The free Doodle poll alternative, with no ads

How a zcal poll works

1. Pick the times. Choose the days and times you can meet, and set a voting deadline if you want one.
2. Share the link. Send the poll link by email, chat or text. Voters open it and mark the times that work, and they can drag across many times at once. No account and no app.
3. Pick the final time. See every vote in one table, then choose the time that suits the most people. zcal adds the meeting to your calendar and sends the calendar invite to everyone who voted.

zcal vs Doodle

Is Doodle free? Doodle's free plan limits

Yes, Doodle has a free plan, and it's fine for the odd quick poll. But the limits show up fast:

• 1 group poll. You can run only 1 group poll at a time, and each poll has a limited number of time slots.
• 1 booking page and 1 one-to-one link. Anything more needs a paid plan.
• Ads for everyone. You and your voters see ads on the poll.
• No deadlines or reminders. You can't set a voting deadline or send automatic reminders to people who haven't voted.
• No invite from Doodle. When you pick the time, you send the meeting invite yourself.
• No Zapier and no logo. Both need a paid plan.

To lift them, you need Doodle Pro at $11 per user per month. Doodle Team is $16 per user per month, with a 2-seat minimum, and adds an admin console and co-hosts.

Why people switch from Doodle to zcal

• No ads. A zcal poll shows your meeting, not ads. That matters when you send a poll to clients, a board or a hiring panel.
• More than one poll at a time. Run a poll for the team meeting, the board meeting and the offsite at the same time, all on the free plan.
• The invite goes out for you. When you pick the final time, zcal sends the calendar invite to every voter. On Doodle Free, you copy the time and send the invite yourself.
• A page that reflects your brand. Add a cover photo, a welcome video and a short intro, so voters know who is asking before they vote.
• Polls and booking links in one app. Use the same account for 1-on-1 booking links, group events and polls.

What your voters see

In zcal, voters land on a clean page with your cover photo and the meeting details, then pick their times. As the votes come in, you see everyone in one table, with a check mark under each time that works, so the best time is easy to spot.

In Doodle, voters first see a "Start voting" box. On the free plan, it sits between 2 ad spaces, under a "Powered by Doodle" bar that invites your voters to make polls of their own. Voters then click once for "Yes" and twice for "If need be", type their name and email, and submit.

More than polls

A zcal account covers the rest of your scheduling too:

• Booking links. Make a link for each kind of meeting, and share your open times. Guests pick a time, and zcal adds the meeting to your calendar.
• Group events. Let several people book the same time slot, for example for a class or office hours.
• Video links. zcal adds a Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams link to each booking.
• Calendar sync. Connect as many Google, Outlook and Apple calendars as you need, so zcal never offers a time when you are busy.

See how meeting polls work in zcal, or compare zcal with other Calendly alternatives.

Doodle pros and cons

Pros

• Many people already know how to vote in a Doodle poll.
• Voters can answer "If need be" as well as "Yes".
• Sign-up sheets on the free plan.

Cons

• The free plan shows ads to you and to everyone who votes.
• Only 1 group poll at a time on the free plan, with a limited number of time slots.
• No deadlines, reminders or invites on the free plan.
• Removing the ads costs $11 per user per month.

When to choose Doodle over zcal Doodle still works if you run the odd poll and nobody minds the ads. But if you send polls to clients or your team, or need more than one at a time, zcal gives you more without paying a cent.

If you want Doodle's own steps, read our guide on how to create a Doodle poll.