creating a custom calendar app with one of the best no-code Android app builders is simpler than you think. With Adalo, you can build and publish a fully functional app in weeks without coding expertise. Here's what you'll need to know:
- Cost: Start for free, but publishing requires a $50/month Adalo Pro plan and a one-time $25 Google Play developer fee.
- Key Features: Event scheduling, reminders, Google Calendar syncing, and user authentication.
- Process: Use Adalo's drag-and-drop interface to design your app, set up a database (e.g., Users, Events), and integrate third-party tools like Zapier or Agical for calendar syncing.
- Publishing: Adalo generates an Android App Bundle (.AAB) for easy submission to the Google Play Store.
Adalo simplifies app development by letting you deploy a single build as a progressive web app (PWA) and native apps for both iOS and Android. Whether you're creating a personal calendar or a business scheduling tool, this guide walks you through every step.
5-Step Process to Build and Publish Android Calendar App with Adalo
Setting Up Your Adalo Account and Project
Create Your Adalo Account
Head over to Adalo.com, click on "Get Started for Free," and sign up by entering your name, email, and password. The free plan allows you to build and test the functionality of your calendar app without any upfront cost.
If you want to publish your app on Google Play, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid Adalo plan, which costs $50 per month. Keep in mind, Google also charges a $25 one-time developer fee for publishing apps. Planning to sync with Google Calendar using Zapier? You’ll need the Pro plan or higher to enable third-party integrations.
Once your account is set up, you’re ready to dive into creating your first app.
Start Your First App Project
With your account activated, kick off your project by clicking on "Create a New App" at the bottom of the App Switcher. You can either build your app from scratch or start with a pre-designed template. For a calendar app, the "Appointments" template is a great option - it comes with pre-built login, signup, and booking screens, saving you time. If you prefer full control over the design, starting from scratch is the way to go.
Choose a name for your app that clearly communicates its purpose, such as "MyCalendar" or "Samsung Calendar Pro." This helps users instantly understand what your app is about. Next, set up your branding by selecting colors and fonts that align with your vision. For an Android-native feel, consider using Roboto as your font and Material Design blue (#2196F3) for your primary color. If your app is intended specifically for Samsung and Android phones, select the "Mobile Only" layout. Alternatively, choose "Responsive" if you want it to work seamlessly on tablets and foldable devices.
Once inside the Adalo editor, use the dashboard on the left to add screens, set up your database (like Events), and tweak the overall theme. To incorporate calendar functionality, install the Calendar component from the Adalo Marketplace. Finally, click on the "Preview" button and select "Samsung Galaxy" from the device dropdown to see how your app looks on an Android device.
Designing the Database Structure
Plan Your Database Collections
A strong scheduling app starts with a well-thought-out database. In Adalo, collections serve as the backbone of your data, with key elements like Users, Events, and Reminders. Every Adalo app includes a default Users collection for authentication, which you can customize to suit your app’s needs. For example, you might add fields like "Time Zone" or "Profile Image." To support a functional calendar, you’ll need to create an additional collection for Events.
Make sure to set up a one-to-many relationship between Users and Events. This allows one user to create or host multiple events, while each event is tied to a single creator. Adalo automatically links these relationships, but it’s a good idea to rename them for clarity. For instance, in the Users collection, you might rename it to "Events Created", while in the Events collection, you could call it "Host."
Once your collections are in place, you can start adding fields that make event scheduling smooth and efficient.
Add Fields for Event Scheduling
To make your scheduling app functional, add the following fields to the Events collection:
- Date & Time fields for the start and end of an event.
- Title (Text) to name the event.
- Description (Text) for additional details.
- Location (Text) for physical addresses or meeting links.
- Status (Text) to indicate whether the event is Confirmed or Cancelled.
For reminders, include a "Reminder Time" field (Number) to store how many minutes before the event the notification should be sent (e.g., 15, 30, or 60 minutes). Add a "Reminder Sent" field (True/False) to track whether the notification has already been delivered. If you want to support recurring events, include a "Recurring Options" field (Text) with values like "weekly" or "monthly."
| Collection | Essential Fields | Property Type |
|---|---|---|
| Events | Title, Start Date/Time, End Date/Time, Location, Description, Status, Reminder Time | Text, Date & Time, Date & Time, Text, Text, Text, Number |
Once your event data is set up, you can move on to enabling calendar syncing as part of your mobile app development.
Set Up Calendar Syncing
To integrate your app with Google Calendar on Android devices, use automation tools to trigger a "Create Calendar Event" action whenever a new record is added. Keep in mind that Adalo’s Pro plan or higher is required for third-party integrations.
For a simpler solution, consider using the Agical API (ics.agical.io). This tool generates downloadable calendar invites. By formatting the URL with Magic Text for details like the subject, start time, and end time (using the "No Formatting" option), you can create an "Add to Calendar" button. This feature lets users easily add events to their native Samsung or Google calendars without the need for complex API setups.
Adalo’s platform allows you to deploy your app as a progressive web app (PWA) or as native builds for iOS and Android. This flexibility means you can update your app across all platforms without needing to rebuild it for each one.
How to Add an Add to Calendar Button
Building the Main App Screens
With your database set up, it's time to design the key screens for your app.
Create the Event List Screen
Start by adding the Calendar component from the Adalo Marketplace. You can find it in the left panel under the "+" button. This component provides users with a clear monthly or weekly view of their scheduled events. In the component settings, link the Calendar to your Events collection and map the fields for Start Date/Time and End Date/Time. You can also decide whether multi-day events appear as dots under each day or as a bar stretching across the relevant dates.
Below the calendar, include a Simple List component to show events in a chronological agenda format. Connect this list to your Events collection and configure it to display only events with start times in the future, sorted by start time in ascending order. Use Magic Text to show the event title as the main heading and the start time or duration as the subtitle for each list item, ensuring you write clear UX copy to guide your users. Add an "Add to Calendar" button for easy syncing, using the Agical API to link event details to users' native calendars.
To ensure a smooth user experience, preview the app using the "Samsung Galaxy" device profile. This will help you check that touch targets and spacing are optimized.
Finally, give users a simple way to add events by creating a dedicated form.
Add an Event Creation Form
Design a new screen specifically for event creation and place a Form component on it. Link the form to your Events collection and configure it to "Create New Event." Include fields for Event Title, Start and End Date/Time, Description, and Location. Add a Number or Dropdown field to let users set a reminder time, with options like 15, 30, or 60 minutes.
Set the form's submit button to create a new record and navigate back to the event list. If you're using Agical for calendar syncing, the reminder time will automatically integrate when users click "Add to Calendar." For Android users, you can also enable push notifications that trigger based on the selected reminder time, adding a more native feel to the app.
Build the Event Detail View
Create a new screen called "Event Details" and set it up to receive data from the selected event in your list. Use Text components to display details like Title, Description, Date/Time, and Location by linking them with Magic Text to the appropriate database fields. If your events include images or banners, add an Image component and connect it to the event's image property.
Include an Edit button that opens a pre-filled form for quick updates, and a Delete button that triggers a confirmation modal for removing events. For virtual events, add a "Join Meeting" button that opens the meeting link in a browser. Use conditional visibility to ensure this button only appears shortly before the event begins. Lastly, add a clearly visible Back button to make navigation back to the event list easy.
This detailed view not only enhances the app’s usability but also ensures users can efficiently manage their events. Adalo's platform allows you to deploy your app as a Progressive Web App (PWA) and natively to both iOS and Android app stores, all without needing to rebuild for each platform. This versatility is why it's often ranked among the best no-code mobile app builders for cross-platform development.
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Optimizing for Android and Samsung Devices
Once you've built your app screens, it's time to ensure they display and function smoothly across various Android devices.
Design for Android Devices
To accommodate different screen sizes, take advantage of Adalo's responsive engine. The screen size switcher, located above each screen, lets you preview how your calendar will appear on mobile phones, tablets, and desktops. This feature is particularly useful for testing across a wide range of Android app builders and devices, from smaller smartphones to larger Samsung tablets.
In the Branding tab, set a consistent color palette and font style for your app. For your calendar, consider offering both 12-hour and 24-hour time formats to cater to diverse user preferences. Additionally, include options for "dot" or "bar" displays for multi-day events to improve readability. To enhance usability, you can add Statistics Cards at the top of the main screen to display key information like "Today's Appointments." Pair this with Quick Action buttons to make frequent tasks more accessible.
When designing your app's navigation, stick to familiar Android conventions such as Tab Bars or App Bars. This approach ensures a more intuitive experience for users. Once your design choices are finalized, test them thoroughly on actual Android devices.
Test on Android Devices
Testing on real hardware is a crucial step. Start by selecting a Samsung Galaxy profile in the Preview mode to simulate how your app looks. Then, send a share link via SMS to a physical Android device. This allows you to verify touch targets, scrolling behavior, and overall usability firsthand. During this phase, you can also confirm that features like time zone conversions and reminder settings work seamlessly, aligning with your database setup.
Be sure to test edge cases, such as double bookings, time zone handling (store dates in UTC and display them in local time), and same-day reservations. If your app creates local calendar events that don't sync with Google accounts, keep in mind that Samsung devices may handle these differently compared to other Android models.
Adalo makes it easy to deploy your app as both a Progressive Web App and a native app for iOS and Android, all without requiring separate rebuilds. This flexibility ensures your app reaches users efficiently across multiple platforms.
Publishing to the Google Play Store
Once you've tested your calendar app on Android devices, it's time to prepare it for the Google Play Store. This involves wrapping up the app in Adalo and meeting Google's submission requirements.
Preview and Finalize Your App
Before hitting publish, use Adalo's preview feature to give your calendar app one last run-through. Test the entire workflow - creating events, setting reminders, and syncing appointments - to ensure everything works smoothly. Double-check US localization details like dates in MM/DD/YYYY format, 12-hour time with AM/PM, and proper comma placement for large numbers. These small details can make a big difference in user experience.
In the Branding tab, finalize your app's visual elements. This includes your app icon (512x512 PNG), splash screen, and color scheme. These are the first things users will notice, so make sure they leave a great impression.
Update your app's metadata to clearly represent what users can expect. Choose a concise app name like "Digital Calendar for Samsung" (30 characters max) and craft a short description highlighting its main features - such as "Custom events, reminders, sync for Android" (80 characters max). If your app requires permissions (e.g., notifications for reminders or storage access for exporting calendars), you'll need to provide a privacy policy URL. This is a mandatory step for Google Play Store approval. Once everything is polished, you're ready to move on to submission.
Submit to the Google Play Store
To publish, you'll need a Google Play Developer account. Log into the Google Play Console with your Google account, pay the $25 developer fee, and complete your profile and identity verification.
In Adalo's Publish tab, select "Android App" and configure essential details like your bundle ID (e.g., com.yourname.calendarapp), signing key, and version code. Adalo will generate an Android App Bundle (.AAB file) for you - a format Google has required for all new apps since August 2021. After a quick 5–10 minute build, download the .AAB file and upload it via the Production track in the Play Console.
You'll also need to provide store listing assets:
- At least three phone screenshots (minimum 1080p resolution) showcasing event screens and calendar views.
- A feature graphic (1024x500 PNG).
- Your app icon.
If you need help creating these assets, tools like Canva or Adobe Express can simplify the process.
Google's review process usually takes 2 to 7 days, with most straightforward apps getting approved within 2 to 3 days. If your app is rejected - often due to missing elements like a privacy policy - the Play Console will provide specific feedback. Address the issue in Adalo, update the version code, and re-upload the app. Around 90% of apps that meet Google's requirements are approved on the first try.
Once your app is live, keep an eye on the Play Console for user feedback and crash reports via Android Vitals. Respond to reviews within 24 hours to maintain a positive reputation and increase your app store rankings.
Conclusion
You can create your digital calendar app for Samsung and Android in just weeks - or even days - by following the steps outlined in this guide. From setting up your Adalo account and designing a relational database to building key screens, optimizing for Android devices, and publishing to the Google Play Store, the process is straightforward and efficient.
Adalo has already empowered creators to build over 1 million custom mobile and web applications, supporting more than 2 million unique end-user accounts and handling over 20 million daily data requests. With an average uptime exceeding 99%, it’s clear that no-code platforms like Adalo can deliver reliable, production-ready apps. As the Adalo team explains:
"No-code tools have dramatically improved the time to launch for an app. What used to take months (sometimes years), now takes weeks, sometimes days".
When compared to hiring freelancers - who may charge between $5,000 and $10,000 - or agencies, which often exceed $10,000, Adalo offers a more affordable alternative. Paid plans start at just $45 per month, along with a one-time $25 fee to publish on the Google Play Store. These entry-level plans not only save you thousands but also give you full control to update and maintain your app without relying on developers.
With the groundwork laid, you’re ready to start building your calendar app today. Use Adalo’s visual drag-and-drop tools, pre-made templates, and marketplace components to bring your vision to life. Test your app on real Android devices, fine-tune the user experience, and publish with confidence. Creating professional, mobile-ready apps has never been easier.
Plus, Adalo simplifies deployment by allowing you to launch your app as a progressive web app (PWA) and natively to both iOS and Android app stores - all from a single build. Say goodbye to the hassle of multiple rebuilds and hello to streamlined app development.
FAQs
What does it cost to create and publish a calendar app with Adalo?
If you're looking to build a calendar app with Adalo, you can get started on their free plan, which costs absolutely nothing. However, to publish your app, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan. The Starter plan is priced at $45/month, while the Professional plan comes in at $65/month. For those with larger-scale requirements, there are higher-tier plans available at $200/month and $250/month.
There are also optional add-ons you might want to consider. For instance, adding extra app editors will cost $15/month per editor. Need more app actions? You can purchase additional actions at $5–$10/month for every 1,000 actions. These options give you the flexibility to scale and tweak your app to suit your needs.
How do I sync my calendar app with Google Calendar seamlessly?
To connect your Adalo-built calendar app with Google Calendar, you can use Zapier to set up automated workflows. With Zapier, you can create triggers that activate when events are added or updated in your app, and then configure actions to reflect those changes in Google Calendar. For instance, when a new event is added in your app, Zapier can automatically create a corresponding event in Google Calendar, complete with details like the title, date, time, and any reminders. Similarly, if an event in your app is updated, those changes can sync to Google Calendar, ensuring everything stays up to date.
Pay close attention to formatting dates and times correctly (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM AM/PM) to avoid any syncing issues. Test the setup thoroughly by creating and editing events to confirm that everything syncs as expected. If you need faster syncing, upgrading your Zapier plan can help minimize delays. It’s also a good idea to regularly check your workflows to catch and resolve any errors, keeping the connection between your app and Google Calendar running smoothly.
How do I publish my digital calendar app to the Google Play Store?
To get your app on the Google Play Store, the first step is creating a Google Developer account. Sign in using your Google account, accept the terms and conditions, and pay the one-time registration fee of $25 USD. After that, set up your developer profile, including your company name if applicable.
Next, you'll need to configure Firebase and Android credentials. Start by creating a Firebase project, registering your app, and downloading the required configuration files (google-services.json and a service-account key). These files are essential for building your app in Adalo.
In Adalo, build your app’s Android App Bundle (.AAB) by entering the Firebase package name, uploading the configuration files, and specifying your app’s display name and version. Once the build is complete, download the .AAB file.
Now, head over to the Google Play Console to create a new app listing. Add the app name, set the default language (English US), and specify whether the app will be free or paid. Complete the required store details, including the app description, an icon, and screenshots that align with Google’s guidelines.
Finally, upload the .AAB file, choose a release track (e.g., Internal, Closed, or Production), and submit your app for Google’s review. Once approved, your app will be live on the Play Store. For future updates, make sure to keep the package name and signing certificate consistent.
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