calcurse
What calcurse is
calcurse is a free, open-source command-line calendar and scheduling application for Linux and macOS. It handles appointments, all-day events, recurring appointments, and TODO items. A configurable notification system can send email or use other reminder methods. Its customizable curses interface supports interactive use, while a separate command-line mode can filter and format appointments for scripts. Calendar items may include notes edited in a preferred text editor, and hooks can run scripts when data loads or saves. calcurse imports iCalendar data and exports iCalendar and pcal formats. Documentation for calcurse-caldav covers OAuth2 authentication and Google Calendar synchronization. The project uses the BSD license, and version 4.8.2 is identified as the latest release; source builds must be compiled. Documentation is available in HTML, PDF, and manual-page formats, with bug reports accepted through GitHub or email.
Who it suits
calcurse suits Linux and macOS users who prefer terminal scheduling, text interfaces, and scriptable automation. It is also useful for people needing calendar import, export, or synchronization options.
What it does well
- Free BSD-licensed software
- Recurring events and TODO items
- Scriptable command-line interface
- iCalendar import and export
- Google Calendar synchronization guidance
What to know first
- No free trial
- Source builds require compilation
- Linux and macOS platforms only
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| calcurse | Open source command-line calendar and scheduling application | Free |
As calcurse.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
calcurse offers a capable terminal calendar with reminders, scripting, notes, and calendar-data exchange. Its command-line design and source-build requirement make it a better fit for technically comfortable users.
Facts from calcurse's own pages
- Audience
- Its command-line interface, script support, and configurable text interface make it suited to users who prefer terminal-based scheduling and automation. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Calendar sync
- The site describes CalDAV synchronization as experimental and says iCal-compatible applications can be synchronized using a script. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Events and tasks
- It supports all-day events, recurring appointments, and TODO items. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · calcurse.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Google Calendar
- The calcurse-caldav documentation includes instructions for OAuth2 authentication and Google Calendar synchronization. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- It imports iCalendar data and exports iCalendar and pcal formats. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Interface and scripting
- It has a customizable curses-based interface and a non-interactive command-line interface that can filter and format appointments for scripts. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is released under the BSD license, which the development page says permits downloading, modifying, and redistributing it. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Notes and hooks
- Users can attach notes to calendar items, edit them with their preferred text editor, and run scripts on data load or save. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The source has been tested on Arch Linux, Debian, and OpenBSD, is stated to likely work on Unix systems generally, and packages are listed for macOS and multiple Linux and BSD distributions. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- calcurse is a command-line calendar and scheduling application for events, appointments, and everyday tasks. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Release
- The downloads page identifies version 4.8.2 as the latest release and says source builds must be compiled. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Reminders
- Its configurable notification system can send mail or use other mechanisms to remind users about upcoming appointments. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The downloads page provides a GnuPG signature for the source archive and identifies the key used to verify it. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can report bugs through GitHub or by email, and the site provides HTML, PDF, and manual-page documentation. · calcurse.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where calcurse stands on Freedom251
- Calendar apps#129 of 194