Trying to keep up with your friends can be harder than it should be, especially when everyone’s busy, scattered across different group chats, and working off different calendars.

That’s where shared calendar apps come in. But not all of them are built with your social life in mind.

If you’re choosing between Howbout and TimeTree, here’s a side-by-side breakdown of which one actually makes it easier to stay in sync with your friends.

TL;DR: Howbout is built for social coordination with friends

While TimeTree is great for shared routines and household calendars, Howbout is the better choice if your goal is to stay connected with your friends and make plans happen.

Whether it’s a spontaneous drink after class, a movie night, or a chill dinner with flatmates, Howbout helps you share availability, make plans, and actually keep up with your friends - without the chaos of the group chat.

What is Howbout?

Howbout is a social calendar app made for friends who want to spend more time together and less time texting about it.

It blends all the tools you need to plan with friends into one place:

• See what your friends have going on
• Easily create plans together
• Sync calendars and check availability
• Chat, share pics, vote on options, and actually get things sorted

In short, it’s a shared calendar that feels social, without needing five apps and three side chats just to meet up.

What is TimeTree?

TimeTree is a shared calendar app designed for managing life with other people, particularly in the context of families, couples, or domestic routines.

You can:

• Create multiple calendars (e.g. work, meals, birthdays)
• Share them with specific people
• Add events, notes, and reminders
• Comment on upcoming plans

TimeTree works well for logistics-focused planning, like tracking appointments, deadlines, or to-dos. But when it comes to social coordination with friends, it lacks the speed most people need, and doesn’t make the experience fun.

Feature comparison: Howbout vs. TimeTree for friend groups

Why Howbout works better for planning with friends

1. See what everyone’s doing without asking

No more “when are you free?” texts. On Howbout, you can see your friends’ availability (if they’ve shared it), or just check in on what they’re up to before suggesting a plan.

2. Every plan stays organised in its own space

Each event has a built-in chat, invite list, updates, and location links, so no info gets lost in a side convo. It’s your social life’s little hub.

3. You don’t need extra apps to make it work

No WhatsApp group needed. No extra Doodle poll. No separate notes app. All of it, from planning to photos, lives in Howbout.

4. Designed around how friends actually plan

Whether you’re planning something for tomorrow or two weeks from now, Howbout keeps it casual, fast, and flexible - perfect for friend groups that stay busy but still want to hang.

Final Thoughts: Which app is better for friend groups?

• Use Howbout if your goal is to stay close with friends, make spontaneous plans, and keep social life simple.
• Use TimeTree if you’re sharing a calendar with your partner, organising school schedules, or managing household routines.

If your calendar is mostly about people, not productivity, Howbout is the better shared calendar app for friends in 2025.

📲 Try Howbout today

Stop guessing who's free. See what your friends are up to, keep up with what they’ve got going on and actually spend time together.