Comparison

SimpleCal vs GroupCal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SimpleCal

This app offers a straightforward way to manage your schedule, sync events across devices using iCloud or Google Calendar, and stay organized with reminders and weather forecasts. Its customizable interface and simple design make adding and editing events quick and intuitive.

Highlights
  • Cross-platform sync (iCloud/Google)
  • Event reminders (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly)
  • Weather forecast integration
  • Customizable event and color themes
  • Simple event adding and editing
  • Widget for quick event overview
  • Dark mode support
Features
Read full description

SimpleCal is the easiest calendar app on the App Store. Sync your schedule across platforms and devices through iCloud or Google calendar. - Sync All the events on your current calendar are transferable from another calendars via iCloud or Google calendar. (The connection uses the calendar account registered in the Settings app) - Widget Your recent events can be displayed on a widget to grasp what to do quickly. - Weather The weather forecast for the specified area is displayed on the calendar(up to one week ahead) - Reminders You won't miss your important events via SimpleCal's reminder. The reminders can be repeated daily, weekly, monthly and yearly. - Customizable interface Each event and calendar can have different colors, which makes you easily recognize your schedule. The color theme is also customizable. You can find your favorite theme for sure. - Simple design You can add or edit an event only with a few steps. Do you have some routine in your life? Then, try SimpleCal! You can create a new event just by dragging a past event. - Dark Mode Supports dark mode. - Data Backup Saves event data to an external server such as iCloud Calendar or Google Calendar. (The app does not have its own calendar and does not save to the device's local area.) In the unlikely event that your iPhone is damaged, you can simply log in to your original calendar account to load your previous event data.

About

GroupCal

Easily create and share calendars for families, teams, or any community. Invite members via phone number or link and receive real-time updates on events. Integrates with existing calendars for a unified view.

Highlights
  • Create multiple shared calendars
  • Invite via phone number or link
  • Real-time event updates and notifications
  • Integrates with existing calendars
  • Public calendars for businesses and communities
  • Color-coded calendars and customization
  • Event attendance tracking
Features
Read full description

GroupCal is the most powerful platform for individuals and businesses, to share calendars with groups, families, customers, followers and any community. Inviting members to a shared calendar is quick and easy. Simply send a link to members, or invite them using their phone numbers from your contact list. They will be able to instantly view the calendar on any device. Members of shared calendars get real time updates when events are added or updated. GroupCal is free, easy to use, and available on any mobile device. ==== GroupCal - Main Features ==== SHARED CALENDARS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES People use GroupCal to create shared calendars such as: • Family calendar for parents and children • Calendar for businesses with all activities and events • Calendar for teams to share meetings, projects and schedule • Calendar for students, teachers and classes • Calendar for a group of friends • Calendar for a group with a common interest • Public calendar for universities, clubs, bands and brands - anyone can search and join it CREATE MULTIPLE SHARED CALENDARS EASILY Create multiple shared calendars for different topics and groups. Each calendar is used for its own topic and with its own members. INVITE USING PHONE NUMBERS. NO NEED FOR EMAIL ADDRESS Invite members using their phone numbers, right from your contact list, or by sending a link via Email, Messenger, WhatsApp, or SMS. No need to have email addresses of the members. ALL YOUR CALENDARS IN ONE PLACE Your Existing Calendars are also in GroupCal. Your private schedule from Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook is presented in GroupCal, side by side to the shared calendar you create or join using GroupCal. You get a unified view of all your calendars on one screen and in one place. BUSINESSES - CREATE PUBLIC CALENDARS Set calendars as “public” to have them visible to anyone around the world. Public calendars are searchable by GroupCal users. REAL TIME NOTIFICATIONS Members of shared calendars get real time updates and notifications when they are added to the calendar, and when events are added or updated. JOINING SHARED CALENDARS IS SO EASY Either click on a link a member sent to you, or join an existing public calendar on GroupCal by using the search option: discover your University's schedule, Yoga class schedule, your favorite band’s concerts and more. COLOR CODED CALENDARS AND SPECIAL CUSTOMIZATION Select a color and a photo for each calendar to easily distinguish between calendars and their events. KNOW HOW’S ATTENDING Get a better visibility about each event: see when the event was delivered per member, and who accepted or declined participation. MINIMALIST DESIGN & USER FRIENDLY GroupCal has a simple and clear design that makes it super easy to use. It’s built to be very user friendly and intuitive. Features in the app are accompanied with short explanations so you don’t have to spend much time to learn and get used to it. ADD REMINDERS AND TASKS TO CALENDAR EVENTS Use advanced features such as recurrence to events, multiple reminders for each event, or notes and subtasks which are assigned to events. ADVANCED CALENDAR PERMISSIONS Choose the permission level for each shared calendar. Assign admins, set whether the calendar’s name and photo can be changed, who is allowed to add or update events, and whether members can add other new members to the calendar. CROSS PLATFORM GroupCal is available worldwide for all major platforms.

Screenshots

SimpleCal4 screens
GroupCal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: GroupCal at none against SimpleCal's shown. SimpleCal's advantage is ratings volume (17K vs 799). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SimpleCal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and GroupCal sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for SimpleCal against 4.7 for GroupCal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimpleCal has 17K ratings behind it against 799, 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 78% of GroupCal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SimpleCal versus GroupCal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimpleCalGroupCal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (17K ratings)4.7 (799 ratings)
Positive reviews84.6% of reviews — better78.4% of reviews
Number of ratings17K — better799
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYohei Fujikawa24me

Customer experience

SimpleCal

All ratings17,413 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral3.2%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews1,098 reviews
Positive84.6%
Neutral3.5%
Negative11.9%

GroupCal

All ratings799 ratings
Positive92.4%
Neutral3.5%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews324 reviews
Positive78.4%
Neutral5.6%
Negative16.0%

User reviews

SimpleCal

From 17K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

GroupCal

From 799 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🚀 Efficient scheduling and coordination
  • 💡 Helpful for families and small businesses
  • 🙌 Great for shared calendars and event planning

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data access
  • 💸 Limited features in free version

Bugs and requests

SimpleCal

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Calendar stuck on one date
  • Home screen widget not working
  • Issues with setting recurring events

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add more color options
  • Ability to gray out past days
  • Custom reminder times
  • Separate work and personal calendars
  • Printable calendar view
Show 3 more
  • Sync colors across devices
  • Add subtasks for events
  • Ability to delete specific holidays

GroupCal

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to delete shared calendars
  • Calendar events not syncing properly
  • Phone number verification issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Color-coding for individual calendars
  • Improved recurring event scheduling
  • Integration with other calendar apps

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SimpleCal

Subscriptions1
  • Ads removal$0.991 Month
One-time1
  • Remove Ads$49.99
9 purchases

GroupCal

Subscriptions9
  • Pro7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Pro$14.991 Month
  • Business7 Days trial$74.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • GroupCal Pro1 Year trial2 variants$119.991 Year
  • GroupCal Pro7 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • Business +7 Days trial$224.991 Month
  • GroupCal Business1 Year trial$599.991 Year
  • Business7 Days trial$599.991 Year
  • Business +7 Days trial$1000.001 Year

Questions

Is SimpleCal free?
SimpleCal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GroupCal free?
GroupCal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SimpleCal or GroupCal?
SimpleCal and GroupCal are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 17K and 799 ratings respectively.
Do SimpleCal or GroupCal have ads?
SimpleCal shows ads; GroupCal does not.
Which is updated more often, SimpleCal or GroupCal?
SimpleCal ships an update fortnightly, and GroupCal fortnightly. Most recently, SimpleCal was updated on September 24, 2026 and GroupCal on September 24, 2026.

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