How CalFollow works
Hi, I'm Cali! Everything you need to know is right here on one page – come back whenever you like.
Follow calendars
- 1Under “Discover” you'll find every organization with public calendars. Search by name or filter by category.
- 2Click “Follow” to follow a calendar. You can follow as many as you like.
- 3From then on, all of that calendar's events show up automatically in “My calendar”.
Use My calendar
- 1Switch between month, week and day at the top. The week view jumps straight to the current time.
- 2In the sidebar you can show or hide each calendar individually without unfollowing it.
- 3The target icon temporarily shows just a single calendar.
- 4Use “+ New event” to create your own events – private just for you, or in a calendar you own.
Add to Google, Apple or Outlook
- 1In “My calendar”, you will find the “Calendar subscription” card at the top. “Set up” opens your personal link along with instructions.
- 2Add the link in your calendar app as a subscription from a URL – don’t import it as a file, or later changes will never arrive.
- 3New and updated events then appear on their own – no need to add anything by hand.
- 4The link is secret. If you shared it by accident, create a new one under “Renew link” in the same window – afterwards you need to set up the subscription again in your calendar apps with the new link.
Step by step for your calendar app
- 1Open Google Calendar in a browser on your computer. The mobile app can't add subscriptions by link.
- 2Next to “Other calendars” on the left, click “+” and choose “From URL”.
- 3Paste your link and click “Add calendar”.
- 4On Android phones the calendar then appears on its own. If it doesn't: in the Google Calendar app, open Settings, tap the calendar and turn on “Sync”.
Using an iPhone? Set up the subscription directly in Apple Calendar instead – Google subscriptions don't show up there automatically, and Apple refreshes more often.
How quickly do changes arrive?
Calendar apps don't fetch a subscription instantly but at their own intervals – CalFollow can't speed that up.
- CalFollow
- instantly under “My calendar”
- Apple Calendar
- per your setting, e.g. every 15 minutes
- Outlook
- usually within a few hours
- Google Calendar
- usually 8–24 hours, set by Google
Need the latest state – say, right before an event? “My calendar” always shows it instantly.
Good to know
- The subscription is read-only: make changes here in CalFollow, not in your calendar app.
- Hidden calendars are left out of the subscription too.
- Set up the subscription only once per calendar app – otherwise events appear twice.
Publish your own events
- 1Start by creating an organization under “Manage”: name, category, logo and the time zone you enter events in.
- 2Inside it, create one or more calendars – for example, one per team or topic.
- 3You can create events one by one or as a series – say “every Tuesday” instead of fifty separate events.
Private calendars
- 1A calendar can be set to “private”. It then no longer shows up in “Discover”.
- 2It can only be reached through a secret link that you share with the people you choose.
- 3You can also protect it with a password. If you change the password, everyone who visited before loses access.
“What's on?” map
- 1Under “Discover” → “Map”, you can see what clubs and organizers have on any given day. Search for your town or canton at the top of the map – or jump straight to where you are with the location button.
- 2Pick a day, then tap a time on the timeline (“What's on at 8 pm?”) or drag to select a time range. Everything happening then lights up on the map.
- 3Tap an event for all the details. Like an organizer? Follow them – their events will then show up in your calendar automatically.
How do my events get onto the map?
Under “Manage”, turn on “On the map” for the calendar and pin the locations of your events once. Each location then applies to every event held there – including future ones.
Why can't I see an event on the map?
The map only shows events from public calendars the organizer has enabled for it, and only with a pinned location. Cancelled events aren't shown either.
Does it cost anything to appear on the map?
No, appearing on the map is free.
Is my location stored?
No. The location button only asks your browser so the map can move to you. Your position stays on your device and is never sent to CalFollow.
Frequently asked questions
Getting events
How much does it cost to follow a calendar?
Nothing. Following is free – as many calendars as you like.
Do I need an app?
No. CalFollow runs in the browser on your phone and computer. If you like, you can connect it to the calendar app you already use (Google, Apple or Outlook).
How do the events get into my phone's calendar?
In “My calendar” you'll find your personal feed link. Add it once to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook – from then on, all events from the calendars you follow show up automatically.
How quickly will I see changes?
Instantly in CalFollow. External calendar apps refresh subscribed calendars on their own schedule – depending on the provider, that can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
Can I unfollow a calendar later?
Anytime, with one click. You can also just hide calendars temporarily without unfollowing them.
Publishing events
How much does CalFollow cost?
Nothing. Publishing is free – with no limits on calendars, events or followers.
Do my members need an account?
Viewing works without an account. To follow, you need a free account – created with email or Google in under a minute.
Can I share a calendar with members only?
Yes. Set the calendar to private: it won't appear anywhere publicly and can only be reached through a secret link – optionally protected with a password, too.
Can several people manage events?
Yes. You can invite others, e.g. board members or coaches, as admins of your organization.
How will my people find out about my calendar?
Share the link in your group chat, by email or on your website – or put up the QR code. Public calendars can also be found through the search on CalFollow.
Your opinion matters – especially now
CalFollow is still young. Praise, a bug or an idea: every message helps us fix problems quickly and figure out what to build next. We're grateful for every one.
