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Calendars · head to head

OmniFocus vs TidyCal

OmniFocus logo

OmniFocus

Calendars

Professional-grade task management for power users

From
$99.99/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TidyCal logo

TidyCal

Calendars

Simple calendar management and booking

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TidyCal has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OmniFocus exclusive to Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android support; TidyCal lifetime plans regularly priced higher ($144 individual, $240 agency) but offered at discount on AppSumo
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OmniFocus and TidyCal actually diverge.

Attributes where OmniFocus and TidyCal differ
AttributeOmniFocusTidyCal
Starting price$99.99/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsmacOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, WebWeb
Founded1989Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Calendars).

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 OmniFocus

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

Only in TidyCal

Nothing recorded that OmniFocus does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

OmniFocus

  • Schedulingnot TidyCal
  • Appointment bookingnot TidyCal
  • Time trackingnot TidyCal
  • Resource managementnot TidyCal
  • Team coordinationnot TidyCal

TidyCal

  • Appointment scheduling and booking for solopreneursnot OmniFocus
  • Team booking management with round robin functionalitynot OmniFocus
  • Scheduling across multiple calendar integrationsnot OmniFocus

Where each one falls short

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

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

TidyCal

  • Lifetime plans regularly priced higher ($144 individual, $240 agency) but offered at discount on AppSumo
  • Calendar connection limit of 1 on free plan may be limiting for multi-calendar users

Pricing, plan by plan

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

TidyCal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited bookings
    • Unlimited booking types
    • Paid bookings
  • Individual Lifetime$29/one-time
    • Auto-created meeting links
    • Group bookings
    • AI assistant
  • Agency Lifetime$79/one-time
    • Round robin and collective meetings
    • Dedicated team page
    • SMS reminders (US/Canada)
  • Pro Monthly$12/month
    • No branding
    • Custom domain
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose OmniFocus if

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

Choose TidyCal if

  • You want to start without paying.
TidyCal review

Questions people ask

Is OmniFocus or TidyCal better?
Neither clearly leads. OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year and TidyCal at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OmniFocus or TidyCal?
TidyCal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99.99/year for OmniFocus and Free for TidyCal.
Does OmniFocus or TidyCal run on more platforms?
OmniFocus runs on macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, Web. TidyCal runs on Web.
Can I use TidyCal for free?
Yes. TidyCal has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OmniFocus starts at $99.99/year.
What is OmniFocus best used for?
OmniFocus is most often used for scheduling, appointment booking, time tracking, resource management. Of those, scheduling and appointment booking are not what TidyCal is typically brought in for.
What can OmniFocus do that TidyCal cannot?
OmniFocus covers Custom perspectives, Review mode, Forecast view, Tags.

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
TidyCal: Does TidyCal have a free plan?

Yes, TidyCal offers a permanently free plan with unlimited bookings, all booking types, and basic features. Free users get 1 calendar connection.

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
TidyCal: What is the difference between lifetime and subscription plans?

Lifetime plans ($29-$79 one-time) are purchased once via AppSumo and offer permanent access. The monthly subscription plan costs $12/month or $99/year (annual) and renews continuously.

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
TidyCal: Does TidyCal charge per user or per booking?

TidyCal does not charge per user or per booking. Pricing is based on plan selection, not usage volume. All plans include unlimited bookings.

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
TidyCal: What calendar integrations are included in each plan?

The free plan includes 1 calendar connection. Individual and Pro plans include up to 10 connections. Agency and Pro plans include up to 25 calendar connections.

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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