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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Calendars vs PocketLife Calendar

Calendars 4.7★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Calendars
PocketLife Calendar 4.7★ · Free + IAP 60

Calendars is the better choice for users seeking a feature-rich, customizable calendar with strong syncing capabilities and good customer support, despite recent paywall complaints.

Full reviews: Calendars · PocketLife Calendar

Both Calendars and PocketLife Calendar offer strong customization and color-coding, but Calendars generally provides more reliable syncing and better customer support. PocketLife Calendar users frequently report data loss and issues with recurring events, making Calendars a more dependable option for most users.

Head to head

Features & Customization edge: CalendarsR2R5R6R7
Calendars Calendars is praised for its extensive color-coding options, multiple views (month, week, tasks), and the ability to add task lists directly to the calendar R2R5R8. Users appreciate the detailed month-at-a-glance view and the ability to see event text without drilling down R8R47. However, some users lament that basic features like recurring events, multiple alarms, and advanced color editing have been moved behind a paywall R6R7R10R13.
PocketLife Calendar PocketLife Calendar is also highly valued for its color-coding and customization, allowing users to differentiate events easily . Users appreciate the ability to customize the start day of the week . However, some users desire more features, such as a notes section for each day , reminders in widgets , and the ability to save color mixes . Issues with setting multiple alarms and recurring events are also noted .
Ease of Use & UI edge: CalendarsR2R5R8R11
Calendars Many users find Calendars easy to use and navigate, praising its intuitive UI and UX, especially with recent updates R2R5. The month view is particularly highlighted for its clarity R8R47. However, some users find the new version less intuitive than its predecessor, Calendars 5 R11, and others report difficulty navigating between weeks R22 or issues with widget display .
PocketLife Calendar PocketLife Calendar is generally considered easy to use and navigate by its long-term users . However, recent updates have introduced frustrations, with users finding more steps required to add events and difficulties with settings customization . Some also report issues with word placement in multi-line events .
Reliability & Syncing edge: CalendarsR1R3R4R8
Calendars Calendars has mixed reviews regarding reliability. Many users report seamless syncing with Google and Apple calendars R47, and some have used it for years without issues R8R20. However, a significant number of recent reviews highlight critical problems like events disappearing R1R3R22R24, inconsistent syncing with shared calendars R9R20R39, and loading failures R4. Some users also report issues with the desktop version being glitchy or crashing .
PocketLife Calendar PocketLife Calendar faces significant reliability concerns, with numerous reports of all schedules and information being deleted or wiped clean, often multiple times . Syncing issues, particularly with shared calendars, are also a problem . Users report events disappearing and colors reverting to a default . Some also mention that events won't save .
Price & Value tieR6R7R9R10
Calendars Calendars is a freemium app, but many users are frustrated by features previously available for free or as a one-time purchase now being locked behind a subscription R6R7R9R10. Users who bought a lifetime license years ago report being harassed to 'upgrade' . There are also complaints about being charged after canceling a trial .
PocketLife Calendar PocketLife Calendar also operates on a freemium model with in-app purchases. Some users express disappointment that a lifetime subscription option never materialized, leading them to switch back to the free iOS calendar . Users report having to pay for each year's functionality and new charges for features like alarms that were previously included . The free version includes ads, some of which are inappropriate .
Support & Issues Resolution edge: CalendarsR14R42R45R47
Calendars Calendars receives positive feedback for its customer support, with users calling it 'top notch' and 'exceptional' when issues arise R14R47. However, some users report difficulties reaching human support, encountering AI instead R45, or not receiving responses for critical issues like data loss R42.
PocketLife Calendar PocketLife Calendar users frequently report a lack of accessible or effective customer support. Many reviews mention no customer service to help with data loss , ignored attempts for further help , or a general lack of support .
Privacy & Security tieR15R30R31R61
Calendars Some Calendars users express concerns about privacy, particularly regarding the app's insistence on accessing contacts R15 and the appearance of spam messages or appointments on their calendar R30R31. One user attributed spam appointments to Google's acquisition of the app R31.
PocketLife Calendar PocketLife Calendar also has reports of privacy concerns, with users experiencing scam alerts filling their calendar R61. One user specifically dislikes the requirement to sync with the phone's calendar, viewing it as a privacy intrusion . The presence of inappropriate ads in the free version is also a concern for family users .
Pick Calendars if

you prioritize a wide range of customization options, a generally intuitive user interface, and responsive customer support, and are willing to pay for premium features like recurring events and multiple alarms R2R5R14.

Pick PocketLife Calendar if

you are a long-time user accustomed to its interface and color-coding, and are willing to tolerate potential data loss issues and limited customer support .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of recent negative reviews, particularly regarding features moving behind paywalls and data loss. PocketLife Calendar's issues with data loss and lack of support appear more widespread and critical.

Frequently asked

Do Calendars and PocketLife Calendar offer free versions?
Yes, both Calendars and PocketLife Calendar offer free versions, but users report that essential features like recurring events, multiple alarms, and advanced customization are locked behind a paid subscription in Calendars R6R7R10R13, and similar limitations exist in PocketLife Calendar, including ads in the free tier .
Which app is better for syncing with other calendars?
Calendars generally offers more reliable syncing with Google and Apple calendars R47, though some users report occasional delays or inconsistencies R9R20R39. PocketLife Calendar also syncs with other calendars , but users frequently report critical data loss or deletion of events, which can affect synced calendars .
Are there issues with data loss in either app?
Yes, both apps have users reporting data loss, but it appears to be a more prevalent and severe issue for PocketLife Calendar, with multiple users stating their entire schedules and information were deleted repeatedly . Calendars also has reports of events disappearing R1R3R22R24, but less frequently described as a complete wipe.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Calendars 5/5 · US Excellent: So easy to use, everything color coded makes it easy to see at a glance.
  2. [R5] Calendars 5/5 · US Best calendar app in existence: update: they gave us so many new color options! I still would love to be able to label the colors! Also thanks for bringing the month’s tab back to the lower part of the screen! Makes the UX and UI sooo much better! What a great design team! This is my all time favorite app because it’s soooo much easier to use. Only things I wish it had were more color options an
  3. [R6] Calendars 3/5 · US Don’t bother if looking for free: Can’t even have weekly events repeat without buying Pro. Thanks but no thanks.
  4. [R7] Calendars 1/5 · US Not the best: I have used many calendar apps and you have to pay for repeat events like wth!! Over rated in my opinion. Use time tree!
  5. [R8] Calendars 5/5 · US Love iT: I have been using it for 5 years now. I use it everyday for my crazy work schedule . It works great for me . I love the month at glance !
  6. [R11] Calendars 5/5 · US Not easy to use: This new version is not an improvement. I used Calendars 5 as long as I could. I would prefer a physical date book to this new one.
  7. [R1] Calendars 1/5 · US Disappointed: Had this app for an about two years have lost all of my important dates twice! Look for a better and more reliable app!
  8. [R3] Calendars 3/5 · US Calendars kept dissapearing because you have to have an apple or Google calender already: My whole calender disappeared and the whole reason I had it was because I had deleted the Apple calendars app but it needs it for it to work? Defeats the whole purpose of a calender app
  9. [R4] Calendars 1/5 · US Could not even use because it wouldn’t load: Just like the title says.
  10. [R9] Calendars 3/5 · US No longer worth the money: I bought this app when it was a one time fee. Then they changed it to a subscription and I paid because it’s what I’m used to. But it is consistently behind in syncing with shared calendars, and my phones calendar now offers all of the same features, further making an annual subscription a waste of money, when I’m having to go into my phone calendar regularly to see thin
  11. [R10] Calendars 2/5 · US Free version does not allow recurring events: Looking for free basic cal but lack of ability to make events recurring makes this an incomplete calendar. Other functions seemed great.
  12. [R14] Calendars 5/5 · US Best calendar app!: Not only is the app itself easy to use and fully functional, if there’s ever an issue, their support team is top notch.
  13. [R42] Calendars 3/5 · US Not sure what happened: I’ve been using this calendar for years and have LOVED IT. Randomly in the last week, my calendar events all disappeared. iCloud backup is on and everything so I have no idea where it all went and it was really stressful. If someone reads this, I would love some help because I WANT to keep using this app!!!
  14. [R45] Calendars 3/5 · US Phone Sync: Waaaaaaaa, Calanders worked fine, then one day poof, would not sync with my phone. Tried to reach help but got AI… I have not learned how to talk to AI, ended up with all these things to try…no luck. Try something else, I paid for the year or I would leave.
  15. [R47] Calendars 5/5 · US Best Calendar app ever: I have used this app for several years now. I especially like the fact that I can look at the month and see the beginning text of each scheduled event of the month, so that I can see what event I have planned without digging into the individual date. It synchs perfectly with the Apple calendar so tapping on a date and time in my email creates the event in Calendars automat
  16. [R15] Calendars 3/5 · US Don’t insist on my contacts. Dont know who you are will enter as I use them in calendar.: In the middle of entering info about my dates the program is very insistent on contacts. Right now the use of AI is being questioned as Anthropomorphic Bot has indicated it can take over the internet. I will add any Contacts when I put them in the calendar.
  17. [R30] Calendars 3/5 · US Scammers: I have used this app with no problems for years, all of the sudden yesterday and today the same scam message popped in my calendar trying to get $$ . I hope your update fixes that
  18. [R31] Calendars 2/5 · US I liked it better before Google bought it.: I loved this app until Google bought it. Now I get appts scheduled on my calendar for two-3 weeks of one single appointment. Then I have to send a response to whoever is advertising, that I’m not going. These are spam email senders whom I have never had any contact with and would block if they had ever sent anything to my email. Somehow they can still se
  19. [R61] PocketLife Calendar 1/5 · US Hit by Scam: As soon as my calendar was linked, I was hit by a scam.
  20. [R13] Calendars 1/5 · US Very Sneaky! Features taken away and locked behind a monthly subscription: I was using this app for a long time on its basic level. Now, after the last “update”, they took several simple features away and locked behind a monthly subscription. Editing colors, multiple alarms for events and reminders have been stripped naked. That’s a hard NO for me. That’s like car manufacturers would suddenly ch
  21. [R20] Calendars 5/5 · US Sync: Been using this app since 2018 and still love it but it’s doesn’t seem to be syncing my changes in this app to my Google Calendar and therefore not on my watch. Maybe it’s just slow?
  22. [R39] Calendars 3/5 · US Something has happened…: This, and Calendars 5 (the predecessor), have been my go to phone calendar app for years. But recently, it been consistently boning me, by not updating my calendars in the cloud, and not being updated by them. (Multiple calendars, iCloud & Google) I’d love a force sync button or something. Too many times lately, I’ve put things in, or changed them, and it the next day or t
  23. [R22] Calendars 2/5 · US User interface: It’s hard to navigate between weeks and I’ve noticed some of my events I’ve made have just disappeared without a trace.
  24. [R24] Calendars 3/5 · US Couple things: Setup is great. 2 things I’m not a fan of. List view shows my todos. I don’t always want to see them so wish I could chose either way. Also it tends to erase my last scheduled items after like 2 years. There have been times I go back to find something from a specific date and it’s gone

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store