Doodle
Doodle is a professional scheduling platform that simplifies the process of finding the best time to meet with groups, clients, or colleagues through automated polling and calendar synchronization.
TimeTabler
TimeTabler is a specialized school scheduling software that helps you create complex academic timetables, manage staff requirements, and optimize classroom space for secondary schools and colleges.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Doodle | TimeTabler |
|---|---|---|
| Website | doodle.com | timetabler.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $99/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 0 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2007 | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Zurich, Switzerland | Warwick, UK |
Overview
Doodle
Doodle is a scheduling tool designed to eliminate the back-and-forth of finding meeting times. You can create group polls where participants vote on their availability, allowing you to identify the best slot for everyone in seconds. It integrates directly with your existing calendars to ensure you never double-book and provides a centralized hub for managing all your appointments.
You can also set up personalized booking pages that let others book time with you based on your real-time availability. Whether you are organizing a board meeting, a team sync, or a one-on-one client consultation, the platform automates the administrative heavy lifting. It scales from individual users to large enterprises, offering a free version for basic polling and tiered paid plans for advanced branding and automation.
TimeTabler
TimeTabler is a dedicated scheduling solution designed to handle the complex logistical challenges of secondary schools and colleges. You can move away from manual spreadsheets and use its automated engines to balance teacher availability, room constraints, and student subject choices. The software focuses on the intricate 'logic' of a school day, ensuring that your curriculum is delivered without scheduling conflicts or staffing overlaps.
You can manage everything from split-site schools to part-time staff preferences with high precision. It integrates with major Management Information Systems (MIS) to ensure your data flows smoothly between your schedule and your student records. Whether you are a veteran timetabler or new to the role, the platform provides the diagnostic tools you need to identify and solve scheduling bottlenecks quickly.
Overview
Doodle Features
- Group Polls Invite participants to vote on multiple time slots so you can find the best meeting time for everyone quickly.
- Booking Pages Set your availability and share a personal link so clients and colleagues can book meetings with you instantly.
- Calendar Integration Connect your Google, Outlook, or Apple calendars to see your full schedule and prevent any double-bookings automatically.
- Automatic Reminders Send automated nudges to participants who haven't voted yet and reminders to guests before the meeting starts.
- 1:1 Meetings Propose specific times for a private meeting and let your guest pick the one that works best for them.
- Video Conferencing Sync Link your Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet accounts to automatically generate meeting links for every booking.
TimeTabler Features
- Visual Builder. Drag and drop lessons onto a visual grid while the software checks for staffing and rooming conflicts in real-time.
- Auto-Scheduling Engine. Generate high-quality schedules automatically using advanced algorithms that respect your specific school rules and pedagogical requirements.
- Staff Requirement Tracking. Manage part-time teacher preferences and specific department needs to ensure fair and workable workloads for all your staff.
- MIS Integration. Export your completed schedules directly to systems like SIMS, Bromcom, or Arbor to keep your school data synchronized.
- Conflict Diagnostics. Identify exactly why a lesson won't fit with instant feedback on which teacher, room, or student group is causing the bottleneck.
- Options Module. Organize student elective choices into efficient blocks that maximize student satisfaction while minimizing the number of classes required.
Pricing Comparison
Doodle Pricing
- Unlimited group polls
- One active Booking Page
- One active 1:1 meeting
- Calendar integration
- Basic poll features
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited Booking Pages
- Unlimited 1:1 meetings
- Custom branding and logo
- No advertisements
- Zapier integration
TimeTabler Pricing
- Full TimeTabler functionality
- Designed for schools under 300 students
- MIS data export capabilities
- Access to helpdesk support
- Step-by-step interactive tutorials
- Everything in Small School, plus:
- Supports unlimited student numbers
- Multi-user installation options
- Advanced curriculum planning tools
- Enhanced diagnostic reporting
Pros & Cons
Doodle
Pros
- Extremely easy for participants to use without an account
- Visual layout makes finding common availability very intuitive
- Reliable synchronization with Google and Outlook calendars
- Saves significant time on group coordination tasks
Cons
- Free version contains heavy third-party advertising
- Mobile app interface can feel slightly cluttered
- Limited customization options on the basic tiers
TimeTabler
Pros
- Extremely logical interface designed specifically for UK school structures
- Excellent technical support and deep library of training materials
- Robust error-checking prevents double-booking of rooms and staff
- Seamless data transfer to major school MIS platforms
Cons
- Significant learning curve for those new to school scheduling
- Windows-based desktop installation rather than a native web app
- Interface feels dated compared to modern consumer SaaS tools