# SimpleCal vs PlanPop

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PlanPop at none against SimpleCal's 2. PlanPop also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). SimpleCal's advantage is ratings volume (18K vs 1K) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating and review sentiment there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SimpleCal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. PlanPop asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for SimpleCal against 4.8 for PlanPop. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleCal has 18K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of SimpleCal's written reviews are positive against 89% of PlanPop's.

SimpleCal ships an update fortnightly, PlanPop daily. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleCal | PlanPop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplecal-simple-calendar/id1227579630/reviews) | **[4.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planpop-shared-calendar/id1300063587/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | **89.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 23 MB | 283 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [LandLake LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1865321426) | [Moments Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1531250591) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleCal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplecal-simple-calendar/id1227579630)

This calendar app offers a streamlined way to manage your schedule with features like event syncing, customizable interfaces, and helpful reminders. It provides a clear overview of your day and integrates with popular calendar services for easy data backup and access across devices.

**Highlights:** Syncs with iCloud and Google Calendar, Customizable interface with color themes, Event reminders with repeat options, Widget for quick event overview, Weather forecast integration, Dark mode support, Data backup to external servers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ads removal | $0.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😍 Awesome!!
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Well-organized
- 🎨 Helpful color-coding
- ⏰ Useful reminders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Deleted events/data loss
- 🔒 Requires full access to Apple Calendar
- 🗓️ Can't edit read-only events
- 🎨 Limited color options
- 🗓️ Can't add events on days with existing events

**Reported bugs**

- Calendar stuck on one date
- Home screen widget not working
- Issues with setting recurring events

**Requested features**

- Add more color options
- Ability to gray out past days
- Custom reminder times
- Separate work and personal calendars
- Printable calendar view


### PlanPop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planpop-shared-calendar/id1300063587)

A shared calendar app designed for couples, families, and friends to keep everyone's plans in one place. Easily add events, set recurring reminders, and share your schedule to avoid double-booking and stay organized.

**Highlights:** Shared calendar for multiple users, Add and manage all types of plans, Set recurring events and reminders, Save ideas for future plans, Visually appealing and simple interface, Easy calendar sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Unique calendar concept
- 🤩 Visually appealing design
- 🤝 Helpful for coordinating with friends

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy updates
- 🤔 Confusing new features
- 🕰️ Time-consuming to use
- 🤯 Overwhelming for some users
- 🤷‍♀️ Lack of customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets not working
- Time/date auto-changing issues
- Formatting problems in event chat

**Requested features**

- Sync with other calendar apps
- Ability to remove users from shared calendars
- Customizable notification settings
- Widget support
- Export events to phone calendar


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleCal free?

SimpleCal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is PlanPop free?

PlanPop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SimpleCal or PlanPop?

PlanPop is rated higher. SimpleCal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while PlanPop averages 4.8 from 1K ratings.

### Do SimpleCal or PlanPop have ads?

SimpleCal shows ads; PlanPop does not.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleCal or PlanPop?

SimpleCal ships an update fortnightly, and PlanPop daily. Most recently, SimpleCal was updated on November 13, 2026 and PlanPop on November 11, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*