Is Doodle still free?

Doodle still has a free plan, but recent reports indicate it is considerably more restricted than in earlier years, with unlimited group polls reserved for paid plans. Check Doodle's price page for the current limits.

Do participants need an account?

In most scheduling tools, including Doodle and the open-source alternatives, participants can respond with just a name. Only the organiser may need an account, depending on the tool.

Can a scheduling poll be anonymous?

Partly. Many tools let you hide participants' names and answers from each other, so that only the organiser sees them. A fully anonymous scheduling poll makes little sense, because the organiser usually needs to know who can attend.

Scheduling Polls: Doodle and the Best Alternatives

A scheduling poll lets a group mark which of several proposed dates suit them. The organiser then picks the date that works for the most people. Doodle made this format popular, and it remains the best-known tool. Its free plan has become more limited, however, and there are free, privacy-friendly alternatives. This page explains the options and how to reach a date quickly. Status October 2026.

How a scheduling poll works

The organiser proposes several dates and times.
Participants open a link and tick “yes”, “if need be” or “no” for each option.
The tool shows which option has the most yes answers.
The organiser confirms the date and, ideally, sends a calendar invitation.

Most tools do not require participants to create an account. That keeps the threshold low, but it also means that anyone with the link can respond.

Doodle and alternatives at a glance

Tool	Cost	Account for participants	Privacy	Particular strength
Doodle	Free plan with limits, paid plans for unlimited polls according to recent reports	No	Provider based in Switzerland; hidden poll options	Best known, calendar integration, booking pages
Rallly	Open source; hosted version usable free of charge according to provider	No	Can be self-hosted	Modern interface, no ads
Framadate-based services	Free; open-source software hosted by various organisations	No	Depends on the host; can be self-hosted	Simple, no tracking focus
Calendar scheduling polls	Included in some calendar suites	No	Within your existing calendar environment	Directly linked to the organiser’s calendar

Doodle is the only one of these tools for which we show a provider box on this page. The others are mentioned for orientation only.

Doodle

Doodle offers group polls, booking pages for one-to-one appointments and sign-up sheets, plus integration with common calendars. According to recent reports and its price page, the free plan is now strongly restricted, with only a limited number of group polls, while unlimited polls require a paid plan. If you schedule meetings regularly, check whether the free plan is enough or whether a paid plan or an alternative fits better.

Open-source and privacy-friendly alternatives

Rallly is an open-source scheduling tool with a clean interface. It can be used as a hosted service or installed on your own server.
Framadate is open-source software for scheduling polls and simple surveys. Several organisations host their own instances, which you can use without an account.
Calendar suites such as Microsoft 365 include scheduling poll features for their users, which can be practical inside an organisation.

When you use a hosted instance, check who runs it and where data is stored. For a club, a short privacy note in the poll invitation is good practice.

Scheduling poll or survey?

A scheduling poll is the right tool if the only question is “when?”. If you also want to ask about location, agenda or catering, a short survey may be better. Our survey tools comparison shows the options, and for quick votes during the meeting itself, see live polling tools.

Tips for finding a date faster

Limit the options. Five to eight dates are usually enough. Too many options lead to fragmented results.
Allow ‘if need be’. It often reveals the date that everyone can make with a little effort.
Set a deadline and say so in the invitation.
Hide answers if needed. Some participants hesitate to say “no” publicly; hidden polls can help.
Decide the tie-break rule in advance, for example the date where key people can attend.
Confirm quickly. Close the poll, announce the date and send a calendar invitation.

When a scheduling poll is not enough

If a date has formal consequences, for example the date of a general meeting that the board must set under the constitution, the poll is only an aid to the decision. The formal decision and invitation still follow your rules. For decisions on substance, see our overview of free voting tools and our guide to anonymous polls.