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Calendars · head to head

Apple Calendar vs Notion Calendar

Apple Calendar logo

Apple Calendar

Calendars

The calendar app built into every Apple device

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
N

Notion Calendar

Calendars

Free standalone calendar app from Notion, formerly Cron, usable without a paid Notion subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Calendar offline sync via USB has reported issues with duplicated events when syncing between macOS and iOS; Notion Calendar calendar source support is narrower than Morgen, focusing primarily on Google Calendar rather than a wide range of providers.
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Calendar covers Event management, Notion Calendar covers Multi-calendar view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Calendar and Notion Calendar actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Calendar and Notion Calendar differ
AttributeApple CalendarNotion Calendar
Pricing modelUnknownFree product, no licence fee
PlatformsiOS, macOSMac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android
Founded1976Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Calendars).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Calendar

  • Event management
  • Multiple calendar support
  • Travel time estimates
  • Natural language input
  • Siri integration
  • iCloud
  • Google Calendar
  • Microsoft Exchange

Only in Notion Calendar

  • Multi-calendar view
  • Keyboard-driven scheduling
  • Menu bar countdown
  • One click video links
  • Notion page linking
  • Availability sharing

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Calendar

  • Schedulingnot Notion Calendar
  • Appointment bookingnot Notion Calendar
  • Time trackingnot Notion Calendar
  • Resource managementnot Notion Calendar
  • Team coordinationnot Notion Calendar

Notion Calendar

  • A Google Calendar user who wants a faster, keyboard-driven interface without paying anythingnot Apple Calendar
  • A Notion workspace user who wants calendar events linked directly to project pages and tasksnot Apple Calendar
  • Someone who wants a menu bar countdown to their next meeting without opening a browser tabnot Apple Calendar
  • A user comparing calendar apps who does not want an ongoing subscription like Morgen now requiresnot Apple Calendar

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Calendar

  • Offline sync via USB has reported issues with duplicated events when syncing between macOS and iOS
  • No granular calendar exclusion option; iCloud syncs all calendars together with no selective sync
  • Limited offline functionality for non-iCloud calendars

Notion Calendar

  • Calendar source support is narrower than Morgen, focusing primarily on Google Calendar rather than a wide range of providers.
  • Its most distinctive feature, linking events to Notion pages, only benefits users already working inside a Notion workspace.
  • It lacks the task-list-to-calendar time blocking automation that Morgen offers as a paid feature.
  • As part of Notion product suite, its roadmap priorities are set by Notion broader business rather than the calendar being the company sole focus.
  • Some advanced scheduling features found in dedicated paid calendar tools, such as AI-assisted rescheduling, are not present in the free Notion Calendar.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Calendar

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Apple Calendar review.

Notion Calendar

Free
  • Notion CalendarFree
    • Free standalone use, no subscription required
    • Google Calendar sync
    • Notion page linking included, even on Notion free plan

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Calendar if

  • You need event management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS.
  • You also want multiple calendar support.
Apple Calendar review

Choose Notion Calendar if

  • You need multi-calendar view.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want keyboard-driven scheduling.
Notion Calendar review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Calendar or Notion Calendar better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Calendar starts at Free and Notion Calendar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Calendar or Notion Calendar?
Apple Calendar starts at Free and Notion Calendar at Free.
Does Apple Calendar or Notion Calendar run on more platforms?
Apple Calendar runs on iOS, macOS. Notion Calendar runs on Mac, Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Apple Calendar for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apple Calendar best used for?
Apple Calendar is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what Notion Calendar is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Calendar do that Notion Calendar cannot?
Apple Calendar covers Event management, Multiple calendar support, Travel time estimates, Natural language input. Notion Calendar covers Multi-calendar view, Keyboard-driven scheduling, Menu bar countdown, One click video links.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Calendar: Does Apple Calendar cost anything?

No. Apple Calendar is completely free and comes pre-installed on all Apple devices with no subscriptions or paid tiers.

Source
Notion Calendar: Do I need to pay for Notion to use Notion Calendar?

No. It is free to use on its own, and calendar features are included even on Notion free workspace plan.

Apple Calendar: Does Apple Calendar work offline?

Apple Calendar can display cached events offline but cannot create or edit events without an internet connection. Sync requires iCloud or another calendar service.

Source
Notion Calendar: What calendars does it connect to?

Primarily Google Calendar accounts, with Notion workspace page linking as an additional feature for Notion users.

Apple Calendar: What calendar services can I sync with Apple Calendar?

Apple Calendar can sync with Google Calendar, Outlook, Microsoft Exchange, iCloud, and Notion calendars, consolidating all events in one place.

Source
Notion Calendar: Was this app previously called something else?

Yes, it was originally Cron before Notion acquired it and rebuilt it as Notion Calendar.

Apple Calendar: Does Apple Calendar include artificial intelligence features?

Yes. iOS 26 introduced Apple Intelligence features in Calendar including intelligent event suggestions by analyzing email and messages, and conflict detection with alternative time suggestions.

Source
Apple Calendar: How does Apple Calendar integrate with other Apple services?

Apple Calendar integrates with Apple Maps for travel time alerts, Reminders for task management, Siri for voice control, and Contacts for attendee information.

Source
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