Fantastical vs Shortwave
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
Award-winning calendar for Apple devices.
The verdict
Both Fantastical and Shortwave are credible scheduling tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Fantastical if you want a higher overall rating (4.7/5). Award-winning calendar for Apple devices.
Choose Shortwave if you'd rather have broader platform coverage. AI email client for Gmail.
Fantastical vs Shortwave: side by side
| Dimension | Fantastical | Shortwave |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $4.75/mo | Free – $7/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Best for | Apple Users | Professionals |
| Platforms | Mac, Ios | Web, Mac, Ios, AndroidWinner |
| Rating | 4.7/5Winner | 4.5/5 |
Fantastical key facts
- Vendor
- Flexibits
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $4.75/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Mac, Ios
- Best for
- Apple Users
- Editor rating
- 4.7 / 5
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- Sacramento, CA, USA
Shortwave key facts
- Vendor
- Shortwave
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $7/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Mac, Ios, Android
- Best for
- Professionals
- Editor rating
- 4.5 / 5
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Fantastical better than Shortwave?
Neither is universally better — Fantastical edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Fantastical or Shortwave cheaper?
Fantastical is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $4.75/mo. Fantastical starts at free – $4.75/mo; Shortwave starts at free – $7/mo.
Can Fantastical replace Shortwave?
Yes for most teams — both are scheduling tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.