The Great Switch: Switching Appointment Booking Tools (European and non-US Calendly Alternatives)

And after a short, unexpected break, I’m back with a new edition of The Great Switch, where I explore how ordinary people, including freelancers and small business owners like myself, can shift away from our dependence on US-based SaaS and tech.

Why, you ask? (Skip this if you already know my thoughts, which I’ve also outlined here).

I think that moving away from US-based companies and towards software and digital solutions that are either Open Source, or Europe-based, or produced by other ethical businesses around the globe is an act of futures thinking and resilience building—in such a volatile world, is it really such a good idea to be so dependent on the US for our ever-growing digital needs?

For me, it’s also a small action to show how appalled I am at the shenanigans within the US government. The disregard for human life with the decisions around USAID, the deplorable treatment of Zelensky by Trump and Vance, the firing of critical (and loyal!) staff willy-nilly, the government’s stance on climate change and Canada and Greenland and education and DEI…

Enough. Suffice to say, I want to invest my money with companies and countries that align more with my values.

Whether you’re interested in becoming more resilient, supporting European businesses or you want to use your cash as a tool for protest—welcome.

Today: Online Appointment Booking Alternatives to Calendly, Zoho Bookings, and Other US-Based Providers

TL;DR – My Top 3 Choices

These aren’t affiliate links—just direct links to what worked best for me:

• SimplyMeet.me – This is the tool that I’ve chosen to use. It’s simple, functional, and gives me everything I need, including CalDav integration (critical if you, like me, don’t use Google or Outlook calendars). The company started life in Iceland and is now headquartered in Cyprus, with servers in Canada, France, and Singapore. At $9.99/month (when paid annually), the price is comparable to Calendly—and they offer a free plan.
• YouCanBook.me – Based in the UK, this platform is impressively versatile. Whether you’re booking coaching sessions, hair appointments, or just managing a busy diary, it’s got you covered. It supports loads of integrations—including Fastmail calendars—and costs €8.10/month (annually) for two calendars. Free plan available, too.

A Deeper Dive (Still Scannable, I promise!)

What is an Appointment Scheduling Tool?

In plain terms, an appointment scheduling tool is a digital service that allows people to book time with you, based on your availability, without all the back-and-forth of email. Think: syncing with your calendar, automating reminders, managing cancellations, and even accepting payments in some cases. For solopreneurs, small businesses, and service providers, it’s a huge time-saver—and in today’s digital-first world, practically essential.

Non-US Alternatives (Open Source, European- and non-US Based, or Ethical & Sustainable)

Below is a list of promising services, all with free trials. Again, there are no affiliate links here, so I am not swayed by the money I’ll make by making you “click.” Instead, I’ve provided a quick overview of features that might be useful.

As always, please make sure to do your own research before choosing a provider. I do my best to curate, but there may be errors or updates. Your switch = your choice.

Excited to try:

Honourable mention:

And that’s what I have for you today.

The Great Switch: My Journey So Far

In each updates, I try to provide a quick outline of my progress in switching providers.

My switch to pCloud is now fully complete, and working perfectly. It look a little bit of time to figure out some of the differences to Dropbox, but all sorted. Happy.

• Office Suite → Migrating from MS Office to LibreOffice (started in 2025 and now an active work in progress). Still ongoing.

My switches:

• March 2025: Last Calendly booking forms → SimplyBookMe.
• March 2025: Dropbox → pCloud (plus local backup).

Before this “switching” project started:

• Email & Calendar → Switched to Fastmail years ago.
• Time Tracking → Used Toggl for ages.
• Browser → Primarily use Firefox, now also looking at Vivaldi.

On the list (to assess or move):

• Newsletter tool (from Mailchimp → something else)
• Book keeping tool (from Zoho books → something else)
• CRM tool (from  Bigin → something else)
• MS Office (from MS Office → Libre Office)
• Video conferencing (from Zoom – so sad, I love Zoom! → something else)
• Online whiteboard (from Mural – so sad, I love Mural! – → something else)

And that’s it!

Hopefully this was useful and not to arduous to scan.

If you want to reduce reliance on US-based services, follow The Great Switch. Sign up for my newsletter on LinkedIn or at The Great Switch for weekly(-ish) updates, alternative software ideas, and insights into my own steps to move away from US-based digital tools and services. No ads, no affiliate links—just practical recommendations to help you make the switch, support European digital businesses (along with Open Source developers and businesses that look interesting outside the US), and build resilience in uncertain times.

Here’s to co-creating hopeful, sustainable futures,

Useful resources:

• European Alternatives:
  https://european-alternatives.eu/