Organizing your day is very important. We mostly use task managers to get things done. Calendar apps are another tool for planning your day and week. When choosing one application over another, it is necessary to consider the devices they use. It’s important to invest in an app that provides the same experience between mobile and desktop OS. This got me looking for the best Calendar apps for iOS and macOS, as I use devices from both operating system families.
The Apple ecosystem is full of such productivity apps. In this post, we will list the five best calendar apps for iOS and macOS. The list will focus on apps available on both Apple platforms. It will include both free and paid apps. We’ll also talk about features, themes, third-party calendar support, price, and more. Lets start.
1. Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft acquired the Sunrise calendar app in 2015 and stopped further development of the app. Over the years, the company has integrated its features into the Outlook Email app, making it one of the best Calendar apps on the market.
The user interface is pretty nice. Swipe left to reveal the hamburger menu and select the calendar options to display in the app. You can also add calendar entries from popular platforms like Facebook, Evernote, Meetup, and Wunderlist.
Outlook lets you add details like location, Skype Call, description and more when adding an event. My favorite function is Interesting calendars. It allows you to import programs from well-known TV series and popular sports such as Cricket, Basketball, Tennis, Football.
Speaking of the Mac app, users must have an Office 365 subscription to use the Outlook app. It provides a monthly view and lets you add events on the go. I love how it integrates Sticky Notes and Tasks from the Microsoft To-Do app.
2. Fantastic
Fantastical has the best user interface of all calendar apps. Fast, fluid and responsive. Fantastical paid special attention to the ‘add event’ screen. Using the raw numbers above, it can be quickly written like ’20:00 Customer Call’ and the app will set an event for 20:00.
Users can long tap on any activity and create a template from it. I always use it to add my most used events in one click. Similar to Outlook, Fantastical supports third-party calendars. It lets you add events from Sports, TV, Finance and more.
Other functions include theme support, ability to change app icons, AccuWeather integration (this should be in every calendar app), 3D touch support, iOS widgets, and more.
The Mac app is equally powerful. Everything including templates is synced through the desktop app. The quick add functionality remains the same on the big screen. It was a fantastic one-time purchase, but the developers recently switched to a $5-per-month subscription model.
3. Apple Calendar
Apple Calendar is a solid option for the majority out there. It’s free and works well with the Apple ecosystem. The app offers a familiar user interface with all the main options within reach.
You can integrate details such as travel time, attachments, URL, notes, and location when adding an event. I would like to see FaceTime audio/video reminders in the add event functionality.
Other than iCloud, it supports major third-party calendars like Gmail and Outlook. The list of functions includes Siri Shortcuts, iOS 13 dark theme, the ability to share calendars, and more.
Mac apps are pretty basic. Besides adding a quick event, Apple Calendar doesn’t offer much for the big screen.
4. Woven Calendar
Woven Calendar brings a new breath to traditional calendars. The default homepage is a mix of recent updates, overall weekly meeting time statistics, travel times, and tags.
These two functions stood out for me. When adding an event, you can create a group poll and ask your members to vote for a convenient time for the meeting. You can share the survey link using the Woven iMessage app, Email or SMS.
The planning section is a nice place to throw away all the tasks, surveys, and events to plan for later. Woven has an integrated map view that shows you where your upcoming event is and how far you need to travel in a day. Power users will appreciate the template functionality that lets you create templates for the most used events.
Woven’s Mac app is one of the best on the market. All the main functions are nicely connected in the hamburger menu. Templates, scheduling, and homepage have been moved to the Mac app. It also supports keyboard shortcuts.
Woven is completely free to use; this is surprising considering the types of functionality it provides on both iOS and macOS.
5. Anyone
Any.do is the best Calendar and Task management app available. By default, it imports tasks from the Apple Reminders app.
When adding an event, you can add basic details like Notes, URL, location and more. Any.do gives it an edge with its third-party app integration. It supports over 1500 services, including some big names like Evernote, Trello, Slack, OneNote, and more.
The company has added a neat WhatsApp integration that reminds you of a task while using the chat app.
The Mac app mimics the functions of the mobile version and also supports customizable wallpapers. However, there are no keyboard shortcuts. Any.do is free for basic tasks, but third-party app integration and advanced theme engine are $7 per month.
Plan Your Day in Advance
As you can see from the list above, each app offers several advantages over the other. Outlook is perfect for those living in the Microsoft ecosystem. Fantastical is versatile, Apple Calendar is free, Woven is preferred for power users, while Any.do is a sweet mix of task management and calendar.
Next: Are you using a Windows 10 PC and looking for the best apps to do it? Read the post below to find the seven best apps for it.
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