Cron — Free for Startups

Deal Highlights

What Is Cron?

Cron (now part of Notion) is the calendar app built for speed — fast keyboard shortcuts, beautiful design, multiple calendar overlay, and scheduling links. For founders and startup teams who spend significant time in their calendar (scheduling meetings, blocking focus time, coordinating across time zones), Cron provides a faster, more pleasant calendar experience than Google Calendar''s web interface.

In 2026, Cron has been acquired by Notion and is evolving into Notion Calendar — integrating calendar data with Notion workspaces. The standalone Cron app remains free and functional as a high-performance calendar client.

What''s Included

• Free calendar app — no cost, no premium tier required for core features
• Google Calendar and Outlook sync with full read/write
• Keyboard shortcuts for every action (create event, navigate, switch calendars)
• Multiple calendar overlay — see team members'' calendars side by side
• Scheduling links — share availability for meeting booking
• Menu bar widget — see upcoming events without opening the full app
• Notion integration — view Notion tasks and databases on your calendar
• Focus time blocking — schedule recurring focus blocks

Key Features for Startups

Keyboard-First Design

Every action in Cron has a keyboard shortcut — create event (C), navigate days (J/K), switch between day/week/month views (1/2/3), and open scheduling (S). For power users who live in their calendar, keyboard shortcuts save 15–30 minutes per day versus mouse-clicking through Google Calendar.

Multiple Calendar Overlay

View team members'' calendars side by side to find meeting times without the back-and-forth of "are you free Tuesday at 2?" See everyone''s availability in one view and pick the slot that works for all attendees.

Scheduling Links

Share a Cron scheduling link and invitees pick from your available times — similar to Calendly but built into your calendar app. No separate scheduling tool subscription needed for basic meeting booking.

Notion Integration

View Notion database items (tasks, deadlines, milestones) directly on your Cron calendar. Notion tasks with dates appear as calendar events, creating a unified view of meetings and work items.

Cron vs Google Calendar vs Fantastical

Cron wins on speed, keyboard shortcuts, and Notion integration. Google Calendar wins on accessibility (web, works everywhere). Fantastical wins on Apple ecosystem integration and natural language event creation.

Tips to Maximize Cron

1. Learn the keyboard shortcuts — Spend 15 minutes learning Cron''s shortcuts. The speed difference is immediately noticeable.
2. Use scheduling links instead of Calendly — For basic meeting booking, Cron''s built-in scheduling links replace a $10+/month Calendly subscription.
3. Overlay team calendars for scheduling — Stop sending "when are you free?" messages. View team availability directly in Cron.
4. Block focus time proactively — Create recurring focus blocks on your calendar. Cron''s visibility makes others respect your focus time when they see it on the calendar overlay.
5. Connect Notion for task visibility — If you use Notion for task management, the calendar integration shows deadlines alongside meetings.

Who Is This Deal For?

Frequently Asked Questions

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