Software · head to head
BusyCal vs Rise Calendar
The short version
- Only BusyCal has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: BusyCal mac and iOS only, no Windows or Android support; Rise Calendar product discontinued as of March 31, 2025
- They diverge on capability: BusyCal covers Customizable views, Rise Calendar covers Native Mac app.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BusyCal and Rise Calendar actually diverge.
| Attribute | BusyCal | Rise Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $16/year |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | macOS, iOS, iPad | iOS, Android, macOS, Windows |
| Founded | 2007 | 2021 |
Identical on both: 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 BusyCal
- Customizable views
- Weather integration
- To-dos
- Travel time
- CalDAV
- Ios support
Only in Rise Calendar
- Native Mac app
- Menu bar widget
- Quick event creation
- Minimal design
- Outlook
Both cover
- Natural language
- iCloud
- Google Calendar
- Exchange
- Macos support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
BusyCal
- 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.
BusyCal
- Mac and iOS only, no Windows or Android support
- Cannot sync iCloud calendars with Google Calendar directly, requiring workaround of hosting calendars on separate services
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
BusyCal
Free- Free EditionFree
- Basic calendaring needs
- Premium Subscription$39.99/year
- Advanced features
- 14-day trial available
- Perpetual License$49.99/once
- One-time purchase
- Lifetime use
Rise Calendar
$16/year- Annual$16/year
- Full calendar
- Menu bar access
- Natural language
Which should you pick?
Choose BusyCal if
- You need customizable views.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on macOS, iOS, iPad.
- You also want weather integration.
Choose Rise Calendar if
- You need native mac app.
- You work on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want menu bar widget.
Questions people ask
- Is BusyCal or Rise Calendar better?
- Neither clearly leads. BusyCal 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, BusyCal or Rise Calendar?
- BusyCal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for BusyCal and $16/year for Rise Calendar.
- Does BusyCal or Rise Calendar run on more platforms?
- BusyCal runs on macOS, iOS, iPad. Rise Calendar runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use BusyCal for free?
- Yes. BusyCal has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rise Calendar starts at $16/year.
- What is BusyCal best used for?
- BusyCal is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management.
- What can BusyCal do that Rise Calendar cannot?
- BusyCal covers Customizable views, Weather integration, To-dos, Travel time. Rise Calendar covers Native Mac app, Menu bar widget, Quick event creation, Minimal design. Both handle Natural language, iCloud, Google Calendar, Exchange.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
BusyCal: How much does BusyCal cost?
BusyCal offers a one-time perpetual license for $49.99 USD, a premium subscription at $39.99/year or $4.99/month, and a free edition for basic calendaring needs with 14-day trial for premium features.
SourceRise 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.
SourceBusyCal: What calendar services does BusyCal sync with?
BusyCal syncs with iCloud, Google Calendar, Exchange, and CalDAV servers. However, you cannot directly sync iCloud calendars with Google Calendar through BusyCal; you must host some calendars on iCloud and some on Google.
SourceRise 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.
SourceBusyCal: What platforms does BusyCal support?
BusyCal is available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
SourceBusyCal: What are BusyCal's key features?
BusyCal includes day/week/month/year/list views, availability panel for finding open time slots, timezone side panel, travel time trackers, and integrated to-do lists.
Source