Cal.com is an open-source scheduling platform founded in 2021 by Peer Richelsen and Bailey Pumfleet, born from a personal need for a more extensible and customizable alternative to proprietary tools like Calendlyg. Peer’s experience with his previous startup, Lean Hire, exposed the lack of open-source scheduling infrastructure that could be self-hosted and tailored to specific business needs, inspiring the creation of Calendso (later rebranded as Cal.com)g. Their ambitious mission is to connect one billion people by 2031 through open, accessible calendar scheduling infrastructure that prioritizes longevity and openness.

Technically, Cal.com distinguishes itself by being an open-source, infrastructure-ready, and extensible scheduling solution, licensed under AGPLv3 for the core platform with commercial licenses for enterprise featuresg. This model contrasts with closed SaaS offerings by allowing users and organizations—especially those in regulated industries like healthcare and government—to self-host and customize the software securely. The platform’s open architecture invites developer contributions and integrations, making it highly adaptable to diverse workflows and business needsg. This openness fosters innovation beyond scheduling alone, positioning Cal.com as a foundational layer of scheduling infrastructure rather than just a standalone app.

The project’s community impact has been significant, fueled largely by word-of-mouth and developer enthusiasm for open-source solutions in a space dominated by proprietary platformsg. Since launch, Cal.com has seen rapid growth, processing roughly a million bookings per quarter, demonstrating strong adoption among developers, startups, and enterprises alikeg. The open-source nature encourages contributions that enhance features and integrations, creating a virtuous cycle of improvement and community engagement. The rebrand to Cal.com and acquisition of the premium domain further strengthened brand identity and user trust.

For businesses, Cal.com offers practical advantages: cost savings by avoiding expensive per-user fees common in SaaS competitors, full control over data privacy through self-hosting, and the ability to customize scheduling workflows to fit unique operational requirementsg. Its open infrastructure also allows seamless integration with existing tools and enterprise systems, making it attractive for organizations aiming to reduce vendor lock-in and increase flexibilityg. The platform’s scalability and robustness support both small teams and large enterprises with complex scheduling needs.

Looking ahead, Cal.com aims to expand its ecosystem by deepening integrations, enhancing enterprise capabilities, and continuing to grow its user base globally to fulfill its goal of connecting a billion people by 2031g. The founders emphasize longevity and sustainability, focusing on building a resilient open-source community and infrastructure that can evolve with the web itselfg. This future-facing vision positions Cal.com not just as a scheduling tool, but as a core piece of open infrastructure for human coordination in the digital age.

In summary, Cal.com’s compelling story is one of founders solving a personal pain point with open-source innovation, creating a thriving community around an extensible scheduling platform that delivers strong business value and is poised for long-term impact on how the world manages time and meetings.