Outlook vs. Other Digital Calendars: Which Will Revolutionize Your Life?

On the afternoon of the first Tuesday in March 2018, you were alive. You had a day full of thoughts, emotions and experiences, and yet, do you remember any of them? Unless that Tuesday was unusually important to you, chances are you remember it as much as what you ate for breakfast two weeks ago.

The vast majority of days in your life pass without warning, but some are different. Some are special. Some days change the fundamental course of your life, its memory engraved in your psyche. Because on days like these, you finally ask the burning questions that have haunted your thoughts and dreams for years. On a rare and monumental day like today, you finally decide which digital calendar to use.

Players

As you can imagine, there are many great digital calendar options to choose from. Each offers unique strengths that are offset by their weaknesses. Which one you choose depends on which one addresses your needs as an individual. With this in mind, here is a brief overview of some of the best players in the game.

Outlook, developed by Microsoft, is a widely used digital calendar with a strong presence in professional environments. Google Calendar is a cloud-based platform offered by Google created to encourage collaboration. Calendar.com It is intended to simplify programming and equipment and help its users to improve their productivity. Finally, at least discussed in this article, Trello is a project management calendar that allows users to take a visual, Kanban-style approach to planning.

panorama

Advantages:

• Seamless integration: Outlook integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office Suite products. This allows for more efficient management of emails, tasks, and contacts along with your calendar. It is easy to get information from one Suite program and transfer it to another.
• Robust features: Outlook offers many support features such as conditional formatting, customizable views, and advanced categorization. It also supports complex scheduling, resource management, and meeting invites. These robust support features are ideal for large enterprises.
• Offline accessibility: Unlike most of the other options on this list, Office is still useful when you’re offline. You can still access and make changes to your calendar without an internet connection. Your updates will sync the next time you have a signal. This makes Office an attractive option for frequent travelers.

Cons:

• Limited cross-platform support: While Outlook is technically available on multiple platforms, its integration and functionality work best on Windows. The Outlook experience on Mac or other operating systems may not be as smooth or efficient.
• Steep learning curve: Outlook’s extensive features and customizable options can make learning overwhelming. New or less tech-savvy users may experience difficulties with their learning curve. Additional technical support may be required during the initial phases of integration.

Outlook’s emphasis on professional utility informs much of its design. It’s a great option to consider for business-minded, tech-savvy individuals and teams. It’s easy to recommend if you’re already using other programs in the Microsoft Suite.

google calendar

Advantages:

• Collaboration and Sharing: Google Calendar excels at collaboration. Can easy sharing complete dates, events and calendars with others. You can invite attendees to events and customize permissions. This makes it easy to recommend for individuals, friends, families, and teams.
• Easy Sync: Gcal syncs seamlessly across multiple devices, platforms, and operating systems. You can switch between desktop and mobile, web browsers and apps, and your information is preserved. This accessibility ensures that you can access and manage your calendar anywhere with an Internet connection.
• Third-party integrations: Like Outlook, Google Calendar integrates seamlessly with other Google services like Gmail, Meet, and Tasks. This creates a cohesive productivity ecosystem that can scale.

Cons:

• Limited customization options: Google Calendar’s basic customization options will suffice for the average user. But those looking for extensive customization options may want to look elsewhere. Advanced features are few and far between.
• Dependence on Google: By design, you are encouraged to adopt other Google services to maximize the benefits of your Calendar. Those investing in other productivity and workflow ecosystems may find the Gcal options lacking.

Probably the most ubiquitous option in this article, Google Calendar’s main strength is its scalability. It’s great for people from many walks of life and can adapt as you and your business change. Just keep in mind that Gcal is best used in conjunction with other Google products.

Calendar.com

Advantages:

• Intuitive interface: Calendar.com provides one of the cleanest and easiest to use interfaces on the market. It’s easy to navigate and manage different events with its intuitive screen. This focus on simplicity and ease makes it attractive to those looking for a simpler solution.
• Smart Scheduling Features: This digital calendar leverages AI to suggest optimal meeting times, reduce double bookings, and even automate scheduling. These features can save time and increase productivity opportunities by streamlining appointment management.
• Application Integration: Calendar.com offers excellent integration with various third party applications. Users can connect their calendars with popular work apps like Zoom, Slack, and Salesforce.

Cons:

• Relatively new: As a newer player in the digital calendar space, Calendar.com doesn’t have the same level of ubiquitous brand recognition as other players. This leads to a smaller user base with less extensive documentation and troubleshooting in the community.
• Limited traditional advanced features: Compared to more established platforms, this option offers relatively few traditional advanced features. Bigger players like Outlook with Microsoft Suite or Gcal with other Google products can provide more self-integration.

Calendar.com’s offerings emphasize a number of features that some of the more established players don’t have. Calendar’s emphasis is on AI integration and increased productivity. Calendar.com is an especially great option if you or your team use a lot of popular third-party software.

Trello

Advantages:

• Visual organization: Trello’s Kanban-style boards provide a unique way to organize tasks and events. Originating in Japan, this workflow pipeline uses visual boards, lists, and cards to represent various aspects of project completion. You can easily see your calendar at a glance and drag and drop tasks to different dates or categories.
• Flexibility: This project management calendar is highly flexible and customizable so you can tailor it to your specific needs. You can create different boards for various projects or areas of your life, customizing them with labels, due dates, and descriptions.
• Third-party integration – Like Calendar.com, Trello excels at integrating with third-party apps and services. This allows you to connect your calendar with tools you use regularly and streamline your workflow.

Cons:

• Limited Month/Week View: Trello’s Kanban-style boards are primarily designed for task management. This means that the month or week view may not be as comprehensive or detailed as in more dedicated calendar apps. This can be inconvenient if you rely heavily on a more traditional calendar layout.
• Learning Curve: Trello is an amazing planning and management tool. But new users may encounter initial confusion when learning its unique Kanban-style system. It can take some time to understand and use all of Trello’s capabilities.

Overall, Trello can be a flexible and highly visual way to organize your tasks and events. It’s a unique alternative to traditional calendars, which prioritizes project management over date keeping. It’s a great choice for productivity-minded individuals and teams interested in embracing a new workflow.

Update your calendar and yourself

Today is different. Today you read about some of the best digital calendar options in 2023. Now, which option you choose depends on your individual needs and preferences. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and it is essential to consider which one is most useful for you. Ultimately, the best digital calendar is the one that allows you to get the most leverage out of your job and your life.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Karolina Grabowska; pixels; Thank you!

The charge Decide between Outlook and your other digital calendar options first appeared in Calendar.