Google Calendar Alternative for Hitting Your Meeting Goals

Madeleine Work
August 14, 2023
min to read

Google Calendar Alternative for Hitting Your Meeting Goals

Madeleine Work
August 14, 2023
min to read

Let’s face it - while Google Calendar is a handy tool for scheduling, it isn't perfect. Especially for revenue teams in the tech SaaS space, it has its limitations: 

  • No suggestion of meeting times
  • Crummy interoperability with non-Google calendars
  • Lack of automated reminder emails to reduce no-shows

Scheduling meetings shouldn't feel like a tug of war. This is why meeting schedulers are super important so you can focus on keeping that pipeline nice & full, and continue to work on building solid relationships.

It's about time we found an alternative to Google Calendar that not only addresses these issues but also harnesses the power of AI to enhance the booking experience. 

Top Google Calendar Alternatives for Customer Facing Reps

Chili Piper - Instant Booker

Enter Instant Booker - an awesome Google calendar alternative built for customer-facing reps in B2B. It’s called Instant Booker because your prospects can book in 1 click — no double forms (and more meetings booked). 

From instant routing to automated reminders, it's got the tools customer-facing reps need to help them hit their goals. Here are some other nifty features: 

  • One-click booking through email
  • Ability to customize meetings with templates and tags
  • CRM integration to get rid of the manual updating process (rescheduling, no-shows, etc)

PSA! We’re coming out with a smart Google alternative soon (emphasis on "smart"). Check it out... and hop on our waitlist so you can be the first to try it.

Calendly

Another alternative to Google Calendar is Calendly. Its simplicity and user-friendly interface make it a popular choice among customer-facing reps. 

Key word is "simplicity" — Calendly is great for simple use cases and definitely gets the scheduling job done. From group meetings to one-on-ones, it's got you covered.

And yes, they do offer a free version. But if you’re looking for a robust Salesforce/Hubspot integration, or you book meetings from more than just your webform (e.g. from email campaigns or your G2 page), steer clear. It’s more suited for simple scheduling from your webform or from email. 

YouCanBookMe

YouCanBookMe is another contender in the list of Google Calendar alternatives. For customer-facing reps with prospects globally, it’s worth considering. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Parles-vous français? ¿Hablas español? With 44 built-in languages to choose from, it’s probably a good option to think about. 

With options for custom branding and automated reminders, it's a good choice. They also offer a free version for you to test the waters, but if you’ve got a pretty hefty tech stack, native integrations are limited, so tread lightly.

What Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About Google Calendar?

I don’t have a Gmail account - can I still use Google Calendar?

A common concern, but you can use Google Calendar with any email address

Can Google Calendar sync with other users?

Yes, but you can’t do this from the app - you have to do this from your desktop. Under “Settings,” go to “Sharing,” then click “Add people.”

Does Google Calendar share data?

That’s up to you to decide, and with whom to share it with. At work, your administrator may be able to view your calendar, but it’s ultimately private to you.

How do I link my email to my Google Calendar?

In Google Calendar settings, go to “Events from Gmail,” and check the box next to "Show events automatically created by Gmail in my calendar."

How do I manage someone else’s calendar?

Set up a delegate account, and go to “Set up delegation,” then make sure the person delegating their account grants you permission to change their calendar.

Why Choose Chili Piper Over Google Calendar?

Google Calendar is perfect for individual scheduling use cases. If you’re a freelancer or an individual contributor without too many external meetings, it’s a great way to eliminate back-and-forth email tag. 

But Google Calendar was designed for simple scheduling. Chili Piper is built for customer-facing reps at B2B organizations. We’ve got slick features like: 

  • 1-click booking
  • No-show management 
  • Smart scheduling (coming soon 👀)

If you primarily book external meetings with customers or prospects, Chili Piper is going to be your best bet. 

Making the Switch

Switching over from Google Calendar to Chili Piper is not nearly as heavy of a lift as it seems.

Chili Piper has a direct integration with Google Calendar, so you don’t need to do anything - just log in with your Gmail account, and your calendar is automatically imported.

Chili Piper also comes pre-populated with a default meeting link and default reminder emails, so you can start scheduling immediately after making an account — again, without doing anything.

Moving forward with an option…

Finding the right Google Calendar alternative can make a world of difference for your revenue teams. It's about choosing a tool that improves efficiency and productivity. So, take the plunge and explore Chili Piper. Remember, the right scheduling tool is just a click away.

Let’s face it - while Google Calendar is a handy tool for scheduling, it isn't perfect. Especially for revenue teams in the tech SaaS space, it has its limitations: 

  • No suggestion of meeting times
  • Crummy interoperability with non-Google calendars
  • Lack of automated reminder emails to reduce no-shows

Scheduling meetings shouldn't feel like a tug of war. This is why meeting schedulers are super important so you can focus on keeping that pipeline nice & full, and continue to work on building solid relationships.

It's about time we found an alternative to Google Calendar that not only addresses these issues but also harnesses the power of AI to enhance the booking experience. 

Top Google Calendar Alternatives for Customer Facing Reps

Chili Piper - Instant Booker

Enter Instant Booker - an awesome Google calendar alternative built for customer-facing reps in B2B. It’s called Instant Booker because your prospects can book in 1 click — no double forms (and more meetings booked). 

From instant routing to automated reminders, it's got the tools customer-facing reps need to help them hit their goals. Here are some other nifty features: 

  • One-click booking through email
  • Ability to customize meetings with templates and tags
  • CRM integration to get rid of the manual updating process (rescheduling, no-shows, etc)

PSA! We’re coming out with a smart Google alternative soon (emphasis on "smart"). Check it out... and hop on our waitlist so you can be the first to try it.

Calendly

Another alternative to Google Calendar is Calendly. Its simplicity and user-friendly interface make it a popular choice among customer-facing reps. 

Key word is "simplicity" — Calendly is great for simple use cases and definitely gets the scheduling job done. From group meetings to one-on-ones, it's got you covered.

And yes, they do offer a free version. But if you’re looking for a robust Salesforce/Hubspot integration, or you book meetings from more than just your webform (e.g. from email campaigns or your G2 page), steer clear. It’s more suited for simple scheduling from your webform or from email. 

YouCanBookMe

YouCanBookMe is another contender in the list of Google Calendar alternatives. For customer-facing reps with prospects globally, it’s worth considering. Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Parles-vous français? ¿Hablas español? With 44 built-in languages to choose from, it’s probably a good option to think about. 

With options for custom branding and automated reminders, it's a good choice. They also offer a free version for you to test the waters, but if you’ve got a pretty hefty tech stack, native integrations are limited, so tread lightly.

What Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About Google Calendar?

I don’t have a Gmail account - can I still use Google Calendar?

A common concern, but you can use Google Calendar with any email address

Can Google Calendar sync with other users?

Yes, but you can’t do this from the app - you have to do this from your desktop. Under “Settings,” go to “Sharing,” then click “Add people.”

Does Google Calendar share data?

That’s up to you to decide, and with whom to share it with. At work, your administrator may be able to view your calendar, but it’s ultimately private to you.

How do I link my email to my Google Calendar?

In Google Calendar settings, go to “Events from Gmail,” and check the box next to "Show events automatically created by Gmail in my calendar."

How do I manage someone else’s calendar?

Set up a delegate account, and go to “Set up delegation,” then make sure the person delegating their account grants you permission to change their calendar.

Why Choose Chili Piper Over Google Calendar?

Google Calendar is perfect for individual scheduling use cases. If you’re a freelancer or an individual contributor without too many external meetings, it’s a great way to eliminate back-and-forth email tag. 

But Google Calendar was designed for simple scheduling. Chili Piper is built for customer-facing reps at B2B organizations. We’ve got slick features like: 

  • 1-click booking
  • No-show management 
  • Smart scheduling (coming soon 👀)

If you primarily book external meetings with customers or prospects, Chili Piper is going to be your best bet. 

Making the Switch

Switching over from Google Calendar to Chili Piper is not nearly as heavy of a lift as it seems.

Chili Piper has a direct integration with Google Calendar, so you don’t need to do anything - just log in with your Gmail account, and your calendar is automatically imported.

Chili Piper also comes pre-populated with a default meeting link and default reminder emails, so you can start scheduling immediately after making an account — again, without doing anything.

Moving forward with an option…

Finding the right Google Calendar alternative can make a world of difference for your revenue teams. It's about choosing a tool that improves efficiency and productivity. So, take the plunge and explore Chili Piper. Remember, the right scheduling tool is just a click away.

Madeleine Work

Madeleine Work is Product Marketing Manager at Chili Piper. She loves bringing people together, learning new things, and making hilarious jokes. When she's not typing away at her laptop, you'll probably find her running, hiking, or hanging out with her baby. Follow Madeleine for laughs and product marketing tips on LinkedIn.

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