Feature-by-Feature Comparison
An honest comparison of the top scheduling tools professors use.
| Feature | WhenWorks | When2Meet | Doodle | Calendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No sign-up to respond | Yes | Yes | Required | Not applicable |
| Free polls/month | 10 | Unlimited | 1 active | 1 event type |
| Mobile friendly | Excellent | Poor | Good | Excellent |
| Time zone support | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Date AND time slot options | Both | Time only | Both | Time only |
| Ads on free tier | None | None | Many | Branding |
| Student-friendly (no friction) | Excellent | Good | Poor | Not designed for groups |
| Monthly price (free tier) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
The verdict: WhenWorks combines the best of all tools — no sign-up like When2Meet, mobile-friendly like Calendly, and 10x more free polls than Doodle.
Why Professors Switch to WhenWorks
Real reasons why academics are choosing WhenWorks over other tools.
Students actually respond
No sign-up barrier means 100% response rates. Students click the link and vote in seconds — no account creation, no password, no email verification.
Works on phones
Students vote on their phones between classes. Unlike When2Meet (desktop-only design), WhenWorks is mobile-first and works beautifully on every device.
Zero ads
Completely ad-free on the free tier. Doodle shows heavy ads that make you look unprofessional. WhenWorks keeps it clean.
10 free polls/month
Covers all your classes and office hours. Doodle limits you to 1 active poll unless you pay. Calendly is designed for 1-on-1 booking, not group scheduling.
Both dates and time slots
Perfect for office hours (specific time slots) OR finding meeting times (date ranges). When2Meet and Calendly only handle one type.
60 seconds to set up
Create a poll, share the link, done. No tutorials, no learning curve, no complicated features you don't need. Just scheduling that works.
Common Questions
Can I use this for recurring office hours?
Yes! Create one poll with all your available slots for the semester. Students can pick times that work. You can reuse it every week or create fresh polls — each takes just 60 seconds.
What is the difference between WhenWorks and Calendly for professors?
Calendly is designed for 1-on-1 booking (one person schedules with you at a time). WhenWorks is for group scheduling — multiple students vote on availability and you pick the best time. Perfect for thesis committees, class scheduling, or finding times when 5+ people can meet.
Is WhenWorks free for academic use?
Yes! The free tier gives you 10 polls per month with unlimited participants and zero ads. Most professors never need to upgrade. If you schedule more than 10 events per month, Pro is $6/month or $48/year for unlimited polls.
Can students respond without creating an account?
Yes — that's the whole point! Students just click your link and pick their availability. No passwords, no email verification, no barriers. This is why WhenWorks has higher response rates than Doodle (which now requires accounts).