You have five different calendars, a Notion database full of tasks, and somewhere a spreadsheet with deadlines. Every morning you scroll through three apps to figure out what you actually need to do today. Sound familiar? Notion Calendar tries to solve that chaos by putting everything in one clear place.
I used the app for a while and have to admit: it really is a very clean calendar. You can even put it in your taskbar, which is pretty handy if you want to quickly check what’s on your schedule. But is it enough to replace your current calendar app?
Notion Calendar: the company
Notion Calendar is actually the successor to Cron, a popular calendar app that Notion acquired in 2022. The team behind Cron had built a reputation with their fast, keyboard-driven interface that especially attracted developers and power users. After the acquisition, Notion renamed the app and linked it to their own ecosystem.
The app now runs as a standalone product within the Notion universe. You can use it without a paid Notion account, but the real added value is of course in the integration with your Notion databases. The company is based in San Francisco and targets people who have organized their entire workflow in Notion.
What stands out is that Notion Calendar is available on almost all platforms: web, iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Only Linux users are out of luck. The app is free to use, although you do need a paid Notion subscription for certain advanced features.
Who is Notion Calendar for?
This calendar app isn’t for everyone. You’ll get the most out of it if you’re already heavily invested in the Notion ecosystem. Do you have your tasks, projects, and databases in Notion? Then this is basically a no-brainer. You can finally see all that information in one calendar view.
Also useful for people juggling multiple Google Calendar accounts. Work, personal, family calendar, sports club – you can load them all in one interface without constantly having to switch. The app also neatly displays different time zones, which is ideal if you work with international teams.
Additionally, it’s a good choice if you often need to schedule meetings. The built-in scheduling feature works as a kind of Calendly alternative. You share a link, people choose a time slot, and boom, it’s in your calendar. No more endless email exchanges about when everyone is available.
But are you happy with Google Calendar and hardly use Notion? Then the added value is limited. For some users, the app feels mainly like a prettier skin over Google Calendar, without really game-changing features.
What can Notion Calendar do?
Notion Calendar is packed with features that make your daily planning easier. These are the most important ones:
- Two-way sync with Notion databases – You can add any Notion database with a date field to your calendar. Tasks, projects, deadlines – they all appear as events. If you change something in the calendar, it also updates in Notion. And vice versa.
- Integration with multiple Google Calendar accounts – Add as many Google calendars as you want. Work, personal, that shared calendar with your partner – everything in one view. You can see at a glance where you need to go and what’s on your schedule.
- Time blocking and availability sharing – The scheduling feature is really handy. You set when you’re available, share a link, and people can choose a time slot themselves. It works surprisingly smoothly and saves a ton of time when scheduling meetings.
- Multiple timezone support – Do you work with people around the world? The app automatically shows different timezones. No more confusion about whether that meeting is at 3:00 PM your time or your colleague’s in New York.
- Built-in menu bar view – On macOS you can put the calendar in your menu bar. One click and you immediately see what’s on your calendar. That works really fast when you want to quickly check when your next appointment is.
- Keyboard shortcuts and command menu – This is where the Cron roots shine through. The app is incredibly fast to operate with your keyboard. Press ‘S’ for scheduling, use the command menu to quickly navigate through features. If you like shortcuts, you’re going to appreciate this.
- Link Notion pages to appointments – Have a meeting? Link a Notion page directly to it with your notes, agenda, or action items. Everything stays neatly together, without having to search through ten different apps.
The interface is indeed very clean. No unnecessary buttons or confusing menus. Everything feels intuitive and loads quickly. During my test, I noticed that the desktop app runs really smoothly, without lag or stuttering.
What does Notion Calendar cost?
Good news: the app itself is completely free. You can download and use it without paying. All basic features like Google Calendar integration, scheduling, and the menu bar view are simply available.
But there’s a catch. For the Notion integration, you sometimes need a paid Notion subscription. Especially if you want to use advanced AI features or have large files in your linked workspaces, you’ll run into limits on the free plan.
The prices for Notion itself are as follows:
- Plus – $ 10 per month (paid annually) or $ 12 per month
- Business – $ 15 per month (paid annually) or $ 18 per month
For most individual users, the free plan of Notion Calendar is fine. You only miss some advanced features in your Notion databases. Do you work in a team and want to get everything out of the integration? Then a paid plan is probably worth it.
What is confusing: some users on Trustpilot complain about unclear team pricing. It’s not always clear how many ‘seats’ you need and what exactly falls under which plan. Notion could be more transparent about that.
What should you watch out for?
Notion Calendar is not perfect. There are a few things that are really disappointing, especially if you have certain expectations.
First: the offline mode is limited. You can view your calendar without internet, but syncing and editing doesn’t work. For an app that focuses on productivity, that’s quite a drawback. Google Calendar does this better, for example.
The Android app is another pain point. Users regularly call it “ugly” and limited compared to the iOS version. There are no widgets, which would be a big added value on Android. It feels like Android is a bit of a stepchild in the development.
Also notable: there are no reminders for events. You don’t get a notification when a Notion task is almost due or when your meeting starts in five minutes. For a calendar app, that’s quite strange. You really have to keep track of your schedule yourself.
The synchronization with external calendars sometimes works one-way. Do you want to use Outlook, for example? Then you first have to take a detour via Google Calendar. Direct linking is not possible. And some users report that changes don’t always carry through correctly between systems.
Finally, for some people the app feels too much like a “Google Calendar skin”. Yes, it looks nicer and the Notion integration is handy. But in terms of functionality, you miss features that apps like Fantastical do have, such as natural language input or advanced widgets.
What do others think?
The opinions about Notion Calendar are mixed, but lean toward positive. Especially people who organize their entire life in Notion are enthusiastic. They appreciate the seamless integration and the fact that they finally see their tasks and appointments in one view.
On YouTube, various reviews have appeared. Dave Despress discusses the 2025 updates and explains why the database connections are especially useful for teams, despite the shortcomings. Kat Waugh focuses on time-blocking and gives practical tips for task management within the app. TerriniaT is somewhat more critical and misses deeper integration and reminders, but does appreciate the simplicity and interface.
What keeps coming back in positive reviews:
- The visual style is great. Clean, modern, and not cluttered.
- Scheduling links are a big plus. Finally no more need for a Calendly subscription.
- The speed of the desktop app. Everything loads lightning fast.
- Ideal if you already work in Notion. Then it feels like a logical extension.
But there are also many complaints:
- The Android app is experienced as inferior. No widgets, fewer features.
- No notifications or reminders for Notion tasks in the calendar.
- Synchronization with external calendars doesn’t always work flawlessly.
- Unclear pricing for teams.
From my own experience, I can confirm that the app is indeed very clean and works well. The menu bar feature on macOS is really handy for a quick overview. But I do miss some depth. For a basic calendar it’s fine, but power users may miss more advanced features.
Notion Calendar alternatives
Doesn’t Notion Calendar quite fit what you’re looking for? These are the best alternatives:
- Google Calendar – The standard and completely free. You miss the deep Notion integration, but for a simple, reliable calendar this is still the best choice. Choose this if you don’t need fancy features and just want a solid calendar.
- Fantastical – The best option for Apple users. Natural language input works perfectly, the widgets are beautiful, and the app feels truly native. More expensive though and only available on Apple devices. Choose this if you’re willing to pay for the best macOS/iOS experience.
- Morgen – Integrates with more task managers than just Notion. Todoist, Trello, Jira – you can combine tasks from different sources in your calendar. The interface concept is different from Notion Calendar, but very powerful. Choose this if you work with multiple tools and want to see everything in one place.
Each of these alternatives has its own strengths. Google Calendar is reliable and universal. Fantastical offers the best native experience for Apple fans. Morgen is ideal if your ecosystem is broader than just Notion. Which one you choose depends on your workflow and which tools you already use.
Frequently asked questions
Does Notion Calendar work with Outlook?
Not directly. You can currently only sync Outlook calendars through a workaround by first connecting them to Google Calendar. There is no direct integration, which is annoying for many business users.
Is Notion Calendar free to use?
Yes, the app itself is completely free. For certain advanced features or AI integrations you need a paid Notion subscription, but the basic calendar functionality costs nothing.
Can I see my Notion tasks in the calendar?
Yes, you can add any Notion database with a date property to your calendar. Tasks and projects become visible and editable in your calendar. Changes sync automatically between Notion and the calendar app.
Conclusion
Notion Calendar is a solid calendar app with a beautiful interface and convenient Notion integration. If you’re already heavily invested in Notion and use multiple Google calendars, this is probably worth the upgrade. The scheduling feature is a big plus and the speed of the desktop app is impressive.
But it’s not a perfect solution. The Android app lags behind, there are no reminders, and offline functionality is limited. For some users, it feels too much like a prettier version of Google Calendar without real game-changers.
My advice: just try it out. The app is free and within five minutes you’ll know if it fits your workflow. Do you work a lot in Notion? Then chances are you won’t want to go back to your old calendar. Do you barely use Notion? Then you can probably stick with Google Calendar.
For me personally, it works well as a simple, clean calendar with that handy menu bar feature. But I do miss some depth for really advanced use. It’s a good middle ground between simplicity and functionality, as long as you accept the limitations.
