A free When2meet alternative with calendar sync
Find the best time for your group, then book it in the same place. No ads, no clunky grid, no invites to send.
Create a free poll
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When2meet's grid is only half the job: you still copy the time into your calendar, write the invite and chase anyone who missed it. zcal does the whole job, for free. Voters mark their times without an account, you see every name next to every vote, and the meeting lands on everyone's calendar. No ads, either.
Table of contents
How a zcal poll works
- Pick the times. Choose the days and times you can meet, and set a voting deadline if you want one.
- 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.
- 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 invite, with a video link if you want one.
When2meet vs zcal
| Feature | When2meet | zcal Free |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, with donations | Free |
| Ads | A third-party ad on each event page | No |
| Account to respond | No, a name and an optional password | No, a name and an email |
| How people mark times | Drag across a grid | Pick times, or drag across many at once |
| See who is free | A color grid; hover over a time to see names | A table with every voter's name and times |
| Connect your calendar | No option on the event page | Yes, Google, Outlook and Apple |
| Pick the final time | You decide, then tell everyone yourself | Pick it in zcal, and the invite goes out |
| Calendar invite for everyone | No | Yes |
| Zoom, Google Meet and Teams links | No | Yes |
| Voting deadline | No | Yes |
| Booking links for 1-on-1 meetings | No | Unlimited |
| Cover photo and welcome video | No | Yes |
What is When2meet?
When2meet is a free, no-frills page for finding a time that works for a group. You pick the dates and a time range, and it builds a grid. Everyone types a name and drags across the times they're free, and the grid turns a darker green wherever more people overlap.
It's quick and needs no account, which is why so many groups use it. But that's where it stops. When2meet doesn't check your calendar, doesn't book the meeting and doesn't send anyone an invite. Each event page also carries a third-party ad below the grid.
Why people switch from When2meet to zcal
- Your calendar is part of the poll. zcal connects to your Google, Outlook and Apple calendars, and the final meeting goes straight onto them. Voters who use zcal also see their own busy times on the poll.
- The meeting gets booked. When you pick the final time, zcal adds the meeting to your calendar and sends the invite to everyone who voted. With When2meet, you still write the invite yourself.
- Names next to votes. zcal shows each voter and their times in one table. When2meet shows a color grid, and you hover over each time to see who is free.
- No ads. A zcal poll shows your meeting, not a third-party ad.
- More than polls. The same zcal account gives you booking links, group events and video links.
What your voters see
In zcal, voters land on a page with your cover photo and the meeting details, pick their times, add their name and email, and they're done. You see everyone's answers in one table, names and all.
In When2meet, voters start at a "Sign In" box for their name and an optional password, then paint their free times on a grid. The group's grid sits next to theirs, with an ad space below both.
More than polls
- Booking links. Make a link for each kind of meeting, and let people book your open times.
- Group events. Let several people book the same time slot, for example for office hours or a class.
- Video links. zcal adds a Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams link to each meeting.
- A page that reflects your brand. Add a cover photo, a welcome video and a short intro to your polls and booking pages.
See how meeting polls work in zcal, or compare zcal with Doodle.
When2meet pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with no account for anyone.
- Very quick to set up for a one-off group.
- The color grid shows at a glance when the most people are free.
Cons
- No calendar connection, so you enter your busy times by hand.
- No final-time step: you send the invite yourself.
- A third-party ad on each event page.
- No booking links, video links or reminders.
When to choose When2meet over zcal When2meet is still handy for a one-off group plan, like a student project, where nobody needs a calendar invite. But for meetings that belong on people's calendars, zcal does the whole job, for free.
Frequently asked questions
Is When2meet free?
Yes. When2meet is a free service that asks for donations. Each event page shows a third-party ad below the grid.
Do I need an account for When2meet?
No. People type a name, and they can add a password that works only for that event. There is no account to sign in to, so your events aren't saved in one place.
How is zcal different from When2meet?
When2meet is a grid where people mark when they are free. zcal adds what comes after: it connects to your calendar, shows every vote with names, sends the calendar invite when you pick the time, and adds a Zoom, Google Meet or Teams link.
Do voters need an account to vote in a zcal poll?
No. Voters open your link, pick the times that work, and type their name and email. They don't sign up or download anything.
What happens after everyone votes?
You see every vote in one table and pick the final time. zcal adds the meeting to your calendar, sends the calendar invite to everyone who voted, and closes the poll.
Can I see when everyone is free at once?
Yes. The zcal results table shows each voter as a row, with a check mark under each time that works for them, so the best time stands out.
Is zcal free?
Yes. zcal's free plan has no time limit and no ads. It includes unlimited meeting polls, unlimited booking links and as many calendars as you want to connect.
How do I use When2meet?
Pick the dates and the time range, create the event, and share its link. Each person types a name and drags across the times they are free. Read our step-by-step guide on how to use When2meet.
