You know the drill: you send a message in the family WhatsApp about a birthday, someone else schedules an appointment in Google Calendar, and before you know it, nobody knows who needs to be where anymore. Timetree wants to solve that problem by combining a shared calendar with chat and to-do lists. So you not only see when something happens, but you can also discuss it directly.
Who is behind Timetree?
Timetree was founded by Yasuto Fukagawa, Cha Jin Park, and Shunichi Matsuda. The trio saw a gap in the market: existing calendar apps were mainly focused on individual use, while many people wanted to share their planning with others. In 2016, Hiroshi Kono strengthened the team as CTO, further expanding the technical foundation.
The app grew especially fast in Japan, where Timetree is now the most popular shared calendar. That success didn’t go unnoticed: in 2015, the app won the ‘App Store Best of 2015’ award. Since then, Timetree has also been expanding in the US and Europe. In early 2025, telecom company SK Telecom made a strategic investment to accelerate AI integration, indicating that the company is seriously committed to further growth.
Who is Timetree for?
Timetree targets people who want to share their calendar with others and communicate about it directly. Families use it to keep track of appointments, school holidays, and sports training. Couples plan dates and household tasks with it. Friend groups organize outings and parties. Small teams can also work with it, as long as you don’t need complex project management functions.
The app is less suitable for large enterprises. It lacks features like extensive rights and roles, integrations with business software, and advanced reporting. For complex projects with dependencies and milestones, you’re better off looking at specialized tools. Timetree deliberately keeps it simple and social, which is exactly the strength for many users.
What can Timetree do?
The free version of Timetree already offers a lot of functionality. You can create unlimited shared calendars, chat within events, share memos and to-do lists, and sync your calendar with Google, Apple, or Outlook. For adding files and photos to appointments, removing ads, and a vertical view, you need a Premium subscription.
- Multiple shared calendars: Create separate calendars for your family, sports club, work group or friend group. Each with its own members and color coding.
- Chat per event: No more separate WhatsApp groups needed. Talk directly about an appointment’s details, like who’s driving or what everyone is bringing.
- Shared memos and to-dos: Note important info for a calendar (for example, WiFi passwords for a vacation) or make lists that everyone can check off.
- Synchronization with external calendars: Import your Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook so you see all your appointments in one place. Changes synchronize automatically.
- Widgets for your home screen: See your upcoming appointments without opening the app. Handy for a quick overview.
- Virtual members: Add pets, children without their own phone or even objects (like the car) as members. This way you can also keep track of their schedule.
- Color coding per person: See at a glance who needs to be where. Each member gets their own color in the calendar.
- Attach files and photos: Upload documents, tickets or photos to an appointment. This saves hassle with separate emails or chats.
What does Timetree cost?
Timetree has a free version that can be used unlimited. You can add as many calendars and members as you want, and all basic functions are available. The downside: you see ads in the app.
For Premium you pay $ 4.49 per month or $ 44.99 per year (equivalent to $ 3.75 per month). This removes the ads and gives you access to extra features like file attachments and a vertical view of your calendar. New users can try Premium free for 30 days.
The price is higher than many competitors, especially when you consider that you mainly use it alongside your existing calendar app. For a family or group that works together intensively, it can be worth the investment, but for occasional use, the free version is often sufficient.
What should you watch out for?
The free version contains noticeably many ads. Users complain that they are disruptive and regularly block the screen. If you use the app daily, that can become irritating.
Widgets on iOS don’t always work reliably. Sometimes they remain empty or don’t load automatically. You then have to open the app to see your calendar, which defeats the purpose of a widget.
Synchronization between devices doesn’t always happen immediately. Changes you make on your phone sometimes only appear after a few minutes on your tablet or laptop. For appointments that need to be quick, that’s annoying.
Recurring appointments have limited options. You can’t set something to happen every second Tuesday of the month, or for an event to repeat until a certain date. For complex repetitions, you have to manually create separate appointments.
Timetree alternatives
Timetree is not the only app for shared calendars. Depending on what you’re looking for, there are alternatives that better fit your situation.
- Google Calendar: Choose this if you’re already fully in the Google ecosystem and deeper integration with Gmail, Meet and Drive is important. Fewer social features than Timetree.
- Cozi Family Organizer: Ideal if you want to manage recipes and shopping lists in addition to a calendar. Specifically focused on families with children.
- Teamup: Suitable for scheduling work shifts or facilities. More business-oriented in design and you don’t need an account to view calendars. Less suitable for personal use.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about Timetree.
Is Timetree free to use?
Yes, the basic version is completely free and contains all core functions. You will see ads. For extra features and an ad-free experience, there is a Premium subscription of $ 4.49 per month.
Can I link my existing Google Calendar?
Yes, you can import and synchronize external calendars like Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook. This way you see all your appointments in one place without duplicate work.
Can people without the app see my calendar?
Yes, you can share events via a link that you send, for example, via WhatsApp. For full collaboration and editing appointments, the app or web version is recommended.
Conclusion
Timetree is a useful app if you regularly need to plan with others and want to communicate directly. The combination of calendar, chat and to-do lists works well for families, couples and friend groups. The free version already offers a lot, but the ads are disruptive. Premium is on the pricey side, especially if you only use the app occasionally. For intensive users who value overview and communication in one place, it’s a good choice. For large teams or complex projects, there are better alternatives.
