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Calendar & Time Management · head to head

Cron Calendar vs OmniFocus

Cron Calendar logo

Cron Calendar

Calendar & Time Management

The next-generation calendar for professionals

From
Free
Rated
-
OmniFocus logo

OmniFocus

Calendar & Time Management

Professional-grade task management for power users

From
$99.99/year
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Cron Calendar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cron Calendar no longer sold as Cron. Notion acquired it and renamed it Notion Calendar, and cron.com now carries that banner; OmniFocus exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support
  • They diverge on capability: Cron Calendar covers Keyboard shortcuts, OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cron Calendar and OmniFocus actually diverge.

Attributes where Cron Calendar and OmniFocus differ
AttributeCron CalendarOmniFocus
Starting priceFree$99.99/year
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacos, Windows, Ios, Android, WebmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web
Founded20161989

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 Cron Calendar

  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Multi-timezone
  • Scheduling links
  • Team availability
  • Menu bar access
  • Google Calendar
  • Notion
  • Zoom

Only in OmniFocus

  • Custom perspectives
  • Review mode
  • Forecast view
  • Tags
  • Automation
  • Apple Calendar
  • Siri
  • Shortcuts

Both cover

  • Macos support
  • Ios support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Cron Calendar

  • Keyboard-driven calendar for people living in their schedulenot OmniFocus
  • Managing several Google calendars in one viewnot OmniFocus
  • Scheduling links for meeting availabilitynot OmniFocus
  • Joining video calls from the menu barnot OmniFocus

OmniFocus

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

Where each one falls short

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

Cron Calendar

  • No longer sold as Cron. Notion acquired it and renamed it Notion Calendar, and cron.com now carries that banner
  • Tied to the Notion account system rather than standing alone

OmniFocus

  • Exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support
  • No collaboration features make it unsuitable for team task management or delegation
  • Setting up repeating tasks is cumbersome with multiple configuration options
  • Lacks AI-powered features for advanced project management, load balancing, or contextual awareness

Pricing, plan by plan

Cron Calendar

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Calendar sync
    • Scheduling links
    • Keyboard shortcuts

OmniFocus

$99.99/year
  • Subscription$99.99/year
    • All Pro features
    • Web access
    • Cloud sync
  • Standard (Perpetual)$74.99/one-time
    • Basic task management
    • Projects and contexts
    • Perspectives
  • Pro (Perpetual)$149.99/one-time
    • Custom perspectives
    • Advanced automation
    • Plugins support

Which should you pick?

Choose Cron Calendar if

  • You need keyboard shortcuts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Macos, Windows, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want multi-timezone.

Choose OmniFocus if

  • You need custom perspectives.
  • You work on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
  • You also want review mode.

Questions people ask

Is Cron Calendar or OmniFocus better?
Neither clearly leads. Cron Calendar starts at Free and OmniFocus at $99.99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cron Calendar or OmniFocus?
Cron Calendar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cron Calendar and $99.99/year for OmniFocus.
Does Cron Calendar or OmniFocus run on more platforms?
Cron Calendar runs on Macos, Windows, Ios, Android, Web. OmniFocus runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web.
Can I use Cron Calendar for free?
Yes. Cron Calendar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year.
What is Cron Calendar best used for?
Cron Calendar is most often used for keyboard-driven calendar for people living in their schedule, managing several google calendars in one view, scheduling links for meeting availability, joining video calls from the menu bar. Of those, keyboard-driven calendar for people living in their schedule and managing several google calendars in one view are not what OmniFocus is typically brought in for.
What can Cron Calendar do that OmniFocus cannot?
Cron Calendar covers Keyboard shortcuts, Multi-timezone, Scheduling links, Team availability. OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives, Review mode, Forecast view, Tags. Both handle Macos support, Ios support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus offer a free tier?

No, OmniFocus does not offer a free tier. It requires purchase or subscription: $99.99/year subscription or one-time perpetual licenses at $74.99 (Standard) or $149.99 (Pro).

Source
OmniFocus: What is the free trial period for OmniFocus?

OmniFocus offers a 14-day free trial allowing full access to all features before requiring payment.

Source
OmniFocus: What platforms does OmniFocus support?

OmniFocus is exclusive to Apple ecosystem: Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and web access. Not available on Windows or Android.

Source
OmniFocus: Can teams collaborate in OmniFocus?

No, OmniFocus lacks collaboration features and is designed as a solo task management tool. Users cannot delegate tasks, share projects, or assign work to team members.

Source
OmniFocus: Does OmniFocus support Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology?

Yes, OmniFocus is built specifically to support GTD with projects, contexts (tags), folders, perspectives, and a focus view for prioritization. It includes weekly review support and automation features.

Source

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