GudCal vs Calendly: Why Developers Are Switching to Open-Source Scheduling

Calendly is a great product. It practically invented the modern scheduling link and has helped millions of people book meetings without the back-and-forth emails. We respect what they've built.

But the world has changed since Calendly launched. AI agents are scheduling meetings, developers need API-first tools, and many teams want control over their data. That's where GudCal comes in.

Where Calendly Excels

Let's give credit where it's due:

• Polish and UX — Calendly's booking experience is smooth and professional
• Enterprise features — SSO, admin controls, and compliance certifications
• Integrations ecosystem — hundreds of native integrations with major platforms
• Routing forms — sophisticated lead qualification and distribution

If you're a sales team at a large enterprise, Calendly is a solid choice.

Where GudCal Stands Out

Open Source and Self-Hostable

GudCal's entire codebase is open source under GPL-3.0. Deploy on your own infrastructure, audit the code, and modify it to fit your needs. No vendor lock-in, no data leaving your servers.

AI Agent Integration via MCP

This is GudCal's defining feature. The built-in MCP server lets any AI agent — Claude, GPT, or custom models — discover availability and book meetings through a standardized protocol. Calendly's API requires custom integration work for every AI workflow.

Developer-First Design

Every feature in GudCal works through both the UI and the API. Webhooks fire on every booking event. TypeScript throughout. The codebase is clean and extensible.

Generous Free Tier

GudCal's free tier includes 3 event types, unlimited bookings, and calendar sync. No per-seat charges for basic usage.

Modern Tech Stack

Built with Next.js 16, React 19, Prisma 7, and Tailwind CSS 4. If you're a developer, you can read and contribute to the codebase.

Making the Switch

GudCal supports importing your event types and configuring availability rules to match your existing setup. The booking page URLs work similarly — share your gudcal.com/username link and guests can pick a time.

The Bottom Line

Calendly is excellent for non-technical teams who need a polished, enterprise-ready scheduling tool. GudCal is built for developers, AI-first teams, and anyone who wants open-source scheduling they can own and customize.

Try GudCal free at gudcal.com or self-host it on your own infrastructure.