How individuals can get the most out of a free Cal.com account

A powerful scheduling tool, right out of the box

Your time is valuable. That’s why even the free Cal.com account is designed to help you manage your availability, eliminate back-and-forth emails, and get booked faster. Whether you’re a freelancer, coach, student, or startup founder - if you’re scheduling meetings, sessions, or consultations, Cal.com makes it easier.

Here’s how to make the most of your free account.

1. Set up your public booking page

Once you sign up, Cal.com creates a personalized booking page just for you. This is the link you’ll share with others to let them pick a time that works.

You can:

• Set your default availability (so you never get booked outside work hours)

• Add buffer time before/after meetings (avoid back to back meetings in case a meeting runs over or to give you chance for a breather)

• Customize time zones, meeting lengths, and more

• Personalize your page with your name, photo, and description

Your free Cal.com page can be shared via link, added to your email signature, or even embedded on your website. More on how to do this here.

2. Connect your calendar to prevent double-bookings

Cal.com syncs with Google Calendar, Outlook, iCloud, and more.

Once connected, Cal.com automatically hides any unavailable times based on your existing events to avoid you getting double-booked. Your booking page always stays up-to-date. On the free plan, you can connect one calendar, which is perfect for solo users or anyone managing a personal schedule.

3. Use your default event type

Cal.com allows one active event type on the free plan, which is perfect for recurring meeting types like:

• 30-minute intro calls

• 1-hour coaching sessions

• Weekly office hours or check-ins

Your event type acts as a template—you can set:

• Event name, duration, and location (Zoom, Google Meet, phone, etc.)

• Minimum notice and scheduling limits

• Custom intake questions

• Buffer times and meeting limits per day

Once it’s set, your event type will run on autopilot. Just share your booking link and let people schedule themselves.

4. Add your video conferencing tool

Cal.com integrates seamlessly with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and more. Once connected, Cal.com will automatically create meeting links for each booking—no more manual setup or back-and-forth emails.

You can also include custom meeting locations, like a physical address or call instructions.

5. Share your link (and let go of scheduling stress)

The power of Cal.com is in how easy it is to share your booking link:

• Drop it in emails or DMs

• Add it to your website or Linktree

• Include it in your social media bios

• Embed it directly on your website so clients can book without leaving the page

No matter how you share it, you’re letting people book a time that works for both of you—without the inbox ping-pong.

6. Take control with time zone intelligence

Cal.com automatically detects your invitee’s time zone and shows only times that make sense for both parties. No more manual conversions or awkward “Wait, what time is that for you?” messages. It’s especially helpful if you’re working with international clients, remote teams, or distributed collaborators.

Bonus: Why so many businesses upgrade

The free plan gives you everything you need to start scheduling like a pro. But if your needs grow, you can upgrade to access:

• Multiple event types (for different kinds of meetings)

• Team scheduling (round robin, collective, and group events)

• Advanced workflows (reminders, follow-ups, etc.)

• Payments via Stripe

• Routing forms for lead qualification

• Analytics, integrations, and admin controls

Final thoughts: Simple, powerful, free

You don’t need to pay to make your schedule smarter. With Cal.com’s free account, you get a powerful scheduling tool that’s fast, flexible, and built to reduce friction—so you can spend less time managing meetings and more time doing the work that matters. Start with one event type. Set your hours. Share your link.

That’s it - you're ready to get booked. You can get going here.