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SmartNews vs Vimcal

SmartNews logo

SmartNews

News

Local news and breaking news from top sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vimcal logo

Vimcal

Calendars

The world's fastest calendar

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SmartNews no specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription; Vimcal the free tier is iOS only; the desktop app for Mac and PC requires the $20 per month plan
  • They diverge on capability: SmartNews covers Machine learning curation, Vimcal covers Vim-style shortcuts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which SmartNews and Vimcal actually diverge.

Attributes where SmartNews and Vimcal differ
AttributeSmartNewsVimcal
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsIos, AndroidMacos, Windows, Ios, Android
CategoryNewsCalendars
Founded20122020

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

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 SmartNews

  • Machine learning curation
  • Smart Mode
  • Local news
  • Breaking alerts
  • Offline reading
  • Social sharing
  • News publishers

Only in Vimcal

  • Vim-style shortcuts
  • Time zone support
  • Scheduling links
  • Speed optimization
  • Quick actions
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Zoom

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

SmartNews

  • Daily newsnot Vimcal
  • Local newsnot Vimcal
  • Breaking newsnot Vimcal
  • Quick readingnot Vimcal

Vimcal

  • Fast keyboard-driven calendar management for executives with heavy meeting loadsnot SmartNews
  • Delegated scheduling by executive assistants across multiple executivesnot SmartNews
  • Sharing availability and booking links across time zonesnot SmartNews

Where each one falls short

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

SmartNews

  • No specific pricing published for SmartNews+ subscription
  • Requires visiting separate product page for pricing details
  • Subscription service model described but not detailed with costs

Vimcal

  • The free tier is iOS only; the desktop app for Mac and PC requires the $20 per month plan
  • Events created on the free tier carry a Created with Vimcal signature, and removing it requires the paid plan
  • Personal booking links, scheduling polls and team scheduling features are excluded from the free tier
  • The executive assistant tier costs $75 per month, or $62.50 billed yearly
  • SAML SSO, advanced security controls and a dedicated support manager are Enterprise only, and Enterprise is quote only with no published rate
  • The lower rates of $16.67 and $62.50 per month require yearly billing

Pricing, plan by plan

SmartNews

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Trending news
    • Local news
    • Smart Mode reading

Vimcal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic calendar
    • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Pro$15/month
    • Scheduling links
    • Time zones
    • Team features

Which should you pick?

Choose SmartNews if

  • You need machine learning curation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want smart mode.
SmartNews review

Choose Vimcal if

  • You need vim-style shortcuts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Macos, Windows, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time zone support.
Vimcal review

Questions people ask

Is SmartNews or Vimcal better?
Neither clearly leads. SmartNews starts at Free and Vimcal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, SmartNews or Vimcal?
SmartNews starts at Free and Vimcal at Free.
Does SmartNews or Vimcal run on more platforms?
SmartNews runs on Ios, Android. Vimcal runs on Macos, Windows, Ios, Android.
Can I use SmartNews for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is SmartNews best used for?
SmartNews is most often used for daily news, local news, breaking news, quick reading. Of those, daily news and local news are not what Vimcal is typically brought in for.
What can SmartNews do that Vimcal cannot?
SmartNews covers Machine learning curation, Smart Mode, Local news, Breaking alerts. Vimcal covers Vim-style shortcuts, Time zone support, Scheduling links, Speed optimization. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

SmartNews: How much does SmartNews cost?

SmartNews does not publish specific subscription pricing on its main website. The vendor offers SmartNews+, described as a subscription service aggregating paid business news and coupons, but cost details must be found on the dedicated SmartNews+ product page.

Source
Vimcal: What is the cost of Vimcal after the free trial?

Vimcal costs $20 per month or $200 per year after the trial period ends.

Source
SmartNews: Does SmartNews offer a free tier?

SmartNews provides free access to curated news content. For additional business news and coupons, the vendor offers SmartNews+ as a paid subscription service. Pricing and trial details for SmartNews+ are available on the dedicated subscription product page.

Source
Vimcal: Does Vimcal require a credit card to start the free trial?

No, the Vimcal free trial is available with no credit card required.

Source
Vimcal: Does Vimcal offer team or enterprise pricing?

Vimcal supports team and enterprise deployments. Enterprise customers can contact Vimcal directly for custom quotes.

Source
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