About Simple Calendar Pro
I picked up Simple Calendar Pro back in March because my work calendar was a mess of overlapping events and I needed something that just worked without all the bloat from apps like Google Calendar or Fantastical. The promise was simple: a clean calendar that syncs with Google, Outlook, and Exchange, with no ads and no nonsense. For the most part, it delivers on that. But after using it for several months, I’ve found it’s not as polished as I hoped. The interface is nice and minimal, but that minimalism sometimes hides important features. I remember last Tuesday, I was in a meeting at a coffee shop downtown and tried to check my schedule—the app lagged for a solid five seconds before loading the month view. Not a huge deal, but when you’re in a hurry, those seconds count.
Features & Highlights
The features are decent for a $2.99 app. You get day, week, month, and agenda views, which cover most scenarios. I rely heavily on the agenda view for my packed work week. Event colors are customizable, and I’ve assigned red for deadlines, blue for meetings, and green for personal stuff—that’s handy. Syncing with Google Calendar and Outlook works about 80% of the time. I’ve had events from my work Exchange account show up as blank blocks twice now, which forced me to delete and re-add the account. Recurring events are supported, but I noticed that if you change one instance of a recurring event (like moving a weekly stand-up to a different time), it sometimes duplicates the entire series. Backup and restore is there, but I haven’t needed it yet. Dark mode works well on my OLED screen, and widgets are functional—though they update slower than I’d like, often showing yesterday’s events until I tap them.
User Experience
Honestly, the user experience is a mixed bag. On the plus side, the app is fast to open and navigate once it’s loaded. I like that I can swipe between views without tapping tiny buttons. But there are nagging issues. The biggest problem I’ve had is with notifications. I set a reminder for a 2 PM client call last Thursday, and the notification popped up at 2:15 PM—completely useless. I’ve tried tweaking the notification settings, but it’s inconsistent. Sometimes it’s fine, sometimes it’s 15 minutes late. The search function is also weak. I typed “invoice meeting” and got zero results, even though I know I created that event. I had to scroll through three months manually. That’s not acceptable for a paid app I use daily. The learning curve isn’t steep, but there’s no tutorial, so I stumbled through syncing my accounts. I expected more polish given the price and the developer’s reputation.
Pricing
At $2.99, Simple Calendar Pro is cheap. There’s no subscription, which I respect. I bought it once and haven’t been asked for more money. That’s rare these days for a calendar app that actually syncs with multiple platforms. The free version of Simple Calendar has ads and fewer features, so the pro version is a fair upgrade. Is it a steal? Not really. For a few dollars more, you could get something like Fantastical or Calendars 5 on a sale, which have better features and reliability. But if you want a no-frills, ad-free calendar that doesn’t mine your data, the price is reasonable. I don’t regret spending the money, but I wouldn’t pay more than $5 for it in its current state.
Updates & Support
This is where my frustration really boils over. I contacted support about the notification delay issue three weeks ago. I sent a detailed email through the in-app feedback option and got an automated reply saying they’d get back to me within 48 hours. Then nothing. I followed up after a week, and finally got a vague response saying they’d “look into it” and to “try clearing the cache.” I did that, didn’t fix anything. They never followed up again. The app has received two updates since I’ve owned it, both vaguely described as “bug fixes and improvements,” but the notification issue persists. The developer seems to maintain the app, but support feels like an afterthought. If you run into a real problem, don’t expect quick help.
Security & Privacy
I care about privacy, especially since my work calendar contains client names and project details. Simple Calendar Pro claims it doesn’t collect any data, and it’s open source, which is a big plus. You can check the code yourself if that’s your thing. Everything stays on your device or your sync account—there’s no cloud server from the app itself. That’s great. But the syncing with Google and Outlook obviously goes through those companies’ servers, so don’t think you’re fully anonymous. The app also doesn’t have any kind of lock or Face ID protection, which is a missed opportunity. If someone grabs your phone, they can see all your events. For a paid app in 2024, that feels like a basic security feature they should add. I haven’t had any data leaks, but I’m a bit paranoid about it.
How do I customize event colors in Simple Calendar Pro?
You can assign custom colors to events by editing an event and selecting a color from the palette. For example, you can set red for deadlines, blue for meetings, and green for personal events to keep your calendar organized.
Does Simple Calendar Pro support recurring events without issues?
Recurring events are supported, but modifying a single instance of a recurring event, like moving a weekly stand-up to a different time, may sometimes duplicate the entire series. To avoid this, try editing the series instead of a single instance when possible.
Why are my notifications in Simple Calendar Pro delayed or inconsistent?
Notifications can be unreliable, with some reminders popping up 15 minutes late. To improve this, ensure the app has permission to run in the background and check your device's battery optimization settings, which may be delaying the alerts.
How can I fix blank events appearing after syncing my Exchange account?
If synced events from Exchange show up as blank blocks, you may need to delete and re-add the account in the app's settings. This usually resolves the issue, though syncing with Google and Outlook works about 80% of the time without problems.
How does Simple Calendar Pro compare to Google Calendar for daily use?
Simple Calendar Pro offers a cleaner, ad-free experience with no subscription fee, unlike Google Calendar which can feel bloated. However, it lacks Google Calendar's polished search and notification reliability, so it's better if you prioritize simplicity over advanced features.
