Maple vs. Google Calendar

Google Calendar and Maple are both tools that help you manage your schedule, but they are designed with very different goals in mind. Google Calendar is primarily an individual productivity tool, while Maple is built from the ground up to help families coordinate everything in one place. Let’s take a closer look at how the two compare.

Google Calendar: How much does it cost and what’s free versus paid?

Google Calendar is free to use with a Google account, and most people access it through Gmail on web or mobile. The core features — event creation, reminders, sharing, and calendar syncing — are all included at no cost.

Some advanced features require a Google Workspace subscription, which starts at $6 per user per month. Paid plans unlock things like more storage across Google apps, advanced administrative controls, and meeting integrations with Google Meet.

That said, even with a Workspace subscription, Google Calendar remains a calendar-only tool. It doesn’t include built-in to-do lists, meal planning, family messaging, or household organization features without layering in other apps.

Maple: How much does it cost and what’s free versus paid?

Maple is free to download and use on iOS and Android, with a web version launching in August 2025.

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The free plan includes:

• Family calendar (built for multiple people, not just individuals)
• To-do lists and shopping lists
• Project folders to keep school, work, or activities organized
• Core meal planner
• Family email account

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The paid plan (Maple+), which costs $3–$5 per month depending on the plan you choose, unlocks more powerful features, including:

• Syncing with Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Calendar, and TeamSnap
• Unlimited AI in the meal planner, to-do lists, and email organizer
• Group chat with family members
• External email integration (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail) with AI-powered event and task creation

Maple also allows new users to test calendar sync and AI features during a free trial before deciding on a paid plan.

Key Differences: Maple vs. Google Calendar

• Family-first vs. individual focus: Google Calendar was designed as a productivity tool for individuals and workplaces, while Maple was built specifically to help families operate as one unit.
• All-in-one hub: Maple combines calendars, lists, folders, email, chat, and meal planning in one app. With Google Calendar, you’ll need multiple separate apps (like Google Keep, Gmail, and Sheets) to piece together the same workflow.
• Cost: Google Calendar is free, but limited to just calendars. Maple offers a generous free plan that includes much more than just scheduling, with its paid plan still costing less than Google Workspace.
• AI tools: Maple offers AI to automatically turn emails into events or tasks, organize meals, and streamline family logistics — something Google Calendar doesn’t offer.

Conclusion

While Google Calendar works for individual scheduling, it wasn’t built to manage the complexity of family life. Maple, on the other hand, is designed for households — combining calendars, lists, folders, meal planning, and communication in one place. For families who want an easier, more powerful way to stay organized together, Maple is the clear choice.