Windows 11 already ships with a built-in calendar app. But the default calendar app might not always be the best available option for you. Windows 11 has no lack of third-party calendar apps, but which is the right one for you? Here are the 10 best Windows calendar apps for Windows 11 PC.
Google Calendar
Perhaps the only calendar service, more widely used than Microsoft’s, is Google Calendar. It benefits from being the default calendar app on Android, as well as being integrated with Gmail. Google Calendar does not offer a native application for any desktop platform. It can, however, be installed as a web app on almost any desktop platform, including Windows 11.
The list of features includes but is not limited to creating multiple calendars, sharing calendars, world clock, integration with popular virtual meeting software, syncing your CRM software, etc. Google calendar is available as a web app on every desktop platform. It also offers native apps for Android and iOS.
- To install Google Calendar, open it with either Chrome or Edge.
- Click on the menu button.
- Go to More tools > Create shortcut… on Chrome or Apps > Install this site as an app on Edge.
You will notice the Google Calendar shortcut on your desktop, which you can then pin to the Start menu or Taskbar.
Related: Sync Google Calendar in Windows Calendar App using Outlook.com App
Mail and Calendar
This is the default Windows calendar app for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Not all default apps are bad, and Windows 11’s Calendar app is a good example. It brings you the power of your Outlook calendar, natively, to your PC. The design is straightforward and user-friendly, unlike the traditional Outlook calendar app.
It also has a smaller footprint and is more aesthetic to look at. The default Windows calendar app also syncs with your Microsoft account across all Microsoft services. And it does this for free, without any hidden payments. There are a decent amount of personalization options as well as basic calendar features.
The default calendar app for Windows also allows you to sync your Gmail or Google Calendar which makes it all the more useful.
Download: Mail and Calendar
Any.do
Any.do is a calendar app as well as a To-do app in one package. It can als be used to make your grocery list and as a daily planner. The Any.do Windows calendar app has a nice and clean interface that’s convenient to use as well. One of its best features is the color code mechanism available on Google Calendar as well as the default Windows calendar app.
Any.do can sync with any of your online calendar services as well as the local pre-installed calendar app on your device. The app is also available for Android and iOS smartphones, iPad, macOS, Huawei devices, as well as the web. It even has Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant integrations, and extensions for Chrome and Safari.
The apps are available for free, but certain features require a paid subscription.
Download: Any.do
Related: 14 Best Google Calendar Tips and Tricks to Be More Productive
Good Plan
If you’re a school teacher, student, or parent of a student who needs a calendar app, Good Plan is a pretty good choice. It’s a lesson planner or timetable app combined with a calendar and reminder app. Teachers will be able to create their lesson plans while students can plan their daily routine.
Good Plan has been in development since 2012 and has matured with relevant features. The app currently supports 22 languages, but is unfortunately a Windows exclusive. It’s available for free from the Microsoft Store, but also offers in-app purchases to unlock more features.
Download: Good Plan
Daybridge
Daybridge is a new app, and when we say new, it is still in the alpha stage of development. But Daybridge aims to simply your life by cutting down distractions. When you open your typical calendar app, it is full of to-dos, reminders, and events from both your work and personal life. Things not only look cluttered, but can be a hassle to manage and also can lead to some stress.
With Dailybridge, you can hide your work calendar when you don’t need it, or similarly hide your personal calendar. The app also has a clean and intuitive interface and can sync with popular services such as Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar. You can also create groups that you send event invites often. Dailybridge can even suggest the best times to plan events with your contacts who also use the app.
As of now, Dailybridge is in private alpha, but the app will soon be available for everyone.
Download: Daybridge
Related: A Nice Weather Forecast for Your Windows Outlook Calendar.
One Calendar
As the name may suggest, One Calendar aims to be the one and only calendar for you. In this day and age where we end up using multiple online calendar services for different reasons, it can be difficult to manage them separately. One Calendar solves this problem by bringing all your calendars under one app.
It can sync with Google, Yahoo, Outlook, Office 365, iCloud, NextCloud, GMX, Synology, and many more platforms. One Calendar lets you create, share and manage appointments. There are also several personalization options, although some are locked behind a paywall.
Download: One Calendar
Outlook Calendar
Outlook calendar is another Microsoft calendar service, but it isn’t installed by default. The Outlook calendar. In fact, this one is a web app instead. Outlook calendar lives as part of the Outlook email service on the web. It ties in with other online Microsoft services and is meant as the true competitor to Google Calendar.
The interface is rather bland, unlike the default Windows calendar app. It’s simple to use and powerful to work with. Apart from the usual calendar-work such as scheduling events, you can also import calendars for your favorite sports teams, championships, other international events, etc. If you wish to use Outlook Calendar commercially, however, you’ll have to pay for an Outlook license.
If you use Edge or Chrome, or another Chromium based browser, you can easily install it from the browser.
- Visit outlook.live.com/calendar using a Chromium browser such as Edge or Chrome.
- Click on the menu button.
- On Chrome, go to More tools > Create shortcut… and on Edge go to Apps > Install this site as an app.
A shortcut to the web app will be added to your desktop.
Related: How to Repair PST File Outlook Email Database with Outlook Repair Tool
Thunderbird Lightning Calendar
You may not have heard of Thunderbird if you were born after 2010, but at one time Thunderbird was a very popular mail client. When Mozilla introduced us to a browser with extensions, they also gave us Thunderbird. It’s an email client which can expand it’s functionality with extensions. Lightning Calendar is a Thunderbird extension or add-on, in fact.
The add-on too has been developed by Mozilla, known as Mozilla Firefox back in the day. This means that you can trust your calendar to keep your data private. You can subscribe to public calendars as well as do regular calendar tasks. The downside is that Lightning Calendar requires Thunderbird, which is a mail client you probably may not want. If you don’t mind, you can install Lightning Calendar as an add-on.
Download: Thunderbird Lightning Calendar
Calendar
The name may sound generic, but Calendar is far from a generic calendar app. It is a web app, which means you can install it using a Chromium based browser such as Edge or Chrome.
- To install Calendar, visit app.calendar.com with either Chrome or Edge.
- Click on the menu button.
- Go to More tools > Create shortcut… on Chrome or Apps > Install this site as an app on Edge.
This will add the shortcut to your desktop and the site will open in a separate window without the browser UI.
Related: How to Sync iCloud with Windows10 Calendar in Real Time
Morgen
Morgen claims to be the most powerful calendar out there. While we can’t verify that claim, it is safe to say Morgen is definitely one of the most powerful calendar apps for Windows 11. It syncs with almost all online calendar services including, but not limited to, Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar.
It features a clean interface with color coded events and the usual calendar features such as scheduling, various views, calendar sync, etc. It is one of the few professional calendar apps that is also available on Linux. However, there are no smartphone apps or a macOS app. Morgen boasts of an impressive list of clients, and the basic features of the app are free. If you want the more advanced features, though, you’ll have to pay.
Download: Morgen
Calendars have been a significant part of human lives for ages, and they’re only getting more and more important. Our calendars today are also getting better. They’re digitized and automatically remind us about things. No wonder, every device that can run apps has a calendar app by default.
Not all default apps are bad, but not all are good either. Moreover, the default app may be good, but still might not be the right one for you. So, we hope that you’ve found a Windows calendar app that you find useful and enjoy using.
Thank you for a great article! It’s always hard to find a calendar that would suit all my needs, but with this comprehensive list, it will be much easier. Definitely need to try some of the software listed above!