ShareAvailability vs Doodle
Polls for groups versus publishing your own free times for 1:1 threads.
Doodle is commonly used to poll several people on candidate meeting times. ShareAvailability does not poll anyone — it reads your Google Calendar and gives you a list of when you are free.
If you need group consensus, a poll is the right data structure. If one person asked when you are free, plain text is usually enough.
Use Doodle (or similar) for multi-person coordination. Use ShareAvailability when the only calendar that matters in the moment is yours.
Side-by-side
| Feature | ShareAvailability | Doodle |
|---|---|---|
| Job to be done | Publish your free times as text | Collect preferences from multiple people |
| Calendar connection | Google Calendar (read-oriented) | Optional / varies by product features |
| Recipient action | Reply with a time | Vote on options in a poll |
| Group scheduling | Not the focus | Core focus |
| Output in email/Slack | Native plain text | Typically a poll link |
| Price (high level) | Free core product | Free and paid options exist — see Doodle for current plans |
When ShareAvailability fits
- Someone asked for your availability, not a group vote.
- You want zero recipient accounts or clicks.
- You need times grounded in your real Google Calendar.
When Doodle fits better
- You are coordinating five or more people.
- You need formal voting / majority preference.
- You do not want to propose times from a single calendar first.
Just need pasteable free times — not Doodle?
Generate plain-text availability from Google Calendar and paste it anywhere. No booking page for the other person.
Free · Read-only calendar access
Frequently asked questions
Can ShareAvailability replace Doodle?
Not for group polls. It can replace the awkward step where you manually type your own free times into a thread.
Can I paste ShareAvailability output into a Doodle?
You could use it to decide which options to put on a poll, but the products are separate.
Which is better for interviews?
For a recruiter asking about your times, plain text is usually enough. For a panel coordinating internally, a poll may help them.
Do recipients need to visit ShareAvailability?
No. They read your free times in the message you send and reply there.
Try plain-text availability free
If a Doodle-style booking page is more than you need, connect Google Calendar and copy free times in about ten seconds.
Free · Read-only calendar access