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Calendar & Time Management · head to head

Apple Calendar vs Rise Calendar

Apple Calendar logo

Apple Calendar

Calendar & Time Management

The calendar app built into every Apple device

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rise Calendar logo

Rise Calendar

Calendar & Time Management

The modern calendar for Mac

From
$16/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Calendar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Calendar offline sync via USB has reported issues with duplicated events when syncing between macOS and iOS; Rise Calendar product discontinued as of March 31, 2025
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Calendar covers Event management, Rise Calendar covers Native Mac app.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Calendar and Rise Calendar differ
AttributeApple CalendarRise Calendar
Starting priceFree$16/year
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, macOSiOS, Android, macOS, Windows
Founded19762021

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Calendar & Time Management).

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
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Yahoo Calendar
  • Ios support

Only in Rise Calendar

  • Native Mac app
  • Natural language
  • Menu bar widget
  • Quick event creation
  • Minimal design
  • Outlook
  • Exchange

Both cover

  • iCloud
  • Google Calendar
  • Macos support

What people use each for

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

Apple Calendar

  • Scheduling
  • Appointment booking
  • Time tracking
  • Resource management
  • Team coordination

Rise Calendar

  • Scheduling
  • Appointment booking
  • Time tracking
  • Resource management
  • Team coordination

Both are used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management, team coordination, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Rise Calendar

  • Product discontinued as of March 31, 2025
  • Failed to achieve sufficient commercial traction despite 900 teams and 30% month-over-month growth

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Calendar

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Apple Calendar review.

Rise Calendar

$16/year
  • Annual$16/year
    • Full calendar
    • Menu bar access
    • Natural language

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 Rise Calendar if

  • You need native mac app.
  • You work on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want natural language.
Rise Calendar review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Calendar or Rise Calendar better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Calendar starts at Free and Rise Calendar at $16/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Calendar or Rise Calendar?
Apple Calendar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Calendar and $16/year for Rise Calendar.
Does Apple Calendar or Rise Calendar run on more platforms?
Apple Calendar runs on iOS, macOS. Rise Calendar runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Apple Calendar for free?
Yes. Apple Calendar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rise Calendar starts at $16/year.
What is Apple Calendar best used for?
Apple Calendar is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management.
What can Apple Calendar do that Rise Calendar cannot?
Apple Calendar covers Event management, Multiple calendar support, Travel time estimates, Natural language input. Rise Calendar covers Native Mac app, Natural language, Menu bar widget, Quick event creation. Both handle iCloud, Google Calendar, Macos support.

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
Rise Calendar: Is Rise Calendar still available?

No, Rise Calendar was discontinued on March 31, 2025. The service shut down after failing to achieve commercial traction in a competitive market. All user data was permanently deleted.

Source
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
Rise Calendar: What were Rise Calendar's main features?

Rise offered calendar management with synchronization to Google Calendar, Outlook, and iCloud; integrated task and project management; scheduling optimization with FocusGuard; and cross-platform apps for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.

Source
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
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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Related pages

More on Apple Calendar

More on Rise Calendar

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