# SimpleCal vs GroupCal

The clearest difference is ads: GroupCal at none against SimpleCal's shown. SimpleCal's advantage is ratings volume (18K vs 899). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

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.

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 18K ratings behind it against 899, 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 79% of GroupCal's.

SimpleCal ships an update fortnightly, GroupCal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleCal | GroupCal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplecal-simple-calendar/id1227579630/reviews)** | [4.7 (899 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupcal-shared-calendar/id1472335927/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 899 |
| Positive reviews | **84.6% of reviews** | 79.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 23 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LandLake LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1865321426) | [24me](https://appshunter.io/developer/557745945) |

## 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


### GroupCal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groupcal-shared-calendar/id1472335927)

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:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Pro | $14.99 | per month |
| Business | $74.99 | per month |
| GroupCal Pro | $119.99 | per year |
| GroupCal Pro | $119.99 | per year |
| Business + | $224.99 | per month |
| GroupCal Business | $599.99 | per year |
| Business | $599.99 | per year |
| Business + | $1000.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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 is rated higher. SimpleCal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while GroupCal averages 4.7 from 899 ratings.

### 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 every 2 weeks. Most recently, SimpleCal was updated on November 13, 2026 and GroupCal 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.*