Calendly is considered a good choice for individuals and businesses looking for an efficient way to manage appointments and streamline their scheduling process. Its ease of use and robust feature set make it a valuable tool for enhancing productivity.

Why this product is good

  • Calendly is a highly regarded scheduling tool due to its user-friendly interface, seamless integrations with other calendar apps like Google Calendar and Outlook, and its ability to automate appointment scheduling. It eliminates the back-and-forth emails needed to find a convenient meeting time. Users appreciate the numerous customization options, such as setting availability, buffer times between meetings, and limiting the number of meetings per day.

Recommended for

  • Professionals who need to manage multiple appointments and meetings.
  • Businesses seeking to provide clients with a straightforward way to schedule consultations.
  • Teams that require coordination and scheduling across different time zones.
  • Freelancers looking to automate client booking processes.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Microsoft Forms is generally well-regarded as a user-friendly tool for creating and managing online forms.

Why this product is good

  • Microsoft Forms is considered good due to its ease of use, integration with other Microsoft 365 applications, real-time collaboration features, and robust data analysis capabilities. It provides an intuitive interface for creating surveys, quizzes, and polls and offers automatic data export to Excel for further analysis. Additionally, it ensures data security and privacy, adherent to Microsoft's compliance guidelines.

Recommended for

  • Educational institutions requiring tools for quizzes and feedback collection
  • Businesses looking for an integrated solution for customer surveys and employee feedback
  • Teams that already use Microsoft 365 and need seamless integration with other applications
  • Users who require real-time data analysis and collaboration on form responses

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Calendly 3 videos + Add
Microsoft Forms 3 videos + Add

Calendly Sucks! Here's What I'm Using Now Instead...

More videos

  • - Calendly Tutorial: Book Yourself Solid on Autopilot
  • - Review: Calendly

Review of Microsoft Forms Pro 2019 • Office 365 Survey Solution

More videos

  • - Introducing Microsoft Forms Pro
  • - Microsoft Forms Pro | Business Applications April 2019 Release

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Calendly
Microsoft Forms
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Calendly and Microsoft Forms. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Calendly 5.0 · 1 review
Microsoft Forms 4.0 · 1 review

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Calendly 119 mentions
Microsoft Forms 16 mentions
  • AI Almost Sold Me a Subscription I Didn't Need
    Claude took a different path but landed in the same place. It suggested Calendly, Cal.com (open source), and SavvyCal as products I can subscribe to. When I explained that my work calendar was behind corporate SSO and I cannot use my... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Tools for Building a Modern JavaScript Booking Application
    However, if you are looking for an out-of-the-box solution with minimal technical involvement, it is reasonable to consider SaaS platforms such as Appointedd, Calendly, and Scheduly. These products may not provide the same level of... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Calendly and Accessibility Problems
    Calendly is a scheduling platform. I decided to use Calendly on my homepage, giving someone the ability to choose a time and book a call. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago

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  • MS Forms: Employee to send form and recieve results on his email depending on which employee emails the form (dynamic)
    When you use the word ‘form’ in a Microsoft context, readers including myself may assume you are talking about Microsoft forms on https://forms.office.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How does your company do its IT Onboarding?
    Make a Microsoft Forms that they have to fill out. Set it to email you when it's completed. Tell people that they have to fill it out properly or they can't have access to anything. The last thing they had before I got here was on... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Microsoft Forms are constantly refreshing and logging out
    You can get to forms.office.com but when you open any form to edit it just constantly refreshes and then kicks you back to a login screen. Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Calendly and Microsoft Forms

When comparing Calendly and Microsoft Forms, you can also consider the following products.