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Cal.com

By Cal.com

Bookings & Scheduling / Booking & Reservations

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Cal.com Review - In-Depth Analysis

Embed Cal.com booking calendar in WordPress with custom UI and admin widget support. It allows easy appointment booking and meeting scheduling.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.76/10

User Rating

3.7/5 (based on 3+ reviews)

Active Installations

2,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Cal.com is an open-source alternative to Calendly that allows easy appointment booking and meeting scheduling.

This plugin enables you to embed your Cal.com booking calendar inline, as a popup, or as a floating widget. You can customize the UI with theme colors, layout, and event details visibility.

Additionally, it allows you to pre-fill user information and add UTM tracking parameters. Use the new admin widget customizer for real-time previews.

Comparing to Alternatives

Cal.com offers a WordPress plugin for calendar integration but faces competition from several established appointment and booking plugins.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Open-source alternative to popular scheduling tools with strong product design and user experience
Easy integration with WordPress sites
Positive reception from users appreciating its UX
No cost for the plugin as no pro version is promoted

Weaknesses

Known security vulnerability with no fix available yet
Limited testing and compatibility issues with latest WordPress versions
Smaller user base and fewer reviews compared to alternatives
Lack of premium features or advanced support options

User Sentiment Analysis

User ratings are mixed with equal positive and negative feedback, reflecting both appreciation for design and issues with functionality.

Positive highlights

"My favorite calendar tool now has a killer WP plugin" – Alex Medick
Praised for better product design and user experience compared to competitors
Users value the open-source nature and integration capabilities

Common complaints

Plugin does not work with WordPress version 6.9 causing 404 errors
Call link functionality is broken and unresolved

Weaknesses

Compatibility issues with recent WordPress versions
Unresolved security vulnerability involving stored cross-site scripting
Limited support and updates noted by users

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for an open-source scheduling plugin with a strong UX design and willing to manage potential compatibility issues.

Not ideal for

Those needing a fully stable, regularly updated plugin with guaranteed compatibility and security fixes, or requiring advanced premium features.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free plugin offers core calendar integration features without any cost.

Final Verdict

Cal.com provides a well-designed, open-source WordPress calendar plugin that appeals to users valuing UX and integration. However, it currently suffers from compatibility issues with recent WordPress versions and a known security vulnerability without a fix, which may limit its reliability.

Given the availability of many alternatives with more stable support and features, users should weigh the benefits of Cal.com's design against its technical drawbacks and security concerns before choosing it for their scheduling needs.