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Google Calendar vs Radicale

Radicale scores 23 out of 30 and Google Calendar scores 16. Radicale is ahead on footprint, lock-in, self-direction, power and longevity. Google Calendar is ahead on delivery.

Google Calendar

The giant

16/30 · Mixed

The calendar most of us share a schedule through, kept inside one big company's account.

Radicale

The small tool

23/30 · Leaning convivial

A small calendar and contacts server that keeps everything as plain files in a folder.

Footprint
2
4
Lock-in
3
5
Self-direction
2
3
Power
1
4
Longevity
3
4
Delivery
5
3
Price
Free
Free to self-host
Source
Closed source
Open source (GPLv3)
Runs on
Web, iOS, Android
Self-hosted server
Maker
XL · Extra large
M · Medium

What you give up by switching

Radicale is a server, so it has no phone app of its own and you pair it with a client such as DAVx5 on Android. Its page names no developers, no funding and no supported platforms, so Longevity and Power rest on the licence and the plain-files design.

How to move

Export your calendar from Google as an ICS file, import it into Radicale (it keeps everything as plain files in a folder), and point DAVx5 or another CalDAV client at it.

Scores are our opinion on six questions from Ivan Illich, based on public sources and dated October 2026. Read the full reviews of Google Calendar and Radicale, or see how we score.

Visit Radicale More tools for “keep my schedule to myself”