Compare Routine and tidycal on pricing, features, platforms, and ratings — both Calendar tools, Freemium subscription with individual and team tiers billed…
At a Glance
Routine
tidycal
Primary category
Calendar
Calendar
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Freemium subscription with individual and team tiers billed monthly
Freemium
Starting price
Free (Personal plan from $5/month, Professional from $10/month)
$0
Free plan
Yes
Yes
Free trial
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
Web
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Yes
Not documented
Public API
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Routine
Free — $0 forever
Personal — $5 per month
Professional — $10 per month
Business — $15 per seat per month
Enterprise — Custom contact for quote
tidycal
No individual plan breakdown documented yet.
Pros & Cons
Routine
Pros
Combines calendar, tasks, and notes in one app instead of three separate tools
Generous free tier includes AI assistant features and multiple integrations
Y Combinator-backed startup with active development and funding
Cross-platform coverage across macOS, Windows, web, and iOS
Android app support has lagged behind other platforms
AI features are metered by monthly credits that can run out on lower tiers
Smaller company size than legacy competitors like Notion or Todoist, which may affect long-term support and roadmap pace
Business and Enterprise pricing requires per-seat or custom budgeting for teams
tidycal
Pros
Genuinely free-forever plan with unlimited bookings and booking types, not just a trial.
Sells one-time "lifetime" plans ($29 Individual, $79 Agency) as an alternative to a recurring subscription.
Auto-generates Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams links for booked meetings from the Individual Lifetime tier up.
Recognized as a #1 Product of the Day on Product Hunt, per a badge shown on the homepage.
Cons
Removing TidyCal branding and using a custom domain requires the separate Pro subscription ($12/mo, or $99/yr billed annually) on top of a lifetime purchase.
SMS reminders are limited to the US & Canada, per the Agency Lifetime plan description.
The AI booking assistant and group bookings aren't available on the free plan — they start at the paid Individual Lifetime tier.
Use Cases
Routine
Daily planning for knowledge workers — Individuals use Routine's Agenda and Tasks views to plan their day across meetings, unplanned to-dos, and recurring responsibilities in one place.
Consolidating productivity tools — Users replace separate calendar, task manager, and notes apps with Routine's unified workspace to reduce app-switching and subscription sprawl.
Team scheduling and workflow coordination — Small teams use Routine's Business plan for shared workspaces, access control, and consolidated billing to coordinate tasks and meetings together.