Welcome to OurCal
Welcome to OurCal – the easiest way to organize your life and coordinate with the people that matter most! This quick start guide will walk you through setting up your account, creating your first group, and mastering all the key features.
Getting Started
Download the App & Create Your Account
- Download OurCal from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- If you do not yet have an account, sign up with Google, Apple or your email address.
- If you already have an account, log in and check your email for a verification code. Make sure you check your Spam and Promotions folders if you don’t see it. Enter the code in the app to confirm your account.
Create Your First Group
- Navigate to the Groups tab.
- Tap Create New Group.
- Note: Empty groups are automatically deleted, so no need to manually remove unused ones.
- Invite others by sharing your group’s invite link. (They must download OurCal and create an account first.)
Add Your First Event
- Tap the Calendar tab, then press the + icon at the top right.
- Use Quick Entry by typing natural phrases like “Lunch on Friday at 12pm 1hr” — OurCal will do the rest!
- Tap a date and event to view or edit event details.
Calendaring Together
Invite Others to Your Calendar
- In the Groups tab, open a group and tap the Add User icon in the top right.
- Share the generated join link with others.
Join an Existing Group
- Receive and click a join link from someone you know.
- Ensure you’ve already downloaded OurCal and signed up.
Schedules vs Calendar Views
- Schedules tab: View events broken down by user.
- Calendar tab: See all events in one shared calendar.
- Customize whose schedules you see in Settings tab → Schedules.
Seamless Communication
Chat in OurCal
- Event thread: Tap a date → event → type in the chat bar at the bottom. You will also see all event updates here.
- Group thread: In Groups, open a group to view and message in the full group thread. You will also see all group updates here.
Sync and Share
Sync External Calendars
- Sync any external calendar, including Google, Microsoft, or Apple calendars: Settings tab → Synced Calendars.
- Requires a Plus Membership (starting under $3/month). Only one member per group needs to purchase Plus for the group.
- Note: Synced events are view-only and do not have an event thread in OurCal (due to third-party restrictions).
Export Events
- Export your group events externally via Settings tab → Privacy & Security → Export Events.
Share Your Availability
- Share your Busy status with specific groups — without exposing private event details.
- Manage this in Settings tab → Availability Sharing.
Customize Your Calendars
- Create multiple custom calendars with different colors with OurCal Plus membership.
- Manage them in Settings tab → Calendars:
- Add or edit calendars.
- Set defaults, alert preferences, and delete if needed.
Managing Your Account
Update Your Profile
- Change your name or profile picture: Settings tab → [Your Name].
Manage Notifications
- Tailor event reminders and chat alerts: Settings tab → Notifications.
Stay Private & Secure
- OurCal uses end-to-end encryption for maximum privacy.
- Manage authentication methods and view security settings in Settings tab → Privacy & Security.
App Updates
- Check for the latest app updates under the Settings tab or your app store.
- Enable automatic updates via your device settings.
Group Settings
- Edit group name, emoji, and membership in the Settings tab → Groups.
- Leave groups easily; empty groups are deleted automatically.
Advanced Features
Keyboard Calendar 🆕
- Quickly view and add events from your keyboard.
- Enable via Settings tab → Keyboard Calendar and switch keyboards during chats.
Home Screen Widgets
Easily access your calendar:
- iOS: Long-press Home Screen → Tap Add → Select OurCal widget.
- Android: Long-press Home Screen → Widgets → Select OurCal widget.
OurCal Plus
- Unlock premium features with OurCal Plus, including:
- Calendar sync
- Unlimited event history
- Repeating events
- Event time zones
- See the full list of OurCal Plus benefits in Settings tab → Plus → Basic vs Plus Features.
- One Plus membership per group — all members benefit!
Need More Help?
Check out our detailed support articles:
Still have questions?
Open the app → Settings tab → Help & Feedback, or email us at hi@ourcal.com.
🎉You're now ready to get started with OurCal!
