When2Meet Coordinating group events should not be a hassle. When2meet makes it even worse. Every time I try using When2meet I find it to be a total mess: there are so many calendar tabs to switch between, there are constantly availability conflicts, and it’s a constant battle on all fronts to get the group on the same page. I wanted to find a better solution.
That’s when I decided to create Timeful. This When2meet alternative is open source, and designed to be better. Timeful retains the same functionality when it comes to group scheduling, just more intelligent. It has a better, more user friendly, interface and is specifically designed to use Google Calendar for more streamlined scheduling.
Why Make a Better Version of When2meet?
When2meet is a service that has been in operation for a long time. While When2meet has some utility, I’ve found that it is missing some things. Some of When2meet’s core users appreciate the service, but understand the following limitations:
- Design is somewhat outdated
- No options for calendar sync
- No automatic checking to find availability
- Can be harder to use in large groups
- Not as mobile friendly as it should be
I found myself using When2meet repeatedly while I also had to use Google Calendar to check my availability at the same time. I decided that we could do something better. When2meet’s potential for improvement is what gave me the idea to create Timeful.
Timeful is an improvement. It is modern. When2Meet
And is designed using all of the feedback I have gotten to be effortless. Timeful sticks to the same grid design that gave When2meet its charm, but is simply better in every way. No more switching apps, and timing is simplified.
1. Modern User Interface
Most people’s biggest pain point has been the interface of When2meet. With Timeful, I have redesigned the User Interface to
- be clean, simple, and responsive to mobile devices
- Easy to use
- Dark and light colors represent different sets of overlapping availability
- No lag during use
The objective of this function was to remove all visual distractions from the interface and ensure that everyone can use it where they don’t have to spend time learning how the interface works.
2. Built-In Integration to Google Calendar
Customers’ favorite feature of Timeful is that_
Timeful displays Google Calendar events directly on the availability grid so you can see where you have free time and add free slots to your calendar while looking at the grid, you can see_
- your upcoming meetings
- personal events
- blocks you shouldn’t double book
- your busy/free schedule updated in real time
No more switching back and forth between tabs. No more uncertainty. No more accidental overlapping of time.
This feature of Timeful alone removes 80% of the complications faced by most users when first trying scheduling tools.
3. Naturally Collaborative Scheduling
The main concept of When2meet is still present where all the live attendees select their available time slots and the system highlights the ideal slots to schedule a meeting. With Timeful, users can_
- see availability of all members in real time.
- Visual heat maps illustrate where most attendees have overlapping availability.
- Timeful offers system suggestions for ideal time slots to schedule.
- Users can see the updates to the time slots as changes are made by each participant.
Timeful is easy to use for teams of all sizes, whether you have 3 participants or 30, it displays all members’ available time for everyone to see.
4. Open Source and Privacy-Friendly Policies
Since Timeful is open-source and part of an open-source ecosystem, focusing on transparency and user control became primary goals.
- Not collecting unnecessary user data,
- Google Calendar event data is displayed by not uploaded.
- Event description is private and not stored.
- All Timeful code has been uploaded to GitHub and is available for public view and collaboration (and self-hosting too).
This is especially helpful for not just focused teams, but also students, communities, and privacy advocacy groups.
5. Increased Workflow and No Learning Curve
One thing I didn’t want to change is the user simplicity and shortcomings I liked about When2meet. Timeful retained the same effective workflow.
- You create a scheduling link,
- Share scheduling link to a group,
- Everyone within the group updates their available time.
- The most liked time slots are immediately visible.
The difference is all of this is done with more transparency, visuals, no cuts, and smoother than always.
How Timeful Improves Shuffling Schedules
There are a number of live instances of this where Timeful excels.
Remote Team Meetings
Remote teams divided by countries now see overlapping available slots without confusion. Timeful also auto handles time zone conversions removing the common “Did I convert this right?” for the user.
University Group Projects
Student groups often have to work with When2meet, but now with Timeful, they too can coordinate Shift and Class calendars are significantly pulled to help project Timeful.
Freelancers and Clients
Timeful ensures that freelancers can convey their availability while not over-sharing their calendars. Timeful keeps the workflow professional and private, displaying only the blocked-off calendar dates.
Community Organizations
Timeful aids community organizations like nonprofits and volunteer organizations, where planning is often more complicated, in finding times to meet in a matter of minutes even when there are many attendees.
Why the Open-Source Community Hardly Celebrates Timeful
Timeful’s release on r/OpenSource was met with enthusiasm for a number of reasons.
- Addresses a common, tangible pain point
- Modernizes a popular idea
- Prioritizes privacy and transparency
- Encourages feedback and community participation, regardless of advanced technical skills
- Provides diverse accessibility to users of all technical backgrounds.
Clean code was appreciated by developers, while the novice users enjoyed the user-friendly interface and calendar integration.
The Timeful team showcased the potential for open-source innovation by redefining an existing idea with a fresh approach.
Timeful’s Future
The Timeful team has big plans for Timeful, including
- Support for Apple and Outlook calendars
- Dark mode
- Analytics to observe scheduling patterns within a team
- SPlanning of multi-day events
- Integration with Discord and Slack
- The ability to export your availability in an ICS format.
Community contributions are welcomed on all these suggestions.
Faqs About When2meet
1. What is Timeful?
Timeful is When2meet but more modern and with better UI and Google Calendar integration.
2. How does Timeful improve scheduling?
Timeful shows your Google Calendar events in your view while selecting your availability, increasing accuracy and speed for scheduling.
3. Is Timeful open source?
Yes! Timeful is completely open source and free for anyone to contribute to.
4. Can I use Timeful for group meetings?
Yes! Timeful shows group availability and quickly finds the best meeting time.
5. Does Timeful store my calendar data?
Timeful only displays your Google Calendar events, and does not store your data, ensuring your privacy.
Conclusion
Timeful is the real winner, and it’s all thanks to When2meet.
Timeful isn’t attempting to shake up the whole field of scheduling; instead, it improves the experience, making it easier, more orderly, and more intelligent compared to other options. Smooth integrations with Google Calendar, open-source flexibility, and a sleek modern interface, Timeful is a great enhancement for any frequent meeting-booker.
If you are a fan of the convenience offered by When2meet, but have always thought there is a better option available, you are going to love Timeful.
