What is TidyCal
TidyCal is a straightforward, affordable scheduling tool created as part of the AppSumo Originals lineup. Designed to simplify appointment booking, TidyCal is ideal for entrepreneurs, freelancers, consultants, and small businesses looking for a user-friendly way to manage their time and streamline client interactions. Unlike more complex scheduling tools, TidyCal emphasizes ease of use, allowing users to set up multiple booking types, customize availability, and manage time zones effortlessly.
With TidyCal, users can integrate their calendars from Google, Microsoft, or Apple, ensuring seamless synchronization. TidyCal also offers features like one-click booking links, customizable booking pages, and the option to set buffer times between meetings, making it easy to control and optimize one’s schedule. As an AppSumo Original, TidyCal is offered as a lifetime deal, providing all essential scheduling functionalities without recurring fees.
How to use Tidycal
Using TidyCal is simple and intuitive. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:
1. Sign Up and Log In
- Visit TidyCal’s website and sign up for an account or log in if you already have one.
2. Set Up Your Calendar Integrations
- Connect your preferred calendar(s) from Google, Microsoft Outlook, or Apple to keep your bookings and existing commitments synchronized.
- This integration helps TidyCal avoid scheduling conflicts by checking your availability across connected calendars.
3. Create Booking Types
- Define different types of meetings or appointments (e.g., 30-minute consultation, 1-hour coaching session, etc.) with specific names and durations.
- Customize each booking type’s availability and set custom rules, like buffer times between meetings, to prevent back-to-back scheduling.
4. Set Availability
- TidyCal allows you to specify your working hours and availability for each booking type.
- You can adjust these times to fit your weekly schedule and even block off specific days or times when you’re unavailable.
5. Customize Your Booking Page
- Personalize your booking page by adding a photo, bio, and any relevant information. This page is what clients or contacts will see when scheduling an appointment with you.
- Customize confirmation messages, booking instructions, and any extra fields you want people to fill out (e.g., questions or preferences).
6. Share Your Booking Link
- TidyCal provides a unique booking link for you to share with clients, team members, or anyone looking to book a time with you.
- You can include this link in emails, social media profiles, websites, or anywhere you want people to access your availability.
7. Manage Bookings
- View and manage your bookings directly within TidyCal, with notifications and reminders available to ensure you stay updated.
- Use the built-in scheduling controls to reschedule or cancel appointments as needed.
8. Sync and Stay Updated
- TidyCal automatically updates your connected calendars with new bookings, keeping everything synchronized and ensuring you avoid double-booking.
9. Adjust Settings as Needed
- TidyCal lets you adjust settings, including your calendar integrations, availability, booking page, and notification preferences, as your schedule or needs change.
By following these steps, TidyCal becomes a centralized tool to manage appointments easily, helping you keep control over your schedule while simplifying the booking process for your clients.
User Experience of TidyCal
TidyCal provides a streamlined, user-friendly scheduling experience ideal for freelancers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. Its simple setup, calendar integrations (Google, Microsoft, Apple), and customizable booking pages make appointment management easy. Users can create various booking types, set availability, add buffer times, and collect payments via Stripe or PayPal.
While it lacks advanced features like SMS reminders or extensive integrations, TidyCal’s affordable lifetime deal and essential functionalities make it a convenient choice for those needing basic, reliable scheduling without ongoing fees.
TidyCal Appsumo Lifetime Deals
Lifetime Deals are special, one-time payment offers that give users permanent access to software or digital tools, eliminating the need for recurring monthly or annual fees. Lifetime deals are popular among entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses because they allow users to access valuable tools for a one-off price, saving money in the long run. These deals often appear on platforms like AppSumo, StackSocial, and DealMirror and usually feature new or emerging software, which can benefit both the buyer and the creator.
Benefits of Lifetime Deals:
- Cost Savings: Avoid recurring fees, paying once for lifetime access.
- Access to New Tools: Try innovative tools before they’re widely adopted.
- Business Investment: Lifetime deals help small businesses acquire tools that support long-term growth without ongoing costs.
- Continuous Updates: Many lifetime deals include future updates, allowing users to benefit from software improvements over time.
Related Article: How AppSumo Empowers Entrepreneurs with Exclusive Software Deals
TidyCal Pricing
TidyCal Pricing is straightforward, designed to provide value with minimal recurring costs:
- Lifetime Deal: TidyCal is available for a one-time purchase of $29 on AppSumo. This lifetime deal includes all essential features without any ongoing monthly or yearly subscription fees.
- Key Features Included in Lifetime Plan:
- Integration with Google, Microsoft, and Apple calendars.
- Unlimited booking types and customization options.
- Custom booking page with personalized settings.
- Buffer time, time-zone control, and availability customization.
- Email notifications and reminders for bookings.
- Payment integrations with Stripe and PayPal for paid bookings.
TidyCal’s lifetime pricing makes it an affordable, cost-effective choice for individuals and small businesses looking to streamline scheduling without paying monthly fees.
Alternatives Tools
- Calendly: Offers robust scheduling features and integrations, great for teams.
- Acuity Scheduling: Known for customization options and payment integration.
- Book Like a Boss: Focused on small businesses and freelancers, with branding options.
- SimplyBook.me: Includes comprehensive booking and client management tools.
- YouCanBook.me: Integrates with Google and Microsoft calendars, with flexible scheduling options.
Pros of TidyCal
- Affordable Lifetime Pricing: For a one-time payment of $29, TidyCal offers a lifetime deal, making it a budget-friendly alternative to monthly subscription scheduling tools.
- Easy Calendar Integration: TidyCal integrates with popular calendar platforms like Google, Microsoft, and Apple, ensuring seamless synchronization and reducing the risk of double bookings.
- User-Friendly Interface: TidyCal is simple and intuitive, allowing users to set up booking types, customize their availability, and manage appointments without needing technical expertise.
- Customizable Booking Types: Users can create multiple booking types (e.g., 15-minute calls, 1-hour meetings) with specific availability settings for each type, providing flexibility in managing various appointment types.
- Payment Integration: TidyCal allows users to accept payments through Stripe and PayPal, making it convenient for consultants, freelancers, and businesses to collect fees directly during the booking process.
- Time Zone Management: It automatically adjusts for time zones, ensuring accurate scheduling across different regions.
- Buffer Times and Customization: TidyCal lets users add buffer times between appointments, set time limits, and personalize booking pages, adding control over schedule flow and branding.
Cons of TidyCal
- Limited Advanced Features: Compared to more established scheduling tools (like Calendly or Acuity), TidyCal may lack advanced features like SMS reminders, complex automation, or team scheduling.
- Fewer Integrations: While TidyCal integrates with popular calendars and payment platforms, it lacks broader integrations with other business tools (such as CRM systems, Zapier, or project management software).
- Basic Customization Options: Although TidyCal allows some customization, users looking for highly tailored or branded booking pages may find its options limited.
- No Mobile App: TidyCal does not offer a dedicated mobile app, which can be inconvenient for users who frequently manage appointments on the go.
- Limited Support for Larger Teams: TidyCal is primarily built for individual users and small businesses; larger teams or enterprises needing collaborative scheduling or advanced team management may find it less suitable.
- Feature Updates: As a relatively new tool, TidyCal may introduce feature updates at a slower pace than larger, more established scheduling platforms.
Overall Summary
TidyCal is a straightforward, budget-friendly scheduling tool from AppSumo, ideal for individuals, freelancers, and small businesses. It simplifies appointment booking with essential features like calendar integrations (Google, Microsoft, Apple), customizable booking types, payment options via Stripe and PayPal, and lifetime access for a one-time payment of $29. TidyCal’s intuitive interface allows users to set availability, add buffer times, and manage time zones, making it easy to streamline scheduling.
While TidyCal covers the basics well, it lacks some advanced features and integrations offered by more comprehensive scheduling tools, such as CRM connections, SMS reminders, or team collaboration. Overall, TidyCal is an affordable, user-friendly option for those looking to manage bookings without ongoing fees, though larger teams or users with advanced needs may find it limited.