Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Merge VS Cal.com

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

Merge logo Merge

Features :1:1 Video chatLive Editor(Whiteboard) for interviewsNotes (downloadable as PDF)Instantly join a call with a meeting linkReal time chatChat NotificationsInstant notifications of ongoing meetingMute audio/videoNeat and clean UI

Cal.com logo Cal.com

Cal.com (formerly Calendso) is the open source Calendly alternative.
  • Merge Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-29
  • Cal.com Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-08

Merge features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Merge offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and accomplish tasks without a steep learning curve.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The platform provides robust integration options with various third-party applications and services, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity.
  • Customizability
    Merge allows for significant customization, letting users tailor the platform to meet their specific business needs and requirements.
  • Reliable Performance
    The platform is known for its reliable performance, ensuring that users experience minimal downtime and swift responsiveness.
  • Excellent Support
    Merge offers strong customer support, including detailed documentation and responsive service, which helps users resolve issues quickly.

Possible disadvantages of Merge

  • Cost
    The subscription fees for Merge may be high for small businesses or individual users, making it less accessible to those with limited budgets.
  • Complexity for Advanced Features
    While the basic functionalities are user-friendly, some advanced features can be complex and may require additional training to utilize effectively.
  • Initial Setup Time
    Setting up Merge for the first time can be time-consuming, especially for larger organizations with more complex needs.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Merge primarily operates as a web-based application, which can be a drawback for users who need access to their workflows in environments without internet connectivity.
  • Scalability Challenges
    While Merge is scalable, some users have reported challenges when scaling up the platform for very large organizations or enterprise-level needs.

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.

Analysis of Merge

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Merge is a good platform, especially for developers and teams looking to streamline their web application deployment processes.

Why this product is good

  • Merge (merge.netlify.app) is considered a good platform due to its seamless integration features, user-friendly interface, and the ability to manage and deploy web applications effortlessly. It provides a reliable service that supports continuous deployment and offers robust scalability options.

Recommended for

  • Developers who want to automate deployments
  • Teams looking for an easy-to-use deployment solution
  • Projects that require scalable deployment capabilities
  • Users who require efficient integration with various development tools

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.

Merge videos

Merge Request review - Faster Code Review (HD)

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Merge and Cal.com)
Productivity
16 16%
84% 84
Task Management
100 100%
0% 0
Appointments and Scheduling
Project Management
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 Merge and Cal.com

Merge Reviews

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

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cal.com seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 56 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.

Merge mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Merge yet. Tracking of Merge recommendations started around Oct 2021.

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
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What are some alternatives?

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

Taskful - Deadlines, meet your match.

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.

Streaks - The to-do list that helps you form good habits.

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

Gone - An ephemeral to-do list

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