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Apple Calendar vs Sunsama

Apple Calendar logo

Apple Calendar

Software

The calendar app built into every Apple device

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sunsama logo

Sunsama

Software

The daily planner for busy professionals

From
$17/month
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; Sunsama pricing is higher than some competitor daily planners at $17+ per month
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Calendar covers Event management, Sunsama covers Daily planning ritual.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Calendar and Sunsama differ
AttributeApple CalendarSunsama
Starting priceFree$17/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, macOSWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19762016

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Microsoft Exchange
  • Yahoo Calendar

Only in Sunsama

  • Daily planning ritual
  • Task timeboxing
  • Workload management
  • Shutdown routine
  • Focus mode
  • Outlook
  • Todoist
  • Asana

Both cover

  • 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

Sunsama

  • 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

Sunsama

  • Pricing is higher than some competitor daily planners at $17+ per month
  • Requires consistent daily engagement with the planning ritual to be effective
  • Limited customization of the daily planning framework compared to more flexible task managers

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Calendar

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Apple Calendar review.

Sunsama

$17/month
  • Pro Plan (Annual)$17/month
    • Unlimited usage
    • Unlimited integrations
    • AI + MCP + Zapier support
  • Pro Plan (Monthly)$22/month
    • Unlimited usage
    • Unlimited integrations
    • AI + MCP + Zapier support

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 Sunsama if

  • You need daily planning ritual.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want task timeboxing.
Sunsama review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Calendar or Sunsama better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Calendar starts at Free and Sunsama at $17/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Calendar or Sunsama?
Apple Calendar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Calendar and $17/month for Sunsama.
Does Apple Calendar or Sunsama run on more platforms?
Apple Calendar runs on iOS, macOS. Sunsama runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Apple Calendar for free?
Yes. Apple Calendar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sunsama starts at $17/month.
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 Sunsama cannot?
Apple Calendar covers Event management, Multiple calendar support, Travel time estimates, Natural language input. Sunsama covers Daily planning ritual, Task timeboxing, Workload management, Shutdown routine. Both handle 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
Sunsama: What is the pricing for Sunsama and is there a free trial?

Sunsama costs $17 per month when billed yearly or $22 per month when billed monthly. A 14-day free trial is available without requiring a credit card.

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
Sunsama: What task management tools does Sunsama integrate with?

Sunsama integrates with Asana, Todoist, Trello, Jira, Linear, Monday.com, Notion, ClickUp, GitHub, and Google Tasks, allowing you to pull tasks from these services into your daily plan.

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
Sunsama: Can Sunsama sync with my calendar?

Yes, Sunsama is bidirectionally synced with Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, and iCloud Calendar, creating a unified view of your schedule and daily commitments.

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
Sunsama: Does Sunsama have a mobile app?

Yes, Sunsama is available as a mobile app on both iOS and Android through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for managing your daily plan on the go.

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

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