Cloud Calendars vs Calendars by Readdle on iOS
Calendars by Readdle is built for task-centric time-blockers who want to drag iOS Reminders or Google Tasks onto an hourly grid, track recurring habits, and sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch under Calendars PRO (~$19.99/year). Cloud Calendars is built for people who keep checklists separate and want a cleaner, weather-first iPhone and iPad calendar—including Google Calendar sync, iCloud access, side-by-side multi-calendar columns, and a full Apple WeatherKit hub in its $0 Free plan ($4.99/year ad-free). Arte Soft develops Cloud Calendars and publishes this comparison.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison Matrix
| Capability | Cloud Calendars | Calendars by Readdle |
|---|---|---|
| Core calendar views | Day, Week (portrait & landscape), Month, Year, List & Multi-calendar per-source columns | Day, Week, Month, Year, List Agenda & pull-out Tasks/Planner sidebar |
| Tasks & habit tracking | Events & dual alerts only (no Google Tasks, Reminders, or habit checklists) | Drag-and-drop Google Tasks or iOS Reminders onto timeline + recurring routines/habits (PRO) |
| Weather integration | Full Apple WeatherKit hub (hourly, 10-day, wind/gusts, UV, rain) + tap hour to draft (Free) | Optional weather icons in PRO planner settings; no full 10-day meteorological hub |
| Event entry shortcuts | Structured form, drag/resize on grid & one-tap forecast-hour draft | Natural-language phrase input (PRO), task drag-blocking & structured form |
| Conferencing links | Google Meet (Free) and Microsoft Teams (Premium) | Google Meet, Zoom & Microsoft Teams links (unlocked with multi-account PRO) |
| Widgets & Live Activity | 3 Home Screen widget sizes (date+weather, timed events) + Lock Screen Live Activity | Agenda, Month & task Home/Lock Screen widgets + Apple Watch app |
| Single-event & calendar sharing | Provider invites + Cloud Calendars link/QR/email sharing & iPhone App Clip preview | Standard Google, Outlook & iCloud attendee invitations |
Account Sync, Task Backends, and Apple Hardware Support
Readdle’s Calendars app connects directly to Google, Outlook, and iCloud calendars and lets you pick iOS Reminders or Google Tasks inside Task Options so checking off an item on your timeline updates the original task list. It also ships native macOS and Apple Watch apps.
Cloud Calendars targets iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS 18.0+) exclusively, combining iOS EventKit access (for iCloud, CalDAV, and ICS feeds without app-specific passwords) with direct Sign in with Google (Free) and Sign in with Microsoft (Premium).
Account Sync, Protocol & Platform Support
| Provider / Dimension | Cloud Calendars | Calendars by Readdle |
|---|---|---|
| Google Calendar | Sign in with Google OAuth + Meet links in Free tier | Direct Google Calendar + Google Tasks sync (multiple accounts in PRO) |
| Microsoft 365 / Outlook | Sign in with Microsoft OAuth + Teams (Premium) or iOS Exchange | Direct Outlook / Exchange connection (PRO for unlimited accounts) |
| Apple iCloud & CalDAV | Via iPhone/iPad Calendar Accounts (EventKit permission); Free | Local/iOS calendars & direct iCloud sync |
| ICS URL Subscriptions | Reads subscribed ICS feeds configured in iOS Settings | Reads subscribed calendars via iOS or connected accounts |
| Supported Platforms | iPhone & iPad (iOS / iPadOS 18.0+) | iPhone, iPad, Mac & Apple Watch |
| Offline & Local Mode | Zero-account local calendars + mirrored offline iOS store records | Local calendar support + offline cache of synced accounts |
Pricing Comparison and Best Choice by Workflow
If you combine Google Calendar and iCloud on iPhone/iPad without needing task lists or a Mac app, Cloud Calendars includes every view and the full WeatherKit hub at $0 (with ads) or $4.99/year on Advanced (no ads). Adding Microsoft Outlook/Teams moves you to Cloud Calendars Premium ($49.99/year).
Calendars by Readdle offers a free base download and unlocks unlimited accounts, natural-language entry, Planner task dragging, conferencing, and Mac/Watch access via Calendars PRO (~$19.99/year or a ~$59.99 lifetime purchase, varying by region and legacy purchase history).
Pricing & Best Choice by User Scenario
| User Scenario | Cloud Calendars | Calendars by Readdle | Recommended Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google + iCloud + hourly weather on iPhone at lowest cost | $0 Free or $4.99/yr Advanced (ad-free) | ~$19.99/yr PRO for full multi-account & weather | Cloud Calendars |
| Dragging Google Tasks or Reminders onto free hours | No task list integration | Built-in Planner sidebar with two-way task completion | Calendars by Readdle |
| Microsoft Outlook + Google + Mac + Apple Watch under $25/yr | $49.99/yr Premium; iPhone & iPad only | Calendars PRO (~$19.99/yr) includes Outlook, Mac & Watch | Calendars by Readdle |
| Side-by-side per-calendar columns + 10-day WeatherKit hub | Dedicated Multi-calendar columns + wind/UV/rain Weather Hub | Single combined timeline + basic forecast icons | Cloud Calendars |
| Sharing a single event via link/QR/App Clip without full calendar | Built-in Reader/Writer/Owner event & calendar links | Standard email attendee invitations | Cloud Calendars |
| One-time lifetime purchase option | Free tier or monthly/yearly subscriptions | Offers ~$59.99 lifetime purchase alongside annual PRO | Calendars by Readdle |
Side-by-Side Columns vs Task-Blocking Sidebar
Readdle treats open space on your calendar as slots waiting to be filled from your task backlog. If you practice strict daily time-blocking from Google Tasks or Apple Reminders, that drag-and-drop loop is genuinely cohesive.
If task chips cluttering your calendar stress you out, Cloud Calendars keeps your grid dedicated to real time commitments—giving each calendar its own side-by-side column in Multi-calendar Day view and pairing hours with live WeatherKit forecasts.
Checking Current vs Legacy Entitlements Before Switching
Readdle’s help documentation covers both legacy paid upgrades and modern Calendars PRO subscriptions, so always verify the exact paywall screen inside the installed app after any 7-day trial.
Test a disposable event (and task, if evaluating Readdle) on your own phone first so you confirm two-way updates before changing daily habits.
What it looks like
What to do
- Decide whether you want tasks/habits inside your calendar timeline or kept in a separate to-do app.
- Compare Cloud Calendars’ Multi-calendar columns and WeatherKit hub against Readdle’s Planner task sidebar.
- Check if Mac or Apple Watch apps are required alongside your iPhone and iPad.
- Test one disposable event edit on Google or iCloud and confirm it syncs back cleanly.
- Review the exact local App Store subscription or lifetime terms before paying.
Questions
- Does Cloud Calendars sync Apple Reminders or Google Tasks like Calendars by Readdle?
- No. Cloud Calendars focuses strictly on calendar appointments, alerts, multi-calendar columns, and WeatherKit forecasts. Choose Calendars by Readdle if dragging tasks onto your day grid is essential.
- Which app is cheaper for combining Google Calendar and iCloud on iPhone?
- Cloud Calendars includes Google Calendar sync, iCloud access, all 5 views, weather, and widgets in its $0 Free plan, and removes ads for $4.99/year on Advanced.
- Does Cloud Calendars have a Mac app like Calendars by Readdle?
- No. Cloud Calendars runs on iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS 18+). Readdle offers a macOS and Apple Watch app under Calendars PRO.