Both When2meet and Doodle Poll are popular scheduling options, how do they do head to head? Let’s find out how well they stack up.
If you’re not using a scheduling tool you’re missing out. They make your life significantly less stressful, streamlining every event, appointment, and meeting into one process with just a few clicks.
But how do you pick the right scheduling tool for you? The number of available options has risen with demand and the market has become crowded with tools that, at first glance, appear very similar to one another.
Two of the most popular options at present are When2meet and Doodle Poll, both of which are known for their simplistic design. Let’s find out more about each option, how they stack up against each other, and if they’re good bang for buck.
When2meet
When2meet is a free, simple-to-use scheduling tool that’s designed to find a common time for a group to hold a meeting. Its core approach is fairly straightforward as it doesn't require users to register or sign up to create, or participate in, a poll. All users need to do to set up a meeting is to create an event, share the link, and invitees can then mark their availability on a visual grid.
With a minimalist interface and almost no technical ability required to use it, When2meet has fast become a popular scheduling option. However, this also means that its features aren’t particularly robust or powerful, and as such most businesses will need a When2meet alternative.
Key features
- There’s no registration required which makes When2meet polling ideal for one-off events.
- The visual availability grid is a simple, color-coded grid that shows a "heat map" of when most participants are available.
- Automatic saving ensures all changes made to events are protected by the system, no matter how many times things change.
Pros
- When2meet is completely free to use; there are no paywalls or hidden costs.
- The app has an extremely low barrier to entry, almost anyone can use it.
- When2meet doesn’t require personal details, making it great for those with privacy concerns.
Cons
- The When2meet app is definitely not mobile-optimized and can be difficult to use on hand held devices.
- There’s no calendar integration and users have to enter information manually.
- No automation means no automatic reminders, notifications, or automatic links are available.
Related
Check out our guide on top tips to make When2Meet scheduling faster and easier
Doodle Poll
At first glance, you might make the mistake of thinking that When2meet is exactly the same as Doodle Poll; however, they are actually rather different. Doodle Poll’s features are more robust and aimed at continuous usage by businesses and professionals, rather than one-off events as is often the case with When2meet.
The Doodle Poll app also has a free tier for basic polls and paid plans that unlock advanced features that are more likely to be used by businesses. However, it still retains simplicity as its core design, and even though it can be used by businesses, its features are still a bit lacking.
Key features
- A scheduling poll system where invitees vote on which times, locations, activities, etc. work best for them.
- Calendar app integration, including major services like Google Calendar, Outlook, iCloud, and more.
- Automatic reminders and notifications can be set up by accessing Doodle Poll’s paid plans.
Pros
- Considerable flexibility and advanced scheduling options can be accessed.
- The integration with third-party apps is pretty seamless, especially for calendars.
- Doodle Poll’s interface is simple to use and provides a high-quality experience.
Cons
- Most of Doodle Poll’s best features are currently hidden behind paywalls.
- The free version has quite a lot of ads which can be quite frustrating for some users.
- The system isn’t designed for one-off events; it's best used for ongoing meetings
Related
Want more scheduling tips? See our guide on using Doodle Poll for smooth meeting planning.
When2meet vs Doodle Poll
Let’s go into a bit more detail about Doodle Poll vs When2meet, and how the two scheduling apps stack up against each other. If you’re looking for a Doodle Poll Poll alternative, or vice versa for What2meet and need to compare these services, then this resource is for you.
| Feature | When2meet | Doodle Poll |
| User Sign-up | Not required, completely anonymous. | Required for organizers to create polls; participants can vote without an account. |
| Ease of Use | Extremely simple, minimalist interface. No instructions needed. | Simple for basic polls, but more complex features require a learning curve. |
| Interface | Basic, dated design. Not visually appealing. | Modern, clean, and professional. Visually intuitive. |
| Calendar Sync | None. Users must manually check their own calendars. | Two-way sync with Google, Outlook, and iCloud available on paid plans. |
| Automation | None. All communication and reminders are manual. | Automated reminders, notifications, and follow-ups available on paid plans. |
| Cost | Completely free. The service is funded by ads and donations. | Freemium model. A free, ad-supported version exists, but premium features are subscription-based. |
| Mobile Access | Usable but not optimized. The experience can be clunky on smaller screens. | Fully optimized for mobile devices, offering a smooth experience on the go. |
| Best For | Quick, one-off, and informal group polls among friends or casual groups. | Professional, formal, and recurring scheduling for business and teams. |
| Key Differentiator | Speed and simplicity. The lowest possible barrier to entry. | Calendar integration and advanced automation. |
| Additional Services | Only offers the core group polling functionality. | Provides 1:1 scheduling, booking pages, and integrations with video conferencing tools. |
| Target Audience | Students, social clubs, families, and hobby groups. | Professionals, small businesses, recruiters, and consultants. |
The ideal audiences for When2meet and Doodle Poll
Still not sure whether When2meet or Doodle Poll is the right scheduler for you? Then all you need to do is consider which of these key audiences applies in your case.
When2meet: For the casual scheduler
When2meet is the Doodle Poll alternative for people who don’t frequently schedule events, and only need something on a temporary basis. Classic examples include students who want to set up a one-off studying session, or people who are more tech-averse like the elderly who might want to organize social gatherings. Other good examples are hobby communities, individual tradespeople, and friend groups.
Doodle Poll: For small businesses and entrepreneurs
As it has a far greater focus on routine and ongoing meetings, events, etc., Doodle Poll is a far superior choice for businesses, individual businesspeople, professionals, and others. As it allows invitees to vote on meeting times, locations, etc., it’s especially useful for coordinating things like team meetings and client appointments. The system has a considerable degree of flexibility, so all in all it can be used by more people.
When2meet or Doodle Poll?
The When2meets of the scheduling world are all well and good for one-off events, and scheduling tools like Doodle Poll promise a lot but don’t stack up against more robust options. If you take your scheduling seriously and need to manage it on a regular basis with ease, then you need more than either of these two options: You need Calday.
Calday is an intuitive scheduling system, designed to automate as many key processes as possible. It combines the ease of use of When2meet with the increased functions offered by Doodle Poll, to give its users the best of both worlds for either free or just $10 a month for the Premium plan.
Let’s take a look at Calday’s key features in more detail:
- Unlike Doodle Poll, Calday offers a wide range of powerful tools on its free plan, including unlimited event types, integrations, and the essential customization features you need.
- Calday’s user interface is sleek, modern, and easily used on both desktop and mobile devices. Compare that with When2meet’s clunky, outdated design.
- Our third-party app integrations are super smooth, and you can link all your major calendar apps like Google Calendar and Microsoft Teams with ease.
- Calday can be used by anyone for anything, so whether you’re a student, a pensioner, a plumber, or an entrepreneur, you’ll find a home with our scheduling service.
- Customization comes galore with Calday, and if you access our premium tier you can individualize booking pages, appointment links and so much more as much as you like.
- We pride ourselves on our high-quality customer support. Whenever you contact us you’ll be speaking to a person, unlike some major scheduling apps we could name…
Save yourself stress and sign up with Calday today
We are proud to stand behind our scheduling app. Calday is the ultimate choice for the vast majority of people who need help with scheduling their meetings. It’s adaptable enough for both business and personal uses, it’s incredibly simple to use, and you can customize your account to a degree unmatched by most alternatives on the market.
You don’t need to keep searching for When2meet or Doodle Poll alternatives as the best is right in front of you right now. All you need to do is sign up. Follow the link and you’ll be taken to our registration page; simply fill in your details and you’ll set up an account in no time. Get ready to enjoy stress-free scheduling!
