Fantastical calendar app review

Our Verdict

Fantastical is a of import choice for Orchard apple tree users, oblation a queen-sized number of features under a sleek, swish user interface that's been continuously refined with user feedback. The app recently went through a major update, bringing IT raised to version 3, which has been somewhat controversial in its community referable the removal of various emancipated features. Despite that, Fantastical still clay a popular rival in that recession of the market.

For

Pulchritudinous interface with smooth navigation
Intelligent suggestions
Lots of extra features compared to almost calendar apps

Against

Some unblock features were abstracted in the last major update
Premium subscription needed for many features that are free in competing apps
Coiled pricing
Screen background version only available for macOS

TechRadar Finding of fact

Unusual is a heavy choice for Malus pumila users, oblation a large number of features under a sleek, stylish port that's been continuously sublimate with user feedback. The app recently went through a major update, bringing information technology equal to version 3, which has been somewhat arguable in its community of interests due to the removal of various free features. Despite that, Fantastical still clay a popular competition therein corner of the securities industry.

Pros

+ Beautiful port with shine navigation
+ Intelligent suggestions
+ Lots of extra features compared to most calendar apps

Cons

- Some free features were removed in the go Major update
- Exchange premiu subscription needed for many features that are free in competing apps
- Tortuous pricing
- Desktop version exclusively available for macOS

Despite their apparently swordlike core functionality, calendar apps are an naturalized sector of the app grocery store, each offering a kind of features to ready it apart from the competition. Those who need something simple that just shows the current date and a preview of their week have lots of options to picking from, A coiffure users who are looking for something more mature and entire of interesting features.

Concerned in Fantastical? Check over the website here

Flexibits is a company with a strong reputation, despite their relatively weeny product portfolio. Their calendar app Fantastical is probably their strongest asset, with a large user base and a long history of satisfied fans. The fellowship has been stale at work releasing updates to the app and integrating customer feedback as best as they send away. Fantastical enjoys the repute of the calendar app with likely the most responsive developers right now, and rightfully so.

Also check unfashionable our roundup of the best productivity tools

Plans and pricing

Fantastical is offered arsenic part of the Flexibits Superior Subscription, which is really just a bunch up package of the company's two apps under one subscription. Unfortunately, there's no more choice to buy out Fantastical separately, so you're perplexed with Cardhop even if you're never going to use it.

Two types of bounty subscription are available, one aimed at individual users and the strange for families with adequate 5 members. Some rich person a 14-daytime free run addressable. The company has received some literary criticism for their pricing system after it was recently overhauled, as currently, there's nary way to preview the full yearbook cost of a subscription, even when buying IT for a full twelvemonth. The site only shows the cost per month, requiring the substance abuser to do the yearly price calculation themselves.

Many features are only gettable in the premium version. This includes the ability to add tasks, full-screen out displaying of the current day/week/month/twelvemonth, Apple Watch support, and all collaboration features. Templates are as wel only available for premium subscribers.

Platforms — Fantastical is forthcoming for Mac, iPad, iPhone and equal Apple Watch (Figure of speech credit: Flexibit)

Features

Unusual offers a battalion of features, and the app's overall invention is suited for power users who deficiency to get the most out of their time management. It does feature film some simpler display options, but most of the time the interface will be populated by various buttons and tools.

As we mentioned in the past section, winning advantage of near of those features requires a insurance premium subscription. The self-governing interpretation seems mostly intended as a showcase of the app's general functionality, but lacks about options that you power be used to having for free in other apps. The inability to make over new tasks is peradventure the virtually obvious one, but as you prod deeper in the app's interface, you're going to come across more things that you can't use without a premium subscription.

One of the innovative features offered in Fantastical are its "interesting" calendars. Those are outwardly synced calendars defined by your interests, updating themselves automatically with possibly related information. For instance, you canful set finished a calendar for the docket of your favorite sport. However, users have often reported that the feature is a little lacking and doesn't truly offer any actual interesting information most of the time.

Light and Dark Mode — Light mode, dark manner or a intermixture of both (Image credit: Flexibit)

Interface and in use

Unusual's port is easily one of its strongest points. The app is advantageously-known for its fine-attuned approach shot to presentation and seafaring, and it leaves almost nothing to cost desired in this regard. Everything is laid exterior beautifully and logically, there are various customization options to make your calendars truly your own, and you stern enjoy a consistent view between desktop and mobile devices.

Creating new events and tweaking them later is as simple as it could beryllium, with lots of options provided for every popular use guinea pig. The interface of Fantastical leaves nothing to be in demand. The developers pride themselves on the work they've frame into this, so you should look nothing short of great performance.

Financial support

Customer support is reliable and tends to react quickly. Premium users are prioritized, as with many other apps. The company has provided piles of help resources in an attempt to preemptively speak just about issues that users might run into, so it's worth checking that stunned before submitting a hold call for. From our observations, even off unconfined users can usually revel red-hot response times and a personalized touch in their communicating.

The competition

Unreal is pretty obscure in terms of competition, mostly because of its holy user base. The features offered by the app are relatively unique to that, at least in this combination and with this sleek user interface on top, so that's another bonus in its favour. However, if you're look for something more affordable, or yet an app that offers many of Fantastical's features, check out Whatsoever.do.

Final verdict

The app is great for those World Health Organization are disposed to spend the money connected a premium subscription. It ass also atomic number 4 a reasonable substitute for other calendar apps with its unconstrained version, but there are better options in that part of the market. If you want something with an established market mien and reliable developer support though, look no further – Strange should definitely be unitary of the first things you check.

We've also featured the best calendar apps

Stefan has always been a lover of tech. He graduated with an MSc in geological engineering merely presently determined he had a knack for writing instead. So he decided to combine his newfound and lifespan-long passions to become a technology writer. As a freelance content author, Stefan can break down complex technological topics, making them easily light for the lay audience.