In today's fast-paced business environment, efficient meeting scheduling can make or break your productivity. Gone are the days of endless email chains trying to coordinate calendars. The right scheduling tool can save hours of administrative work while providing a professional experience for your clients and colleagues.
After using and testing of these tools ourselves , we've identified the top 5 meeting scheduling tools that stand out in 2025. Each offers unique strengths depending on your specific needs, from simple one-on-one meetings to complex team scheduling scenarios.
1. Tern: The Integrated CRM Solution
Best for: Travel advisors and agencies using comprehensive travel management
For travel professionals already using Tern's CRM platform, the integrated scheduling tool is an absolute no-brainer. Rather than juggling separate systems, Tern provides a seamless scheduling experience built specifically for the travel industry's unique workflows.
Key Features:
Travel industry integration: The scheduler seamlessly integrates with forms, making it easy to collect custom information before scheduling a meeting
CRM connectivity: Part of a larger travel CRM system for comprehensive client management
Custom meeting types: Allows for defining multiple meeting types, integrates seamlessly into forms, and connects with major calendaring systems
Industry-specific workflows: Built with travel advisors' unique needs in mind
Client information capture: Automatically collect travel preferences and requirements during booking
No system switching: Everything happens within your existing Tern workflow
Pricing:
Pricing starts at $35 per month.
2. Calendly: The Industry Standard
Best for: Established businesses and teams needing comprehensive features
Calendly has earned its reputation as the most widely used scheduling solution, with millions of users worldwide. Its robust feature set makes it particularly valuable for businesses that need advanced scheduling capabilities across various industries.
Key Features:
Multiple meeting types: Create different booking pages for various meeting lengths and purposes
Team scheduling: Advanced round-robin and collective scheduling options
Extensive integrations: Connects with virtually every calendar system, CRM, and video conferencing platform
Custom branding: Personalize booking pages with your brand colors and logo
Advanced availability settings: Set complex scheduling rules and buffer times
Pricing:
Calendly offers a free tier with basic features, while paid plans start at $12/month per user. The pricing scales with team size and feature requirements.
3. Cal.com: The Open-Source Alternative
Best for: Privacy-conscious users and developers who want customization
Cal.com has emerged as a powerful open-source alternative that prioritizes user control and data privacy. "More elegant than Calendly, more open than SavvyCal, Cal.com works and it feels just right."
Key Features:
Open-source flexibility: Self-host for complete data control or use their hosted version
No vendor lock-in: Export your data anytime or migrate to self-hosting
Developer-friendly: Extensive API and webhook support for custom integrations
Modern interface: Clean, intuitive design that feels contemporary
Competitive pricing: Generous free tier with affordable paid options
Pricing:
Cal.com offers a robust free plan, with paid plans starting at $12/month per user.
4. SavvyCal: The User Experience Champion
Best for: Professionals who prioritize recipient experience and brand image
SavvyCal differentiates itself by focusing on creating the most pleasant scheduling experience for the people booking meetings with you. It removes the typical awkwardness of traditional scheduling tools.
Key Features:
Overlay scheduling: Recipients can see your availability overlaid on their own calendar
Personalized links: Create custom, branded scheduling links that reflect your professional image
Ad-free experience: SavvyCal's booking and polling pages come without ads, even on the free plan
Smart availability detection: Automatically finds optimal meeting times
Premium user experience: Every interaction feels polished and professional
Pricing:
SavvyCal starts at $12/month per user, positioning itself as a premium option focused on quality over quantity of features.
5. Doodle: The Group Polling Pioneer
Best for: Group meetings and event planning across multiple time zones
Doodle pioneered the meeting poll concept and remains the gold standard for scheduling with multiple participants, especially when dealing with large groups or complex scheduling scenarios.
Key Features:
Meeting polls: Create polls with multiple time options and let participants vote
Large group handling: Efficiently manage scheduling for dozens of participants
Global reach: Excellent for international teams across multiple time zones
Simple interface: Intuitive design that even non-tech-savvy users can navigate
Integration options: Connects with major calendar systems and productivity tools
Pricing:
Doodle offers a free version with ads, while premium plans start at $6.95/month per user for ad-free experiences and advanced features.
Making the Right Choice
The best scheduling tool for your needs depends on several factors:
Choose Tern if you're already using Tern's CRM system - this makes scheduling a seamless part of your existing workflow and eliminates the need for separate tools.
Choose Calendly if you need comprehensive features, extensive integrations, and want the reliability of the most widely adopted scheduling platform.
Choose Cal.com if you value open-source software, data privacy, and want a cost-effective solution with modern design.
Choose SavvyCal if you prioritize user experience, brand image, and want to create the best possible impression on people booking meetings with you.
Choose Doodle if you frequently coordinate group meetings, work with large teams, or need robust polling functionality.
The Bottom Line
Each of these scheduling tools excels in different scenarios. While Calendly and Cal.com offer the most comprehensive general-purpose solutions, SavvyCal provides the best user experience, Tern.travel serves the travel industry perfectly, and Doodle remains unmatched for group coordination.
Consider your specific use cases, budget, and the experience you want to create for your meeting participants. Most tools offer free trials, so test a few options to see which feels right for your workflow and professional image.
The time you save with the right scheduling tool will quickly pay for itself, freeing you to focus on what matters most: the actual conversations and relationships you build through those meetings.
Bonus Pick: TidyCal - The Budget-Friendly Lifetime Deal
Best for: Small businesses and solopreneurs seeking maximum value
While not making our top 5 due to its more limited feature set, TidyCal deserves special recognition for offering something unique in the scheduling world: a one-time payment of $29 instead of a subscription model.
Key Features:
Lifetime access: Pay once, use forever - no recurring subscription fees
Simple scheduling: The simplest way to manage your calendar and schedule
Auto-generated meeting URLs: Seamless integration with video conferencing tools
Custom branding: Personalize your booking pages
Trusted by 150,000+ people: Growing user base despite being newer to the market
Pricing:
At just $29 USD as a one-time purchase, the price of TidyCal is unbeatable.
The Trade-offs:
TidyCal generally offers fewer features than most other scheduling apps on the market, which explains the lower price tag. If you need advanced team scheduling, extensive integrations, or complex workflows, you'll likely outgrow TidyCal quickly.
