5 Best Doodle Alternatives for Privacy-Focused Scheduling in 2026

Why Look for Doodle Alternatives?

While Doodle pioneered online scheduling, many users are looking for alternatives due to:

• Advertising on free tier - Participants see ads when voting
• Extensive tracking - Analytics and third-party data sharing
• Premium paywalls - Features like anonymous voting locked behind subscription
• Constant upselling - Prompts to upgrade throughout the experience
• Bloated interface - Features most users don't need

If any of these resonate with you, here are the best alternatives in 2026.

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1. dtElection (Best Overall)

dtElection is a privacy-focused meeting scheduler that combines modern design with powerful free features.

Key Features

• No ads, no tracking - Your data stays private
• Anonymous voting - Free, not premium-locked
• Mobile-first design - PWA that works great on any device
• Location support - Add venues with OpenStreetMap integration
• Event discovery - Find public events near you
• Maybe responses - Not just yes/no

Pricing

Pros

• Clean, modern interface
• Anonymous voting on free tier
• No ads ever
• Excellent mobile experience

Cons

• Account required to create polls (voting is free)
• Newer platform with smaller user base

Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want a modern, ad-free scheduling experience.

Try dtElection →

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2. When2meet (Best Free Option)

When2meet is the classic no-frills scheduler that's completely free with no account required.

Key Features

• Completely free - No premium tier
• No account needed - Create polls instantly
• Simple drag-to-select - Quick availability marking
• Color-coded results - Easy to see overlap

Pricing

Free. That's it.

Pros

• No signup required at all
• Instant poll creation
• Been around for 15+ years

Cons

• Dated interface from 2005
• Poor mobile experience
• Has ads
• No privacy options
• No location support

Best for: Quick, casual scheduling among desktop users who don't care about polish.

Try When2meet →

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3. Calendly (Best for 1-on-1 Meetings)

Calendly takes a different approach - instead of group polls, it lets others book time directly on your calendar.

Key Features

• Calendar integration - Syncs with Google, Outlook, Apple
• Automated scheduling - No back-and-forth
• Buffer times - Prevent back-to-back meetings
• Meeting types - Different durations and purposes

Pricing

Pros

• Eliminates scheduling emails
• Professional booking pages
• Deep calendar integration

Cons

• Different paradigm (booking, not polling)
• Can feel impersonal
• Premium features get expensive
• Overkill for casual scheduling

Best for: Professionals who need others to book meetings on their calendar (consultants, recruiters, etc.).

Try Calendly →

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4. Rallly (Best Open Source)

Rallly is an open-source Doodle alternative that you can self-host or use their cloud service.

Key Features

• Open source - Code available on GitHub
• Self-hosting option - Full control over your data
• Clean interface - Modern design
• No account to vote - Participants vote freely

Pricing

Pros

• Open source and transparent
• Can self-host for ultimate privacy
• Clean, modern design
• Very affordable

Cons

• Smaller feature set
• Self-hosting requires technical knowledge
• Less polished than commercial options

Best for: Technical users who want open-source software or need to self-host for compliance.

Try Rallly →

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5. LettuceMeet (Best Visual Design)

LettuceMeet is a modern When2meet alternative with a focus on visual design and ease of use.

Key Features

• Drag-to-select - Similar to When2meet
• Modern UI - Clean, contemporary design
• No account needed - Create and vote without signup
• Timezone support - Automatic conversion

Pricing

Free.

Pros

• Beautiful, modern interface
• No signup required
• Good mobile support
• Free forever

Cons

• Has ads
• Limited features beyond basic scheduling
• No location support

Best for: Users who like When2meet's simplicity but want a modern interface.

Try LettuceMeet →

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Comparison Table

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Our Recommendation

For most users: Start with dtElection. It offers the best balance of features, privacy, and usability on the free tier. Anonymous voting, no ads, and excellent mobile support make it the most well-rounded Doodle alternative.

For self-hosters: Rallly is your best bet if you need open-source software or want to run your own instance.

For casual, quick polls: When2meet or LettuceMeet work fine for one-off scheduling among friends, though the ads can be annoying.

For 1-on-1 booking: Calendly is purpose-built for letting others schedule time with you, but it's a different use case than group polling.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is dtElection really free?

Yes! The free tier includes unlimited polls, anonymous voting, maybe responses, and location support. No credit card required.

Can I import my Doodle polls?

Currently, there's no direct import, but creating a new poll in dtElection takes under a minute.

Do participants need an account?

No. Participants can vote on any dtElection poll without creating an account - just like Doodle.

Is my data private?

dtElection doesn't use tracking scripts, advertising networks, or third-party analytics. Your scheduling data is used only to provide the service.