As more and more people move away from the traditional pen and paper calendars of the past, two apps have taken dedicated schedulers by storm. These two are, of course, Apple's iOS Calendar and Google Calendar. Each platform has all of the essential features you need but also hosts a set of unique strengths that could make one a much better fit for your needs.

Apple Calendar is built into their devices, offering seamless integration with other Apple services. It's known for a classic, clean interface and intuitive navigation. Google Calendar, on the other hand, is a versatile cross-platform app. It excels in sharing and collaboration, making it ideal for team use. Both are completely free options, included when you sign up for a Google account or an Apple iCloud account.

No matter which calendar tool you end up picking, smart automation can help you stay on top of new events and schedule changes without the constant hassle of manual updates. In this article, we’ll compare these two apps and explore how IFTTT can enhance their capabilities through automation.

Note: Apple Calendar and iOS Calendar are the same thing. These terms are used interchangeably across the industry, so we'll be using them too.

Breaking down Apple Calendar vs Google Calendar

Before we take a look at more specific features and use cases, it's good to start with some background behind these tools and the core philosophy they follow.

iOS Calendar was designed with simplicity and integration in mind. As with most Apple software, its goal is to "just work." The app focuses on providing a clean, distraction-free experience where users can quickly add, view, and manage events without extra complexity. Its tight connection to the Apple ecosystem keeps everything in-house and simple for users who live primarily within their devices. iOS Calendar is not available on Android devices.

Google Calendar is less exclusive and was instead built around accessibility and collaboration. From the beginning, Google emphasized making the calendar cloud-based and available on any device with an internet connection. With Google Calendar, you are able to share, sync, and integrate with as many people and services as possible, whether you’re in a professional team setting or just trying to keep your family coordinated.

So, if you're here for a quick answer, iOS Calendar is optimal for Apple-centric users. Meanwhile, Google Calendar is for those who require cross-platform flexibility and enhanced collaboration. However, both tools have some nuances that we'll cover next.

Core features compared

With hundreds of millions of users apiece, it's obvious that both platforms have all the core features you'd expect from a digital calendar. This includes the ability to create, edit, and delete events, set reminders and alerts, manage recurring appointments, and view your schedule in multiple formats (day, week, month, or agenda). Both also support syncing across devices, time zone adjustments, and the ability to invite others to events.

Natural language input in the Apple Calendar allows event creation with everyday phrases. For instance, you can say, "Dinner with Alex at 7 PM tomorrow," and it’s done. Google Calendar matches this with smart suggestions. It provides event titles and locations based on previous entries.

iOS Calendar also has a "Travel Time" feature, which calculates the time to leave for events based on location. Again, it can leverage its integration with Apple Maps to make this possible. There's also Siri built in, and you can switch through different menus and features without tapping a button.

Similarly, Google Calendar features a popular "Find a Time" option. This helps coordinate meetings by checking availability among participants. Google Calendar also has greater integration with third-party apps.

Event management is where both shine. Each calendar supports recurring events, custom alerts, and offline access.

User experience and interface

The user experience can make or break how we interact with digital tools. Frankly, if we don't like the way a calendar looks, the chances that we will use it reliably go down. Thankfully, both Apple Calendar and Google Calendar offer great user interfaces.

Apple Calendar has a clean interface that provides easy navigation. Users find it intuitive, needing little to no learning curve. It functions much like all of the other iOS native apps, with consistent design, menus, and gesture-based controls that feel second nature to anyone with an iPhone or Mac.

We'd argue that Google Calendar offers the more feature-rich experience. Its interface is also clean, more playful than Apple's, but it packs more functionalities. The added options can overwhelm new users, but they offer depth for power users.

Both applications offer day, week, and month views. However, Google Calendar's ability to switch effortlessly between these views is a plus. The integrated search feature of Google Calendar stands out. It helps users find past and upcoming events with keywords.

Sharing and syncing calendars

One of the biggest differences between Apple Calendar and Google Calendar lies in how well they handle sharing and collaboration.

Apple Calendar allows you to share entire calendars with other Apple users through iCloud. This works perfectly if your friends, family, or coworkers also use Apple devices, since you can grant them access. However, outside the Apple ecosystem, calendar sharing becomes more limited and sometimes requires extra setup.

Google Calendar is a bit easier for complete collaboration. You can share calendars with anyone who has a Google account and set permissions ranging from full editing rights to simply viewing. This makes it the go-to option for team projects, group scheduling, or families who want to stay coordinated across different devices and platforms.

When it comes to syncing, both platforms keep events up-to-date across all your devices. Apple Calendar works smoothly within the Apple ecosystem, while Google Calendar offers broader accessibility.

If you often work with people outside the Apple ecosystem, Google Calendar is the more convenient choice. But if you’re an all-Apple household or individual, Apple Calendar’s iCloud syncing will feel effortless.

Calendar automations with IFTTT

Automating the way you manage your calendar can save you time and help reduce the burden of remembering every detail. Sometimes you might be reminded of an important task and don't have access to your calendar, or maybe you need event notifications sent to a specific app. Both Apple and Google Calendar offer some automations within each respective ecosystem, but they often fall short for more advanced tasks.

For whatever you wish your calendar app did, millions turn to IFTTT for no-code, no-frills integration. In this section, we'll learn everything there is to know about IFTTT and getting started with automating over 1000 different apps and services.

Choosing to automate with IFTTT means you'll be able to make custom Applets without any coding knowledge and browse our library of millions of user-created automations. Compare this to complex JavaScript programming normally needed to create custom automations, and it's clear that IFTTT provides the best solution for everyday people looking to work smarter.

Is IFTTT free?

IFTTT offers a free plan that includes access to up to two Applets. However, there are also Pro and Pro+ tiers that unlock additional features such as multiple actions per Applet, faster execution times, and advanced filtering options. If you’re just getting started with automation, our free plan should be enough.

How do I build my own Applet?

Creating your own Applet is easy. Just follow these steps:

• - Visit IFTTT.com/create.
• - Click on “If This” to select a trigger (e.g., a new event is triggered in Google Calendar).
• - Click on “Then That” to choose an action (e.g., send a reminder to a Slack channel).
• - Customize any options or filters, then save your Applet.

That’s it! Your automation will now run.

How does IFTTT use sensitive data?

IFTTT values your privacy and only uses the data required to run your chosen Applets. If any Applet involves a device or service that shares sensitive data (like location or email), IFTTT will ask for your permission. We never sell or share any sensitive data with any third party.

How do I suggest a new service for IFTTT?

IFTTT is always expanding its ecosystem and values feedback. If there's a specific device, app, or service you’d like to see integrated, you can suggest it through our support page. If a lot of users request a feature, we'll likely add it in the near future.

Staying on schedule with IFTTT

There’s nothing worse than being late to a meeting or forgetting an in-law’s birthday. With IFTTT, you can take a proactive approach to scheduling by getting a daily email summary, text message reminders, event forwarding, social media connections, and much more.

By setting up these kinds of automations, your calendar doesn’t just sit there passively; it becomes a dynamic tool.

We hope this article has given some insight into which calendar is best for you. The truth is, both platforms are excellent. Your decision comes down to whether you prioritize smooth classic Apple integration or cross-platform collaboration.

No matter which one you pick, adding IFTTT into the mix elevates your calendar into a powerful automation hub, helping you manage time, reduce stress, and never miss what matters most.