Quick Summary
Fantastical Strengths
- Multilingual Support: Accessible in multiple languages for a wide range of users.
- Flexible Viewing Options: Offers daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views for different scheduling needs.
- Attractive Interface: Known for its visually engaging design.
- Natural Language Input: Create events and reminders easily using everyday language.
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.
Fantastical Screenshot
Routine Screenshot
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Fantastical | Routine |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web |
| Integrations | Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks. | Syncs with multiple calendar services and task managers like Todoist and Google Tasks. |
| Calendar | Offers customizable views and "Calendar Sets" for managing different groups of calendars. | Google Calendar, Notion, Slack, Zapier, Siri, Gmail |
| Task Management | Integrates with task managers to display tasks within the calendar. | No |
| Natural Language Processing | Yes | Offers task creation with date assignment via drag-and-drop |
| Analytics | No | No |
| Time Blocking | Available | Available |
| Time Zones | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduler | Yes | No |
| Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | $4.75 per month, paid annually | $12 per month, annually |
| Customer Support | Average | Average |
Video Overview
Fantastical Video
Routine Video
Fantastical Overview
Fantastical is a renowned calendar application that has earned a strong reputation among Apple device users for its innovative features and user-friendly design. Known for its natural language processing capabilities and aesthetic interface, Fantastical offers a blend of traditional and advanced functionalities, making it a popular choice for those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem. This app not only excels in calendar management but also integrates several smart features to enhance the overall experience of planning and scheduling. Here’s a detailed look at the features that define Fantastical and its place in the realm of productivity tools.
Pricing Details
Fantastical offers both a free plan with basic features and a premium plan with additional capabilities. The pricing for the premium plan varies depending on the number of users: (i) Individual Premium Plan: $4.75 per month when billed annually. This plan includes features like home screen widgets, notifications, multiple time zone scheduling, customizable templates, and Apple Watch support. (ii) Family Premium Plan: $7.50 per month for 5 users when billed annually. This plan offers the same features as the Individual plan but accommodates multiple users, making it suitable for family or small team usage.
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
Fantastical Key Features
Multilingual Support: Accessible in multiple languages for a wide range of users.
Flexible Viewing Options: Offers daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views for different scheduling needs.
Attractive Interface: Known for its visually engaging design.
Natural Language Input: Create events and reminders easily using everyday language.
Calendar Syncing: Supports iCloud, Google Calendar, Exchange, and more for seamless integration.
Reminders and Task Management: Integrates Apple’s Reminders for efficient event and task handling in one app.
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.
Conclusion: Which Tool Should You Choose?
Both Fantastical and Routine offer unique features and benefits for productivity and workflow management. The best choice depends on your specific needs, team size, and workflow preferences.
Choose Fantastical if:
- Multilingual Support: Accessible in multiple languages for a wide range of users.
- Flexible Viewing Options: Offers daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views for different scheduling needs.
- Attractive Interface: Known for its visually engaging design.
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.