zcal vs Calendly
zcal is a free, simple booking-link tool with unlimited links on its free plan. Calendly is the larger, paid-first product with more integrations. If you want a free plan that also takes payment and sells packages later, CalendarPA is a third option. The facts below were checked against each vendor’s pages on the date shown.
Side by side
| Feature | zcal | Calendly |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, unlimited links | Yes, one event type |
| Payment at booking | Stripe, every plan; zcal adds 3% on each payment on the free plan | Stripe and PayPal, Standard and up |
| Branding removal | Pro and up | Standard and up |
| Zapier | Every plan | Standard and up |
| Group events | Capped at 5 per slot on the free plan | Standard and up |
Which fits
- Pick zcal for a free booking link with few limits.
- Pick Calendly for deeper integrations and team scheduling.
The third option: CalendarPA
CalendarPA has a free Starter plan with booking pages, calendar sync, payment at booking through one provider and AdaPA, an assistant that books from email and chat. Pro adds session packages, group classes and SMS reminders. See pricing.
Third-party facts on this page were checked against each company’s own pages on November 7, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is zcal really free?
Yes. Its free plan has unlimited booking links and meeting polls, with zcal branding.
Does zcal take payments?
Yes, through Stripe on every plan. On the free plan zcal adds 3% on each payment.
Which has better integrations?
Calendly, which connects natively to tools like HubSpot. zcal relies mostly on Zapier and webhooks.
Can I remove branding?
On zcal Pro, or Calendly Standard and up. Neither free plan removes it.
Is there a free plan with payments and no extra charge per payment?
Yes. CalendarPA takes no fee or commission on payments you collect. Only your payment provider's own processing fees apply. That is on every CalendarPA plan, including the free Starter plan.
See also
Try the third option
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