Alf.io vs Cal.diy
| Tagline | Open-source ticket reservation platform for events of any size | Open-source online appointment scheduling built on Cal.com |
| Category | Scheduling & Booking | Scheduling & Booking |
| Replaces | Calendly, Acuity Scheduling | Calendly, Acuity Scheduling |
| GitHub stars | 1.6k | 46k |
| Language | Java | Nodejs |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Self-host difficulty | 4/5 Involved | 3/5 Moderate |
| Deploy options | Docker Docker Compose Manual | Docker Docker Compose Manual |
| Managed hosting | ||
| Last updated | 4 days ago | 2 days ago |
| View repo | View repo |
Where each falls short
The honest trade-offs — what you give up with each, versus the proprietary tools they replace.
Alf.io
- No built-in recurring appointment booking (1:1 scheduling like Calendly)
- Mobile app for attendees is not provided; check-in relies on a separate web view
- Analytics and post-event reporting are basic compared to Eventbrite or Cvent
- Initial Java/PostgreSQL setup is heavier than typical SaaS onboarding
Cal.diy
- Self-hosted setup requires configuring PostgreSQL, email/SMTP, and OAuth providers
- Enterprise features (SAML SSO, workflows at scale, analytics) are cloud-only or require an enterprise license
- Payment collection integrations need additional third-party setup
- Admin UI for multi-tenant management is less polished than Calendly's hosted offering
Bottom line
Choose Cal.diy if you want the lower-effort setup; choose Cal.diy for the larger community and ecosystem. Cal.diy has seen more recent development. Open each guide below for deploy steps and the full feature gap.