Best Google Calendar Alternatives in 2026
Google Calendar is convenient, but it ties your schedule to a Google account and the data Google collects across its services. People look for alternatives to de-Google their life, keep event data private or end-to-end encrypted, or simply own their calendar outside one company’s ecosystem.
This list leads with privacy-respecting, non-Google calendars — encrypted options, independent providers, and open-source clients. At the end, one honest note: whichever calendar you land on, an AI assistant can manage the scheduling on top of it, so switching providers doesn’t mean giving up help with your day.
1. Proton Calendar
The calendar from Proton (the encrypted-email company), with end-to-end encrypted events tied to your Proton account. The strongest pick if encryption is your priority.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Proton Calendar encrypts event details so even Proton can’t read them; Google Calendar stores events in plaintext tied to your Google profile. Proton for encrypted privacy; Google for ecosystem convenience.
Best for: Privacy-first users who want end-to-end encrypted events.
Pricing: Free tier; paid with Proton plans from ~$5/month
2. Tuta Calendar
From Tuta (formerly Tutanota), another encrypted-email provider — a fully end-to-end encrypted calendar that works without a phone number and stays in the EU’s privacy jurisdiction.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Tuta encrypts events and reminders end-to-end and runs under strict EU data law; Google ties your calendar to its ad-supported account. Tuta for encrypted, EU-based privacy; Google for integrations.
Best for: Users who want encrypted calendars under EU privacy protections.
Pricing: Free tier; paid from ~$3/month
3. Fastmail Calendar
Part of Fastmail’s independent, paid email service — a fast, standards-based (CalDAV) calendar with no ads and no profiling, built for people who pay to be the customer, not the product.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Fastmail is ad-free, privacy-respecting, and built on open CalDAV standards; Google monetizes the surrounding account. Fastmail for a clean independent provider; Google for free and feature-rich.
Best for: People who want a paid, ad-free, standards-based calendar and email.
Pricing: Paid from ~$3/month (with Fastmail)
4. Apple Calendar (iCloud)
Apple’s built-in calendar synced through iCloud, with Apple’s privacy stance and tight integration across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Already there if you live in the Apple ecosystem.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Apple Calendar keeps data in iCloud under Apple’s privacy model rather than Google’s ad ecosystem; it’s Apple-centric where Google is cross-platform. Apple for privacy within its devices; Google for any platform.
Best for: Apple users who want a private default calendar across their devices.
Pricing: Free (with iCloud; paid storage tiers)
5. Murmel
A privacy-focused calendar built on open standards (CalDAV), designed as a clean, independent client you can point at the provider of your choice rather than locking you into one ecosystem.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Murmel is a standards-based, privacy-minded calendar that works across providers; Google Calendar is its own walled service. Murmel for an independent, portable calendar; Google for built-in scale.
Best for: People who want a clean CalDAV calendar not tied to Big Tech.
Pricing: Free tier; paid options available
6. Outlook Calendar
Microsoft’s calendar, woven into Outlook and Microsoft 365 — not a privacy purist’s pick, but the obvious non-Google choice if you simply want out of Google’s ecosystem.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Outlook moves you off Google and into Microsoft’s stack, with strong email and meeting integration; it’s still a large-platform account, not an encrypted one. Outlook for leaving Google without leaving convenience; Google for its own tooling. See best calendar apps.
Best for: People who want off Google and into Microsoft 365.
Pricing: Free tier; paid with Microsoft 365 from ~$7/month
7. Mozilla Thunderbird
The open-source email client includes a built-in calendar (via the Lightning integration) that connects to CalDAV and other accounts — fully open, local, and free.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Thunderbird is open-source, runs locally on your machine, and connects to any CalDAV provider; Google Calendar is cloud-only and proprietary. Thunderbird for open-source local control; Google for cloud convenience.
Best for: People who want a free, open-source, local calendar client.
Pricing: Free
8. Carly — not a calendar, but the assistant that runs whichever one you pick
Carly isn’t a calendar app and won’t replace any of the options above. It’s an AI assistant you email or text that manages scheduling on top of your calendar — so de-Googling doesn’t mean losing the help you’re used to.
What makes it different from Google Calendar: Google Calendar (or any calendar above) is where your events live; Carly is who handles them. You email or text — “find 30 minutes with Dana this week and book it” — and Carly schedules, reschedules, and protects time for you across the calendar you’ve chosen. She can also automate multi-step scheduling workflows on top of it, since Carly works across 200+ integrations.
Best for: People who keep their preferred calendar but want scheduling done for them.
Pricing: starts at $35/month
Google Calendar Alternatives Compared
| Tool | Best for | Encrypted | Free tier | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Calendar | End-to-end encrypted events | Yes | Yes | ~$5/mo |
| Tuta Calendar | EU-based encrypted calendar | Yes | Yes | ~$3/mo |
| Fastmail Calendar | Ad-free independent provider | No | No | ~$3/mo |
| Apple Calendar | Apple ecosystem users | Partial | Yes | Free |
| Murmel | Portable CalDAV calendar | Partial | Yes | Free |
| Outlook Calendar | Leaving Google for Microsoft | No | Yes | ~$7/mo |
| Thunderbird | Open-source local client | No | Yes | Free |
| Carly | Scheduling done on top of any calendar | — | — | $35/mo |
FAQ
What is the best Google Calendar alternative for privacy? For end-to-end encryption, Proton Calendar or Tuta Calendar; for an ad-free independent provider, Fastmail; for open-source local control, Mozilla Thunderbird. Apple Calendar is a solid private default if you’re already on Apple devices.
Is there a free non-Google calendar? Yes. Apple Calendar (iCloud), Mozilla Thunderbird, and Murmel are free, and Proton, Tuta, and Outlook all offer free tiers. Fastmail is paid but inexpensive.
Can I move off Google Calendar without losing scheduling help? Yes. Pick any private calendar above, then let an assistant like Carly handle the scheduling on top of it — booking, rescheduling, and protecting time over email or text — so de-Googling doesn’t cost you convenience.
Which non-Google calendar works across providers? CalDAV-based options like Murmel and Mozilla Thunderbird connect to many providers, so you’re not locked into one company’s ecosystem the way Google Calendar locks you into Google.
More: Best calendar apps · Notion Calendar alternatives · Best AI scheduling assistants · Best AI personal assistants · All integrations
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