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Problems with scheduling apps like Calendly

I've been building a scheduling tool for solopreneurs and small businesses, and along the way, I realized how many people dislike using tools like Calendly — even if they rely on them.

Here are some of the common complaints I've heard (and experienced myself):

Feels impersonal: Sending a link feels transactional, not collaborative. Especially awkward in cold outreach or with high-trust clients.

Too rigid: Most tools assume static availability or recurring blocks. Life isn’t always that predictable.

Hidden costs: Features like payment integration, group bookings, or email/SMS reminders are often behind paywalls or require multiple tools.

Overkill for simple use cases: Sometimes you just want to quickly agree on a time without creating a new "meeting type." Poor UX on mobile: Many tools are clunky on phones, yet that’s where a lot of scheduling happens.

Curious to hear from others — do you run into these problems? What’s your biggest frustration with scheduling tools right now?

7 points chetansorted 1 year ago 2 comments

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