Routine vs Google Calendar - Detailed Comparison

Quick Summary

Routine Strengths

Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day's plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.
Centralized Workspace: Combines tasks, notes, and calendar in one space.

Google Calendar Strengths

Seamless Integration with Google Services: Google Calendar is tightly integrated with Google's ecosystem, including Gmail for event invitations, Google Meet for video conferencing directly from calendar invites, and Google Tasks for task management. This integration enhances productivity by keeping all tools in one accessible location.
Easy Event Scheduling and Sharing: The platform enables users to quickly add events, set reminders, and share their calendars with others. This feature is designed to facilitate collaboration and ensure that scheduling meetings or events is a hassle-free process, making it ideal for both personal and professional use.
Customizable Views and Event Colors: Users can customize their calendar views (day, week, month, or year) and assign colors to different events, making it easier to manage and visually distinguish between various types of appointments or tasks at a glance.
Recurring Events and Reminders: Google Calendar supports the creation of recurring events and configurable reminders, which can be set to notify users via email or pop-up messages. This ensures that important dates are not missed and helps in establishing routines.

Routine Screenshot

Google Calendar Screenshot

Feature Comparison

Feature	Routine	Google Calendar
Platforms	macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web	macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Integrations	Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks.	ClickUp, Google Tasks, Zoom, Slack, Salesforce, Google Docs
Calendar	Google Calendar, Notion, Slack, Zapier, Siri, Gmail	Yes
Task Management	No	NA for Calendar
Natural Language Processing	Offers task creation with date assignment via drag-and-drop	Yes
Analytics	No	No
Time Blocking	Available	Yes
Time Zones	Yes	Yes
Scheduler	No	Yes
Notifications	Yes	Yes
Pricing	$12 per month, annually	Free to use
Customer Support	Average	Average

Video Overview

Routine Video

Google Calendar Video

Routine Overview

Routine is a productivity tool that sets itself apart with its all-in-one approach, combining elements of task management, note-taking, and calendar integration into a single platform. Designed to cater to the needs of busy professionals and individuals seeking to streamline their organizational process, Routine offers a comprehensive solution for managing daily tasks, appointments, and notes. Its unique selling point is the integration of these features within an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easier for users to track their to-dos, schedule their days, and store important information in one place. This level of integration is particularly useful for those who prefer a unified system to manage various aspects of their work and personal life.

Pricing Details

(i) Free Version: Available for students and hobbyists, though with limited features. (ii) Professional Plan: Priced at $12 per month. (iii) Business Plan: Costs $15 per user per month. (iv) Believer Plan: Priced at $10 monthly or $8 per month for an annual commitment, totaling around $96 annually

Google Calendar Overview

Google Calendar is free-to-use calendar application that excels in event planning, appointment scheduling, and integrating seamlessly with Google's suite of services including Docs, Meet, and Tasks. It boasts features such as easy event scheduling, comprehensive integration with other Google services, sharing and collaboration tools, mobile access, automatic syncing across devices, customization options, and support for recurring events. Additionally, it offers functionalities like invitations and RSVP tracking, reminders, time management tools, search capabilities, holiday calendars, and weather integration for upcoming events.

Pricing Details

Free to use

Routine Key Features

Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day's plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.
Centralized Workspace: Combines tasks, notes, and calendar in one space.
Organization: Utilizes categories and tags for better event and task management.
Daily Plan: Helps in crafting focused daily tasks and important events.

Google Calendar Key Features

Seamless Integration with Google Services: Google Calendar is tightly integrated with Google's ecosystem, including Gmail for event invitations, Google Meet for video conferencing directly from calendar invites, and Google Tasks for task management. This integration enhances productivity by keeping all tools in one accessible location.
Easy Event Scheduling and Sharing: The platform enables users to quickly add events, set reminders, and share their calendars with others. This feature is designed to facilitate collaboration and ensure that scheduling meetings or events is a hassle-free process, making it ideal for both personal and professional use.
Customizable Views and Event Colors: Users can customize their calendar views (day, week, month, or year) and assign colors to different events, making it easier to manage and visually distinguish between various types of appointments or tasks at a glance.
Recurring Events and Reminders: Google Calendar supports the creation of recurring events and configurable reminders, which can be set to notify users via email or pop-up messages. This ensures that important dates are not missed and helps in establishing routines.
Mobile Accessibility and Offline Support: With its mobile app, Google Calendar offers the convenience of accessing and managing your schedule on the go. Additionally, offline support means you can view your calendar and receive notifications even without an internet connection.
Time Zone Support and Working Hours: This feature is particularly useful for those working across different time zones, as it automatically adjusts meeting times accordingly. Setting working hours also helps in managing availability, preventing meetings from being scheduled outside of these times.

Conclusion: Which Tool Should You Choose?

Both Routine and Google Calendar offer unique features and benefits for productivity and workflow management. The best choice depends on your specific needs, team size, and workflow preferences.

Choose Routine if:

Timeline Agenda: Offers a detailed view of the day's plan with timestamps, including meeting and event reminders, with options to time-block tasks.
Week Calendar: Provides a 5-day, week, and month view for task planning, integrating seamlessly with Google Calendar.
Console Capture: A desktop feature for capturing events, notes, and tasks outside the application, ideal for GTD enthusiasts.

Try Routine

Choose Google Calendar if:

Seamless Integration with Google Services: Google Calendar is tightly integrated with Google's ecosystem, including Gmail for event invitations, Google Meet for video conferencing directly from calendar invites, and Google Tasks for task management. This integration enhances productivity by keeping all tools in one accessible location.
Easy Event Scheduling and Sharing: The platform enables users to quickly add events, set reminders, and share their calendars with others. This feature is designed to facilitate collaboration and ensure that scheduling meetings or events is a hassle-free process, making it ideal for both personal and professional use.
Customizable Views and Event Colors: Users can customize their calendar views (day, week, month, or year) and assign colors to different events, making it easier to manage and visually distinguish between various types of appointments or tasks at a glance.

Try Google Calendar